Great insights from a new generation apologist, Sean McDowell. Thanks, Sean, for encouraging our 20-somethings to stand strong in faith!
Evan
Josh McDowell’s son Sean is blazing new trails as an apologist to his generation. He offers great insights and advice in this interview about his life and ministry.
With such bestsellers as More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict in the 1970s, Josh McDowell sparked interest in Christian apologetics among both believers and spiritual seekers, creating a wave of popularity that has only increased over the decades. His son Sean (who, incidentally, was a seminary classmate with my son Kyle) is enthusiastic about training Christians and reaching seekers today.
Here’s a Q&A in which Sean talks about growing up as a McDowell, the lessons he learned from his dad, the challenges of reaching his generation, and his new GodQuest apologetics curriculum, published by my friends at Outreach.
• Your dad just celebrated fifty years of great ministry and is still going strong. As an apologist to a new generation, how is your approach similar – and different – to your father’s?
One of the things I deeply respect about my dad is his effort to continually be effective and relevant. Even though he is 72, he is at the top of his game. His message is still filled with Biblical truth, but he’s adapted the delivery for a new generation. One similarity between us is that we both use a variety of technological means to reach this generation (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, PowerPoint presentations, YouTube, etc.).
My father is first and foremost an evangelist. While I love evangelizing, I am a teacher at heart. Thus, I am working on my Ph.D. in apologetics so I can eventually teach at the college and seminary levels while continuing to work with high school students.
As far as our approaches, my dad cut his teeth in the free speech movement of the 1960s. He would debate, seize opportunities at Marxist rallies, and speak at unreceptive places like Berkeley. So he is very outspoken, bold, confident, and assertive. He was a “radical” for Jesus in the 60s. Although I debate and speak, I am more relational and conversational in my approach. It’s tough to be dogmatic about many things today, especially since there is always another perspective simply a Google away.
• What are the biggest obstacles to faith for the young people you encounter today? How do you address them?
There are three hurdles that I encounter the most – and these questions tend to be similar for both Christian and non-Christian youth.
First, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world? While this is partly an intellectual issue, I’m convinced it’s much more of an emotional topic for young people, even though few realize it. Whenever a young person asks me why there is suffering in the world I often say, “What a great question. I’m curious, of all the questions you can ask about God, why this one?” Typically I hear stories of divorce, abuse, neglect, and other hurts that cloud their ability to relate to a loving and caring God. I listen to their hurts, try to empathize, and when the time is right, share how the Christian worldview uniquely addresses evil and suffering.
Second, how can you say Jesus is the only way? The Internet has changed everything. Kids today are exposed to more worldviews in a week than their parents were throughout their entire adolescent years! Many kids also have friends who are Muslims, Wiccans, atheists, Mormons, and so on. One major study of youth revealed that 48% of evangelical youth believe Jesus is only one way to God. I’ve found it important to clarify the nature of truth so students realize that religions make objective claims to truth, not simply subjective claims. Students also need to realize that truth is exclusive by nature and that all worldviews are exclusivistic. And finally, Jesus uniquely claimed to be God and offered evidence to back it up (John 20:30-31).
Third, is homosexuality really a sin? This generation has been hammered with the message that homosexuality is a fully legitimate means of love, that people are “born that way”. And those who disagree are dubbed homophobic. Many in this generation also have friends who are openly gay, so it’s a personal question as well. They are often torn between their beliefs and relationships with their gay friends. In my experience, the best approach is to teach the truth with compassion.
• For the past twenty years or so there has been a lot of discussion about postmodernism and its effect on culture, especially students. What’s your assessment of that topic?
I tend to agree with William Lane Craig. He says people are relativists in ethics and religion but not in science or technology. Kids often say, “That’s true for you, but not for me” when discussing morality, but never in reference to math! As Craig points out, this is modernism, not postmodernism. Postmodernism is unlivable and self-contradictory.
In fact, what’s ironic is that the church has undergone an apologetics renaissance during the very period people have dubbed “postmodern”. If we were really in a postmodern culture, there would be no need or interest in apologetics. But the interest is off the charts! Many Christians were led to believe that apologetics is not important anymore in our so-called postmodern culture. What happened? The New Atheists wreaked havoc on unsuspecting Christians for the past decade.
With that said, I don’t want to entirely dismiss postmodernity. There are certain strains of postmodernism in our culture—suspicion of truth and distrust of reason—that must be addressed. As sociologist Christian Smith pointed out in Souls in Transition, younger generations do have some postmodern leanings.
• You teach at a Christian high school. What’s your overall evaluation of Christian young people these days?
It’s really difficult to generalize about all Christian students. Certainly they are tech-savvy, have shorter attention spans, and are hyper stimulated. There are also signs that many in this generation are emotionally hurting because of the continued breakup of the traditional family. Sadly, the moral differences between Christian and non-Christian youth are negligible. Many studies show minimal differences in the behaviors of Christian students and their non-Christian peers.
But I am also very hopeful about Christian young people. I meet many teens and young adults around the country, and get to teach many others, who are future great leaders for the faith. There is a significant segment of youth who really want to make a difference. Many are “doing the hard things” and rebelling against the immorality and low expectations of our culture.
• If you could encourage a young person interested in apologetics, what would you tell him or her?
First, start small. Take it one book or one tough question at a time. Give yourself time to grow and learn. Don’t feel like you have to figure it all out overnight. Second, make sure you are actually doing apologetics and evangelism, not just studying apologetics. It’s easy to read Christian blogs, watch Christian videos, go to Christian conferences on apologetics but never actually do it. And third, find a mentor.
• You worked with Outreach to create GodQuest. Tell me about this resource and what you hope it will accomplish.
Like you, Lee, I really have a passion for the local church, and it saddens me to see the level of spiritual confusion in our culture. A recent study showed that 43% of Americans say that it doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons. My heart is especially burdened for youth, and I think that many Christian youth are simply not prepared for the intellectual challenges that come their way. As a consequence, 59% of them disengage from the church after high school.
