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| Called to Defend the Faith? |
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| I remember sitting in a college classroom one day at Indiana University and the professor, with a sinister predatory glee, began to offer a barrage of arguments that were geared towards undermining the Christian faith. I don’t remember exactly what the arguments were but I remember being overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness, not knowing how to defend my faith. After he finished his tirade, I walked out of that classroom determined never to allow that to happen again. This experience motivated me to learn how to defend my faith.
The Biblical Mandate
I began to study apologetics and found that the Bible calls for every Christian, at least at some level, to engage in this exercise. I found out that the word apologetics is a word that is transliterated from the Greek word, apologia (απολογία), meaning to give an answer. This Greek word is mentioned eight times (Acts 22:1; 25:16; 1 Cor. 9:3; 2 Cor. 7:11; Phil. 1;7; Phil. 1:17; 2 Tim. 4:16, and 1 Pet. 3:15) but the most frequently quoted Scripture referring to this word is the passage in I Peter. It says,
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (I Peter 3:15, NIV). Purpose #1 - Personal Evangelism
I believe that there are two purposes for apologetics. The first purpose is for personal evangelism. At this level the focus is on winning individuals to Christ, and the only qualification is to be able to offer a reasonable defense for the Christian faith. Most people who engage in apologetics do so at this level. The emphasis tends to be for individuals to acquire a broad understanding of how to defend certain attacks. This is the level in which I find myself. Since I am a pastor, I am called to protect the flock with which God has entrusted me. Therefore, it is my responsibility to have a certain level of understanding of contrary beliefs which challenge the faith. In none of these levels, am I by any means an expert. However, through years of study, I have attained a certain level of proficiency in many areas, in order to defend my faith against attacks or answer those who simply just have questions. If the average Joe challenged me with his or her evolutionary beliefs, I am confident that I could offer a reasonable defense. However, if I was on a college campus, and I was debating a professor whose expertise was in, say, evolution, I would be in trouble. Why? I do not have an expertise in that discipline. Consequently, if you or I are going to debate at that level a more focused approach is required: an expertise in one area of apologetics. Purpose #2 - Social Change
The second purpose of apologetics is for societal change. The qualifications to reach this level are much more rigorous. To adequately function at this level requires that a person attain a PhD in a certain field. This provides the in depth knowledge that is required to challenge the thinking of the day. It also provides the educational requirements that lead to teaching at the university level. William Lane Craig offers some keen insight on the potential impact that Christians can make at this level when he says,
In order to shape the thought structures of society so as to foster a cultural milieu that allows a place for the Christian worldview as an intellectually viable option, we must influence the university. I say this because the single most important institution shaping Western culture is the university. It is at the university that our future political leaders, our journalists, our lawyers, our teachers, our business executives, our artists, will be trained. It is at the university that they will formulate or, more likely, simply absorb the worldview that will shape their lives. And since these are the opinion-makers and leaders who shape our culture, the worldview that they imbibe at the university will be the one that shapes our culture. If we change the university, we change our culture through those who shape culture. If the Christian worldview can be restored to a place of prominence and respect at the university, it will have a leavening effect throughout society.
One of the ways that apologetics at this level has produced societal change is how evolution is gradually being dethroned. One of the forerunners of this challenge was offered by the former professor at University of California at Berkley, Phillip Johnson. He contended that evolutionary thought was not driven by an unbiased investigation, but by naturalistic presuppositions (i.e. nature is all there is). This formulated into the Intelligent Design movement that has had a tremendous impact on society.
