You need to be careful what you discuss and post in groups and forums online.
Most Evangelism/Apologetics groups do not allow doctrinal systematic theology posts/Non salvific topics. If you do you'll be warned once, after they have been warned you will be removed from the group.
If you are following those groups, take a year or so to learn what they are sharing there so your apologetics tool belt grows. Before you contribute any page posts. And dont repost things already there [use the group search feature to find out].
There are a few things you will need to understand before contributing in those and other groups. And so it is helpful to people not repelling them from the Faith (and the people in it).
Essentials of the Faith
What are non Essentials
The difference between Apologetics and Polemics
Apologetics vs Polemics
Apologetics, in Christianity, the intellectual defense of the truth of the Christian religion, usually considered a branch of theology. In Protestant usage, apologetics can be distinguished from polemics, in which the beliefs of a particular Christian church are defended.
Apologetics has traditionally been positive in its direct argument for Christianity and negative in its criticism of opposing beliefs. Its function is both to fortify the believer against personal doubts and to remove the intellectual stumbling blocks that inhibit the conversion of unbelievers. Apologetics has steered a difficult course between dogmatism, which fails to take seriously the objections of non-Christians, and the temptation to undermine the strength of defense by granting too much to the skeptic. Apologetics has rarely been taken as providing a conclusive proof of Christianity; many apologists believe that to insist on such proof is to sacrifice the supernatural element to purely rational considerations. Some theologians have been skeptical about the value of apologetics to a religion based on faith
During the Protestant Reformation apologetics was substantially replaced by polemics, in which many churches sought to defend their particular beliefs rather than Christianity as a whole.(1)
Apologetics groups do not discuss polemics issues.
"remove the intellectual stumbling blocks that inhibit the conversion of unbelievers." this is the part more people need to focus on.
Polemic
Polemic is contentious rhetoric intended to support a specific position by forthright claims and to undermine the opposing position. The practice of such argumentation is called polemics, which are seen in arguments on controversial topics.
Apologetics contain both defensive and offensive.
So Apologetics is dealing with people outside Christianity and Polemics is dealing with different non essential beliefs inside Christianity.
Here is an example:
Essentials
Acceptable post topics: Trinity, Deity of Christ, Exclusivity of Christ, the Gospel, counter arguments to atheists, counter arguments to other religions, historical evidence of the bible, etc
Non Essentials
Not acceptable: number of pastors or elders, calvinism vs arminianism, molinism, tithing, divorce for adultery vs no divorce at all, once saved always saved vs conditional salvation, end times, baptism methods, womens roles, etc
The reason these two are separated is based on the desire to have unity (as much as possible) over the issues that are biblically based without directly and consciously delving into topics of debate over non-salvific issues.
We desire to "equip the saints" so that we can be prepared "to give an answer" for the hope that we have in Christ to the unsaved.
There is too much arguments and divisions today because of where every believer is at in growing in their walk and between denominations so these groups desire is to focus on specific areas for the purpose of that gathering/group. Thus it helps strengthen a believer to equip them for evangelism.
So keep that in mind when you are in these groups and also in general when you are online, so where unbelievers are you do not becime argumentative but only a helpful servant of Christ who is gentle, patient, loving, kind, and striving to help/focus on being there for salvific purposes.(3)
Related Topics:
You are more than welcome and encouraged to study the Scriptures to find out what it teaches on non essentials. If you have never fully studied those topics here are some resources to do so.(4)
Understanding what falls into the non Essentials category
Soteriology; Doctrine of Salvation
Eschatology; Doctrines of End Times
Baptism
Women Issues
Avoiding Arguments Online
Further Resources
Resources for Growing Believers
*massive treasure of helps for believers (incl resources by age, gender, single, married, kids, or season in life), and packed with evangelism and apologetic helps too.
Footnotes
(1) Source: encyclopedia Britannica
(2) Source: Christian Apologetics and Evangelism on FB.
(3) My examples and clarifications:
Think about it this way...
If you were with another believer outside the church and together were sharing the gospel with a unsaved person, they come to Christ, and while that believer was talking saying their next step is to get baptized and join a local church.... you wouldnt jump in and start arguing with that believer [in front of them (and at a wrong place time and manner)] about right method of baptism when you simply are telling this person who just got saved that they now need to be baptized.
Likewise
If you were with another believer outside the church and together were sharing the gospel with a false convert and then the believer talks about the importance of going to church, and while that person was talking... you wouldnt jump in and start arguing with that believer (right in front of the unsaved person) about how women can't be preachers, when the focus is on getting them into the church.
However
If you were with someone you befriended who claimed to be a believer and you thought all along they were a believer and together found yourself sharing the gospel with a unsaved person and then the believer talks about the importance of doing works to get saved...🛑, yiu would while that person was talking... jump in and tell the unsaved person that it appears you didnt know your buddy held to a false and unbiblical view of salvation. And that because she is leading you into errors that you will end the conversation but leave him with a tract to examine Christianity further... and then go take your buddy to a place where you can explain why we couldn't finish that conversation; teaching her rightly about Grace (and the proper place of works in a believers life). To have argued about it in his face amongst yourselves would do harm to true Christianity since the unsaved has no idea such issues exist. But.... online you can give a defense of essentials on salvific issues in a thread on the topic to have such a conversation.
So you wouldnt throw a wrench into a gospel focused conversation about non essentials to salvation when online.
Hope that clarifies. And helps you avoid "endless debates" and arguments that would otherwise harm the spreading of the Gospel.
(4) We do not have to agree on secondary issues, but we can fellowship together even if we disagree. The key issue for Protestants [true Christianity] is that we hold to the Essentials (of salvation). We can fellowship with those who hold to the essentials but cannot fellowship with those who do not hold to the essentials.
This is why we do not associate with nor join together with catholics, mormons, and other cult groups. They deny the essentials revealed in Scripture for salvation. They preach a different gospel, different god, different jesus and many deny the trinity.
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