The word apologetics may lead one to think about apologizing or making an excuse. But the word “apologetics” comes from the Greek word “apologia”, which means “defense” or “vindication”. In New Testament’s times “an apologia was a formal courtroom defense of something”.1 Then, as Beilby defines it simple, 2 “apologetics is the attempt to defend a particular belief or system of beliefs against objections.”
In this civilization that we live, for many people, life lost its meaning. People don’t know who they are, why they are here and where they are going. They have no hope, and when they have it is a hollowed hope.
If we truly believe that Jesus Christ, is the Way, the Truth and The Life, then we must engage in apologetics not only to defend a question or issue, but to lead blind and ignorant people in the direction of Jesus, making it possible for them to be faithful to Jesus Christ, and when this happen, that is apologetic success.
The personal character of a Christian engaging in apologetics is very important and cannot be divorced from the rational arguments. As Groothuis says, “apologetics is necessarily both theoretical and personal, intellectual and relational”. (Groothuis, 25). There is a variety of activities like “demolishing arguments, contending for the faith, refuting those who oppose sound doctrine and gentle instruction.” (Beilby, 14).
In the New Testament, the eight occurrences of the term apologia are in Acts 22:1; Acts 25:16; 1 Corinthians 9:3; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 1:7; Philipians 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:16 and the text that present a rational defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:15 that says: “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. But do this with gentleness and respect”.3
There is different kinds of audiences of apologetics. Audience is the person or persons to whom you are speaking. That can be:
- Private apologetics which occurs in the context of conversations between individuals or small groups of people.
- Public apologetics directed to a general audience, like public debates, lectures and sermons.
- Academic apologetics which appears almost always written rather than verbal, and by its nature, operates at a very high level of complexity.
A potential audience for apologetics is not only non-Christians but Christians, because they hold their beliefs in an uninformed and precarious fashion. To have apologetic conversations with Christians is called internal apologetics to Christianity, while engaging in an apologetic conversation with skeptics or agnostics or those outside of or external Christianity is called external apologetics.
How we present and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ? To instruct people gently shows that I am confident on the content that I preach. I do not only believe in it but I master the subject, I know it from different angles and most important, I live what I preach and abide in Jesus, the True Vine so when I speak, it’s not me, but He speaks through me.
Apologetics takes place in one’s own mind, it has to take place in my everyday life. A good apologist must reserve special moments in silence, away from noise, away from dispersion and entertainment in order to reflect on self if what we defend with words, we defend on our trail left behind. Our actions must reflect our preaching and moments of silence can help us meditate if The Lord is happy with us and is being blessed by our prime time of intimacy, as an offering to Him.
Apologetics is much more than defense of issues and questions. As Groothuis says “it also fortifies believers in their faith, whether they are wrestling with doubts and questions or simply seeking a deeper grounding for their biblical beliefs” (Groothuis, 25).
As a Christian, I learned that I should never enter into discussion about my faith with anyone because that can lead us to a fight and the result would be to lose a friend or raise barriers between people. But I see that my thought was only an excuse for my inability or omission in preparing myself to proper defend my faith. Doesn’t matter if it was ignorance or accommodation in religious customs, the fact is that I was not preparing myself. One day I received a friend in my home to present me his new product, a very good mattress. His explanation just let me embarrassed. He knew his product inside out giving me all the benefits, the components of the mattress, the cycle and operation of chemicals during the night, how my body would respond, etc. Then I thought: Am I prepared to present the gospel as my friend presented his product?
In Christ,
Pr. Filipe A. Espindola
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Beilby, James K. Thinking About Christian Apologetics: What It Is and Why We Do It. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2011.
Groothuis, Douglas R. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2011.