Even though there has been an abundance of great apologetics resources, there was still a need for a top-quality, easy-to-use introductory apologetics course that walks through the big issues (existence of God, reliability of the Bible, problem of evil, the uniqueness of Jesus, etc.). GodQuest is perfect for small groups, youth groups, churches, Christian school classrooms, and families. It’s a six-part DVD series with interviews by experts (such as you and my dad!), quality graphics, illustrations, and teaching sessions by me. I was even on site at the Dead Sea Scrolls caves for the lesson on the reliability of the Bible. We have guidebooks for participants, a leader’s guide, and additional resources to make it an entire church-wide series.
I’m humbled that over 2,000 churches have utilized GodQuest in its first few months. It was created in a way to either strengthen Christians in what they believe, or invite non-Christians to participate in an exploration of the reasons for the Christian faith. I have personally received reports of young people coming to Christ through GodQuest. I hope that many pastors and youth pastors who may not feel like experts in apologetics will nevertheless use the series to help strengthen their congregation and reach out to their communities.
• Not long ago, you did your first debate with an atheist. I listened to it online and thought you did great! How did you feel about that and do you anticipate doing more of these?
Thanks for listening to it! I prepped for that debate more than anything else in my life. It was quite stressful, but also a lot of fun, and an amazing learning experience. I could have done better in the cross-examination, but overall I feel very good about it.
I probably won’t debate again until I finish my Ph.D. I just don’t have the time! But when I’m done, I will jump at the opportunity to debate the right person. I am somewhat torn on debates, though. They certainly generate a lot of interest. But people tend to enter them with their minds already made up. I’ve found debates tend to embolden Christians more than convert non-Christians. However, this debate did open up relationships with many skeptics that I would not have been able to build otherwise. And the reports from Christian students who were encouraged by the debate have been quite humbling.
• What was it like to grow up as Josh McDowell’s son? What are some of the key values he instilled in you? What are some lessons you learned from his ministry that you’re applying to yours?
The older I get the more grateful I am for such a loving and caring father. And for those who don’t know his story, he grew up with an alcoholic father in a highly dysfunctional family, so he had to learn how to be a husband and father. If he can do it, anyone can.
I always knew my dad was famous, but it didn’t really hit me until I was at Biola University. Growing up in Julian, a small mountain town in San Diego county, enabled me to escape much of the typical pressures facing “preacher’s kids”. But at Biola everyone knew who my dad was. In the middle of class, one of my classmates said, “Hey, we have Josh McDowell’s son here. His dad wrote a book on this subject. I wonder what he thinks.” Needless to say, I felt added pressure at times.
My dad was probably gone about 50% of the time, which was often tough. Even though he worked harder at being a good dad than anyone I know, he still missed some games, practices, and other school events. Sometimes I really missed him. In retrospect, I wouldn’t change my life for anything. The people I met, places I went, and opportunities I had were truly priceless.
Here are the first lessons from my dad that come to mind. First, work hard at everything you do. I have never seen anyone work harder than my father. His success is partly due to brilliance, but also due to his astounding work ethic.
Second, there are two sides to every issue. Rather than jumping to conclusions, my father does his homework. He really tries to see all angles of every issue before taking sides. He’s said to me many times, “Son, there is always another side. Be sure to listen before rushing to judgment.
And third, believe the best in others. My dad truly gives people the benefit of the doubt. I have often seen him try to see the world from other people’s perspectives to see why they acted as they did rather than assuming the worst.
• There are lots of parents reading this. What would you say to them?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 offers the best parenting advice I have ever seen. The Shema is arguably the central passage of the Old Testament, and it was written to help the generation of Joshua maintain their faith in the foreign land of Canaan. A few things emerge that guide my own parenting.
First, love God with everything. Before trying to fix the behavior of young people, take an honest look in the mirror. All studies show that kids take their cues from their parents. We have more influence on our kids than Hollywood, MTV, and their friends. If we want kids who love and follow God we need to evaluate our own lives first. What am I most passionate about? Do I really love God? Would my kids say so?
Second, make God a part of the rhythm of life. My parents didn’t have formal devotional times, but they made God a natural part of all of our lives. We talked about God at different times, prayed together, and took family mission trips. God was not compartmentalized to Sundays, but a natural part of our family. I try to do the same with my own kids. Our culture separates faith from the rest of life, but Christianity is an entire world-and-life view.
Third, create a culture where kids are free to ask questions and doubt. Youth experts Kara Powell and Chap Clark report that kids who left the Christian faith had doubts that parents and other leaders did not give them room to process (Sticky Faith). I tell my son and daughter every night before bed that they can ask their daddy anything. Sometimes they stall with crazy questions so we don’t leave, but they do get the point!
• What would you say to youth leaders?
Studies show that three principles are most important for equipping youth today.
First, equip parents. Any effective youth leader must find ways to equip and challenge parents to reach their own kids. Rather than trying to be the “super youth leader,” will you find ways to make parents the heroes?
Second, kids need a biblical worldview. Studies are clear that kids with biblical worldviews are far more likely to live Christianly. Teach apologetics and worldviews, set up real interactions with non-Christians, and send kids to conferences such as Summit Ministries. You don’t have to be the expert.
Third, mentor students. While Jesus spoke to large crowds, he poured his life into twelve disciples with special focus on three (James, John, and Peter). Effective youth ministers find ways to connect adults and students together. Sadly, only about 1 in 4 students today report having a mentor. Yet kids with mentors are much more likely to live out the Christian walk for the long haul.
• One last question: can you tell me something about your dad that would surprise people?
A. Well, my mom beat my dad at bowling on one of their first dates. They’ve never been bowling since.
Sean McDowell is an educator, speaker, and best-selling author. He is the Bible Department Chair at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, where he teaches classes on theology and apologetics. He is the co-author of Is God Just a Human Invention?, Understanding Intelligent Design and More Than A Carpenter. His GodQuestcurriculum is available through, Outreach Inc. He and his wife Stephanie live in southern California with their two kids, Scottie and Shauna.