Conclusion
At whichever level God has placed you and me to offer a defense, may we all do the things necessary to offer those who oppose our views a reasonable defense. I concur with Craig who said, “May God raise up a new generation of Christian apologists committed to His truth, to excellence in their work, and living out the life of Christ, so that the lives of millions may be touched and transformed as a result”. |
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Mmmhmmm...my pastor just preached on the exact same thing this past Sunday, even putting the word "Apologetics" on the overhead, with the definition. Too weird! The strange thing is that, back a few months ago, I was talking to this old "friend" on facebook, and his brother is into studying different religions; actually took a university course of such. And he went and said how Jesus didn't want to be worshipped, and He only came to earth to set an example. So you can just imagine all the scriptures flying through my head! I started spouting off scriptures to him, right, left and centre...then when I was done, I started upstairs for lunch, and I heard God say, "What are you doing? I didn't call you to defend the faith, Lara. I called you to tell people the good things I have done!" Then He brought to my memory that story in the Gospels, about that blind guy who was healed by Jesus, and was brought before the Pharisees and Priests, and they kept getting in his face, and demanding to know more, and throwing comments out about Jesus, putting words into the guy's mouth. All he said was (Lara memory paraphrase version-lol) "All this stuff you are saying, I know nothing of. What I do know is that I was blind, and now I see." So I went back to the computer, and I repented, and told the guy I had been prideful, and then I just told him the things God had done for me such as healed me of my "clinical" depression, restored my relationship with my dad, and made me no longer dependent upon relationships (I was a junkie)...and he came back with a soft answer...and it was done. So we are suppose to know how to "defend" our faith, yes. But there are situations where debating is fruitless and frustrating. God told me not to do it; only to tell people my experience...but I know what you are saying is true...so I am utterly confused...lol. |
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Lara,
You make a great point! Sometimes it is even inapprpariate for us to offer a defense on certain ocassions. Sometimes we just need to just reach out and love that person. Other times we simply offer a listening ear. Thus it is impertaive that we be lead by the Spirit. Each situation is handled differently. |
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Gene |
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November 21, 2007 at 7:16pm |
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PT, great blog (as usual).
Lara, you cut me to the quick!
We have the responsibility to defend the faith. The words in Peter are absolutely clear on that. but, what faith is it? Are we trying to defend doctrines and principles? Or are we trying to defend our decision to be a disciple of Jesus and follow his teachings - the principle of which is to love one another as he has shown us?
If we launch into tirades to "defend" we are being "offensive." True faith does not need a defense. Rather we need to be able to show our love and compassion as Christ has taught us - and explain why we do that. In our lives and testimony we show our "defense." Yet to do so, requires us to study God's Word and know what its teachings are. Funny how you can't have one without the other. . . . |
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I like what you said Gene. "If we launch into tirades to "defend" we are being "offensive."
One of the key points of the passage in I Peter is to first set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts. Offering a defense is essentailly helping someone eliminate the objections that prevent him or her from coming to faith in Christ. Our primary purpose is to convert them to Jesus not an ideology. Doctrine is very important, but converting them to certain creeds is not our essential duty. It is introdcuing them to a loving Savior who will forgive their sins.
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Eric |
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November 21, 2007 at 8:11pm |
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απολογία is mentioned eight times? You only listed seven ;) I think I disagree with Lane's quote. I can think of two arenas that are greater influences of a person's worldview than the university: (1) television, and (2) the family. Additionally, I don't think Lane's suggestion is very practical, since secular universities are quite insular -- they are not receptive to Christians at all; in fact, Ben Stein is putting out a movie this February how Christians (well, those that subscribe to Intelligent Design) are being discriminated. Reform in Christian universities? Great! But this minority number of universities will do little to change American culture. Regarding Intelligent Design some more, the ID movement might be on a decline for the next ten years, if it revives at all. The Dover, PA trial struck quite a serious blow to the movement, never mind how it was a poor decision, that's what the public saw, that's what the ID supporters saw, and now they're afraid to do the same thing in another city for fear of acruing millions of dollars in damages. The PBS show aired last week, "Judgment Day" really did a lot of damage in the public eye, despite it having no real teeth. The progress I saw in the last few years were set back quite a bit. I have more hope for Creationism. But maybe that's just my fickle feelings talking.... And at any rate, the Creationist movement is a grassroots effort, starting from mothers, fathers, and college kids at secular universities raised in a Christian home, empowered with apologetics tools. I wouldn't place our hope in the universities, though, although they undoubtably will help to a degree. It's interesting you mention specializing. I love apologetics, but I seem to have focused on the creation/evolution debate particularly. No PhD, though :( Lara, I wish I could star your comment!!! |
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Eric |
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November 21, 2007 at 8:18pm |
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Also, -- and perhaps this blows out my whole last comment -- I recognize the extreme importance of Christians acquiring advanced degrees in the sciences: geology, paleontology, microbiology, genetics. Creationists need to explore God's creation more, and a lot of the creationist fields are really lacking (bariminology, catastrophisism, cosmology, etc), begging for more data. The RATE project was a phenominal success, but even that project left open too many new questions, and more projects like it need to be done. More Christians need advanced science degrees to assist others in apologetics.
