Session 1: What is apologetics?
Welcome to Apologetics and the Gospel. My name is Pastor Jonathan White, and I am the Lead Pastor at CrossPointe Family Church in Hurricane, WV as well as a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician.
Question for Today:
The most important question that we need to address as we continue this journey of apologetics is this:
What is Christian apologetics?
Before defining the word, where do we get this word in English?
Apologetics actually originates from the Greek word, apologia, which means to give a defense or a well-reasoned reply.
With this in mind, I can think of no better place to go than the Bible to define this discipline more fully. Listen to 1 Peter 3:15-16:
1 Peter 3:15–16 ESV
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
So in essence, the Biblical definition of Christian apologetics is this:
Christian apologetics is the practice of learning how to give a reason for the hope that is in you.
Note that Christian apologetics is a very Biblical practice. We are actually commanded here in 1 Peter to be able to make a defense to anyone who asks us for the reason for the hope that is in us.
Yet, note how we are to do it. We are to do it in gentleness and respect, having a good conscience.
Christians who are listening, our goal is not to prove ourselves right on all of the issues that arise in apologetics. Our goal is not to beat others up with superior intellectual sparring like boxers in a ring. Our goal is to see the faith of weaker brothers and sisters strengthened and to see those who are not believers understand the Gospel and be saved.
You might wonder why I have entitled this ministry Apologetics and the Gospel. I have entitled it that because our goal in Christian apologetics is not to intellectually win debates as already stated, although I firmly believe the Word of God does reign victorious in all areas. But our true goal is the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ is our living hope my friends. If you are in Christ, He is the hope that is in you. 1 Peter 1:3 states:
1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Our hope is in Jesus Christ who has always been fully God - came to earth in the form of man some 2,000 years ago - lived a sinless life - died on the cross for our sins - and then raised from the dead three days later. He defeated death and the grave, and we now can have eternal life if only we repent - or turn from our sins - and place our faith and trust in Him for salvation. If you have done this then you can be assured that your hope is firmly built upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ!
The Word of God is already right. God’s Word is inerrant and infallible. I have studied the Word of God and science for many years, and time and time again the Word proves itself true. Critics have tried to disprove the Bible time and time again with many of them such as Lee Strobel, C.S. Lewis, and J. Warner Wallace becoming Christians in the process.
Christian apologetics that is Biblical is by definition presuppositional in nature. It assumes that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
For those of you not familiar with the word:
Presupposition means that there is something assumed in advance or taken for granted.
For presuppositional Christian apologetics, the existence of God is presupposed. More specifically speaking the existence of Christ is presupposed.
Some apologists today practice other forms of apologetics that are frankly, not Biblical in nature. But the discussions that we will go through will address each problem starting with Scripture and understanding the science through a Biblical worldview.
For those who might be skeptical of this approach, please bear with me and tag along. Rationally speaking, there is no such possibility for a distinctly non-presuppositional approach. One either starts with a belief that God exists or one starts with a belief that there is no God. Man, being a created being in the image of God - the Imago Dei - cannot remain neutral in the decision. He either suppresses the truth or he accepts the truth. See Paul teach this in Romans 1:18:
Romans 1:18 ESV
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
I hope that this short introduction gets you ready to start our journey in apologetics. I also hope that you have a more clear view of what Christian apologetics is and what it isn’t.
Closing Prayer
Closing
These presentations have been put together to strengthen the faith of believers and to challenge the unbelief of others. I pray that you find these presentations helpful as we continue moving forward. Feel free to email any ideas you would like to see addressed at crosspointewv@gmail.com. There are slides prepared for each of these presentations which can be accessed at our church website at http://www.crosspointefamily.church/ATG. Also, please note that this 10-15 minute presentation cannot exhaustively address any issue. My prayer is that it stimulates you to research further personally as I am assured that you will find the Word of God proven time and time again. God bless and have a blessed week.