In Christian charity who’s the “best” living apologist today? Classical or Presuppositional?

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John
Member
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net

Dr White and Dr Sproul for their respective subject matters and intended audiences.

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Sean Caouette
Independent Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Memphis, Tennessee

for me personally it's still Jesus.

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Will Adair
will@crossmarkchurch.com

Crossmark Church: informing, reforming, transforming, God willing never boring.

Crossmark Church exists to glorify God by lives changed by Jesus Christ. As the lead elder its my job to help see that happen, God willing.

I would like to suggest that Alvin Plantinga's name be added to the list. The apologists that are listed here, no doubt, rely heavily on the philosophical contributions that Plantinga has made over the last forty years.

They are all heavy hitters, but Plantinga's work has been essential to their body of work.

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"When a man discovers the sickness of sin, he is cast down and afflicted; nay, he despairs. The law does not help him; much less can he heal himself. Another light is needed to reveal a remedy. This is the voice of the gospel, which displays Christ as the Deliverer from all these evil things." -Martin Luther

Jeff Scott
Covenant Presbyterian Church- Chicago (PCA)

Having been fortunate enough to once hear R.C. Sproul preach in person, I thought he was amazing. He did the whole thing extemporaneously and spoke for an hour on a passage in Romans.

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Jim
Elder
First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu
at Ko'olau (PCUSA)
Honolulu, Hawaii
http://www.fpchawaii.org/
"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:9

Dr. James White hands down! By the way, hes coming down to jersey, June 22-24.

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"I thank Thee that many of my prayers have been refused. I have asked amiss and do not have, I have prayed from lusts and been rejected, I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness".-Unknown

Julio, Amaya
Clifton, NewJersey
Reformed Baptist Church of North Bergen

Why isn't Dave Hunt on the list?

Dave Hunt? um, really?

I was surprised (and somewhat disappointed) years ago when I heard Plantinga give a lecture at Southern seminary. Two things stood out to me. First he made it quite clear that he was a "Reformed philosopher, not a Reformed Theologian", and for some reason mentioned that his philosophical stance would excuse his conscience should he ever have to steal (in theory no doubt) in order to feed his family. That, rightly or wrongly, has colored my reading of him.

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Bob, elder, RBC Louisville. 1689 LBCF

"... Of such also, or of those who make a credible profession of being such, all those particular churches consist, which constitute our Lord's visible kingdom. ... Consequently, all the subjects of His government must have spiritual dispositions, , and yield spiritual obedience- obedience proceeding from an enlightened understanding, an awakened conscience, and a renewed heart."- Abraham Booth 1788

Josh McDowell is one of the most widely read and most accessible for non churched folks.

Apologetics must not use a lot of jargon.

Plantinga, Bahnsen and others are fine for already-Christians to read to know how to defend their faith, but I still find that Josh McDowell is the best to give to non churched nonbelievers who are not acquainted with a lot of Christian lingo, etc.

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Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

As far as cults and non-secular religions, James White is a well disciplined heavy hitter. I've downloaded his recent debate with Dan Barker, and when I get around to listening to it I suppose I'll get to see how he handles secular religions.

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Devin Brian
1689er
Attending Trinity Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA.
Vivian, Louisiana, USA

"...If you are not firm in faith,you will not be firm at all." - Isaiah 7:9
"The fall of man is written in too legible characters not to be understood: Those that deny it, by their denying, prove it." - George Whitefield

Glad am I to hear so many of my TR brethren praise and laud a fellow Fuller grad, James White! Whenever I am tempted to want to hide under the table in the "where did YOU go to seminary?" treads, it is nice to point to Piper, Riddlebarger, and White.

White is more of a debater than most of the other candidates listed. For connecting apologetics to the larger history and tradition of the church, R.C. can hardly be beat. Plus he is accessible, despite his penchant for latinisms.

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Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

I have heard the most of Douglas Wilson's presuppositionalism and I think he does pretty good

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~ Charles Stephen Barribeau ~
Christ Presbyterian Church , OPC (They sing alot of Psalms!)
Original Westminster Standards (I need to study more...)
The Puritans were best! Also... I NEED TO READ MORE!!!
Philipians1:29(KJV) For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Janesville, Wisconsin (In the fellowship of Bob Vigneault and Matt+Megan Meisberger)

I do not know if he is the best but Ravi Zacharias should at least have made the list

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Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

I think Sproul is good, but not being an evidentialist myself, I couldn't vote for him.

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Lance G. Marshall
Pastor
Georgetown, Indiana

Wouldn't Sproul be considered a classical apologist as opposed to an evidentialist? He argues for the existence of God using classical arguments as opposed to showing a bunch of facts.

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Joshua F
Layman
Mountain View Community Church (Missionary Church Denomination)
Johnstown, CO

Yes, I think that's the best category for Sproul. McDowell would more appropriately represent an evidentialist approach...

