Students will be presented with a list of real-life apologetic scenarios (poste
Students will be presented with a list of real-life apologetic scenarios (posted below) which reflect a tension between our culture and the Bible. From that list, ONE scenario will be chosen, and the student will write a thoughtful reflection intended to resolve the challenge utilizing the approaches to the OT and NT modeled and discussed in class. The paper will be expected to reflect an understanding of our contemporary culture, as well as relevant, contemporary biblical scholarship. Be sure to ground your paper in solid biblical scholarship, as well addressing all the cultural and ethical aspects raised in the scenario. Chosen Scenario:
You and your spouse have raised a wonderful daughter who professed faith in Christ years
ago and took a vow of purity to remain sexually chaste until marriage. During her freshman
year at an evangelical Christian university, she suffered “date rape” at the hands of Christian
young man at the school. She was so emotionally wounded and ashamed of being raped that
she did not tell anyone but tried to deal with it on her own. Unfortunately, she began to show
signs of clinical depression because of undiagnosed PTSD and underwent a personality change
that baffled you and your spouse. When she returned to college for her sophomore year, she
was reluctant to date because of fear of rape—and understandably so. Unfortunately, she
suffered date rape a second time at the end of the year and decided to tell you and your
spouse. Although you were able to provide PTSD counseling and therapy for her, she
announced that she was “done” with men and would probably never marry since she no longer
trusted men. A few months later, you discovered a digital image on an Instagram post of her
and another young woman kissing one another passionately, then another post the next week
when she announced to the world, “I love this girl!” During the next several weeks, a number
of your Christian friends from your church contacted you to express concern, asking, “Has your
daughter become a lesbian?!?” Yesterday, your daughter called your spouse to announce that
she is now bi-sexual and planning to marry her lesbian partner. Your spouse is concerned that
she has rejected the faith and refuses to even consider attending the wedding. Your spouse
told you that you should also expect a similar call from your daughter tonight announcing her
engagement. In the meantime, you just received a voice mail from the pastor of your church,
saying that he has been informed about the lesbian posts on your daughter’s Instagram account
and that he needs to discuss whether he can allow you to continue to serve in a leadership
position in the church because of this. How should you respond to your pastor? How should
you respond to your Christian friends at church? How should you respond to your spouse?
How should you respond to your daughter when she calls tonight?