Josh McDowell’s son Sean is blazing new trails as an apologist to his generation. He offers great insights and advice in this interview about his life and ministry.
With such bestsellers as More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict in the 1970s, Josh McDowell sparked interest in Christian apologetics among both believers and spiritual seekers, creating a wave of popularity that has only increased over the decades. His son Sean (who, incidentally, was a seminary classmate with my son Kyle) is enthusiastic about training Christians and reaching seekers today.
Here’s a Q&A in which Sean talks about growing up as a McDowell, the lessons he learned from his dad, the challenges of reaching his generation, and his new GodQuest apologetics curriculum, published by my friends at Outreach.
• Your dad just celebrated fifty years of great ministry and is still going strong. As an apologist to a new generation, how is your approach similar – and different – to your father’s?
One of the things I deeply respect about my dad is his effort to continually be effective and relevant. Even though he is 72, he is at the top of his game. His message is still filled with Biblical truth, but he’s adapted the delivery for a new generation. One similarity between us is that we both use a variety of technological means to reach this generation (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, PowerPoint presentations, YouTube, etc.).
My father is first and foremost an evangelist. While I love evangelizing, I am a teacher at heart. Thus, I am working on my Ph.D. in apologetics so I can eventually teach at the college and seminary levels while continuing to work with high school students.
As far as our approaches, my dad cut his teeth in the free speech movement of the 1960s. He would debate, seize opportunities at Marxist rallies, and speak at unreceptive places like Berkeley. So he is very outspoken, bold, confident, and assertive. He was a “radical” for Jesus in the 60s. Although I debate and speak, I am more relational and conversational in my approach. It’s tough to be dogmatic about many things today, especially since there is always another perspective simply a Google away.
• What are the biggest obstacles to faith for the young people you encounter today? How do you address them?
There are three hurdles that I encounter the most – and these questions tend to be similar for both Christian and non-Christian youth.
First, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world? While this is partly an intellectual issue, I’m convinced it’s much more of an emotional topic for young people, even though few realize it. Whenever a young person asks me why there is suffering in the world I often say, “What a great question. I’m curious, of all the questions you can ask about God, why this one?” Typically I hear stories of divorce, abuse, neglect, and other hurts that cloud their ability to relate to a loving and caring God. I listen to their hurts, try to empathize, and when the time is right, share how the Christian worldview uniquely addresses evil and suffering.
Second, how can you say Jesus is the only way? The Internet has changed everything. Kids today are exposed to more worldviews in a week than their parents were throughout their entire adolescent years! Many kids also have friends who are Muslims, Wiccans, atheists, Mormons, and so on. One major study of youth revealed that 48% of evangelical youth believe Jesus is only one way to God. I’ve found it important to clarify the nature of truth so students realize that religions make objective claims to truth, not simply subjective claims. Students also need to realize that truth is exclusive by nature and that all worldviews are exclusivistic. And finally, Jesus uniquely claimed to be God and offered evidence to back it up (John 20:30-31).
Third, is homosexuality really a sin? This generation has been hammered with the message that homosexuality is a fully legitimate means of love, that people are “born that way”. And those who disagree are dubbed homophobic. Many in this generation also have friends who are openly gay, so it’s a personal question as well. They are often torn between their beliefs and relationships with their gay friends. In my experience, the best approach is to teach the truth with compassion.
• For the past twenty years or so there has been a lot of discussion about postmodernism and its effect on culture, especially students. What’s your assessment of that topic?
I tend to agree with William Lane Craig. He says people are relativists in ethics and religion but not in science or technology. Kids often say, “That’s true for you, but not for me” when discussing morality, but never in reference to math! As Craig points out, this is modernism, not postmodernism. Postmodernism is unlivable and self-contradictory.
In fact, what’s ironic is that the church has undergone an apologetics renaissance during the very period people have dubbed “postmodern”. If we were really in a postmodern culture, there would be no need or interest in apologetics. But the interest is off the charts! Many Christians were led to believe that apologetics is not important anymore in our so-called postmodern culture. What happened? The New Atheists wreaked havoc on unsuspecting Christians for the past decade.
With that said, I don’t want to entirely dismiss postmodernity. There are certain strains of postmodernism in our culture—suspicion of truth and distrust of reason—that must be addressed. As sociologist Christian Smith pointed out in Souls in Transition, younger generations do have some postmodern leanings.
• You teach at a Christian high school. What’s your overall evaluation of Christian young people these days?
It’s really difficult to generalize about all Christian students. Certainly they are tech-savvy, have shorter attention spans, and are hyper stimulated. There are also signs that many in this generation are emotionally hurting because of the continued breakup of the traditional family. Sadly, the moral differences between Christian and non-Christian youth are negligible. Many studies show minimal differences in the behaviors of Christian students and their non-Christian peers.
But I am also very hopeful about Christian young people. I meet many teens and young adults around the country, and get to teach many others, who are future great leaders for the faith. There is a significant segment of youth who really want to make a difference. Many are “doing the hard things” and rebelling against the immorality and low expectations of our culture.
• If you could encourage a young person interested in apologetics, what would you tell him or her?
First, start small. Take it one book or one tough question at a time. Give yourself time to grow and learn. Don’t feel like you have to figure it all out overnight. Second, make sure you are actually doing apologetics and evangelism, not just studying apologetics. It’s easy to read Christian blogs, watch Christian videos, go to Christian conferences on apologetics but never actually do it. And third, find a mentor.
• You worked with Outreach to create GodQuest. Tell me about this resource and what you hope it will accomplish.
Like you, Lee, I really have a passion for the local church, and it saddens me to see the level of spiritual confusion in our culture. A recent study showed that 43% of Americans say that it doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons. My heart is especially burdened for youth, and I think that many Christian youth are simply not prepared for the intellectual challenges that come their way. As a consequence, 59% of them disengage from the church after high school.
