Foundations For Apologetics Series

WELCOME

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SERIES INTRODUCTION

The word apologetics can be intimidating, but it doesn't need to be. This series will remove the anxiety you may have when it comes to giving a defense for your faith. In fact, the goal of this series is to equip you with the tools to have genuine conversations about your faith with anyone and everyone.

Perhaps one of the best passages in the Bible that lays a foundation for apologetics is in 1 Peter 3:15. The Apostle Peter writes,

“But in your hearts revere 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” (1 Peter 3:15).

As Christians, it’s our job to be ready to answer questions that people have about Jesus, the Bible, and what we believe. I believe this series will be a great tool for us to use in learning how to talk about our faith with other people.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS

Our word “apologetics” comes from the Greek word apologia which means to “speak in turn” or to “defend oneself.” It was a formal verbal defense either in response to an accusation or persecution in a court of law. Christian apologetics arose as a result of persecution within the Roman Empire. Early apologists like Justin Martyr (100 – 165 AD), Irenaeus of Lyons (130 AD – unknown), Athanasius of Alexandria (unknown – 373 AD), Gregory of Nyssa (335 – 394 AD), and Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430 AD). These men became known as Christian Apologists because of their work in defending and explaining the Christian faith.

Some of the most well-known apologists of the twentieth century were men like C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1909 – 1945), and Lesslie Newbigin (1909 – 1998).

Contemporary apologists include men like Ravi Zacharias (1946 – 2020), Timothy Keller (1950 -), and Alister E. McGrath (1953 -).

The purpose of all of these apologists was and continues to be to articulate a verbal or written response to the questions people have about God and the Christianity faith. To do apologetics is to give a defense for the Christian faith either to people who oppose Christianity or to clarify a certain belief to people within the Church: Who is God? How can a good God create evil? Why is there suffering in the world? What does it mean to be human? Who is Jesus? What qualifies him to be a Savior?

Believe it or not, every Christian is an apologist. You and I are apologists. It’s not a luxury or a special call for a few brilliant intellectuals. We are apologists by association and that’s why the Apostle Peter tells us,

“But in your hearts revere 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” (1 Peter 3:15).

Just because our faith is personal—we have a personal relationship with Jesus—it doesn’t mean that it should be kept to ourselves. Now, we don’t need to be obnoxious about it, but we should be able to respectfully give a response for why we believe what we believe.

KIDS, VEGGIES, AND INFLUENCE

More than anything, apologetics is about influence, not manipulation. Allow me to illustrate. Often, I try to get our boys to eat their vegetables. And often it becomes a battle of two competing parties and before long we’re all sitting at the table locked in a stalemate.

In his book, Influencing Like Jesus (2008), author Michael Zigarelli tells a funny story of the struggle he encountered when he tried to get his kids to eat their vegetables. As any parent will know, there are a few—seven to be exact—classic strategies you can employ in your noble quest to get your children to eat their veggies:

• There’s the classic Authority Tactic: “Because I said so…”

• Then there’s the Social Evidence Strategy: “Look how nicely your brother is eating his broccoli…”

• Many of you have also probably tried the Limited Availability Principle: “I’m setting the timer—you have 2 minutes to eat your peas, after that Daddy’s Fury will be released…”

• There’s also the Nurturer Approach: “Did you know that eating your vegetables makes you big and strong?”

• Or maybe you like to use the Likability Factor: “You make me so happy when you eat your kale.”

• On the opposite end of the spectrum to the Likability Factor is the classic Ultimatum Proposition: “Eat your veggies or else…”

• And then, as a last resort, you may turn to an Inspirational Story, that every parent has used at least once: “Let me tell you about the kids in Africa who spend their days begging for food. If they had a piece of broccoli, they would inhale it!”