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://inprincipiodeus.solideogloria.com
http://puritanwisdom.blogspot.com

"As God did not at first choose you because you were high, He will not now forsake you because you are low."
John Flavel in Keeping the Heart



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McDowell is an evidentialist of the historical kind. Sproul (Classical) is evidentialist of the philosophical kind. IMHO. The logical proofs for the existence of God (a la Aquinas) attempt to provide philosophical evidence for the existence of God. What Sproul denies is historical evidentialism not philosophical evidentialism. Nash and Reymond classify Sproul in the evidentialist camp.

let's put him instead of Geisler..BLEH

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Julio Perez
Visting Branch of Hope OPC hoping this will be my home church.....


“No…we are all priests. Your vocation and your contentment in your vocation should not be dependent upon your being in vocational ministry or in being a figure of public acclaim. If God wills that fine…if He does not do that, you ought to still do what he has granted you to do to the glory of God.”

-Martin Luther

O. Wow. Geisler is on the list? mhmm. You see, guys like Dave Hunt and Geisler I've never heard defending the Christian faith.Although, I have heard both of these men attack Reformed theology, and even worse, redefine historical terms. I cant listen to Geisler. He has a sermon critiquing calvinism on youtube. (weak arguments)

-----Added 5/19/2009 at 03:17:25 EST-----

Ravi is sharp.

White

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~ Steven Bradford ~
Member Covenant Presbyterian, Chattanooga, TN

Aren't the classical arguments all based on evidentialism and empiricism? Mostly coming from Aquinas who Christianized Aristotle?

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Erick Bohndorf, Redeemer Presbyterian PCA
http://qayaqtraveler.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pr...90&ref=profile
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Ecclesiastes

I tend to think that White's approach is aided greatly by his skills as a debator. Those skills, coupled with his broad theological knowledge (systematically, historically, etc.), make him quite formidable.

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Kipp Soncek
Pastoral Ministry Apprentice--Grace Church of Dupage
Student--Midwest Center for Theological Studies
Illinois; 1689 LBCF
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24

I don't know that think "best" is a word we ought to employ about the ministry and godly men but I think Michael Horton is an effective and faithful apologist.

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Zack Flummerfelt
Evangel Presbyterian (PCA), layman
Wichita, KS


As of September 12, 2009 I am married to dear Jlynn!!

I like Bahnsen and Paul Manata. Never heard R.C. Sproul defend/argue the classical arguments before, so I wouldn't know. William Lane Craig, of course, is also very good.

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Steven Nemes
Phoenix, AZ

Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy must be answered - C.S. Lewis

I would vote for Bahnsen as well, but I thought when the question asked who is the best "living" apologist that it meant living amongst us.

My vote for best living apologist would be James White. His knowledge for manuscript evidence is excellent. He also does very well with identifying his opponents presumptions.

Two others that I have seen in person are very good are Phillip E. Johnson who has of late suffered a couple of strokes that has removed him from the current debate forum. He can be heard on the Veritas Forum. Another that I have seen is Ravi Zacharius who is a great speaker to hear in person.

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Rogerant
Justified Sinner
Under Application to URCNA
Saskatchewan

I think Doug Wilson is the best living apologist that I have listened to. James white is a distant second.

There are none living, that I have heard or read, who hold a candle to Bahnsen.

Peace,
DK

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J. David Kear
Sunday School Teacher
First Presbyterian Church
Villa Rica, Georgia

I think Doug Wilson is the best living apologist that I have listened to. James white is a distant second.

There are none living, that I have heard or read, who hold a candle to Bahnsen.



Agreed. A gentleman at my last church gave me a copy of his "mid-level course on apologetics". I listened and thought "mid-level for who?".

Paul Manata says this in regards to his being among the options to choose from:

Some names I think should up there: Scott Oliphint, Bill Edgar, Robert Reymond, Tim Keller, and Ravi Zacharias.

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Rev. Lane Keister
Teaching Elder, PCA, North Dakota (working out of bounds in a CRC and an RCA church)
http://greenbaggins.wordpress.com
http://brahmsgreenglove.blogspot.com
http://accenttranslation.blogspot.com
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Line - Lutheran
Wife to Martin, the love of my life
Mother to Josva, the most wonderfull baby in the world
Member of the Danish Evangelical-Lutheran Church

Hmmm...I like Doug...while I think he's better than most pop apologists, there are some men I think out-perform him. I'm a presupper, but I like Ravi Zacharias quite a lot...his lectures moreso than his books (except Can Man Live Without God?...that was good). James White is excellent when it comes to false religions and arminianism...I recommend him more than anyone else when it comes to those two issues.

Alvin Plantinga is interesting, and I think EAAN is great.

As much as Manata doesn't think he belongs on the list...I read Triablogue a lot. Other than the Bayly Blog, it is the only other blog I check out regularly and read entirely. Why? Because I see more original material there than anywhere else.

I voted for White, Sproul, and Ravi. Sorry if I was only allowed one.....

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Joseph F Scibbe
Chaplain Assistant
Chapel of Wings Ft Rucker Al
Ephesians 1:4-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, Romans 12:1-2
Titus 2:2 - But you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

http://twitter.com/just_joe_scibbe

Michael Horton