Even though there has been an abundance of great apologetics resources, there was still a need for a top-quality, easy-to-use introductory apologetics course that walks through the big issues (existence of God, reliability of the Bible, problem of evil, the uniqueness of Jesus, etc.). GodQuest is perfect for small groups, youth groups, churches, Christian school classrooms, and families. It’s a six-part DVD series with interviews by experts (such as you and my dad!), quality graphics, illustrations, and teaching sessions by me. I was even on site at the Dead Sea Scrolls caves for the lesson on the reliability of the Bible. We have guidebooks for participants, a leader’s guide, and additional resources to make it an entire church-wide series.
I’m humbled that over 2,000 churches have utilized GodQuest in its first few months. It was created in a way to either strengthen Christians in what they believe, or invite non-Christians to participate in an exploration of the reasons for the Christian faith. I have personally received reports of young people coming to Christ through GodQuest. I hope that many pastors and youth pastors who may not feel like experts in apologetics will nevertheless use the series to help strengthen their congregation and reach out to their communities.
• Not long ago, you did your first debate with an atheist. I listened to it online and thought you did great! How did you feel about that and do you anticipate doing more of these?
Thanks for listening to it! I prepped for that debate more than anything else in my life. It was quite stressful, but also a lot of fun, and an amazing learning experience. I could have done better in the cross-examination, but overall I feel very good about it.
I probably won’t debate again until I finish my Ph.D. I just don’t have the time! But when I’m done, I will jump at the opportunity to debate the right person. I am somewhat torn on debates, though. They certainly generate a lot of interest. But people tend to enter them with their minds already made up. I’ve found debates tend to embolden Christians more than convert non-Christians. However, this debate did open up relationships with many skeptics that I would not have been able to build otherwise. And the reports from Christian students who were encouraged by the debate have been quite humbling.
• What was it like to grow up as Josh McDowell’s son? What are some of the key values he instilled in you? What are some lessons you learned from his ministry that you’re applying to yours?
The older I get the more grateful I am for such a loving and caring father. And for those who don’t know his story, he grew up with an alcoholic father in a highly dysfunctional family, so he had to learn how to be a husband and father. If he can do it, anyone can.
I always knew my dad was famous, but it didn’t really hit me until I was at Biola University. Growing up in Julian, a small mountain town in San Diego county, enabled me to escape much of the typical pressures facing “preacher’s kids”. But at Biola everyone knew who my dad was. In the middle of class, one of my classmates said, “Hey, we have Josh McDowell’s son here. His dad wrote a book on this subject. I wonder what he thinks.” Needless to say, I felt added pressure at times.
My dad was probably gone about 50% of the time, which was often tough. Even though he worked harder at being a good dad than anyone I know, he still missed some games, practices, and other school events. Sometimes I really missed him. In retrospect, I wouldn’t change my life for anything. The people I met, places I went, and opportunities I had were truly priceless.
Here are the first lessons from my dad that come to mind. First, work hard at everything you do. I have never seen anyone work harder than my father. His success is partly due to brilliance, but also due to his astounding work ethic.
Second, there are two sides to every issue. Rather than jumping to conclusions, my father does his homework. He really tries to see all angles of every issue before taking sides. He’s said to me many times, “Son, there is always another side. Be sure to listen before rushing to judgment.
And third, believe the best in others. My dad truly gives people the benefit of the doubt. I have often seen him try to see the world from other people’s perspectives to see why they acted as they did rather than assuming the worst.
• There are lots of parents reading this. What would you say to them?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 offers the best parenting advice I have ever seen. The Shema is arguably the central passage of the Old Testament, and it was written to help the generation of Joshua maintain their faith in the foreign land of Canaan. A few things emerge that guide my own parenting.
First, love God with everything. Before trying to fix the behavior of young people, take an honest look in the mirror. All studies show that kids take their cues from their parents. We have more influence on our kids than Hollywood, MTV, and their friends. If we want kids who love and follow God we need to evaluate our own lives first. What am I most passionate about? Do I really love God? Would my kids say so?
Second, make God a part of the rhythm of life. My parents didn’t have formal devotional times, but they made God a natural part of all of our lives. We talked about God at different times, prayed together, and took family mission trips. God was not compartmentalized to Sundays, but a natural part of our family. I try to do the same with my own kids. Our culture separates faith from the rest of life, but Christianity is an entire world-and-life view.
Third, create a culture where kids are free to ask questions and doubt. Youth experts Kara Powell and Chap Clark report that kids who left the Christian faith had doubts that parents and other leaders did not give them room to process (Sticky Faith). I tell my son and daughter every night before bed that they can ask their daddy anything. Sometimes they stall with crazy questions so we don’t leave, but they do get the point!
• What would you say to youth leaders?
Studies show that three principles are most important for equipping youth today.
First, equip parents. Any effective youth leader must find ways to equip and challenge parents to reach their own kids. Rather than trying to be the “super youth leader,” will you find ways to make parents the heroes?
Second, kids need a biblical worldview. Studies are clear that kids with biblical worldviews are far more likely to live Christianly. Teach apologetics and worldviews, set up real interactions with non-Christians, and send kids to conferences such as Summit Ministries. You don’t have to be the expert.
Third, mentor students. While Jesus spoke to large crowds, he poured his life into twelve disciples with special focus on three (James, John, and Peter). Effective youth ministers find ways to connect adults and students together. Sadly, only about 1 in 4 students today report having a mentor. Yet kids with mentors are much more likely to live out the Christian walk for the long haul.
• One last question: can you tell me something about your dad that would surprise people?
A. Well, my mom beat my dad at bowling on one of their first dates. They’ve never been bowling since.
Sean McDowell is an educator, speaker, and best-selling author. He is the Bible Department Chair at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, where he teaches classes on theology and apologetics. He is the co-author of Is God Just a Human Invention?, Understanding Intelligent Design and More Than A Carpenter. His GodQuestcurriculum is available through, Outreach Inc. He and his wife Stephanie live in southern California with their two kids, Scottie and Shauna.
