Jury Duty for Jesus: Discernment in Apologetics

In my summer semester at Biola University, I took an Applied Apologetics course taught by J. Warner Wallace, author of Cold Case Christianity. The course emphasized putting our Christian Apologetics M.A. training into practice.

Jim shared a profound motto for engaging skeptics and those who disagree. Drawing from his experience as a detective, he used an analogy from jury selection, where jurors are categorized as “1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s.” Both the prosecution and defense aim for jurors who are fair and open-minded, typically 2s and 3s. Here’s how these categories work:

1s are overly biased, ready to convict without much evidence.
2s are objective but lean toward conviction if the evidence supports it.
3s are skeptical, believing the justice system can be harsh, but willing to convict when necessary.
4s are deeply distrustful of the system and unlikely to convict.

Jim applied this framework to Christian outreach:

1s are staunch believers, unwavering in their faith.
2s are committed Christians open to criticism and growth.
3s are skeptics but willing to consider Christianity if presented compelling evidence.
4s are firmly opposed to Christianity, dismissing believers as irrational.

Jim’s advice? Focus on 2s and 3s. Engaging with 4s often leads to frustration and wasted energy. Instead, invest time in those open to conversation and growth.

If you encounter someone dismissive of your faith, mentally label them a 4 and move on. There are plenty of 3s, 2s, and even 1s who can benefit from your time and effort.

Our mission is to advance God’s Kingdom, so let’s prioritize wisely and make our efforts count.