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Thanks once again pastor Tim;
Apologetics seems to be coming up all the time. Personally I have to watch that pride thing 'cause if I aint careful winning an argument can be more important that compassion. |
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Eric,
I undertsand your point, but I would disagree. For instance, let's look at television. (I am using what I wrote on another blog) Ravi Zacharias illuminates for us the idea that a philosophy comes to us in three levels. Level one is theory. This level deals with the foundation of one’s philosophy at the theoretical level. For instance, in the movies the writers and producers of the movie attempt to communicate a philosophy or worldview. Level one is the level of theory. This is the level of the academy. This is what shapes the worldview of a lot of the movers and shakers in Hollywood.
However, in order to advance such a theory requires that it be communicated in understandable ways, which brings us to the second level which is the arts. According to Zacharias the second level “does not feel the constraint of reason or come under the binding strictures of argument. It finds its refuge in the imagination and feeling.” The arts then become the persuader that attempts to sway people to adopt the philosophy that is being communicated. It illustrates for the audience the philosophy being communicated. Consequently, it is imperative that we must rid ourselves of the idea that movies are simply for entertainment. They are often if not always made to convince viewers to a way of thinking or believing.
To convince is exactly what level three is all about. The third level is practical application. People now apply the theory (level one) to daily life, resulting in the new found theory governing how they view the world.
Reagrding the ID movement, I will have to look into what you said. You have a much better grasp of the current happening in that movement.
Dave, I would agree. Apolgetics is not really arguing for the Christian faith as it is answering people's questions and being ready to offer a defense for the hope that we have.
I really like what you said about winning the argument. We can win an argument and at the same time loose the person. However, we must keep in mind that people are much more important.
Also, we are to speak the truth in love. Apologetics is helping people remove the obstacles so they can accept Christ. If we defend the faith in the wrong Spirit it may add another obstacle, which is not our intent. You are exactly right. Compassion as well as humility should be the driving force. |
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| Yup sometimes I just have to pray that I can respond in love. I hope you and yours have a good Thanksgiving. I may be swingin' by Club Gobi just for old time sakes |
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Well written blog fillled with truth! |
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| Dave and Keith, thanks guys and may you both have a happy Thanksgiving. |
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| Thanks Eric. I added the 8th Scripture verse - I forgot Phil. 1:17. |
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Brent |
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November 22, 2007 at 4:12pm |
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Pastor Tim, Happy Thanksgiving to you. Interesting blog and comments. I would say that knowing the defense of our faith is such a good thing. For one thing, we need to know, really konw what and why we believe so we can be ready to take every thought captive and know if we are hearing from God or not. We need to be ready to share the hope that is in us. We shoudl be ready to answer the people that challenge us to explain why we believe. Here is where we need to understand that the precepts of the faith are understood by the Holy Spirit revealing that truth. We can't hope to get the non-christians to understand that which is only Spiritually understood. Sometimes I forget this when I discuss matters of faith with those that are non-christians. I don't agree that we need to give up on the University. I think we should strive to make an impact in the public square in the university, government, all levels of education, and our churches as well. We all know that they are not going to welcome our ideas, but we are not responsible for convincing them to believe, but we are responsible for being obedient and sharing the truth. Thanks for your excellent blog and I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving Weekend. Keep warm up in windy Chicago! In the Grip of His Grace, your brother in Christ, Brent |
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Arlene, I am glad that it ministered to you.
Brent, I totally agree that we need to be ready to tell people about the hope that we have in Jesus.
Regarding Thanksgiving, we had a wondeful time. I just ate too much :-) |
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Sandie |
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December 02, 2007 at 11:34pm |
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| Thanks I needed that, God has been dealing with me to step it up a notch... When I was reading your message I started thinking how I would approach someone questioning my faith. All I could hear Jesus/Holy Spirit saying is share your experience, hopes and truths and he would give me the rest... I get it, he wants me to be ready when called upon, better start studying more no telling what He has in store! Have a great week and don't forget to laugh : ) |
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