Introduction to Christian Apologetics

1. What is apologetics?

Apologetics has to do with the historical and rational defense of the Christian faith. The word comes from a Greek word used in the New Testament- (Apologia)- meaning, to give a defense; a reasonable defense. 1 Peter 3:15- "Always be ready to give a DEFENSE (apologia) to everyone who asks you a REASON for the hope that is in you..."

Philippians. 1:17- "I am appointed for the DEFENSE of the Gospel."

Jude 3-"... CONTEND earnestly for the faith, once for all delivered to the saints.”

Christian apologetics is a branch of theology that deals with critics and skeptics of the Christian faith and those who are opposed to Christianity's truth claims. It is essentially, at it's core, a tool for evangelism.

   The important role of historical, or evidential apologetics, is that it helps to remove intellectual obstacles to faith—fulfilling a vital function in the arsenal of the Christian apologist. Historically, there have been various approaches to Christian apologetics.

   The starting point of a classical apologist would be reason, especially the classical theistic proofs, particularly those put forth by St. Augustine, Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, and others. The evidentialist would start with empirical data, such as historical evidence for the Christian faith, such as found in archeology, biblical manuscript evidence and especially evidence for the resurrection of Christ.

The main emphasis of classical apologetics would be sound reason to lead to the truth. The evidentialist would emphasize sound investigation which will lead or point to the truth. The chief goal of classical apologetics would be to establish the reasonableness of theism. The chief goal of evidentialism would be to establish the resonableness of Christianity.

   Presuppositionalism is another approach to Christian apologetics, which was developed within the theological framework of 5-point Calvinism (Reformed Theology). The foundational issue of presuppositionalism is the starting point of the apologetic task. The starting point of presuppositionalism is the "Sovereign God who reveals Himself in Scripture". One must not appeal to alleged "neutral facts." Nor should one expect nonChristians to reach proper, (or Christian) interpretations of saving facts. The Calvinists view of the fall of man and total depravity precludes this.

   The starting points of presuppositionalism can be viewed as both negative and positive. Negatively, the inconsistencies of non-Christian world views are stressed. Positively, the Scriptures are shown to be necessary for even the unbeliever's rationality. The chief goal of presuppositionalism is to establish the sovereignty of God over human autonomy, and to show that the acceptance of the authority of Scripture will lead to the truth.

2. Why is apologetics necessary?

   Several polsters recently pointed out that the central problem today is that people are not solidly grounded in their faith, and are therefore vunerable. In our education we are vulnerable to Secular Humanist philosophies, Eastern religions, and New Age occult techniques. Popular culture is full of lies and misinformation concerning the Christian faith, such as in the book and film, "The Da Vinci Code" and many other misleading books.

C. S. Lewis observed in "The Weight of Glory":

   "If all the world were Christian it might not matter if all the World were uneducated. But as it is a cultural life will exist outside the Church whether it exist inside the Church or not. To be ignorant and simple now; not to be able to meet the enemies on their own ground, would be to throw down our weapons, and to betray our uneducated brethren—Who have under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, that bad philosophy needs to be answered."

3. What is the Difference Between Evangelism and Pre-evangelism?

  One has to do with the MIND, the other has to do with the WILL. Evidence appeals to the MIND. Apologetics is sometimes called: Pre evangelism. Evangelism has to do with the WILL. Pre-evangelism has to do with the MIND. Apologetics deals with objective proof— Evangelism has to do with subjective persuasion.

   Apologetics deals with human REASON... THAT God exists, THAT Christ is the Son of God, THAT the Bible is the Word of God. It gives OBJECTIVE basis for a SUBJECTIVE commitment.

Christianity says "Come let us REASON", says the Lord, (Isaiah 1:18). Paul says in Philippians 4:8-"Whatever things are good and TRUE... THINK on these things.” Don't EMPTY your mind, but FILL your mind. EVIDENCE.. LOGIC.. and REASON are the PREEVANGELISTIC forces that convince people that it is true.

4. Does the use of logic and reason in presenting the Gospel replace the need for the Holy Spirit?

Objection: The emphasis on reason eliminates the need for the Holy Spirit. "If you could REASON people into the kingdom, you wouldn't need the Holy Spirit.”

Response: It is not an EITHER/OR relationship, but a BOTH/AND relationship. It's not either the Holy Spirit OR reason, but both the Holy Spirit AND reason. The Holy Spirit USES good reason to reach RATIONAL people. E. J. Carnell- "The Holy Spirit can draw people “THROUGH the convicting power of evidences."

Blaze Pascal- “If we try to understand truth by reason ALONE, our faith will be left with nothing MYSTERIOUS or SUPERNATURAL. If we IGNORE the principles of REASON, our faith will be ABSURD and RIDICULOUS.”

   Important tool to learn: 2 Corinthians 10:5- "destroy arguments."(Amplified Bible)- "...Refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ".

Titus 1:9-"Holding fast the faithful word as you have been taught, that you may be able, by SOUND DOCTRINE, both to exhort and convict those who CONTRADICT.”

1 Tim. 6:20- Greek- (Antithesis)- Literally "avoid contradictions."The tactic illustrated here is to take a false philosophy, reduce it to one simple sentence and turn the sentence on itself. This is referred to as a "self-stultifying argument" or a "self-defeating" argument.

   By using this technique we can simply let the faulty arguments destroy themselves. They will cut their own throat, or pull the carpet out from under themselves. When the skeptic throws a boomerang out to hit you, (as it were), it will come right back to hit them in the back of the head.

