March 10, 1989

Dear Dad:

I trust all is going well with you and Jeanne down there in sunny Florida...

Here's something that might interest you. Yesterday, I was invited by the Islamic Center of Minnesota to publicly debate a very well-known Islamic scholar on the subject of the Trinity at the University of Minnesota...

This (sort of) leads me to the main point of my letter. As you know, I teach apologetics here at Bethel. Apologetics is the study of defending the Christian faith against objections which non-Christians have and of presenting positive reasons for the truthfulness of the Christian faith... What you don't know. because I have never told you, is that I have you to thank for getting me into this field. I want to thank you for this. When I first became a Christian some 14 years ago, you were legitimately concerned that I had gotten myself involved in some sort of mindless cult. (It turns out you weren't very far from wrong at the time!) So you continually challenged by faith with questions and objections. I didn't much appreciate it at the time, but I certainly do now, and I love you for it. You forced me to think seriously and critically, about what I believed and why I believed it. You got me into apologetics.

After a year, however, our discussions about Christianity came to a halt. Your concern lessened, I think, as my Christianity became more mature and less "cultic" and narrow-minded. On several occasions since then I have raised the issue of Christianity in a general sort of way with you, but we've never really pursued the matter in much depth. And this brings me to the point of this present letter.

Dad, I would really love to enter into an in-depth dialogue with you about why I have continued to be a Christian for the last 14 years... No one can blame another person for wanting to share something which is most valuable to them with another person whom they love, and that is what I'd like to do with you. My faith in Jesus Christ, my experience of His saving power and love, is the single most precious thing in the world to me... I'd like to give you an opportunity to share with me all the reasons you have for not being a Christian, and I'd like you to give me the opportunity to share with you all the reasons why I am one.

Would you be willing to do this? ... Having one's faith challenged - whatever faith one holds - is always a good thing. If it can't stand the fire, a faith isn't worth holding - whether it is Christianity or atheism. So in love, let's challenge one another. What do you say?

Sincerely yours, with hope,

Greg

[quoted from Letters from a Skeptic (1994, Victor Books, pp. 13-14)]