What Is Apologetics?
Put simply, apologetics is the reasoned defence of the Christian religion. Christianity is a faith which hinges upon reasons for that faith. Faith is not reason. Reason is not faith. But Faith cannot be dislocated from reason or faith ceases to exists.
Apologetics is the Rational Biblical Defence of Jesus Christ and His Word against Satanic philosophies which contest His truth and His revealed will contained in the Bible.
The vain philosophy of the world will always contain these 5 elements:
1) An attestation that the Bible is not the inspired Word of God.
2) The denial of the Biblical Gospel message of Christ’s vicarious substitutionary
atonement on behalf of his elect people which is limited in scope but not its power.
3) The denial of the sinner as morally corrupt, dead in sins, without any ability to will spiritual good, or turn to Christ to repent.
4) The denial of God’s absolute sovereignty in all areas of the created order.
5) A deranged or warped view (or no view) of God in general.
It is the duty of every Christian to be an apologist. Some Christians immediately balk at this, not even aware of the meaning of the word. Simply, an apologist is not someone who "apologizes" for his faith, but rather, is someone who defends the faith once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 1:3). It is commanded by God that all Christians follow 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..." A ready defence is required of the Christian. That does not mean he must be a "professional theologian" in order to have an answer for the gainsayer. However, the Christian should at least be well prepared, or ready to give a defence.
There are two elements to being ready to give a defence of the faith. The first is a thorough knowledge of the faith we profess. This seems almost silly to purport. The fact is, many Christians who have been professing Christians for long periods of time (years and years) would not know where to find the historical narrative of Isaiah’s exposure to God and the angel’s chant of "holy, holy, holy." Or even the prophecies concerning Christ’s death in the Psalms, where the faith chapter is located in the New Testament, or even where to find the parable of the prodigal son. These are pivotal texts that are often neglected.
Secondly, the ready apologist should have some idea of the corrupted philosophies and ideologies which desire to exalt themselves over the Scriptures. This is not necessarily needful, but quite helpful. Why do I say this is not necessarily needful? It is hypothetically possible that a Christian could be so well versed with the truth, that when error springs up before him he will be able to refute it thoroughly by the word of God. But this is the exception rather than the rule. And within the context of today’s aversion to the rational, it is even more needful that Christians have a well-rounded defence of the faith for the glory of Christ.
In Him,
Rev Robert Chew
Apologetics is the Rational Biblical Defence of Jesus Christ and His Word against Satanic philosophies which contest His truth and His revealed will contained in the Bible.
The vain philosophy of the world will always contain these 5 elements:
1) An attestation that the Bible is not the inspired Word of God.
2) The denial of the Biblical Gospel message of Christ’s vicarious substitutionary
atonement on behalf of his elect people which is limited in scope but not its power.
3) The denial of the sinner as morally corrupt, dead in sins, without any ability to will spiritual good, or turn to Christ to repent.
4) The denial of God’s absolute sovereignty in all areas of the created order.
5) A deranged or warped view (or no view) of God in general.
It is the duty of every Christian to be an apologist. Some Christians immediately balk at this, not even aware of the meaning of the word. Simply, an apologist is not someone who "apologizes" for his faith, but rather, is someone who defends the faith once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 1:3). It is commanded by God that all Christians follow 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..." A ready defence is required of the Christian. That does not mean he must be a "professional theologian" in order to have an answer for the gainsayer. However, the Christian should at least be well prepared, or ready to give a defence.
There are two elements to being ready to give a defence of the faith. The first is a thorough knowledge of the faith we profess. This seems almost silly to purport. The fact is, many Christians who have been professing Christians for long periods of time (years and years) would not know where to find the historical narrative of Isaiah’s exposure to God and the angel’s chant of "holy, holy, holy." Or even the prophecies concerning Christ’s death in the Psalms, where the faith chapter is located in the New Testament, or even where to find the parable of the prodigal son. These are pivotal texts that are often neglected.
Secondly, the ready apologist should have some idea of the corrupted philosophies and ideologies which desire to exalt themselves over the Scriptures. This is not necessarily needful, but quite helpful. Why do I say this is not necessarily needful? It is hypothetically possible that a Christian could be so well versed with the truth, that when error springs up before him he will be able to refute it thoroughly by the word of God. But this is the exception rather than the rule. And within the context of today’s aversion to the rational, it is even more needful that Christians have a well-rounded defence of the faith for the glory of Christ.
In Him,
Rev Robert Chew
Labels: Articles
posted by Moriah Bible-Presbyterian Church @ 10:03
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