Five great questions of life: Life * Love * Learning * Labor * Leadership
Like Father, Like Son
Josh McDowell’s son Sean is blazing new trails as an apologist to his generation. He offers great insights and advice in this interview about his life and ministry.
With such bestsellers as More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict in the 1970s, Josh McDowell sparked interest in Christian apologetics among both believers and spiritual seekers, creating a wave of popularity that has only increased over the decades. His son Sean (who, incidentally, was a seminary classmate with my son Kyle) is enthusiastic about training Christians and reaching seekers today.
Here’s a Q&A in which Sean talks about growing up as a McDowell, the lessons he learned from his dad, the challenges of reaching his generation, and his new GodQuest apologetics curriculum, published by my friends at Outreach.
• Your dad just celebrated fifty years of great ministry and is still going strong. As an apologist to a new generation, how is your approach similar – and different – to your father’s?
One of the things I deeply respect about my dad is his effort to continually be effective and relevant. Even though he is 72, he is at the top of his game. His message is still filled with Biblical truth, but he’s adapted the delivery for a new generation. One similarity between us is that we both use a variety of technological means to reach this generation (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, PowerPoint presentations, YouTube, etc.).
My father is first and foremost an evangelist. While I love evangelizing, I am a teacher at heart. Thus, I am working on my Ph.D. in apologetics so I can eventually teach at the college and seminary levels while continuing to work with high school students.
As far as our approaches, my dad cut his teeth in the free speech movement of the 1960s. He would debate, seize opportunities at Marxist rallies, and speak at unreceptive places like Berkeley. So he is very outspoken, bold, confident, and assertive. He was a “radical” for Jesus in the 60s. Although I debate and speak, I am more relational and conversational in my approach. It’s tough to be dogmatic about many things today, especially since there is always another perspective simply a Google away.
• What are the biggest obstacles to faith for the young people you encounter today? How do you address them?
There are three hurdles that I encounter the most – and these questions tend to be similar for both Christian and non-Christian youth.
First, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world? While this is partly an intellectual issue, I’m convinced it’s much more of an emotional topic for young people, even though few realize it. Whenever a young person asks me why there is suffering in the world I often say, “What a great question. I’m curious, of all the questions you can ask about God, why this one?” Typically I hear stories of divorce, abuse, neglect, and other hurts that cloud their ability to relate to a loving and caring God. I listen to their hurts, try to empathize, and when the time is right, share how the Christian worldview uniquely addresses evil and suffering.
Second, how can you say Jesus is the only way? The Internet has changed everything. Kids today are exposed to more worldviews in a week than their parents were throughout their entire adolescent years! Many kids also have friends who are Muslims, Wiccans, atheists, Mormons, and so on. One major study of youth revealed that 48% of evangelical youth believe Jesus is only one way to God. I’ve found it important to clarify the nature of truth so students realize that religions make objective claims to truth, not simply subjective claims. Students also need to realize that truth is exclusive by nature and that all worldviews are exclusivistic. And finally, Jesus uniquely claimed to be God and offered evidence to back it up (John 20:30-31).
Third, is homosexuality really a sin? This generation has been hammered with the message that homosexuality is a fully legitimate means of love, that people are “born that way”. And those who disagree are dubbed homophobic. Many in this generation also have friends who are openly gay, so it’s a personal question as well. They are often torn between their beliefs and relationships with their gay friends. In my experience, the best approach is to teach the truth with compassion.
• For the past twenty years or so there has been a lot of discussion about postmodernism and its effect on culture, especially students. What’s your assessment of that topic?
I tend to agree with William Lane Craig. He says people are relativists in ethics and religion but not in science or technology. Kids often say, “That’s true for you, but not for me” when discussing morality, but never in reference to math! As Craig points out, this is modernism, not postmodernism. Postmodernism is unlivable and self-contradictory.
In fact, what’s ironic is that the church has undergone an apologetics renaissance during the very period people have dubbed “postmodern”. If we were really in a postmodern culture, there would be no need or interest in apologetics. But the interest is off the charts! Many Christians were led to believe that apologetics is not important anymore in our so-called postmodern culture. What happened? The New Atheists wreaked havoc on unsuspecting Christians for the past decade.
With that said, I don’t want to entirely dismiss postmodernity. There are certain strains of postmodernism in our culture—suspicion of truth and distrust of reason—that must be addressed. As sociologist Christian Smith pointed out in Souls in Transition, younger generations do have some postmodern leanings.
• You teach at a Christian high school. What’s your overall evaluation of Christian young people these days?
It’s really difficult to generalize about all Christian students. Certainly they are tech-savvy, have shorter attention spans, and are hyper stimulated. There are also signs that many in this generation are emotionally hurting because of the continued breakup of the traditional family. Sadly, the moral differences between Christian and non-Christian youth are negligible. Many studies show minimal differences in the behaviors of Christian students and their non-Christian peers.
But I am also very hopeful about Christian young people. I meet many teens and young adults around the country, and get to teach many others, who are future great leaders for the faith. There is a significant segment of youth who really want to make a difference. Many are “doing the hard things” and rebelling against the immorality and low expectations of our culture.
• If you could encourage a young person interested in apologetics, what would you tell him or her?
First, start small. Take it one book or one tough question at a time. Give yourself time to grow and learn. Don’t feel like you have to figure it all out overnight. Second, make sure you are actually doing apologetics and evangelism, not just studying apologetics. It’s easy to read Christian blogs, watch Christian videos, go to Christian conferences on apologetics but never actually do it. And third, find a mentor.
• You worked with Outreach to create GodQuest. Tell me about this resource and what you hope it will accomplish.
Like you, Lee, I really have a passion for the local church, and it saddens me to see the level of spiritual confusion in our culture. A recent study showed that 43% of Americans say that it doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons. My heart is especially burdened for youth, and I think that many Christian youth are simply not prepared for the intellectual challenges that come their way. As a consequence, 59% of them disengage from the church after high school.
