I’ve detected a pattern among younger evangelicals who discover sound doctrine: Their initial exposure to the great truths of God often seems to have come through the discipline of apologetics. My own pilgrimage to the serious study of theology and into ministry began with books like Mere Christianity, Knowing God, and Classical Apologetics.
Another book I read as I first began grappling with the things of God was Josh McDowell’s classic apologetics work More Than a Carpenter. It compelled me to do more than study the gospel—it drove me to take it to the streets where it might be unleashed to open blind eyes.
As McDowell’s ministry continues well into its fourth decade, his son, Sean, has taken up his dad’s mantel—serving as assistant professor of apologetics at Biola University.
The father-son duo has written a new book with an eyebrow-raising title, The Beauty of Intolerance: Setting a Generation Free to Know Truth and Love (Shiloh). I corresponded with both McDowells about defending the faith in a post-Christian culture, wisdom for pastors, and more.
The Beauty of Intolerance: Setting a Generation Free to Know Truth and Love
Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell
The Beauty of Intolerance: Setting a Generation Free to Know Truth and Love
Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell
If “tolerance” means agreeing that everyone’s beliefs, values, and lifestyles are equally valid, is it really the best policy? The McDowells say “no”—and offer more loving ways to respond to those with whom you disagree. Learn how a biblical approach to truth can counter a false understanding of tolerance while co-existing with Christlike compassion.
The title of your new book is The Beauty of Intolerance. Intolerance isn’t usually synonymous with beauty; why did you frame it this way?
Sean: The title is certainly meant to grab attention, but the deeper point is that intolerance can sometimes be a good thing. Because of our cultural conditioning, our natural reaction is to think intolerance is necessarily bad. But there are some things—such as racism, sexism, and hypocrisy—that should not be tolerated. On these issues, intolerance is a beautiful thing.
Josh: The title came from a T-shirt I had made several years ago. In the front it read, in huge letters, “Intolerance,” and underneath was “a beautiful thought.” People would read it and get upset. On the back it said, “Isn’t it wonderful Martin Luther King Jr., was intolerant of racism, Mandela was intolerant of apartheid, Bono is intolerant of AIDS, Bonhoeffer was intolerant of Nazism, Wilberforce was intolerant of slavery, and Jesus is intolerant of bigotry?” They saw that and their attitudes changed. I like the book title because it leads people to think.
Both of you are involved in Christian apologetics, and Josh has written bestselling works on the topic. With the loss of truth and rise of moral chaos in our society today, has the apologetic task changed?
Sean: Since we’re logical beings made in God’s image, apologetics has always mattered and always will. But today’s issues are different, and there are some unique approaches we must adopt. For instance, some of the most pressing issues today relate to sexuality, human nature, Jesus’s uniqueness, and the intersection of science and faith. As far as approach, given that there’s endless digital information available in the palm of our hands, it’s much more important to teach people how to have genuine conversations about faith rather than simply having soundbite responses to tough questions.
Josh: Yes, apologetics has changed because the concept of truth has changed. For the most part, you must first show there is a foundation for truth. You have to define it. What is truth? And is it true for all people? Then, you go into apologetics. That’s one of the biggest changes in a culture of moral chaos.
With the rejection of authority and skepticism toward truth claims, not to mention rampant anger and confusion, must we approach people with a different attitude? First Peter 3:15 commends gentleness and respect as the ethos that should adorn evangelism. Is that more important than ever?
Sean: Yes! While gentleness has always been important, we live in a deeply divided culture. The perception is that Christians who take the Bible seriously are bigoted, hateful, homophobic, and “Talibanic” (as one activist called me). We can only truly change this narrative when Christians reach out in loving relationship to people with different belief systems, as Jesus did (e.g., Mark 2:15–17; John 4). Then, when people hear this charge against Christians they’ll think, “Hmm, that doesn’t sound right. I know Christians, and they may have a different viewpoint, but they are genuinely loving.”
Josh: Yes, I believe there’s a little greater emphasis on story today because of the chaos and lack of definition of authority and truth. A man with an argument is always at the mercy of a man with an experience. The Christian should have both. In most situations, I begin by sharing my personal testimony. If I’m one-on-one with someone I’ll ask, “What’s your story? What’s been your journey with truth and the meaning of life?” I let them tell their story without interrupting or correcting them, and then I share mine. Apologetics comes out of the story’s context.
How would you advise pastors to train their people in apologetics and evangelism in the 21st century?
Sean: Three suggestions. First, make apologetics and evangelism a priority in the church. The pastor sets the church’s pace, so if he makes it a priority, then others will follow. Second, provide opportunities for people to learn—such as teaching a series, offering classes, recommending books, or sponsoring students to worldview training events like Summit Ministries. Third, provide opportunities to do apologetics and evangelism. Visit a mosque. Invite a Mormon leader to meet at the church building. Make connections with the skeptics clubs in town. Get out of your comfort zone, and go engage the world.
Josh: I’d teach them to listen—listen to people, listen to your neighbor, listen to the one you want to share with, listen to their journey. Second, begin by sharing your own journey. What were the circumstances in which Christ brought you to himself? What happened in your life? You can simply ask three questions: (1) What was your life like before? (2) How did you come into a relationship with Christ? (3) What is your life like afterward? I can do that in three minutes, thirty minutes, or three hours. You also need to train people to define truth. I’d say 98 percent of Christians can’t define truth. This is why we try to define it so clearly in The Beauty of Intolerance. And then, a pastor needs to teach his people both what to believe and why it matters. There’s a difference between beliefs and convictions. We must teach convictions.
Sean, what kinds of things did your father do in mentoring you that other Christian fathers might emulate? Josh, how did you seek to train up Sean to prepare him to be a strong defender of the gospel?
Sean: Perhaps the most important thing my dad did was preach what he practices. Most say to practice what you preach, but his ministry arose out of how he actually lives. He doesn’t just write and speak on being a good father; he lives it. He doesn’t just encourage people to evangelize; he does it. If you want to train up the next generation, it begins by asking yourself: “Am I living the kind of life young people would want to emulate?” If not, make the tough adjustments. Before blaming the next generation, we need to look in the mirror and correct ourselves. My father certainly wasn’t—and isn’t—perfect, but he preaches what he practices, and that has made all the difference.
Josh: First, I needed to live it out before Sean. If our kids don’t want what we have, why should they believe what we say? We need to live out the gospel in our marriages and in our relationships with our children. Second, I taught my kids that their faith must become their faith; they can’t run on mine. I tried to never answer a question they’d ask me, whether it was Sean or one of his three sisters. You may think, That’s horrible; you should. But if I spoonfeed the answer, then it’s Dad’s answer. I need to raise my children so they can process truth and morality. This will help them learn how to be logical, how to think.
