Defining Apologetics

So, let’s start with some vocabulary and background:

Apologetics:

-Merriam-Webster dictionary defines this as “1 : systematic argumentative discourse in defense (as of a doctrine) 2 : a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity.”

Apologetics is not an “apology” for Christianity, but comes from the Greek word apologia (απολογία), which is defined as “speaking in defense”. As early as Paul, Christianity had apologists (those who defend Christianity). Simply looks at Paul’s defense during his trial before Festus and Agrippa (Acts 26:1-2 is the location where the word apologetics/defense is used).

Could we stand before a court system and articulate why we stand on Christ as truth as Paul did?

In Philippians 1:7, we see Paul “defending the Gospel”, and in the passage I’ve used in previous posts (I Peter 3:15), we see where believers are commanded to give a defense/apology of the Gospel. Again, this is not a command to the “leaders of the church”, this is a command to believers – all believers. Finally, a location where the lack of defense is used is in Romans 1:20, where Paul states that unbelievers do not have a defense/apology for rejecting the revelation of God because creation itself testifies that there is a creator (see a post coming soon titled basic logic for more details on this argument). About 200 years after Paul, a well known apologists came onto the field – Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus . He argued that Christianity is the “true religion” as well as establishing what is referred to as the Latin Church. Other Christian apologists have been: Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, and C.S. Lewis. Current apologists include Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel.
So, a take home point for the definition of apology: the English language has changed our use of the word apology – it no longer means defending a position, but it means admitting guilt and “apologizing” for the wrong one has done.

Truth:

In the postmodern culture that we live in today, it is “difficult” for people to agree on what truth is, especially in the realm of belief. (Postmodern basically means you define truth for yourself, and everyone can have their own truth.) So, let me ask you:

“If I believe that this pencil in my hand can save me, and I believe it whole heartedly, will this pencil save me?”

What do you think? How would you respond to someone who said that? Well, I’ve heard people on the street tell me that if I believe it, then the pencil will save me. Now, tell me, what is doing the “saving” here? Is it the pencil? Does the pencil really have any ability to save me? Not at all – it’s a piece of wood with lead inside and an eraser on the back. It has no power. What else is there that could save someone in this example? The only other thing I see here is “belief”. As long as I believe it, it will come true. Really? Belief does not change truth. So, I ask a follow up question to the postmodern people I speak with: What if my belief involves your future? I’ve not yet had an even remotely solid answer to that question.

You see, truth is not based on beliefs. Truth is truth and does not change its definition based on current fashions or ideologies. As Hank Hanegraff writes, “truth is true even if everyone denies it, and a lie is a lie even if everyone affirms it” (pg 133, The Complete Bible Answer Book).

We ask the same question as Pontius Pilate did in John 18:38: What is truth? The truth is, Christ is Truth (John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”)

Let me end this section by referencing Os Guinness’ book Time for Truth: Christianity is not true because it works (which is called pragmatism); nor is Christianity true because of subjectivism (it feels right), and it is not true because we believe it is true (called relativism). Christianity is true because Christ is the cornerstone. Christianity is true because Christianity is based on the only one who is Himself Truth.

(As an aside – the concept that belief changes truth is NOT Biblical, and the Word-Faith movement is not Biblical because it puts the power in our “belief”, not in the Creator. We are to submit to Truth, not ask Truth to submit to us.)

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