[Biblemat] A: The Usual Methods Of Arguing

[Jack Wise]

THE USUSAL METHODS OF ARGUING

 

            Recently I caught the last part of Twilight Zone, a series of
movies dealing with strange phenomenon. In this 30 minute movie there was a
man who was followed and adored by a group of people stranded on a planet 1
billion miles from earth. They hung on to every word and obeyed his every
suggestion and command. He treated them as a father and they as his
children. 

            Then from nowhere a space ship from earth comes to the planet to
retrieve the people. The leader of the people was all for it as long as he
was able to keep the people together on earth in a secluded compound. The
people began to gently murmur and said they had planned on living in
different parts of the country. They even asked the captain what he thought.
Of course, he was for them living out their lives as they had once done on
earth.

PERSUASION ARGUMENT #!

The leader tried to convince the people telling them they needed them. He
said he would care for them and help them to adjust on earth, only they must
live together and not be separated. He used his influence with the people to
try to get them to remain followers of him!

PERSUASION ARGUMENT #2 

When he saw that failed, he then began to speak against the captain who came
from earth to rescue them, claiming he was not concerned for them but was
evil. The captain offered them something they wanted and even began to ask
the input of the captain concerning their independence and freedom to leave
the planet and live separate lives on earth. The leader became upset and
soon realized he was loosing his influence with the people. He used his
influence to convince them the captain only had bad intentions and wasn't
concerned for them like he was.

PERSUASION ARGUMENT#3

When all else failed, the leader appealed to their emotions. If only they
would feel sorry for him and then he could win them back. He tried to get
them to submit to him by appealing to the emotions of the people.

            Men appeal to win or convince others to believe or follow them
by these same three methods:

            1. Influence

            2. Slander the messenger

            3. Appeal to emotions

            We know in the days of Jesus the religious leaders had a large
influence with the people. They were busy making proselytes, making new
laws, and being called by names to show their influential status among the
people. When Jesus began to speak they tried to use their influence to stop
him by challenging him with questions and trying to convince the people of
their righteousness! (Matt 23)

            When the religious leaders soon realized their influence was not
enough to stop people from being converted to Christ, they began to slander
the messenger. They went so far as to deny the miracles performed before all
and said Jesus was casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub, prince of
the devils (Matt 12:24)

            Jesus followers continued to grow. He had disciples working in
Jerusalem teaching His Father's doctrines. Because of envy, the religious
leaders went about persuading the Jews to release Barabbas and crucify
Jesus. (Matt 27:15-20) The Greek word for persuade is PEITHO, which means: 

1) persuade

                  a) to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe

                  b) to make friends of, to win one's favour, gain one's


                     good will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one

                  c) to tranquillise

The religious leaders appealed to the emotional side of the Jews by seeking
out their friendship or favor. 

When God's people seek to teach the gospel, we must speak the oracles of
God, 1 Pet 4:11. Our method of persuasion is to give a bible answer to any
that asks us, 1 Pet 3:15. And to always give God the glory in everything we
do, 1 Cor 10:31. We are seed sowers, not seed growers. Therefore we do not
have to: use influence; slander the messenger; or persuade by emotions; to
win others to Christ!

 

Jack Wise

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