Five years before Dr. Phil started his schtick, my counseling professor in seminary taught us to confront destructive thoughts and practices that should be painfully obvious to people with two basic questions: “How’s that working out for you?” and “What do you think Jesus would say to you?”
Dan Phillips has a similar approach to confronting clichéd arguments against Christianity like “I just can’t believe that God would send anyone to Hell simply because he doesn’t believe this or that” or “I have a very personal relationship with God, and don’t need any books, churches, or saviors” or “All religions are basically the same” …
Here’s his response: “Why should I believe you instead of Jesus?”
A little too simple? Probably. But we like simple around here.