The Non-Arguing Argument
You can’t argue people into the kingdom of God. This is one of the most common reasons why people do not want to get involved in apologetics.
I would want to ask what is meant by an argument. If you mean yelling and screaming because someone has a different opinion, I would be the first one to agree. This is the first definition from the Oxford dictionary, “An exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one.” But that is not the type of argument that apologists talk about.
The second definition in that same dictionary is, “A reason or set of reasons given in support of an idea, action or theory.” This is what apologists seek to do when they argue with a skeptic.
But can someone argue, even in this way, someone into the kingdom? One may be quick to say that it is only the Holy Spirit that brings people into the kingdom. That may be true but that cannot be used as an argument against apologetics specifically. If you want to put the burden on only the Holy Spirit, it could be just as easily argued that evangelism, preaching, pastoral care and so on, are also unnecessary.
If we believe that God uses evangelism as a means for the Holy Spirit to bring people into the kingdom, why cannot God use apologetics in the same way?
Can you argue someone into the kingdom of God? That depends on your answer to the next question. Can you evangelize someone into the kingdom of God? If the answer to this question is ‘yes,’ then you can also argue (by the second definition) someone into the kingdom of God.
