What is Apologetics?

Apologetics is not apologizing! An "apology" in classic terms is an explanation or an answer: Apologia: to give an answer in defense. An apologist is one who makes a defense for what he believes. In the Greek culture, any new idea or religion had to pass the rigorous analytical tests of the Greek philosophers or be ridiculed. God brought the Truth to the Greeks first after the Jew, this may have been one of the reasons why. Certainly, philosophical arguments for Christianity do not set the benchmark for its truth, but it is much more convincing than, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it!"

Apologetics is Defensive

Unbelievers have good questions, we have good answers, and God has commanded us to give them those answers. Once we have answered the good questions unbelievers (or believers!) have, the decision before them will not be able to be conveniently ignored. By being willing to answer the questions someone has, we have forced them into a place of decision, one that cannot be escaped. Faith must then be accepted or rejected based on good evidence, not misunderstanding.

"And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.' But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear"
 1 Peter 3:14-15

Apologetics is Offensive

We are to defend our beliefs - boith by answering skeptics who have good questions and by attacking arguments against Christianity. Because bad philosophy exists, we must counter it with good philosophy. Going on the offensive may be offensive, but that should never be our goal.

Apologetics is Rational

God created us as reasonable beings, therefore it is illogical that He would ask us to believe something that is contrary to reason. God does not expect anyone to have blind faith. All religions offer some element of experiential "proof", we must be able to give reasons why our faith is true regardless of one's feelings about faith.

God commands it!

In as many or more places in Scripture as believers are commanded to share their faith, they are commanded to defend their faith.

God uses apologetics to bring people to Him

Some of the greatest Christian thinkers of all time were "won over" to Christianity through the use of reason (i.e. Augustine, C.S. Lewis, Simon Greenleaf, Sir William Ramsay, Antony Flew). The world deserves the opportunity to seriously consider Christian truth claims. If we cannot provide a good reason for doing so, we have given them a perfectly good excuse to ignore the truth.

Apologetics bolster our own faith

Though we are not to be of the world, we are to be in it. We will be exposed to worldly philosophy and deceit. Without our own defense against those attacks, we may be in danger of succumbing to them. If we cannot convince others, how long will it be before we cannot convince ourselves? In times of doubt it is nice to know that we have a faith that is not founded on the shifting sands of our feelings, but is instead laid on the firm foundation of fact.

Apologetics affect our witness

We may be frightened to share with some people because they may appear to "have it all figured out." To demolish these strongholds, we need to be equipped in our minds as well as our hearts. We want believers to think so that thinkers will be believers!

Answering Arguments Against the Use of Apologetics

"All we need is the Word of God."

This begs the question, "What is the Word of God?" Is it the Book of Mormon? Is it the Koran? If we do not have a reason why the Bible alone is the Word of God, then how can we know that it is all we need?

"Reason does not save, only faith does."

This is absolutely true, but faith and reason are not mutually exclusive. Belief always has a choice of options. Choices made by reasonable creatures are not (or at least should not be) made without good reason. Everyone believes in something, and we all have a reason for our beliefs. As Christians we are commanded to provide those reasons for others to consider, that they may come to repentance.

"Only the Holy Spirit can bring someone to God"

First off, using this sort of logic I could say that we do not need to witness to people because God alone draws them. Second, there is a big difference between faith "that" something is, and faith "in" that something. It is possible to believe "that" something is true without believing "in" it. Acknowledging God's existence does not save, faith must be put "in" Him for salvation. But no one can have faith in something that they do not even believe exists! Apologetics only provides a basis for belief "that", it cannot bring someone to belief "in". We cannot argue someone into belief, for any belief that someone may be talked into, they may also be talked out of! Reason can only convince people "that" God is, the Holy Spirit convinces people to believe "in" God.

"Apologetics is not in the Bible"

This is simply not true. The prophets showed many miracles as proof of their divine calling. Jesus Himself provided " many infallible proofs" of His resurrection (Acts 1:3). Paul used apologetics on Mars Hill and some of the philosophers there became believers (Acts 17). Paul even said this was his calling (Philippians 1:17)! Any time reasons are given for a thing, apologetics are being used.

Apologetic Errors

That Christianity is under attack can be doubted by no knowledgeable person. Although most objections to Christianity are merely smoke screens thrown up to avoid accountability (John 3:19-20), or are spoken out of ignorance (Romans 1:18-23), or are manifestations of plain old pride (John 5:40-44), however we must acknowledge that is not always the case. Why, if we have the answers, if we have the truth, are we not overcoming the world and destroying speculations and arguments against the knowledge of God?

•  Indifference - "If you want to believe a lie, go ahead!"
•  Irrationalism - "Real faith does not require proof."
•  Ignorance - "Have you read the latest Left Behind book yet???"
•  Cowardice - "We don't want to seem unloving or intolerant."
•  Arrogance - "Only fools ignore all the arguments and evidence for God."
•  Laziness - "I don't know how to answer that question... take this tract!"

When Paul saw the idolatry present among the Greek philosophers in Athens he was "greatly distressed". Rather than offer up a quick prayer and get out of there, Paul engaged them in a debate. He got their attention, and won some of them over to Christ. This is God's heart, and it should be ours.

Foundational Apologetics

Any relationship requires common ground. Speaking the same language, living in the same neighborhood, sharing a work environment, common interests, family...all of these are examples of common ground, a place where two different people can see things the same way. If we are to make contact, and make a relationship with a nonbeliever work, we must establish common ground. We are not to do this by joining ourselves to that person in an ungodly way,  or by "yoking" ourselves to them in a way that blurs our distinctions (2 Corinthians 6:14), and ruins our witness.

The best evangelists knew how to meet someone right where they were. When Peter spoke to the crowds in Jerusalem , he used Old Testament prophecy to show that Christ was the Messiah. Yet when Paul was at Mars Hill, he used philosophical arguments from creation to lead people to Christ. We must keep our ears open to what someone is saying to us while we are witnessing to them. Ascertaining their underlying belief structure will go a long way toward our presenting the gospel to them clearly without a lot of backtracking.

It makes no sense to tell a person who does not believe in the Bible that the Bible says they must believe in God. It makes no sense to prove that the Bible is the Word of God to someone who does not believe that God exists.