Book Review - Tactics 10th Anniversary Edition by Greg Koukl
Christian apologists have a tough task in today’s society. Not only is the message they convey in many ways running counter to today’s dominate culture, they also have to compete with practically every nonbeliever’s social and news media accounts’ daily doses of atheistic propaganda. Propaganda that basically reaffirms a decade’s worth of the public school system’s affirmations that materialism is the only rational position to hold. Affirmations that are conveyed both directly through instruction, and indirectly by omission of all other competing theories.
Those circumstances make the environment exceptionally daunting, leaving many Christians to deny their desires to lead friends and family to salvation. They are afraid of injuring relationships, making themselves look bad, and in the worst case scenarios, accidentally convincing someone to never follow Christ. An understandable position, to say the least.
Greg Koukl’s Tactics tackles all of that, arming readers with several methods of conversing that keep the apologist in control and minimizes the danger of conflict and alienation. Among Koukl’s favorites is a strategy he calls Columbo, appropriately named after Detective Columbo from the popular 1970’s TV show. Columbo utilizes lots of questions in various methods to both present Christianity’s case and intellectually challenge opposing worldviews. Mr. Koukl explains:
The key to the Columbo tactic is to go on the offensive in an inoffensive way with carefully selected questions that advance the conversation. Never make a statement, at least at first, when a question will do the job. There are dozens of fun ways to do this, and with a little practice it can become second nature.… It’s a habit that offers tremendous advantages.
Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an undesired sales pitch understands the uncomfortable feelings generated in the process. There are many Christians that believe their own evangelizing methods have the same effect in their audience, but it does not have to be that way. Mr. Koukl continues:
For one thing, sincere questions are friendly and flattering. They invite genial interaction by focusing on something the other person cares a lot about: herself and her ideas. “When you ask a question, you are displaying interest in the person asked,” Hewitt writes. “Most people are not queried on many, if any, subjects. Their opinions are not solicited. To ask them is to be remembered fondly as a very interesting and gracious person in your own right.
Sometimes the little things have the greatest impact. Using simple leading questions is an almost effortless way to ease spiritual topics into a conversation if they haven’t already come up, without seeming abrupt, rude, or pushy. Questions are engaging and interactive, probing yet amicable. Most important, they keep you in the driver’s seat while the other person does all the work.”
Mr. Koukl accompanies his Colombo tactic with a myriad of others, all of which he further clarifies using real-life examples and experiences. It all culminates into a great guide for any Christian looking for more ways to reach out and be more convincing. If this is your goal, I highly recommend this book.