Even though there has been an abundance of great apologetics resources, there was still a need for a top-quality, easy-to-use introductory apologetics course that walks through the big issues (existence of God, reliability of the Bible, problem of evil, the uniqueness of Jesus, etc.). GodQuest is perfect for small groups, youth groups, churches, Christian school classrooms, and families. It’s a six-part DVD series with interviews by experts (such as you and my dad!), quality graphics, illustrations, and teaching sessions by me. I was even on site at the Dead Sea Scrolls caves for the lesson on the reliability of the Bible. We have guidebooks for participants, a leader’s guide, and additional resources to make it an entire church-wide series.
I’m humbled that over 2,000 churches have utilized GodQuest in its first few months. It was created in a way to either strengthen Christians in what they believe, or invite non-Christians to participate in an exploration of the reasons for the Christian faith. I have personally received reports of young people coming to Christ through GodQuest. I hope that many pastors and youth pastors who may not feel like experts in apologetics will nevertheless use the series to help strengthen their congregation and reach out to their communities.
• Not long ago, you did your first debate with an atheist. I listened to it online and thought you did great! How did you feel about that and do you anticipate doing more of these?
Thanks for listening to it! I prepped for that debate more than anything else in my life. It was quite stressful, but also a lot of fun, and an amazing learning experience. I could have done better in the cross-examination, but overall I feel very good about it.
I probably won’t debate again until I finish my Ph.D. I just don’t have the time! But when I’m done, I will jump at the opportunity to debate the right person. I am somewhat torn on debates, though. They certainly generate a lot of interest. But people tend to enter them with their minds already made up. I’ve found debates tend to embolden Christians more than convert non-Christians. However, this debate did open up relationships with many skeptics that I would not have been able to build otherwise. And the reports from Christian students who were encouraged by the debate have been quite humbling.
• What was it like to grow up as Josh McDowell’s son? What are some of the key values he instilled in you? What are some lessons you learned from his ministry that you’re applying to yours?
The older I get the more grateful I am for such a loving and caring father. And for those who don’t know his story, he grew up with an alcoholic father in a highly dysfunctional family, so he had to learn how to be a husband and father. If he can do it, anyone can.
I always knew my dad was famous, but it didn’t really hit me until I was at Biola University. Growing up in Julian, a small mountain town in San Diego county, enabled me to escape much of the typical pressures facing “preacher’s kids”. But at Biola everyone knew who my dad was. In the middle of class, one of my classmates said, “Hey, we have Josh McDowell’s son here. His dad wrote a book on this subject. I wonder what he thinks.” Needless to say, I felt added pressure at times.
My dad was probably gone about 50% of the time, which was often tough. Even though he worked harder at being a good dad than anyone I know, he still missed some games, practices, and other school events. Sometimes I really missed him. In retrospect, I wouldn’t change my life for anything. The people I met, places I went, and opportunities I had were truly priceless.
Here are the first lessons from my dad that come to mind. First, work hard at everything you do. I have never seen anyone work harder than my father. His success is partly due to brilliance, but also due to his astounding work ethic.
Second, there are two sides to every issue. Rather than jumping to conclusions, my father does his homework. He really tries to see all angles of every issue before taking sides. He’s said to me many times, “Son, there is always another side. Be sure to listen before rushing to judgment.
And third, believe the best in others. My dad truly gives people the benefit of the doubt. I have often seen him try to see the world from other people’s perspectives to see why they acted as they did rather than assuming the worst.
• There are lots of parents reading this. What would you say to them?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 offers the best parenting advice I have ever seen. The Shema is arguably the central passage of the Old Testament, and it was written to help the generation of Joshua maintain their faith in the foreign land of Canaan. A few things emerge that guide my own parenting.
First, love God with everything. Before trying to fix the behavior of young people, take an honest look in the mirror. All studies show that kids take their cues from their parents. We have more influence on our kids than Hollywood, MTV, and their friends. If we want kids who love and follow God we need to evaluate our own lives first. What am I most passionate about? Do I really love God? Would my kids say so?
Second, make God a part of the rhythm of life. My parents didn’t have formal devotional times, but they made God a natural part of all of our lives. We talked about God at different times, prayed together, and took family mission trips. God was not compartmentalized to Sundays, but a natural part of our family. I try to do the same with my own kids. Our culture separates faith from the rest of life, but Christianity is an entire world-and-life view.
Third, create a culture where kids are free to ask questions and doubt. Youth experts Kara Powell and Chap Clark report that kids who left the Christian faith had doubts that parents and other leaders did not give them room to process (Sticky Faith). I tell my son and daughter every night before bed that they can ask their daddy anything. Sometimes they stall with crazy questions so we don’t leave, but they do get the point!
• What would you say to youth leaders?
Studies show that three principles are most important for equipping youth today.
First, equip parents. Any effective youth leader must find ways to equip and challenge parents to reach their own kids. Rather than trying to be the “super youth leader,” will you find ways to make parents the heroes?
Second, kids need a biblical worldview. Studies are clear that kids with biblical worldviews are far more likely to live Christianly. Teach apologetics and worldviews, set up real interactions with non-Christians, and send kids to conferences such as Summit Ministries. You don’t have to be the expert.
Third, mentor students. While Jesus spoke to large crowds, he poured his life into twelve disciples with special focus on three (James, John, and Peter). Effective youth ministers find ways to connect adults and students together. Sadly, only about 1 in 4 students today report having a mentor. Yet kids with mentors are much more likely to live out the Christian walk for the long haul.
• One last question: can you tell me something about your dad that would surprise people?
A. Well, my mom beat my dad at bowling on one of their first dates. They’ve never been bowling since.
Sean McDowell is an educator, speaker, and best-selling author. He is the Bible Department Chair at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, where he teaches classes on theology and apologetics. He is the co-author of Is God Just a Human Invention?, Understanding Intelligent Design and More Than A Carpenter. His GodQuestcurriculum is available through, Outreach Inc. He and his wife Stephanie live in southern California with their two kids, Scottie and Shauna.
