We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling around on social media, and you come across an argument against what you believe. Not only that, but you have to admit that they raise some pretty good points, and you’re not really sure how to respond. It seems like a pretty solid case.
That’s where Red Pen Logic’s Tim Barnett (Mr. B) comes in to reveal that many seemingly convincing arguments made aren’t as solid as they might seem. In fact, most of them usually start off with flawed assumptions. Mr. B seeks to expose and correct them.
As he explains, “A good teacher doesn’t merely tell his students that they’re wrong. A good teacher shows his students why they’re wrong so that they don’t make the same mistake twice. He corrects because he cares.”
Mr. B’s Red Pen Logic YouTube channel exposes the flaws in various arguments, especially those against Christianity but also including arguments against the pro-life movement and much more. Brandishing his red pen, he systematically explains the argument, marks the flaws in it and makes a few jokes along the way. Suddenly, the argument that you couldn’t answer now has so much red ink on it that you can hardly understand how anyone could hold it in the first place.
Who knew apologetics could be so much fun?
Mr. B is a part of a larger Christian group called Stand To Reason, a ministry whose mission is to “train Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make an even-handed, incisive, yet gracious defense for classical Christianity and classical Christian values in the public square.” This mission is reflected in Mr. B’s YouTube channel.
The content is not afraid to tackle arguments about difficult and controversial topics, including issues surrounding the LGBT movement, abortion and Christian beliefs themselves. And though someone may feel small bubbles of anger rise up in us when they hear him debunk arguments they (or even we) might hold, Mr. B’s explanations are filled with love and joy. He never attacks the person behind the argument but focuses on revealing why the argument itself doesn’t work.
If that wasn’t enough, he often takes the opposing argument a step further, showing how the argument might be improved or qualified – before he, once again, explains why even that won’t work. This is the philosophical equivalent of helping someone out of the pool before pushing them right back in – but in a loving way, meant to show that Mr. B cares to fully “assess bad thinking with good thinking.”
Nothing that Mr. B says should worry a viewer. However, many arguments that Red Pen Logic addresses deal with sensitive issues like abortion.
It is always important to back our faith up with facts. When we refer back to the Bible in stating our beliefs, we are using the Bible as evidence to back up our faith. In fact, the apostles had a high view of facts as well! In explaining the purpose of his Gospel, John writes that the reason he included the signs Jesus accomplished was “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ” (John 20:30-31).
And this wasn’t a one-off thing. The Berean believers were commended in that they examined the Scripture to see whether or not the gospel was true (Acts 17:10-15). Even Jesus used Scripture to prove that He was the Christ, as He “interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
Mr. B with Red Pen Logic makes a great case for apologetics, proving that believers can defend the faith not only with confidence but also with kindness. As Mr. B says, “sometimes the best way to combat bad information is to use good information.”
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
