This episode po I will give an introduction on the idea of refuting arguments in relation sa apologetics. Nakita ko po na marapat na pag usapan natin ito dahil hindi tayo gaanong sanay sa mga environment na may confrontation. Filipinos kasi are known to be uncomfortable with conflicts or confrontations. Diyan siguro nagsisimula ang problema natin malimit sa apologetics. Apologetics does not present itself as a long, quiet walk on a beautiful weekend morning, but it is in the weekdays category - work and overcoming crises.
Sa isang survey na na conduct ng NeedGod.ph kung saan itinanong nila “What scares you the most when sharing the Gospel?” Only 1% ng respondents ang nag-mention for their reason yung lack of knowledge in presenting the gospel. All 99% said something in the form of rejection or turning down or dismissal na dahilan kaya natatakot sila makipag usap sa mga tao about the Gospel. This is the typical Pinoy pysche in a social environment such as Gospel-sharing.
To some parang nakakatakot naman na ministry ito kasi parang nate-threaten yung iyong amor propio o yung feeling ng self-respect and worth. Ayon na rin ito sa Filipino values development guru na si Dr. Tomas Andres na nagsabi sa kanyang aklat na Negotiating with Filipino Values na ang amor propio stands as one dominant feature ng social life ng isang Pilipino. Oo nga naman, kapag may public engagement ka, ang malimit na concern is either you will win or lose. Pinoy na pinoy na concern yang mawalan ng amor propio.
Filipinos do not accept confrontations easily. Dagdag pa ni Andres na ang Pinoy daw ay magha-harbor ng “persecution complex” in the presence of conflicts (Andres, 8). Ayon sa isang author at lecturer ng Asian Studies,
In Philippine society, direct confrontation is generally avoided. Where a question prompts a negative answer, a negative answer is not given, but something less direct. Instead of saying that one cannot be present at a particular event to which he or she has been invited, one will answer, “I’ll try.” In this way, the one inviting is not offended or embarrassed and neither is the one who was invited.*Ganyan tayo eh, huge on conflicts.
Bago niyo isipin na ako’y nakikipagtalo sa inyo, consider these words from a book I’m reading now on arguments --
If we lived in a perfect world, this book would be unnecessary for all of us would have everything we need and harmony would be universal. Yet even casual observation of simpler forms of life will show us controversy, creatures taking sides against one another: two opposing directions, perhaps the same colony, to to tug a beetle's carcass in opposing directions; Garfield the cat tricks Odie the dog out of a comfortable place to rest; one bird species drives another out of a desirable nestling or feeding area.†
Mas gusto sana natin na wala na lang pagtatalo. Dagdag pa din ng mga authors above,
Controversy is as old as humans; presumably, ancient peoples sometimes fought with words or fists over the last piece of mastodon meat, and they argued over whether to share with neighboring clans such valuable innovations as fire or the ability to shape flint into spear and arrow points.‡Ang trick sa totoo lang is to turn confrontations into amiable conversations. Hindi ko sinasabi that we get rid of arguing, ngunit i-objectify natin o “to treat as an object or cause to have objective reality.” Ang isang nakikita ko ay ang translation natin ng argument na pakikipag-talo. Hindi natin maiiwasan makipagtalo. Siguro pangit ang idea ng makipagtalo sa Pinoy dahil it evokes competition. Maski pa palasak nating palitan ang word na "makipagtalo" with "makipagpanalo" hindi na kaila na ang idea natin ng argument ay pangit. Ika nga ng isa pang aklat,
To many, the word argument connotes anger and hostility, as when we say, "I just got in a huge argument with my roommate," or "My mother and I argue all the time." What we picture here is heated disagreement, rising pulse rates, and an urge to slam doors. Argument imagined as fight conjures images of shouting talk-show guests, name-calling letter writers, or fist-banging speakers. §Tila baga sa atin pag may argument, may mainit na alitan. We have to re-evaluate this cultural set up ng Pinoy on "argument" and "argumentation."
Apologetics settles itself in the context of adversity. The basic definition of apologetics which is the “defense of the faith” suggests that there are objections, or questions, or doubts that put pressure on one’s faith -- be it coming from your own doubts or from other people’s. If one automatically runs away from these types of situations, then one has an unrealistic view of the facts of the Christian life. Sabi nga ni Queen Elinor kay Merida sa Disney-Pixar movie na Brave, "We can't just run away from who we are.”
Kaya siguro the mere mention of apologetics puts discomfort sa mga Christians kasi it might involve debates, refutations and argumentation na sa isang public setting ay maaring mag-result na mapahiya sila.
Oo may disadvantage na harapin ang confrontation kasi may stress siyang involved. However, maski maaring mangyari ang adversities (o kahirapan) sa mundo, kailangan nating harapin ang marami dito bilang mananampalataya and from there turn to a wider vision of God for the situation He puts us in. In doing so, facing these adversities gives breath to our understanding of the blessings of God in us. Parang si Apostle Paul na may adversity na “thorn in the flesh” sa 2 Corinthians 12 kung saan binanggit niya sa verse 8, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me” subalit hindi ito inalis ng Panginoon. Paul then faced that reality ng kanyang sitwasyon at nabigyan ito ng bagong kahulugan dahil sa tugon ng Diyos,
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)Apologetics allows facing adversities. This should not put a Christian to despair. There is another resolve when you face adversity that is exemplified by the Lord Jesus Himself. When He was agonizing in prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane because of his imminent crucifixion, He said “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me” (Luke 22:42a). That’s the adversity. Jesus took another step, saying to the Father, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42b). Jesus knows that the very reason He was here in this world was to display divine action as divine grace from the Father to save His people. Likewise, believers like you and me, must take that extra step when when confronted with adversity. Jesus told us we will have them: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33), but notice that this fact is sandwiched by two other facts, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Yes papayag ka for certain adversities to settle up, however because you are a child of God, one who has received gracious divine actions to save you, you have a bigger vision than these adversities. Ganyan ang diskarte sa apologetics.
Itutuloy ko na lang po sa susunod na episode ang pagpapatuloy nito. Sana ay sumubaybay pa rin kayo. Kung nais ninyong ma-access ang manuscript ng episode na ito, punta lamang kayo sa FB page na Kaliwanagan Kay Kristo, paki like na din lang po para lumaki ang ating Kaliwanagan FB community.
__________
* Damon Woods, The Philippines: A Global Studies Handbook, 245.
† J. Karl Nicholas and James Nicholl, Effective Argument (Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1991), 8.
‡ Ibid
§ John D. Ramage, John C. Bean and June Johnson, Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric With Readings (multiple places: Pearson Longman, 2004, 6th edition), 3.
PS
#neighborology VS SOUND DOCTRINE
Naalala ko last year nang may post na ganito ang #neighborology --
“It does not help that the popular way people nowadays know of speaking the truth is by proving others wrong."
Sabi naman ng Titus 1:9
“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
Para bagang ang mag argue is prohibited sa Scripture.
Sabi ni Brian Chilton,
"the Bible presents several examples where people came to faith or were persuaded to faith by various argumentations. For instance, the miracles and teachings of Jesus provided a case for His claim to be Messiah. The miracles served as a sign. Why were such signs offered? Signs were provided to present an argument for the Messianic claims of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus argues that “the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me” (John 5:36). In addition, Jesus challenged His adversaries to “search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). Other examples could be offered such as Paul’s defense of the faith before various groups of people, including the Athenians. Consider Philip’s argumentation to the Ethiopian that Isaiah 53 referred to Jesus of Nazareth."
No comments:
Post a Comment