The word
"apologetics" never actually appears in the Bible. But there is a
verse which contains its meaning:
(1
Peter 3:15 NIV) 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,
The Greek
word apologia means "answer," or "reasonable
defence." It does not mean to apologize, nor does it mean just to engage in
intellectual dialogue. It means to provide reasonable answers to honest
questions and to do it with humility, respect, and reverence.
The verse
thus suggests that the manner in which one does apologetics is as
important as the words expressed. And Peter tells us in this passage that
Christians are to be ready always with answers for those who inquire of
us concerning our faith. Most Christians have a great deal of study ahead of
them before this verse will be a practical reality in their evangelistic
efforts.
We are to
love God with the mind as well as the heart and the soul. In fact, the
early church was powerful and successful because it out-thought and out-loved
the ancient world. We are not doing either very well today.
Matthew 13:23:
"But he who received the seed on the good ground is he who hears the word
and understands it, who indeed bears fruit." They all heard it, but
only the "good soil" comprehended it.
Acts 8:30:
"When the Spirit prompted Philip to join himself to the chariot of the
Ethiopian eunuch (who was reading Isaiah 53), he asked, `Do you understand
what you are reading?' The eunuch replied, `How can I except some man should guide
me?'"
Acts 18:4:
Paul at Corinth was "reasoning in the synagogue every sabbath and trying to
persuade the Jews and Greeks."
Acts 19:8:
Paul at Ephesus "entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly
for three months, reasoning and persuading them
about the kingdom of God."
Romans 10:17:
"So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by
the word of God." Again the emphasis is on hearing with perception.
2 Corinthians
5:11:
"We persuade men," says Paul. Vine's Expository
Dictionary describes this Greek word like this: "to apply persuasion,
to prevail upon or win over, bringing about a change of mind by the influence of
reason or moral considerations."
All of these
words--persuasion, dialogue, discourse, dispute, argue, present evidence, reason
with--are vehicles of communication and are at the heart of Paul's classical
evangelistic model. Can there be saving faith without understanding? Can there
be understanding without reasoning? The Bible would appear to say no. Paul urges
believers in 2 Timothy 2:15 to study to show ourselves approved unto God,
workmen that need not to be ashamed.
And others
seem to have intellectual questions that block their openness to
accept the credibility of the Christian message. These finally find in Christ
the answers to their intellectual doubts and questions.
Those today
who are actively involved in evangelism readily recognize the need for this kind
of information to witness to certain people, and there are many more doubters
and skeptics out there today than there were even twenty years ago.
We can see
more clearly where we are as a culture by taking a good look at Paul's world in
the first century. Christianity's early beginnings flourished in a Greco-Roman
culture more X-rated and brutal than our own. And we find Paul adapting
his approach from group to group.
For instance,
he expected certain things to be in place when he approached the Jewish
communities and synagogues from town to town. He knew he would find a group that
already had certain beliefs that were not in contradiction to the gospel he
preached. They were monotheists. They believed in one God. They also believed
this God had spoken to them in their Scriptures and had given them absolute
moral guidelines for behaviour (the Ten Commandments).
But when Paul
went to the Gentile community, he had no such expectations. There he knew he
would be faced with a culture that was polytheistic (many gods), biblically
ignorant, and living all kinds of perverted, wicked lifestyles. And on Mars Hill
in Athens when he preached the gospel, he did somewhat modify his approach.
He spoke of
God more in terms of His presence and power, and he even quoted truth from a
Greek poet in order to connect with these "pagans" and get his point
across: "We are God's offspring" (Acts 17:28).
One hundred
years ago, the vast majority of people in the Western world pretty much
reflected the Jewish mentality, believing in God, having a basic respect for the
Bible, and strong convictions about what was right and what was wrong.
That kind of
person can still be found today in this third millenium, but George Gallup says
they aren't having much of an impact on the pagan, or Gentile community, which
today holds few beliefs compatible with historic Christianity.
