Don’t apologize!

What is it?

If you’ve never heard of apologetics, it might seem strange for a Christian to study. What? I’m going to learn about how to apologize for my faith? Really?

But that’s not what apologetics is about. At the time of the New Testament, an apologia was a defense, not an apology. When the philosopher Socrates was put on trial in 399 BC, his defense was called his “Apology.” Believe me, he didn’t apologize.

The word especially relates to 1 Peter 3:15, which tells us to be ready to give an answer – that is, an apologia – to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope you have. In context, Peter had in mind a Christian who was brought before civil authorities on trial, as it were, for their faith. Like Socrates, they would be asked to give an apologia potentially for being a troublemaker in society. Peter tells them to be ready to witness to Christ in such a setting. They were to be ready to confess that Jesus was their Lord and King.

Why is it helpful?

Dr. Adam Blehm gives three reasons why the study of apologetics is helpful. First, it provides reasons for faith that can be shared with those who do not yet believe. There are individuals who would like to believe, but their heads are getting in the way. Apologetics can help remove barriers in their mind.

Second, apologetics can bolster our own faith. Life can throw questions our way that the Devil can seize on and use to tempt us not to believe. Apologetics helps us have answers ready for ourselves.

Third, apologetics can help us understand God better and his relationship with the world. Dr. Blehm uses the Kalaam argument for the existence of God as an example. You can explore the Kalaam argument on the next page.

It isn’t enough.

A final note is in order. Christian theology teaches us that we cannot come to faith in our own power alone. Rather, the Holy Spirit reaches out to us and empowers us to make the choice either to move further toward God or to remain apart from him. If we keep moving toward him, we will eventually find forgiveness and be reconciled to God.

This is a matter of our hearts and wills, although our minds are involved. The bottom line is that no amount of information is sufficient to come to Christ. We come to Christ when we respond to his call with our hearts. Matters of the mind can get in the way or they can help, but the ultimate question is whether we will surrender to Jesus as our Lord.

We can hide an unwilling heart behind arguments. But the final question is always one of faith. For this reason, no amount of arguing with someone will ensure that they find Jesus. As Dale Carnegie once said, A person convinced against their will is of the same mind still. Therefore, as one of Dr. Blehm’s mentors once said, “It’s not our job to convince someone. That’s the job of the Holy Spirit.”