Connie and I attended the Intelligent Faith Conference here in Bettendorf, Iowa last week. I appreciated the work of our local Creation Society here that put it on. The speakers were Jim Warner Wallace, John Stewart, and Eric Hovind. They all did a great job, and we were encouraged and learned a few things. BUT...... the speakers seemed to infer that making a case for the resurrection; Christ as God; man has a soul; was what people needed to be saved. They seemed to infer that apologetics were equal to or can replace the Gospel. I questioned Mr Wallace in the Q&A about this and he said that people can reject Christ after the Gospel is presented or an apologetic is made(which is besides the point). His talks and his response confirmed my fears that they considered apologetics the Gospel. Not good.
People can be convinced of the resurrection, the inerrancy of the Bible, that Christ is God, but still not be saved. They can be turned into Theists who have given a mental ascent to an apologetic, but still be unconverted. These people would even possibly "pray a prayer" if coaxed, and be a false convert, inoculated against the possibility of a true conversion. Yes, someone could agree with your apologetic...but SO WHAT? They still do not understand the reason for the cross, and the sacrifice of Christ. They still consider themselves good. There is no reason for them to repent, as they have not come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, as the Gospel was never presented. This is dangerous stuff, and the reason that most "evangelism" out there is doing more harm than good.
The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation..... Romans 1:16
Quote from Ravi Zacharias
"Apologetics is the seasoning, the Gospel is the main course. You do not want too much of the seasoning or it will make the main course insipid.
Apologetics does not dominate our message; it undergirds our message. Argument doesn’t save people, but it certainly clears the obstacles so they can take a direct look at the Cross.
Support the argument justifiably, but recognize it is Jesus Christ who you need to lift up, and it is the Holy Spirit who brings about change within the human heart. An argument may remove doubt, but only the Holy Spirit can convict of truth".
The link to the conference is HERE