Josh McDowell’s son Sean is blazing new trails as an apologist to his generation. He offers great insights and advice in this interview about his life and ministry.
With such bestsellers as More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict in the 1970s, Josh McDowell sparked interest in Christian apologetics among both believers and spiritual seekers, creating a wave of popularity that has only increased over the decades. His son Sean (who, incidentally, was a seminary classmate with my son Kyle) is enthusiastic about training Christians and reaching seekers today.
Here’s a Q&A in which Sean talks about growing up as a McDowell, the lessons he learned from his dad, the challenges of reaching his generation, and his new GodQuest apologetics curriculum, published by my friends at Outreach.
• Your dad just celebrated fifty years of great ministry and is still going strong. As an apologist to a new generation, how is your approach similar – and different – to your father’s?
One of the things I deeply respect about my dad is his effort to continually be effective and relevant. Even though he is 72, he is at the top of his game. His message is still filled with Biblical truth, but he’s adapted the delivery for a new generation. One similarity between us is that we both use a variety of technological means to reach this generation (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, PowerPoint presentations, YouTube, etc.).
My father is first and foremost an evangelist. While I love evangelizing, I am a teacher at heart. Thus, I am working on my Ph.D. in apologetics so I can eventually teach at the college and seminary levels while continuing to work with high school students.
As far as our approaches, my dad cut his teeth in the free speech movement of the 1960s. He would debate, seize opportunities at Marxist rallies, and speak at unreceptive places like Berkeley. So he is very outspoken, bold, confident, and assertive. He was a “radical” for Jesus in the 60s. Although I debate and speak, I am more relational and conversational in my approach. It’s tough to be dogmatic about many things today, especially since there is always another perspective simply a Google away.
• What are the biggest obstacles to faith for the young people you encounter today? How do you address them?
There are three hurdles that I encounter the most – and these questions tend to be similar for both Christian and non-Christian youth.
First, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world? While this is partly an intellectual issue, I’m convinced it’s much more of an emotional topic for young people, even though few realize it. Whenever a young person asks me why there is suffering in the world I often say, “What a great question. I’m curious, of all the questions you can ask about God, why this one?” Typically I hear stories of divorce, abuse, neglect, and other hurts that cloud their ability to relate to a loving and caring God. I listen to their hurts, try to empathize, and when the time is right, share how the Christian worldview uniquely addresses evil and suffering.
Second, how can you say Jesus is the only way? The Internet has changed everything. Kids today are exposed to more worldviews in a week than their parents were throughout their entire adolescent years! Many kids also have friends who are Muslims, Wiccans, atheists, Mormons, and so on. One major study of youth revealed that 48% of evangelical youth believe Jesus is only one way to God. I’ve found it important to clarify the nature of truth so students realize that religions make objective claims to truth, not simply subjective claims. Students also need to realize that truth is exclusive by nature and that all worldviews are exclusivistic. And finally, Jesus uniquely claimed to be God and offered evidence to back it up (John 20:30-31).
Third, is homosexuality really a sin? This generation has been hammered with the message that homosexuality is a fully legitimate means of love, that people are “born that way”. And those who disagree are dubbed homophobic. Many in this generation also have friends who are openly gay, so it’s a personal question as well. They are often torn between their beliefs and relationships with their gay friends. In my experience, the best approach is to teach the truth with compassion.
• For the past twenty years or so there has been a lot of discussion about postmodernism and its effect on culture, especially students. What’s your assessment of that topic?
I tend to agree with William Lane Craig. He says people are relativists in ethics and religion but not in science or technology. Kids often say, “That’s true for you, but not for me” when discussing morality, but never in reference to math! As Craig points out, this is modernism, not postmodernism. Postmodernism is unlivable and self-contradictory.
In fact, what’s ironic is that the church has undergone an apologetics renaissance during the very period people have dubbed “postmodern”. If we were really in a postmodern culture, there would be no need or interest in apologetics. But the interest is off the charts! Many Christians were led to believe that apologetics is not important anymore in our so-called postmodern culture. What happened? The New Atheists wreaked havoc on unsuspecting Christians for the past decade.
With that said, I don’t want to entirely dismiss postmodernity. There are certain strains of postmodernism in our culture—suspicion of truth and distrust of reason—that must be addressed. As sociologist Christian Smith pointed out in Souls in Transition, younger generations do have some postmodern leanings.
• You teach at a Christian high school. What’s your overall evaluation of Christian young people these days?
It’s really difficult to generalize about all Christian students. Certainly they are tech-savvy, have shorter attention spans, and are hyper stimulated. There are also signs that many in this generation are emotionally hurting because of the continued breakup of the traditional family. Sadly, the moral differences between Christian and non-Christian youth are negligible. Many studies show minimal differences in the behaviors of Christian students and their non-Christian peers.
But I am also very hopeful about Christian young people. I meet many teens and young adults around the country, and get to teach many others, who are future great leaders for the faith. There is a significant segment of youth who really want to make a difference. Many are “doing the hard things” and rebelling against the immorality and low expectations of our culture.
• If you could encourage a young person interested in apologetics, what would you tell him or her?
First, start small. Take it one book or one tough question at a time. Give yourself time to grow and learn. Don’t feel like you have to figure it all out overnight. Second, make sure you are actually doing apologetics and evangelism, not just studying apologetics. It’s easy to read Christian blogs, watch Christian videos, go to Christian conferences on apologetics but never actually do it. And third, find a mentor.
• You worked with Outreach to create GodQuest. Tell me about this resource and what you hope it will accomplish.
Like you, Lee, I really have a passion for the local church, and it saddens me to see the level of spiritual confusion in our culture. A recent study showed that 43% of Americans say that it doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons. My heart is especially burdened for youth, and I think that many Christian youth are simply not prepared for the intellectual challenges that come their way. As a consequence, 59% of them disengage from the church after high school.
