Apologetics On Line: The Free Market of Ideas, Opinions, and Just Plain Stupidity

Sixth Annual Conference on Apologetics
Emmanuel Lutheran, Dearborn MI

Friday, October 12

“Apologetics On Line: 
The Free Market of Ideas, Opinions,
and Just Plain Stupidity”

 Janet from Livonia, Pastor Wilken, Mary Ellyn and Claudia from Faith Troy

I attended the Apologetics conference.  Pastor Wilken, the host of Issues Etc and pastor at  Trinity Lutheran in Millstadt IL spoke about the Internet, its dangers and benefits, Christians, and our culture.  He referred often to Marshall McLuhan.  The interview of Mr. McLuhan was conducted in 1960.

Some highlights of Pastor Wilken's presentation include:

• The Internet is a First Article gift and the world gets to borrow it!
• The Internet is a marketplace filled with ideas AND opinons.
• We can't be gullible when on the Internet.   As Christians we are dedicated to the truth. 
• Too many people don't think anymore.
• We live a very moralistic culture.  Tolerance seems to reign supreme and the rules have changed.  The question is 'which morality is objectively true?'
• Whenever you deal with 'apologetics' on the Internet it must always come back to Jesus.  "I believe in a 6 day creation because Jesus said so and Jesus rose from the dead!"

The First Article

Of Creation.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?--Answer.
I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them; in addition thereto, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and homestead, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that He provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true."  (Small Catechism)

When considering apologetics online:

• Choose your battle
• Choose your battlefield
• Avoid distractions -- lilypads abound -- beware
• Focus on Christ -- remember that Christ can't die and so the church can't die either!!!!
• Remember that in the left hand kingdom you live for your neighbor 100%
• Act in your vocation

Several books were recommended:

• The Medium is the Message by Marshall McLuhan

Although written 30 years ago it addresses what we face with media now!

• The Revenge of Conscience:  Politics and the Fall of Man by J. Budziszewski