Our “Quick Shot” series offers brief answers to common objections to the Christian worldview. Each response is limited to one paragraph. These responses are designed to (1) answer the objection as concisely as possible, (2) challenge the objector to think more deeply about his or her claim, and (3) facilitate a “gospel” conversation. In this article, we’re offering “Quick Shot” responses to the objection, “All God expects of us is sincerity”
Response #1:
“Why would you believe that God expects nothing more than sincerity. It sounds like you know the mind of God on this issue. How do you know this is what God desires? Did he reveal this to you personally, or did you learn it in a ‘holy’ book? The Christian holy book – the Bible – is clear on this issue. God values truth over sincerity, because it’s possible to be sincere, yet sincerely wrong. Jesus, in describing religious people who were sincere but misguided, said, ‘They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ God values truth over the human rules and responses, even the response of sincerity. If you’re truly interested in what God expects from us, have you considered the words of Jesus?”
God values truth over sincerity, because it’s possible to be sincere, yet sincerely wrong. Click To Tweet
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Response #2:
“Imagine that you and I are hiking and discover a poisonous hemlock plant. Since it looks like parsley, you decide to eat some of it. You sincerely believe that the plant is parsley. Will your sincerity protect you from harm? What if you were traveling to meet your distant uncle for the first time. After taking an errant turn, you find yourself on the wrong street but arrive at a house that has the same numbers as your uncle’s correct address. If you sincerely believe you are at the right house, and a man opens the front door, will your sincerity make this man your uncle? Most of us understand the value of truth and sincerity. Both are important, but sincerity without truth can lead you to the wrong place and could endanger your life. Would you like to sincerely know the truth?”
Most of us understand the value of truth and sincerity. Both are important, but sincerity without truth can lead you to the wrong place and could endanger your life. Click To Tweet
Our “Quick Shot” series was written specifically for the Cold-Case Christianity App (you can download it on Apple and Android platforms – be sure to register once you download the App). When confronted with an objection in casual conversation, App users can quickly find an answer without having to scroll beyond the first screen in the category. Use the App “Quick Shots” along with the “Rapid Responses” and Case Making “Cheat Sheets” to become a better Christian Case Maker.
For more information about the reliability of the New Testament gospels and the case for Christianity, please read Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels. This book teaches readers ten principles of cold-case investigations and applies these strategies to investigate the claims of the gospel authors. The book is accompanied by an eight-session Cold-Case Christianity DVD Set (and Participant’s Guide) to help individuals or small groups examine the evidence and make the case.
J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline featured Cold-Case Detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adj. Professor of Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith, and creator of the Case Makers Academy for kids.
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