Tactics: Audio Lectures: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

As a student in high school I learned that it isn’t good to tell a teacher that she is wrong, even when you know the subject better than she does. It is better to ask a question and to shape that question in such a way that the teacher will realize her mistake while attempting to answer the question. I never formalized that method, but Gregory Koukl does in his book Tactics. But rather than addressing how not to offend someone who has the ability to influence your grade, Koukl approaches this from the standpoint of how to share your faith. These days, we encounter many people who are offended by Christian beliefs. The tactics Koukl outlines in his book can help us to reduce the conflict and help them discover the truth of what we are saying for themselves. And even if they don’t, perhaps the people listening will.The meat of the book is three questions that we can ask that will cause people to consider what they are saying. Often, people are just repeating things that other people have said, without giving any thought to the validity of the argument. These three questions may cause the person to see the weakness in their argument.• What do you mean by that?• How did you come to that conclusion?• Have you ever considered?The great thing about these questions is that they aren’t limited to a adversarial situation. You might be talking to a close friend and hear them say something that doesn’t sound quite right. “What do you mean by that?” Your child might say something like, “I don’t think I should play with Jane anymore.” You might ask, “How did you come to that conclusion?” or simply, “Why?”One of the things that Koukl brings out about asking questions is that you can direct the conversation without taking sides on an issue. You don’t even have to be certain of what the right answer is. Perhaps, once you discover what the other person is saying and why they are saying it, you will agree with them. But when they are wrong, those questions may help them to see where they went wrong.This is the best book on sharing your faith that I’ve read. Unlike other books that tell you what to say about the gospel, this book focuses more on the practical ways we can improve communication. While there are a few things I’m not sure I agree with him on, this is a book that every Christian who wishes to improve communication with non-believers should read. But the people who will benefit the most are the people in leadership positions who must deal with people who disagree with them. I can see where a teacher of a small group might put this to use if there is a student who insists on pushing strange doctrine during class. Rather than getting into an argument that disturbs the other class members, one could ask questions of the person and bring them around, or at least, make the other students aware that the person’s ideas are not correct.

Synopsis: This book may not be what you would initially expect from one filed under the category of Apologetics. The author doesn't set out to pen an in-depth A to Z defense of the Christian faith as so many volumes before have already accomplished in staggering detail. No, Gregory Koukl is determined to help Christians be wise as serpents and harmless as doves when confronted with challenges to their faith. Hence the title, Tactics.Koukl differentiates between strategy and tactics when it comes to defending the Christian faith. Strategy concerns the overall big picture of Apologetics. This panoramic vista consists in comprehensive knowledge of every aspect of Christianity. This insight can then be utilized in striking against all the Satanic powers that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God via both offensive and defensive attacks.This is all well and good, for there are many volumes available that do just that. However, the author deliberately does not broach this broad subject matter. Instead he engages in the tactics needed in order to get to the end goal of proving Christianity and debunking all arguments against it.Koukl writes, "A sharp lawyer needs more than facts to make his case in court. He needs to know how to use his knowledge well. In the same way, we need a plan to artfully manage the details of dialogues we have with others. This is where tactics come in."Tactics, therefore in Christian Apologetics refers to the way we communicate our knowledge of the faith in order to disarm our opponents' arguments.Koukl has several valuable methods of dialoging with our opponents. I'll outline some of these below:The Columbo method - named in honor of the television detective from a bygone era. This tactic instructs us that when someone disputes your worldview don't respond with a diatribe defending your view, simply ask questions.Koukl writes, "The key to the Columbo tactic is to go on the offensive in an inoffensive way by using carefully selected questions to productively advance the conversation. Simply put, never make a statement, at least not at first, when a question will do the job."The Columbo method has three steps. Step one is to gain information. This is done by asking clarifying questions, such as 'What do you mean by that?"Step two attempts to reverse the burden of proof. Again, Koukl, "In any dispute, the person who advances an opinion, claim, or point of view has the job of defending it. It's not your duty to prove him wrong. It's his duty to prove himself right."The related question to toss into the dialog would be, "How did you come to that conclusion?"Step three has us ask leading questions to aid us in steering the conversation in the direction we desire it to go. A carefully worded leading question will help you take charge of the situation instead of letting the critic take it to unholy places. To launch these tactical verbal missiles a person will need two things: knowledge of the subject matter and a plan of attack.Other methods include the suicide tactic. Many ideologies are self-refuting. For example the statement "There is no absolute truth" cannot possibly be true if absolute truth doesn't exist. Using the Columbo questions this falsehood can quickly be exposed.The author explores several other methods in succeeding chapters. As well, he also dedicates a couple of chapters guiding readers on how to deal with overbearing personalities and pseudo academic arguments.Recommendations: I admit, I profited greatly from this little book. it wasn't what I expected, but that ended up being beneficial. If I had first read a massive tome on Apologetics my arsenal would have been well stocked yet I'd have been woefully under-trained on how to actually fire any of my weapons. Tactics teaches the fundamentals of maneuvering a conversational obstacle course. It does it in a winsome manner, peppered with personal experiences from Koukl's many encounters. I especially benefited from the chapter on taking the roof off. It contained many arguments that critics use and how to dismantle them quickly and effectively. It is a section I will commit to memory and return to often.I think this book should be required reading for every Christian. Much like I think Logic 101 should be a core class for all high school students. The world of ideas is becoming increasingly hostile to Christian beliefs. We should always stand ready with a reason for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Tactics does an excellent job of starting us done the daunting path of Christian Apologetics.

