New Apologetics Book Focuses on Diplomacy, Not Confrontation
A new book by a Christian apologist seeks to help believers defend their faith through artful diplomacy rather than confrontation.
In Tactics, which was released this month, author Greg Koukl said Christians often find themselves in confrontation rather than in dialogue when trying to engage in conversations about their convictions.
"Even though there is real warfare going on, our engagements should look more like diplomacy than D-Day," writes Koukl, founder of Stand to Reason, an apologetics ministry.
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In the book, Koukl provides Christians with "tactics" or a game plan for communicating the truth of Christianity and sharing Jesus in a persuasive manner while maintaining a disarming style even when under attack. He calls the method the "Ambassador Model," which trades more on "friendly curiosity — a kind of relaxed diplomacy — than on confrontation."
This week, the Christian apologist will be on tour through the blogosphere to promote his new book and to answer questions from readers.
On Monday, he answered questions from popular Christian blogger Tim Challies and invited fans of the Stand to Reason Facebook group page to begin posting questions that he will answer by video on the STR blog later this week.
Visiting the Apologetics 315 blog Tuesday, Koukl credited his mentors as one of the influences that has helped him become a better communicator and effective apologist.
"Since the beginning I have had strong Christians around me to guide me, teach me, and especially to correct me when I needed it. For the most part, I have welcomed criticism and critique of my views, my character, and also of the way I come across to others," Koukl wrote on the blog.
Also stopping by the Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth blog on Tuesday, he answered a question on the use of "tactics," a militaristic term, in the title of his book.
In his response, Koukl said he intended the word in a "diplomatic" sense, not a militaristic one.
"Tactics can help because they offer techniques of maneuvering in what otherwise might be difficult conversations. They guide you in arranging your own resources in an artful way," he wrote. "They suggest approaches anyone can use to be more persuasive, in part because they help you be more reasonable and thoughtful—instead of just emotional—about your convictions as a follower of Christ."
Koukl, who serves as adjunct professor of Christian apologetics at Biola University, will conclude his blog tour on Friday.
The following is a schedule of Greg Koukl's blog tour to promote Tactics, which was published by Zondervan:
Wed. 2/18 Truthbomb Apologetics
Wed. 2/18 Apologetics.com
Thurs. 2/19 Zondervan Koinonia
Thurs. 2/19 The Crux
Fri. 2/20 Stand to Reason blog
