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APOLOGETICS FIELD-BASED ACTIVITY: WORLD RELIGIONS/CULTS TEMPLATE
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Instructions for this submission
The purpose of the activity is to provide you with an opportunity to construct a short
argument for orthodox Christianity against a world religion or cult while anticipating
possible objections to that argument and then sharing that argument “in the field.” In the
sections provided below, you will insert your constructed argument and possible objections; you
will enter the date, time, setting, and short description of the person with whom you share the
argument; and a short reflection on the sharing experience.
1. Construct a short argument for orthodox Christianity against a world religion or
cult while anticipating possible objections.
a. Type below the list, the name of the world religion or cult that you will be
addressing (limit yourself to one of argument):
Jehovah’s Witnesses
a. Lay out your argument as you plan to use it in the conversation you will be
having.
Jehovah’s Witnesses hold the belief that significant human effort is required for
salvation. However, the Bible emphasizes that salvation is not achieved through
human works but through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states, “For it
is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”1 While good works are a
natural outcome of a believer's life, they are not the means of salvation. Instead, they
reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit within the individual, leading them to live in
obedience to God’s will (James 2:17). In contrast, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that
salvation is a combination of faith and works, diverging from the biblical teaching
that salvation is entirely a gift of grace.2
One more key difference between Christianity and Jehovah’s Witnesses lies in the
nature of Jesus Christ. Christianity asserts that Jesus is fully God, eternal, and
1 Paul Gould, Travis Dickinson, and Keith Loftin, Stand Firm: Apologetics and the Brilliance of
the Gospel (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018), 195.
2 Ibid.
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uncreated, as affirmed in John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through
Him all things were made.” Conversely, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is a
created being and not fully divine, which fundamentally alters the understanding of
His role as Savior. Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of knowing His true
identity and the Father’s. In John 17:3, He declared, “Now this is eternal life: that
they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
If an individual misunderstands or misrepresents the true nature of Jesus Christ, they
risk misunderstanding the Father as well. To have eternal life, one must fully
acknowledge and accept Jesus Christ as He is revealed in Scripture. The recognition
of Christ’s deity and His role as the sole Savior is essential for a relationship with
God and the assurance of eternal life (John 14:6).3
b. Anticipate and state in complete sentences two to three possible objections to
your argument.
Was Jesus Christ truly God in the flesh, or merely a heavenly servant?
Is it necessary to perform good works to be called into heaven?
Can someone earn their way into heaven through good deeds alone?
c. Explain how you would address those objections in a short conversation.
Objection 1: Was Jesus Christ truly God in the flesh, or merely a heavenly servant?
The divinity of Jesus Christ is central to Christianity and is supported throughout
Scripture. John 1:1-3 declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him
all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” This
passage identifies Jesus (the Word) as both eternal and divine, involved in creation
itself.
Additionally, Colossians 2:9 affirms, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives
in bodily form.” Jesus is not a created being or mere servant; He is fully God,
incarnated to dwell among humanity. His divinity is further evidenced when Thomas
addressed Him after His resurrection, saying, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28),
a statement Jesus accepted without correction.
Objection 2: Is it necessary to perform good works to be called into heaven?
While it is true that a sinful life is incompatible with salvation, the Bible emphasizes
that salvation is not earned by good works but is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9
states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” This
underscores that salvation is granted by God’s grace, not by human effort.
However, genuine salvation leads to a transformation of character and behavior.
James 2:17 explains, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” This
means that while good works do not save, they are evidence of a faith that is alive and
3 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New International
Version
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active. As followers of Christ, we are called to live lives that reflect our faith, walking
in obedience to God (Titus 3:8).
Objection 3: Can someone earn their way into heaven through good deeds alone?
The Bible is clear that no one can earn salvation through their own efforts. Isaiah 64:6
reminds us that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” This illustrates that even
the best human deeds fall short of God’s holy standard.
Salvation comes exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I
am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.” This makes it clear that access to heaven is not achieved by works but through a
relationship with Christ.
At the same time, good deeds are a natural response to salvation. Ephesians 2:10
explains, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.” These works are the result of a saved
life, not the means to achieve salvation.
By addressing these objections with Scripture, we can provide a biblically sound
understanding of salvation, the nature of Jesus, and the relationship between faith and
works.
2. Sharing your argument for orthodox Christianity against a world religion or cult.
a. Identify the time and place in which you had the conversation.
For this assignment, I coordinated the time and location to accommodate the soldier
participating in the event. Since our schedules did not align, I chose to hold the
meeting on his non-duty day, Friday, February 21th, at noon during lunchtime, at the
Community Service Center. To make the gathering more inviting, I extended an
invitation for lunch as part of our conversation.
b. Identify the setting (coffeeshop, online, text, etc. It must, however, be a
conversation and not a monologue):
Our meeting took place at the Fort Greely Community Center, where I invited my
discussion partner to share a meal while engaging in a meaningful conversation about
faith. The purpose of this gathering was to explore one of the key challenges to faith
—understanding and addressing Christian cults. Groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses
often identify as Christian yet deviate from orthodox Christian beliefs in essential
ways. By creating a warm and inviting environment, the goal was to promote open
dialogue and encourage thoughtful consideration of this important topic.
c. Identify your conversation partner (no names please): unbeliever, believer;
uncertain; knowledge level, attitude of partner (antagonistic, interested,
doubtful, devil’s advocate).
