Apologetics, huh?

Apologetics, the defense of the faith, can and should be used for both evangelism and the strengthening of the church.  The benefits for both are numerous and can only empower and increase the body of Christ.

Historically, second century Christian apologetics formulated out of the necessity to refute the claims of pagans, Jews, the state, and heretics that brought forth brutal persecution and cruelty from the Roman Empire and to further the Christian message through well thought arguments.  It was through these motivations that early Christians began to write letters and works defending the faith as well as attacking others through polemics.  In this sense, the manifest intent of apologetics were used to strengthen the church against competing religions, but it can be argued that there was also a latent effect upon the readers and hearers of the letters and debates, making it useful in evangelism as well.

In today’s world many of the basic apologetic principles used in the second century are still used.  Apologists like Dr. William Lane Craig and Dr. Ravi Zacharias use the voice of reason and logic to reach their audience.  Although today evangelism is the main use of apologetics, there is a need to use it as a tool in strengthening the church, especially in an ever increasing secularized society as our own.  As the ways of the world slowly creep into the church, the need for apologetics within increases.

On another note, apologetics are another facet in which God reveals himself to us through the gift and our use of reason.  He created us with rational minds and implores us in scripture to give reasons for our belief.  While we are saved by faith, our faith is grounded on observations, experiences, scripture, and reason/logic.  This fact only increases the need for apologetics to be used in strengthening the church.  When confronted by a non-believer, the worst argument is, “just have faith.”  There needs to be an explanation just as 1 Peter 3:15 states, “…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…”[1].

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[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Kindle Edition. (Wheaton: Crossway Bibles, 2007), 1 Peter 3:15.