Example: If a person says"You can't know anything." Ask him..."How do you know that?" That is what an agnostic says: "You can't know"--Well... how does he know that you can't know, unless he knows.? A moral relativist will say "All truth is relative... there are no absolute values or morals!"Ask them. "Are you sure about that?" "Are you absolutely sure?" If they say yes, then there is at least one absolute truth... that all truth is relative.

The relativist wants to STAND ON THE PINNACLE OF HIS OWN ABSOLUTE, and RELATIVIZE EVERYTHING ELSE!

   Every false teaching has some sort of false premise behind it. New Agers will say "Things are neither true, or false. "Ask them: "What about that statement" Is that statement TRUE as opposed

to FALSE?" If it is, then there are things that are true as opposed to false. It's like saying, "I can't speak a word of English."

   An Eastern mystic may make the assertion, "everything is both truth and false at the same time.” Ask them if that statement is both truth and false at the same time. A popular New Age author once wrote: "Now relax, let your mind go.. don't evaluate and don't the left brain judge what you're thinking. Give your right brain more space, as a matter of fact... don't think." To which we reply..."Come now let us REASON, says the Lord... Give a REASON for the hope that is in you… Whatever things are good and true, THINK on these things.

   Christians have nothing to lose by presenting evidence. Our goal should be to strip away the excuses for people not becoming Christians, and to lay bare their moral depravity and their will, so they are left to make a decision, for, or against Christ.

5. Do the Scriptures give examples of defending or proclaiming the faith with the use of evidence and reason?

   Yes. Acts 18:28-, says that Apollos "vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures" that Jesus was the Christ. When Paul was in Thessalonica, Acts 17:2,3 says that he won some to Christ by "REASONING WITH THEM from the Scriptures"... "EXPLAINING AND PROVING" the fact of Christ' death and resurrection. When Paul reasoned with some of the Greek philosophers in Athens, he did not reason with them out of the Bible, because they didn't accept the Bible. He started where they were--he quoted from one of their own philosophers. In Acts 17:28 Paul reasoned, For in him we live and move and have or being.' AS SOME OF YOUR OWN POETS HAVE SAID, 'we are His offspring.'"

Tactics for Evangelism

   Applying Law, Gospel, or Apologetics. We always initiate a witnessing opportunity with the gospel message. If objections are raised, we switch to apologetics. When we have overcome an unbeliever’s objection, we switch from apologetics back to gospel. If the person persists in rejecting the gospel in spite of the evidence, we apply Law. We point out that he or she is an unsaved sinner, and explain the consequences of willfully rejecting Christ.

   Apply the Law refers to the timeless ethical standards outlined in the Ten Commandments that apply to every generation; not the ceremonial or civil laws of the Old Testament. If we could get into heaven on our own merits, the Law tells us what we have to do. Walter Martin once noted, somewhat humorously- “If they don’t want JESUS, make sure you leave them with MOSES,” If they don’t want GRACE, be sure to leave them with the LAW." "The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). The Gospel is called “good news”. But before they can understand the good news, they must understand that there is bad news."All have fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). ALL are sinners.

Personality Types- Tough-Minded and Tender-Minded

Tough-Minded

   Tough-minded people are primarily concerned with objective truth that is verifiable. They are rationally motivated. Things must be "logical" and make sense before they will believe it. They want so-called "scientific proof" before they will accept something. Tough-minded people are usually those who raise intellectual objections to Christianity. They have many questions to be answered. They are not moved by subjective religious experiences, personal testimonies or conversion experiences. They usually look for natural explanations for religious phenomena. They are skeptical of anything that hints of the supernatural.

   With these types of people, you will usually need to work your way up to a gospel presentation by removing intellectual obstacles. The key in learning how to tell if a person's disbelief is due to an intellectual issue is to discern if they are open to correction? If a person is moved to unbelief soley because of intellectual issues in the way, then they will be open to dialog, and won't be interrupting you all the time. Many times, what seem to be real questions or objections are not that at all. They are not ways of getting at the truth but ways of hiding from it.

Romans 1:19-21, notes that all people really know God, but are "Suppressing the knowledge of God". In other words, people "HAVE THE TRUTH", but they’re HOLDING IT DOWN; they are SUPPRESSING IT. Our psychological makeup as human beings allows us to repress hurtful memories and experiences. The problem is we also use this ability to repress and suppress the knowledge of God. According to Romans 1:19, our task is to determine whether a person is grappling with intellectual reasons for unbelief, or to find out if there something else going on. Our goal is to become the right stimulus in lowering their defenses. Once you have answered all of their questions, all you have left is their heart. They are left to make a decision for, or against Jesus Christ.

Tender-Minded

   Tender-minded people are more influenced by subjective truth. They are sensitive to feelings. They crave emotional fulfillment. Does Christianity satisfy their deepest emotional and spiritual needs? Does it bring inner happiness and peace of mind?The tender-minded person is more apt to listen and be moved by personal testimonies. Presenting Law or apologetics to a tender-minded person who already knows they are a sinner separated from God is unnecessary. They don’t need convincing, but simply need the gospel shared with them. On the other hand, giving your personal testimony to a toughminded agnostic or atheist, who considers all religions human fabrications, is likely to be ineffective. Identify and respond to his particular issues. Apply apologetics. I believe this is what Paul meant when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:22, concerning his own witnessing approach, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”

Tactics for Evangelism section adapted in part, from Dan Story, Engaging The Closed Minded: Presenting Your Faith to the Confirmed Unbeliever.