To evangelize
such people, we have our work cut out for us. And we will have to use both our
minds and our hearts to "become all things to all men in order to save
some."
As we're
considering how we as Christians can have an impact on our increasingly
fragmented society, we need to keep in mind that many do not share our Christian
view of the world, and some are openly hostile to it.
But the Bible
calls us to be "salt and light" in our world. How can we be that
effectively? I don't have a total answer, but I'll tell you after 25+ years of
active ministry what isn't working. And by my observation, far too many
Christians are trying to address the horrendous issues of our day with one of
three very ineffective approaches.
Ø
Defensive
Approach
Many Christians out there are
mainly asking the question, "How strong are our defenses?" "How
high are our walls?" This “barricade” or “siege” mentality has
produced much of the Christian subculture. We have our own language, literature,
heroes, music, customs, and educational systems.
Of course, we need places of
support and fellowship. But when Paul describes spiritual warfare in 2
Corinthians 10, he actually reverses the picture. It is the enemy
who is behind walls, inside strongholds of error and evil.
And Paul depicts the Christians
as those who should be mounting offensives at these walls to tear down the high
things which have exalted themselves above the knowledge of God. We are to be taking
ground, not just holding it.
Ø Defeatist Approach
Other Christians have already
given up. Things are so bad, they say, that my puny efforts won't change
anything. "After all, we are living in the last days, and Jesus said that
things would just get worse and worse."
when he said, "If Jesus
were to come tomorrow, I'd plant a tree today and pay my debts." The Lord
may well be near, He could also tarry awhile. Since we don't know for sure, we
should be seeking to prepare ourselves and our children to live for Him in the
information technology world of the 21st century.
Ø Devotional Approach
Other Christians are trying to
say something about their faith, but sadly, they can only share their personal
religious experience. It is true that Paul speaks of us as "epistles known
and read" by all men. Our life/experience with Christ is a valid
witness. But there are others out there in the culture with "changed"
lives . . . and Jesus didn't do the changing! Evangelism today must be something
more than "swapping" experiences. We must learn how to ground our
faith in the facts of history and the claims of Christ. We must have others
grapple with Jesus Christ, nor just our experience.
There are
some very important principles to keep in mind if we want to be effective in
seeing others come to know Christ through our individual witness.
1. Go to
people.
The heart of
evangelism is Christians taking the initiative to actually go out and "fish
for men." Acts 17:17 describes for us how Paul was effective in his day and
time: "Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jesus and with the
gentile worshippers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be
there."
2.
Communicate with people.
Engage them.
Sharing the Gospel involves communication. People must be focused upon and then
understand the Gospel to respond to it. It is our responsibility as Christians
to make it as clear as possible for all who will listen. "Knowing,
therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11).
3. Relate to
people.
for
you," said Paul to the Thessalonians, "we were well pleased to import
to you not only the good news of God, but also our own lives, because you have
become dear to us" (1 Thess. 2:8).
4. Remove
barriers.
Part of our
responsibility involves having the skills to eliminate obstacles, real or
imagined, which keep an individual from taking the Christian message seriously.
When God sent the prophet Jeremiah forth, He said, "Behold, I have put my
words in your mouth . . . and I have ordained you to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." Sometimes our task as
well is one of "spiritual demolition," of removing the false so the
seeds of truth can take root. Apologetics sometimes serves in that capacity, of
preparing a highway for God in someone's life.
5. Explain
the gospel to others.
We need an army
of Christians today who can consistently and clearly present the message to as
many people as possible. Luke says of Lydia, "The Lord opened her heart so
that she heeded the things which were spoken by Paul" (Acts 16:14). Four
essential elements in sharing the gospel:
6. Invite
others to receive Christ.
We can be
clear of presentation, but ineffective because we fail to give someone the
opportunity and encouragement to take that first major step of faith.
"Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading
through us: we beg you in Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor.
5:20).
7. Make every
effort by every means to establish them in the faith.
Stay with them, ground them in the Scripture, help them gain assurance of their salvation, and get them active in a vital fellowship/church.