The Prophetic Apologetic: A Charismatic Approach to Christian Apologetics Paperback – October 24, 2020

I believe this is a must read for every Christian. We are all instructed to be prepared to answer questions regarding our faith. If you lost your zeal or just want to sharpen your knowledge this book is great tool for every believer.

Great book. Very informative!

I was impressed by this short volume. Ammon demonstrates his broad reading, incorporating a slew of well-respected philosophers and biblical scholars in his sources, including such names as William L. Craig, Gary Habermas, Michael Heiser, C. S. Lewis, Craig Keener, John Sailhamer, and Richard Swinburne. On this front, he offers an accessible summary of the landscape of Christian apologetics (primary in the context of atheist polemics). I found his conclusions judicious and well-nuanced. Having thought about these subjects for several years, I was often pleasantly surprised that Ammon had come to the same, eclectically-sourced conclusion as I had on my own. He also writes with an inviting candor to skeptics, never resorting to cheap shots at his opponents. As such, his guileless writing will be accessible for the earnest skeptic looking to wrestle with these timeless questions.Where Ammon fills in a much needed gap is his recognition of the inherent limitations of traditional, argument-based apologetics. He points out that rarely will one run across someone who converted to Christianity based solely on arguments for the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, plausible though they may be. Rather, most who identify as believers will admit of having a personal experience with God that stands as the main foundation of their faith. As such, he incorporates supplementary suggestions in each section on how direct experiences with God can be the primary vessel of drawing unbelievers to saving faith.Some of these are particular to the charismatic movement, including words of knowledge (God-given knowledge of the particulars of a person’s life), accurate prophetic words, miraculous healings, and exorcisms. Others, however, are common to all believers, such as specific answered prayers, direct testimony of the Holy Spirit, supernatural conviction of the presence of God, and more.While I enjoy delving into the wide field of apologetics, I am often disappointed with the lack of recognition of St. Paul’s statements in 1 Corinthians 1 & 2, where he derides reliance on plausible and intelligent arguments and expresses supernatural, God-given knowledge as the impetus for belief in the Gospel. Ammon successfully appreciates the value of syllogistic reasoning for the existence of God while always maintaining the primacy of the aforementioned spiritual truth. I look forward to anything he might produce in the future.

Many excellent works on apologetics deal with rational reasons for God's existence and the truth of Christianity. In this book, Jonathan Ammon does not neglect such arguments (in fact, he draws on such respected thinkers as Alvin Plantinga, Richard Swinburne, and others), but he breaks new ground by arguing for the centrality of experience in grounding belief. As a charismatic Christian, Ammon believes that God not only spoke in Biblical times but is currently speaking, and that God not only did miracles then, but He does them today. Therefore, we can demonstrate the gospel not only through rational arguments, but by introducing people to a living God.In taking this approach, Ammon is actually much closer to the biblical witness than most apologetics authors: " And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). The Prophetic Apologetic is an erudite and compelling book that combines reason and experience to argue for the truth of the gospel.