Even though there has been an abundance of great apologetics resources, there was still a need for a top-quality, easy-to-use introductory apologetics course that walks through the big issues (existence of God, reliability of the Bible, problem of evil, the uniqueness of Jesus, etc.). GodQuest is perfect for small groups, youth groups, churches, Christian school classrooms, and families. It’s a six-part DVD series with interviews by experts (such as you and my dad!), quality graphics, illustrations, and teaching sessions by me. I was even on site at the Dead Sea Scrolls caves for the lesson on the reliability of the Bible. We have guidebooks for participants, a leader’s guide, and additional resources to make it an entire church-wide series.
I’m humbled that over 2,000 churches have utilized GodQuest in its first few months. It was created in a way to either strengthen Christians in what they believe, or invite non-Christians to participate in an exploration of the reasons for the Christian faith. I have personally received reports of young people coming to Christ through GodQuest. I hope that many pastors and youth pastors who may not feel like experts in apologetics will nevertheless use the series to help strengthen their congregation and reach out to their communities.
• Not long ago, you did your first debate with an atheist. I listened to it online and thought you did great! How did you feel about that and do you anticipate doing more of these?
Thanks for listening to it! I prepped for that debate more than anything else in my life. It was quite stressful, but also a lot of fun, and an amazing learning experience. I could have done better in the cross-examination, but overall I feel very good about it.
I probably won’t debate again until I finish my Ph.D. I just don’t have the time! But when I’m done, I will jump at the opportunity to debate the right person. I am somewhat torn on debates, though. They certainly generate a lot of interest. But people tend to enter them with their minds already made up. I’ve found debates tend to embolden Christians more than convert non-Christians. However, this debate did open up relationships with many skeptics that I would not have been able to build otherwise. And the reports from Christian students who were encouraged by the debate have been quite humbling.
• What was it like to grow up as Josh McDowell’s son? What are some of the key values he instilled in you? What are some lessons you learned from his ministry that you’re applying to yours?
The older I get the more grateful I am for such a loving and caring father. And for those who don’t know his story, he grew up with an alcoholic father in a highly dysfunctional family, so he had to learn how to be a husband and father. If he can do it, anyone can.
I always knew my dad was famous, but it didn’t really hit me until I was at Biola University. Growing up in Julian, a small mountain town in San Diego county, enabled me to escape much of the typical pressures facing “preacher’s kids”. But at Biola everyone knew who my dad was. In the middle of class, one of my classmates said, “Hey, we have Josh McDowell’s son here. His dad wrote a book on this subject. I wonder what he thinks.” Needless to say, I felt added pressure at times.
My dad was probably gone about 50% of the time, which was often tough. Even though he worked harder at being a good dad than anyone I know, he still missed some games, practices, and other school events. Sometimes I really missed him. In retrospect, I wouldn’t change my life for anything. The people I met, places I went, and opportunities I had were truly priceless.
Here are the first lessons from my dad that come to mind. First, work hard at everything you do. I have never seen anyone work harder than my father. His success is partly due to brilliance, but also due to his astounding work ethic.
Second, there are two sides to every issue. Rather than jumping to conclusions, my father does his homework. He really tries to see all angles of every issue before taking sides. He’s said to me many times, “Son, there is always another side. Be sure to listen before rushing to judgment.
And third, believe the best in others. My dad truly gives people the benefit of the doubt. I have often seen him try to see the world from other people’s perspectives to see why they acted as they did rather than assuming the worst.
• There are lots of parents reading this. What would you say to them?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 offers the best parenting advice I have ever seen. The Shema is arguably the central passage of the Old Testament, and it was written to help the generation of Joshua maintain their faith in the foreign land of Canaan. A few things emerge that guide my own parenting.
First, love God with everything. Before trying to fix the behavior of young people, take an honest look in the mirror. All studies show that kids take their cues from their parents. We have more influence on our kids than Hollywood, MTV, and their friends. If we want kids who love and follow God we need to evaluate our own lives first. What am I most passionate about? Do I really love God? Would my kids say so?
Second, make God a part of the rhythm of life. My parents didn’t have formal devotional times, but they made God a natural part of all of our lives. We talked about God at different times, prayed together, and took family mission trips. God was not compartmentalized to Sundays, but a natural part of our family. I try to do the same with my own kids. Our culture separates faith from the rest of life, but Christianity is an entire world-and-life view.
Third, create a culture where kids are free to ask questions and doubt. Youth experts Kara Powell and Chap Clark report that kids who left the Christian faith had doubts that parents and other leaders did not give them room to process (Sticky Faith). I tell my son and daughter every night before bed that they can ask their daddy anything. Sometimes they stall with crazy questions so we don’t leave, but they do get the point!
• What would you say to youth leaders?
Studies show that three principles are most important for equipping youth today.
First, equip parents. Any effective youth leader must find ways to equip and challenge parents to reach their own kids. Rather than trying to be the “super youth leader,” will you find ways to make parents the heroes?
Second, kids need a biblical worldview. Studies are clear that kids with biblical worldviews are far more likely to live Christianly. Teach apologetics and worldviews, set up real interactions with non-Christians, and send kids to conferences such as Summit Ministries. You don’t have to be the expert.
Third, mentor students. While Jesus spoke to large crowds, he poured his life into twelve disciples with special focus on three (James, John, and Peter). Effective youth ministers find ways to connect adults and students together. Sadly, only about 1 in 4 students today report having a mentor. Yet kids with mentors are much more likely to live out the Christian walk for the long haul.
• One last question: can you tell me something about your dad that would surprise people?
A. Well, my mom beat my dad at bowling on one of their first dates. They’ve never been bowling since.
Sean McDowell is an educator, speaker, and best-selling author. He is the Bible Department Chair at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, where he teaches classes on theology and apologetics. He is the co-author of Is God Just a Human Invention?, Understanding Intelligent Design and More Than A Carpenter. His GodQuestcurriculum is available through, Outreach Inc. He and his wife Stephanie live in southern California with their two kids, Scottie and Shauna.
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