From time to time we at MPI church recognize the need to do public debates like Jesus, Paul, and the early church engaged in. We follow the guidelines that are most suitable for dialogue and allow the other party to share their ideas. At the same time, we strive to earnestly respond in truth and with the power of the Holy Spirit praying that the hearts of the people will turn away from error and come to the truth. Sad but true, some misguided Christians today in the church don’t believe public debates are biblical so below are just a few of verses that call for such activity to be done with the love and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- PAUL IN ATHENS AT MAR’S HILL: Acts 17:17-22, “17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious…”
- APPOLLOS WITH THE JEWS: Acts 18:27, “For he [Apollos] vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.”
- JUDE’S COMPELLING: Jude 1:3, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
- TOO MANY TO MENTION: If one were to just read the epistles it is clear that false doctrines are continually being addressed and refuted. See Galatians 1 & 3, Colossians 2, 2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Corinthians 11, and many more.
Below are the most recent debates we have hosted and made available for your edification!
MORMONISM
This was a discussion we had at our church in the Bible class with four Mormon missionaries. Our pastor, Joe Wyrostek, made the opening statement for Biblical Christianity. The Mormons would not allow us to record them or their responses. Thus, all we have is this presentation. We pray this video will help expose the truth of Christ and the errors of Joseph Smith.
ISLAM
Joe Wyrostek and Nadir Ahmed debate the subject “Who Is Jesus?”
INSTITUTE OF DIVINE METAPHYSICAL RESEARCH (IDMR)
Joe Wyrostek and Sam Shamoun tag team and confront the errors of IMDR (Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research) with some of their teachers.
CHRISTIAN ISRAELITE MOVEMENT
Joe did an online discussion with Carl Albert (a youtube blogger) on the subject of, “Is Salvation by Faith Alone?” He was from the background of the “Israel of God” based in Chicago. View the notes.
WOMEN IN MINISTRY (Christian Debate)
Story Behind the Debate: Joe had received an email forwarded from Matt Slick’s website (www.carm.org) giving a “rebuke” to all churches that ordained women and gave them authority as Elders in the church. Within 48hrs Joe responded and was on the live internet show with its host and author of the letter, Matt Slick, to debate the subject. The debate is between Christians and serves as a great example of civility with in-house disagreements. Below is the audio debate with Matt Slick and Joe on his radio show and here are our notes:
