Escaping the Clever “Kafka Trap”

Escaping the Clever “Kafka Trap”

Critical race theory is the latest worldview counterfeit. It plays the language game and relies heavily not on facts and evidence but linguistic arm-twisting. Let me show you what I mean:
Someone says, “If you say you’re not a racist, that just proves you are a racist.”
How would you answer?
I suspect you already see the verbal sleight of hand—the ham-handed attempt at rhetorical manipulation. If you admit you’re a racist, you’re a racist. If you deny you’re a racist, you’re a racist. Racist if you do; racist if you don’t.
The “You’re a racist either way” charge (called a “Kafka trap”) is just one current example of the kind of nonsense used by our own culture’s thought police to cloud our minds and confuse us. Racism exists, of course, but claiming all whites are racist because they’re white simply trivializes genuine racial bigotry.
The nonsense is obvious, but the charge still catches good people off guard. What now?
First, do not attempt to banter with such a person. Since it’s patently ridiculous that thinking you’re not a racist proves that you are, it’s obvious to me that no one who seriously offers this confused challenge can be reasoned with.
Saying so would be impolitic, though, so instead, try to slip in under the radar and catch him by surprise using the “Taking the Roof Off” tactic. Simply accept his approach, then turn the Kafka trap back on him. Here’s an example:
“I knew you’d say that, and I’m glad you did.” “What! Why?” “Because it proves you’re wrong.” “Huh?” “No one says that unless they’re mistaken. Don’t you see it?” “No.” “That’s even more proof you’re wrong. Sorry.”
Or…
“Do you know what ‘social justice’ means?” “Of course I do.” “That proves you don’t. No one who really understands social justice thinks he understands it.”
Like I said, nonsense. If your friend doesn’t get it when you use this tactic, don’t waste time trying to enlighten him. Just let it go. He’s confused, not you.
Here’s my point. Be alert for the linguistic baloney, and don’t be taken in by it. If it sounds silly, it probably is.

~ Greg Koukl

Truth is truth, whether I experience it or not. The Lord does not need my experience to validate His Word. Woke epistemology begins by saying something realistic - that everybody has their own perspective. But it loses sight of the fact that God's truth is true for everyone, regardless of their background or past experience. God's truth is truth at all times and in all places. God defines truth, not us - not our race, our experiences, or our own views. 

It is the strangest thing today. Personal experience matters and is validated [only] when you come to progressive conclusions, but not when you arrive at conservative convictions. Your voice must be heard when it speaks leftism, but not when it declares conservatism. You are true to your "heritage" when you embrace "social justice" but not when you hold to retributive biblical justice. 

Wokeness purports to have all the explanatory power for our political chaos. As I am at pains to say, it does not. In actuality, it biases us and leaves us with overly simple answers to complex questions.

~Owen Strachan

It’s not my job to save people!” Some personal advice on how to reach others

 

“It’s not my job to save people!”

Some personal advice on how to reach others

by Gary Bates

123rf.com

Published: 19 October 2021 (GMT+10)

Originally published in a CMI newsletter, March 2021

Several months ago, I wrote an article suggesting that the issue-laden year of 2020 could also provide us with good opportunities to present the Gospel, and also presenting how CMI was responding to the challenge. C.N. responded by baring his heart via email:

Admittedly, I am bad at evangelism. A lot of time I just get tired of the fighting against ignorance and hatred of God. Many times, people refuse to listen to logic and reason; just look at the state of the world today with gender, politics etc. So, a lot of times I take the position of why bother. I know it’s wrong, but I hate throwing pearls before swine or disturbing my peace because someone’s ignorance and foolishness is sorely vexing my spirit. These days, I only speak when I genuinely feel the Spirit commanding me to tell the truth and call out the lies being propagated (which admittedly still happens often). Then again, perhaps I am guilty of slight misanthropy. Humanity and even my own flesh sicken me with its sin nature and its reveling in its ungodliness. The love and support for wickedness in the world incenses me to my very core. So, a lot of times I figure, what’s the point in saying anything? I am young and to be honest, I wait earnestly for Christ’s return, as this world is suffocatingly evil and rotten to the core. I yearn for the future God promises of everlasting peace through the Son. If one is hurting and asks for the solution, then I will share gladly.

We can’t and don’t save anyone. Only Christ can do that.

I would like to flesh out some of the points I made in my response to him.

Creation is a foundation for our existence

At CMI we provide information to help people deal with the skeptical arguments and objections to biblical creation, which is ultimately an attack on whether God exists or not. As you could imagine, as a leading ministry providing information to undermine the dominant worldview of evolution, we get our fair share of hostile opposition, and especially our speakers when on the road. So, it is not like we don’t understand. But notice that when C.N. shares this information, he allowed himself to get frustrated and even dejected. This is a normal human response because we feel that our efforts are being rejected. But is it us personally that is being rejected?

I often have to remind myself of three things:

• It is not me that people are rejecting. Humans’ inbuilt sin nature is simply trying to reinforce their desire that there is no God. A default position from birth!
• It is not my job to save people. We can’t and don’t save anyone. Only Christ can do that.
• We are commanded to be a faithful witness. “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Instead of negatively reacting to opposition, we should see their questions as an opportunity to provide logical information they’ve never heard before.

The words “gentleness and respect” are often omitted when citing this passage. The first thing we should remember is that we are to win people over—people that God loves and who Jesus died for. So, it is not about winning the debate or argument. And remember, that when someone trots out the tired, old anti-creationist arguments, they are only doing so because that’s all they’ve heard via their education and the mainstream media. In one sense, it’s not their fault.

So, instead of negatively reacting to opposition, we should see their questions as an opportunity to provide logical information they’ve never heard before. If this information can undermine their own confident belief system, perhaps it will make them more open to receiving the alternative.

Some of you will have heard me mention this before, and I often do so when out on ministry to encourage the take up and sharing of creation resources. But I do so again because when one grasps that it’s not our job to save people, it is incredibly liberating. Once I realized this in my own walk, the transformation from being timid to being confident was immediate. Some tips.

1. If people ask questions or challenge me, then I respond and or counter-challenge with answers.
2. I don’t allow them to move onto the next question unless they acknowledge the answer—that is, until I can get a response. For example, if you’ve answered an objection, you should remind them that what they believed was therefore wrong.
3. Don’t allow questioners to dominate ‘the floor time’. Ask questions back about their views on evolution, for example. You would be surprised how little most know, because as mentioned earlier, they are only trotting out the old ‘garden-variety’ arguments.

“A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful” (Proverbs 14:25).

But what if they don’t listen?

Again, remember it is not you they are rejecting. I also keep in mind that the majority of people I witness to are unlikely to be saved. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13–14). I keep my expectations limited, after all, this is what Scripture says. Is this a defeatist attitude? Not at all. In all the years of ministry and the literally tens of thousands I’ve spoken to, I’ve often asked, “How many of you got saved the first time someone witnessed to you?” I can honestly say that the number would be fewer than ten people! What this tells us is that our witnessing is like a link in the chain, and this is why God wants us to be a faithful witness despite the seeming objections, because the Holy Spirit could be at work in someone’s life.

But of course, one can only provide answers if one is equipped. Maybe you are simply not confident when talking to others. In which case, be prepared by having some resources on hand like back issues of Creation magazine or our Creation Answers Book. And finally, let’s remember that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Be encouraged and remember that the harvest is actually plentiful (Matthew (9:37–38).