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For this assignment, I will respect my partner's privacy by keeping his identity
confidential. He is a fellow service member I have worked alongside for several years
at Fort Greely. Though he is senior to me in both rank and age, our professional
relationship is built on mutual respect, particularly because of the mentorship and
guidance he has offered. Having grown up in a household where his father was a
pastor, he is well-versed in religious teachings but has expressed that he does not
personally subscribe to those beliefs. In our prior discussions, he has highlighted the
significance of moral values in society but attributes their foundation to secular
origins rather than religious ones. While this topic was not the primary focus of our
most recent conversation, it has informed my understanding of his perspective.
3. Reflection in which you describe how the conversation went, the reaction of your
conversation partner both during and after the presentation of the argument, what
you might have done differently, and how you feel after presentation about the
strength of the argument.
a. Describe details about how the conversation went.
The conversation unfolded in a thoughtful and respectful manner, with the
discussion centered on key differences between Christian teachings and the
beliefs held by Jehovah's Witnesses. I began by addressing the topic of salvation,
emphasizing that the Bible teaches salvation is a gift of grace through faith in
Jesus Christ, not something earned through human effort. I referenced Ephesians
2:8-9, which underscores this truth, stating that salvation “is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” This opened the
door for us to explore how good works, while important, are a natural result of a
believer’s faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit, as James 2:17 illustrates:
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” My partner listened
attentively, asking questions to clarify how this differs from the Jehovah’s
Witness belief that faith and works are both required for salvation.
We then transitioned to discussing the nature of Jesus Christ, a fundamental
distinction between Christianity and Jehovah’s Witnesses. I highlighted John 1:1-
3, which affirms Jesus’ divinity, eternal nature, and uncreated existence: “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
This biblical affirmation of Jesus’ deity stood in contrast to the Jehovah’s Witness
belief that Jesus is a created being and not fully divine. To further illustrate the
importance of recognizing Jesus’ true identity, I shared John 17:3: “Now this is
eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you
have sent.”
Throughout the discussion, my partner engaged thoughtfully, sharing his
understanding of the Jehovah’s Witness perspective and expressing curiosity
about the differences. While he did not fully agree with the Christian perspective,
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he appreciated the scriptural basis provided for the points made. This respectful
exchange allowed for meaningful dialogue, fostering a better understanding of the
essential truths of the Christian faith.
b. Describe the reaction of your conversation partner both during and after the
presentation of the argument.
During the presentation of the argument, my conversation partner appeared
thoughtful and engaged, actively listening to the points I raised and occasionally
nodding in acknowledgment. He asked clarifying questions, particularly about the
scriptural references supporting the distinction between faith and works in
salvation and the nature of Jesus Christ as fully divine. His questions indicated a
genuine curiosity and a willingness to explore these theological differences. After
the discussion, he expressed appreciation for the respectful and well-supported
approach I took in presenting my beliefs. While he did not fully agree with the
Christian perspective, he acknowledged the clarity and coherence of the argument
and noted that it gave him a new perspective to consider. His overall demeanor
reflected openness and a willingness to continue exploring these profound topics
in future conversations.
c. Describe what you might have done differently.
In reflecting on the conversation, I realize that I could have approached certain
aspects differently to enhance the discussion. For instance, I might have spent
more time asking open-ended questions to better understand my partner’s
perspective and experiences, which could have created an even stronger
foundation for dialogue. Additionally, incorporating more real-life analogies or
stories to illustrate theological concepts, such as the role of grace versus works in
salvation, might have made the discussion more relatable and impactful. I also
recognize the value of addressing potential misconceptions earlier in the
conversation to prevent any misunderstandings. Lastly, providing my partner with
follow-up resources, such as a book or article that elaborates on the points
discussed, could have offered him an opportunity to reflect further at his own
pace.
d. Describe what you feel after the presentation about the strength of the
argument.
After the presentation, I felt confident about the strength of the argument,
particularly in how it aligned with the teachings of Scripture and addressed key
theological differences between Christianity and Jehovah’s Witnesses. The
inclusion of biblical references, such as Ephesians 2:8-9 and John 17:3, provided
a solid foundation for the discussion and reinforced the points made. I was
encouraged by the clarity with which the argument presented the distinction
between salvation by grace and salvation through works, as well as the emphasis
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on Jesus’ true identity as both fully God and Savior. However, I also reflected on
areas where the argument could be further refined, such as anticipating additional
questions or challenges my partner might have raised. Overall, I felt the argument
was well-grounded and effective, offering a thoughtful and respectful approach to
a sensitive topic.
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