From: billc@housing.msstate.edu (Bill Chapman)
Subject: Re: Now ... Just what ARE Polemics?
Organization: Housing Department, Mississippi State University
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 02:30:51 GMT

In article <CHRISTIA%92111814504796@ASUACAD.BITNET> Jesse Carnes <NOTJIC@LSUVM.BITNET> writes:
>Date:         Wed, 18 Nov 1992 15:29:42 CST
>From:         Jesse Carnes <NOTJIC@LSUVM.BITNET>
>Subject:      Now ... Just what ARE Polemics?
>Dear All on Christia ;
>
>I have received various and sundry definitions of "polemics" from almost
>every conceivable dictionary.
>
>Greg Bahnsen and Gordon H. Clark are two examples of great Systematic
>Theological polemicists of the 20th centurry.  The former lives in California
>and the latter is now deceased.  They both speak and write in a "polemical"
>style, where they organize their points in such as manner as to render
>a varient viewpoint as UNTENABLE.
>Their goal is to present Truth.  Once Truth is presented, then APPLICATION is
>easier to ascertain.  Without Truth first being presented clearly, application
>becomes a mere speculation at best.

>Jesse Carnes

A follow-up on Greg Bahnsen, a personal friend, and former teacher, may 
be instructive.  And I say this with much sadness of heart, because as a 
friend, I was unable to pierce the polemical style which was not just his 
style, but his personality, in order to help him see what that style was 
doing to his witness.

You see, it cost him his teaching position at Reformed Seminary.  Try as I 
might to get board members and other faculty to explain what was wrong with 
his teaching and why he had to go, all they ever said was, "It was not his 
doctrine, it was his personality."

I knew him in church;  I saw his love for the students who were clinging to 
his every word, but I heard about his debates with the other faculty members 
in faculty meetings.  That polemical style made him be perceived as 
pugnacious.  Perhaps he thought he wasn't being pugnacious, only polemic.
But it was not what he thought that counted;  how he was perceived is 
what counted.  And he was fired.

I also saw my denomination split, not so much by Greg, but by those who read 
his books and took his classes and adopted his polemical style.  To this 
day, Greg's great insight into the scripture and its application to our 
culture are either ignored, or seen as divisive, not because of the truth he 
explains so well, but because of his reputation as polemical.

The hardest part of all was for those of us who were trying to help him in 
the hard times.  Even though we were not trying to get him to stop 
proclaiming the truth, but to change his approach, he continued to use his 
great gift for logic and polemics, and refuted every helpful word, even from 
those who loved him.  What could we do?

Jesse, if you will listen, there are many of us who love you, who think you 
may have a fruitful ministry ahead, but want you to consider what your style 
does to most people.  If people tune you out because of your style, it 
really doesn't matter whether you are speaking the truth or lies, does it?

The problem is your free will, which is in bondage to your polemical 
nature.  You must make choices which will free you from this nature
that, unfortunately, turns off so many of those who love you.  The options 
are: 

1)  Listen to your brothers and sisters in Christ as they beg you to 
consider not only what you say but how you say it, and the weaknesses
of those to whom you say it.

2)  Keep on in your ways, combatting even your brothers, since you know
you have a firm grasp on the truth, and the truth is the most important 
thing.

I say this not just to Jesse, but to all the combatants (myself included) in 
these wars of truth, as I wish I had been able to say it to Greg Bahnsen.
I am glad you referred to Greg's writings.  They are remarkable, 
especially his perspective on Christian Ethics.  But remember his ways,
and their results in his life, as well.

--
Bill Chapman, Box 1262, Mississippi State, MS  39762
<BillC@Housing.MSState.edu>           (601) 325-2042
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