This book is an ABSOLUTE must-have for anyone interested in or who frequently practiced apologetics. If you're timid and aren't really sure how to get into dialogue with non-believers, this book is an awesome help on where to start. If you've got the knowledge but don't know how to engage with other worldviews directly, Koukl offers some helpful tips. I really enjoyed this book because i know i personally have a hard time discerning when to engage in conversation and when to not cast my pearls before swine. Koukl explains how to get yourself out of the hot seat and stay in control when practicing everyday apologetics.

I rank scriptures on top, and then this book next. Meaning Tactics is practical and mandatory for all Christians (and nonbelievers). 1 Peter 3:15 commands all Christians to be ready whenever someone ask for the reasons for the hope that we have, yet do it with gentleness and respect. This book teaches you apologetics 101. Rather than refuting a false claim from someone you're conversing with or next to, it's better to question them to get clarification and to see whether their claim holds any solid foundation. Tactics will teach you the columbo tactic which is a technique you'll learn how to use the right questions to get into a meaningful conversation without getting into an argument. There are plenty of examples of conversation that will thoroughly guide you in when is the best opportunity to use these questions. The goal is the leave a stone in the person's shoe for something for them to think about. Before reading Tactics, make sure you understand your faith well. Because when someone uses the columbo tactics on you, the you have to be prepared to give the evidence for your faith.

Greg Koukl has done every Christian a massive favour by writing this book. So many believers are hesitant to engage others in conversation about God and the gospel because they feel intimidated and ill-equipped. If the teaching of this book is imbibed then the reader will be well equipped for any conversation and will not be intimidated by any opponent.This is not a dry book of untried and untested theory. Those who listen to Koukl on Stand to Reason will have heard him use these tactics for real. This book distils his years of experience and wealth of wisdom into 200 pages and allows you to learn these tactics for yourself.As one who is involved in the spread of the gospel, I can testify to the usefulness of this book. Day and daily I employ what I have learned from Koukl in real life situations. It is the most useful book on personal witness I have.The beauty of this book is that anyone can benefit from it. It is so accessible and practical. Koukl is a very engaging writer, and he uses illustrations and conversations from his own experience from which to glean lessons. This keeps your interest and helps you see the tactics in action.The book commences by talking about what is meant by the tactical approach and why it is valuable. Typical fears people have about engaging others in conversation about spiritual matters are addressed in chapter two. Koukl also presents the scriptural justification for apologetics, and shows that reason and evidence does not exclude dependence on God. We are encouraged to argue but not quarrel! “If anyone in the conversation gets mad, then you lose.”Chapters three to six get into the specifics. We are presented with scenarios and challenged as to what we would say. Koukl then provides sample answers, and as you look at his answers you see his approach – asking questions. This is the “Columbo Tactic” and everyone can and should master it.The remainder of the book gives help in finding flaws in the arguments of your opponents. Once you master these chapters you will find yourself applying the tactics to every argument you hear, and you will root out flaws quickly and easily.Throughout the book you catch Koukl's gracious and diplomatic way of dealing with opponents, and this too is a vital element of Christian witness.I can’t recommend this book highly or enthusiastically enough. Please get it.

This is one of those book that is easy to read and hard to put down once you begin. It has some helps and hints which are really interesting. Some 'clever' people may think it a little too condescending, but us mere mortals will enjoy it and I gleaned some interesting hints and helps.It is an excellent 'Book Club' read for Church. People can then discuss some of the things brought up in the book.I rarely enjoy a book enough to read it twice - but I will with this one, alongside a note book so that I can pass this info on in Church.

I have not read a book focusing on the practical nature of how to engage in conversations and hone our thinking.I was very impressed with the stories, examples and suggestions contained in this book. I was also very impressed with the clarity and simplicity that the author employed to explain potentially complex ideas in how to get us thinking logically.I was also impressed with the author's humility and compassion.The only area I disagreed with was the anti-evolution perspective, which I felt was given too much prominence; however that is a minor quibble in a book which I felt was excellent.

A most excellent book, the first part is outstanding in its ability for you to move a conversation forward. However there are a couple of instances, for me, in the second section where there are holes in the reasoning but this may just be making the argument simplistic for the books sake. This should not put you off however.

This is a great introduction to topic of how to present the Gospel cogently and at the same time gently expose weaknesses in the alternatives.