To approach debate from a biblical worldview means to begin with Christian presuppositions in place and formulate arguments accordingly. Christian competitors have a starting point of common ground that does not need to be established or debated in competition rounds, and they should have plenty of room for civil discussions without either side compromising their faith.
Our league does not not have any rules that directly address using the Bible in debate rounds. However, there are important differences between approaching debate from a biblical worldview and using the Bible against fellow Christians to win arguments. Therefore, it is important for competitors to think carefully about using the Bible to accuse an opponent or an opponent’s position (or a side of the resolution) of being in opposition to Scripture.
As a first principle, all participants need to keep in mind that NCFCA debate is an academic exercise intended to prepare competitors for communication in real-world situations–not just in Christian circles. While the foundational beliefs of our league unapologetically affirm that the Bible is the ultimate standard of truth, we must also acknowledge that members of the public, including many of our Community Judges, do not accept its authority in the same way we do. If we want to improve our ability to persuade broad audiences in a winsome manner, we must hold ourselves to truths that are grounded in Scripture while formulating arguments in a way that takes the audience into account. Using scripture like a trump card does not persuade people who do not accept the authority of Scripture in the same way Christians do, and it does not reflect well on our witness as fellow Christians striving to communicate with integrity and grace if people see us using the Bible against one another.
A second crucial consideration is honoring fellow competitors. Many debaters understandably feel attacked when an opponent quotes the Bible in a way that seems to accuse them (or their position) of being unbiblical. When Christian debaters quote the Bible in a Christian league, it can make opponents feel like they are being accused of arguing against God Himself. NCFCA takes great care to write debate resolutions that allow for plenty of morally defensible cases and arguments on both sides. NCFCA resolutions will never force competitors to take a position against the Bible, and our Debate Competition Material Policy forbids teams from advocating positions which are blatantly contrary to our Foundational Beliefs. With this common ground established, competitors should never attempt to box opponents into arguing against God’s Word.
So, how should a competitor respond if an opponent seems to be using Scripture to win an argument? First, remember to be gracious and think the best regarding motives. Often, novice competitors have not had a chance to think through the implications of wielding Scripture and do not intend to be unsportsmanlike. To address the issue, we encourage competitors to politely explain for both the judge and the opponent that the truth of the Bible and the standards of Christianity are not intended to be up for debate in the round. Instead, it is the resolution that is up for debate. It may also be helpful to remind both parties about the academic nature of the event and explain that Christians can disagree on plenty of issues without violating their faith or conscience.
- To establish or reestablish common ground, debaters might say things like, “I’m sure my opponent agrees that God created all things” or “Because my opponent and I agree that the world that God created is real, we can set aside questions about whether or not this world actually exists.”
- If an opponent attempts to characterize an argument as unbiblical, they can say something like, “We both share a commitment to Scripture. That’s not up for debate. I believe there is a biblical basis for both rationalism and empiricism, and questions of applying Scripture to something like which type of knowledge should be valued above another will always be debatable among Christians. Although the Bible supports both views, it does not say which one should be valued above another. That’s for us to debate while we both remain committed to our faith.”
With all of the above cautions, it is still important to remember that competitors are not banned from referring to the Bible. In the event that an opponent is clearly advocating a position that seems blatantly contrary to Scripture, you should do your best to handle the situation with grace and tact but also feel free to debate in accordance with your honest convictions. If arguments seem to violate the NCFCA Debate Competition Material Policy, the situation should be referred to Tournament Administration for further investigation.
In conclusion, we rejoice in the fact that each season, hundreds of passionate debates happen in our league that are full of grace, truth, and respect. Almost without exception, our competitors exemplify exactly what it means to debate real-world issues with passion and grit from a biblical worldview.
