The Life of Apolgetics

I was reading a brief article by a Christian guy that I like and his writing had a depressing tone about America's past and present moral status. He was saying that he had "given up hope" that an eventual calamity in this country could be avoided. He said that he didn't base that conclusion on whether or not mankind (and we as a nation, I assume) actually deserve judgment. He said it was because he realized that apologetics is "dead," and because of that we are moving closer to the abyss.

I can't say I agree it is "dead," but I do think the current state of apologetics is not what it used to be. This, I believe is a direct result of a decline in faithful Bible reading. We are living in what is increasingly a "sound bite" era, and I think more young Christians are getting their information from radio and television teaching that may or may not be very good. Don't get me wrong. There are many extremely good Bible expositors on the radio (fewer on TV ), and that's great, but that isn't where we are chiefly supposed to be getting our information.

We are supposed to be reading the Word for ourselves. Even what we hear from our pastors in Church each week should only really serve as spiritual "appetizer" for us. We ought to be checking it out for ourselves, spending meditative time in it and studying it more deeply. The Bible after all, is our ultimate source for defending the Christian faith. If you are saying to yourself, "The Christian faith needs no defense," then you have fallen into a trap, because while that statement may be true, we are still instructed to be ready at all times to do so:

"15 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; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:15-17

Foremost among apologetics are the essentials of the Christian faith, salvation through grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone, His vicarious atonement for our sins, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His deity and the triune nature of God. Why are these things so important? Well, they are foundational to our belief, and without a firm foundation, the beliefs that stand upon it collapse.

There are absolutes, and some have more importance than others do. We have guys on the Christian landscape now that say there is a place for ministry that is solely based on love, and in which there is no room for mentioning, "absolutes." I can say that I believe love is the most Christ-like action we can take, and the most important one, I can also say that it has to come out of a response that we have to God's truth, and to what He has done for us, or it means little.

True apologetics can help to prevent such things from happening. The reason I say that is if Christians would just read their Bibles and study them with diligence and in prayer, they would not spend ten minutes a, "God is my snuggle-bunny" church or an "I hate sinners" church before they beat feet out the sanctuary doors. Good apologetics, if you read the verse above includes "good behavior." Jesus sent his disciples out among men He knew would be like wolves. He warned them to be "wise as serpents," and "gentle as doves."

Jesus wasn't telling His followers to exhibit the intelligence of a reptile, rather He was telling them to be thoughtfully cautious and gentle with people. I suspect that that meant for their own safety, and also to be cautious to represent the Gospel well. If we don't do that, if we shrink from an opportunity to declare the whole purpose of God concerning us, we are doing a disservice to the Gospel. You can treat unsaved people with tremendous love, and in turn they may love you, but they may not love God, and if you cannot tell them that they need to repent of their sins and be forgiven for God, what good is your love?

Certainly God can do things with our love to draw men to Him, but He also told us to tell people about Him, to declare Him. I hear too many Christians who say to let their actions speak. That's great, but it is incomplete. Guys like Paul knew what to do:

"24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all." Acts 20:24-36

I don't think apologetics is dead at present, I just think that it's wanting.