The tactical game plan helps you have conversations with people who don’t share your convictions by maneuvering carefully and productively in a relaxed, friendly way that provides safety for you.

The first step is to gather information by asking some form of the question “What do you mean by that?”

The second question reverses the burden of proof. Once you learn what a person’s view is, you want to know why they believe it. They made the claim, they bear the burden. Ask them, “How did you come to that conclusion?”

If you want to go further, the third step of the game plan is to make a point using questions.

You never want to abandon using questions during the tactical game plan because they give you latitude, liberty, and effectiveness without requiring you to take any responsibility on yourself.

You want to enlist the other person as an ally. Assemble your pieces by having that person help you put them on the table. If they put the pieces there, it’s going to be difficult for them to take the pieces off.

Here’s an example:

Somebody once said, “Prove to me that God exists.”

I said, “First of all, do you think that things exist?”

He said, “Yeah, of course.”

He’s just put a piece on the table—things exist.

Second question: “Have things that exist always existed?” In other words, is the universe eternal?

He said, “No, I don’t think the universe is eternal. It came into existence.”

Then I asked the third question: “What caused everything to come into existence?” There are only two options: Either something or no-thing.

I made an argument for the existence of God based on the cosmological argument. The universe came into existence. What caused it? It’s a very usable argument.

Notice how I got there. Instead of just throwing it out there, I am setting it up by asking questions so the other person gives me the pieces I need. Before I make my point, I ask questions to get the pieces on the table.

You may also want to exploit a weakness or a flaw. Use questions to do that. A young man once told me that I was judgmental. I asked the question “What do you mean by that?” He said, “It’s wrong to judge. It’s wrong to find fault with somebody else.”

Now he’s made another statement. I got a piece on the table and asked him, “If it’s wrong to judge, then why are you judging me right now?”

I could have said, “Well, you’re judging me!” That’s a claim. That’s an accusation. That’s a fight.

But if he says, “It’s wrong to judge,” then I hold him responsible for his own ethical view.

A little later he said, “I think it’s wrong to push your views on other people.”

Then I asked him a clarification question: “Is that your view?”

He said, “Yes.”

I said, “Then why are you pushing it on me right now?” Another question that keeps me safe. I’m not making a claim. I’m not advancing my argument, I’m using questions to point out a weakness or a flaw in that person’s view.

There are dozens of ways to do this that you’ll find out through practice. Start with your game plan and ask questions about the person’s point of view: “What do you mean by that?”

Then ask questions regarding the reasons that they have for their view: “How did you come to that conclusion?”
If you decide you want to go further, use questions to make a point. That is the most powerful and effective way of moving forward.

There’s no risk to you at this point. You are asking questions almost the whole time. You’re engaging in a friendly way. It is a wonderful way to powerfully make your point as a follower of Christ.