Category Archives: Apologetics

Arguing Transcendentally

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At this point there is a need to disclose the impossibility of the contrary.

For example: For a rationalist – unaided human reason will deal with the universe, rationality was the structure of the universe. A rationalist will search for method, a rock of indubibility – cogito ergo sum – on this knowledge, everything will be open up to us. You’re taking a leap of faith that is irrational. You have to believe which is not a rational act. Freud believed science but with his fiancée he said “come and love me irrationally”.

One of the quest today is the quest for meaning. Victor Farko – Jewish guy put into concentration camp. People came to him because of his ability to encourage them through psychology. Who were the people likely to survive? People who had hope, most usually religious hope. When he did get free – he founded the school of psychology called logo therapy – finding the place of hope in a person who would not find a reason for hope. No one can live in God’s world with a non-Christian presupposition.

Contrast: Real world and philosophy. Some people are consistent and others are less consistent. Push them in the real world where atheism doesn’t work. There is a real world example with gratitude. Schaeffer says to push the person to a more consistent life.

An atheist’s worst moment is a time of gratitude with no one to thank. We don’t know how optimistic we are even when we say the contrary – when we measure the debt in which have been created. (Thanksgiving) – There’s too much good and beauty in this world to attribute it to chance.

There is also evil in this world. On what foundation would one have to call things evil (ex. Hitler and nazi). It’s not evil because God has to agree that its wrong. It’s evil because God defines it as evil. Either we serve the unconditional or some Hitlerian person that serves as gods in our lives.

We claim to be good and reality says no. We claim to have no hope, but God says yes, there is hope. It is impossible to live in God’s world and not see him since He is bombarding us with His revelation. We need to bring them to the place of their deepest commitments and push them to their commitments, push them to fundamentals but doing this with gentleness and respect, dignifying opponents rather than demonizing them. Consistent with reality and how God made the world.

By doing this, we need to find on their own ground where there is a disconnect. We need to get inside the head of a philosopher and find the fatal flaw.

We have a fully sovereign God.

Biblical Basis for Apologetics: 1 Peter 3:15

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Facing impending assaults on the gospel, Peter witnesses to the grace of God, the overwhelming reality of what God has done in Jesus Christ (Edmund Clowney). There are two ways to suffer – one is being dumb and the other is righteousness in Jesus Christ.

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. 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 keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

We should expect suffering. This should not surprise us. He calls Christians exiles. This is our place, it is here and now, but it also means we are exiles in this hostile world that is disappearing. We are on a journey, we are dispersed. The dispersion is a key to missions. They are sent, so that Christ will gather them back in.

He is reminding us of our priorities… persecutions will happen, we will suffer and will have communion in Jesus Christ. They will be a blessing, there should be no fear or terror that they will be disarmed. God is not against us, but he is for us. Peter calls us not to fear that we will be undone, but we will make a defense. (apologia) This word apologia is used 17 times in the NT. It means getting oneself off a charge. When Plato wrote the apology, it was a defense for Socrates. This term is taken up in the NT.

Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account. To explain, commend, to give reason, to set forth the hope that you have in you. Defense is put in between two spiritual compartments:
1. Set Christ apart. Apologetics is Worship. It is reverence to Christ. Lift up Jesus Christ.
2. And he says to always do this with gentleness and respect (reverence), to keep the dignity of the person you are speaking to.

What does it mean to be prepared and be ready? 1) discernment, ability to track trends, wisdom… men who had understanding (Hebrew: Binah) the times, to know what Israel ought to do. 2) Readiness in knowing the answers and 3) understanding the particular needs of the person addressing you.

What is Peter saying we are defending? HOPE. We are defending hope. This hope is not a wish, it is much stronger than this. It is certainty as to how things are and how they will come through. It is not just hope for the future, but understanding the reality of now and the way things will be throughout history.

Recall: The Great Divorce by CS Lewis. Heaven is real, earth is shadowy. His lesson is that you think earth is the real thing and heaven is flowery… but in reality heaven is real, earth is shadowy. We are connected to reality.

Note: the connection between Christianity and improvement in the world. Cling and hope. Clinging to a dying Christ is the hope (expecta) – the resurrection of the dead. You don’t need to know everything. You’re not expected to know everything, but you need to know the contours of the faith. You have to understand your faith that is communicable to those around you. You have to be able to translate to a language that people around you understands. It is a Christian outlook on the world.

The word apologia contains the word logos. It is also about words. The NT prizes words. We need not be ashamed by the use of arguments. The Gospel is news so it needs words in order to proclaim. Both the intellectual and emotional needs of an unbeliever. Peter says give an account or apology for the hope. It is wisdom and ministry.

For example: We live in a therapeutic culture. There is no right and wrong but there is insensitive. We nurture the inner child. We need to know the culture… We’re not here to win arguments, but we need to set the case – have deep content and utter reverence and respect to the person you are talking to… (do not demonize or dehumanize).

Why Do Apologetics?

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There is a need for defense. Our culture, our world, our generation need to know truth and without anyone engaging the world in the truth, it will remain in falsehood, decline, etc.

It is biblical – most of Jesus ministry revolved around apologetics, whether it was telling people about the coming Kingdom, or to the woman at the well. He spoke with great conviction and with great gentleness and humility. When he talked to the Sadducees about the resurrection, he spoke in such a way as to point them to the truth.

The Apostle Paul used apologetics in his preaching and when he faced opposition. His deep conviction led to persuasive arguments. The words don’t persuade, but it is through ‘words’ that God will use… He calls us too “take captive every thought to make obedient to Christ.” We need to deconstruct arguments, rebuild them as captives to Christ.

Scripture itself is a form of apologetics. Genesis was written against the pagan cultures in the Ancient Near East. The bible spoke against the gods and goddess and the treatment of mankind. The Bible brought a new look at humanity as being made in the image of God and new reverence for God’s creation.

Wisdom literature like Ecclesiastes is a treatise on why life is meaningless without God. Ecclesiastes looks at wealth, power, status, and knowledge… but in the end attaining all these things was meaningless. The book of Job considers suffering and the problem of evil. It taught the sovereignty of God. Are you a Christian because of your situation? Take that away, will you still be a Christian? Our faith is not vested in our own cleverness, God has given you far more than just arguments, he has given you redemption, new life, a new worldview.

What is Apologetics?

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Apologetics literally means defense. It is a defense of the Christian faith, it has a rich legacy throughout history.

It seeks to answer questions like: Who am I? What is the meaning to life? Can only one religion be true? Has science debunked Genesis? Is Christianity oppressive?

Even questions not asked Apologetics seeks to answer. Jesus says “What good is it that we gain the wold and lose our soul?” Apologetics allows us to engage our culture and make the culture re-examine what they believe as well.

Our world is not neutral. When we engage people it will be worldview against worldview. And because of that apologetics can be OFFENSIVE. That is why Peter tells us to do this with GENTLENESS and RESPECT.

Intro to Apologetics

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Learning apologetics, isn’t just learning sound arguments, it is about reaching down to people’s souls and the depths of who they are and challenging them at their deepest commitments. Don’t take this lightly. We are not inventing the truth, we are merely beggars who have been shown food and must show others how to get this food.

There is a tendency to spiritual pride but in reality you are only taking or borrowing or building upon the work of other men and women of God and making it your own. There is a spiritual formation aspect in apologetics as well. You will not only gain knowledge but also skill and you will grow in your union and communion with God.