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by Kevin Pauley
To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. - 1 Corinthians 9:22 HCSB
Have you ever wanted to determine, once and for all to your intellectual satisfaction, that there actually is a God? Have you ever had to deal with someone who did not believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and placed your faith on the same order as Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy? Have you ever, in those late night hours when you were alone and looking on the shambles of your life, reached out with your heart and asked, “Is there anybody out there?”
In order to deal intelligently with the study of religion, with its multitude of forms, denominations, cults and schisms, you have to first develop a better understanding of the study called “apologetics”. Apologetics is simply a systematic way of arguing in defense of Christianity. It does not mean you are apologizing for being a Christian; it means you are explaining reasonably why you believe that Christianity is Divinely inspired when there are so many other religions that make the same claims.
Keep your thoughts in line with Scripture.
There are some Scriptural guidelines for the study of apologetics. Christians are warned, “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.”[1] There are many dangers inherent in blindly swallowing the multitude of philosophies out there. The righteous need to always compare the findings of our minds to the Scriptures and the wisdom of other, older believers so that we don’t go off on wild tangents.
Be able to answer any question concerning the faith at any time to anyone.
Peter urged, “But set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame.”[2]
We are commanded to be able to answer any man as to the reasons behind our faith and our joy. We must be ready at any time, under any circumstances to “reason together.” All Christians encounter questions like “Why do you have such hope when the world is falling down around our ears?” “Why do you believe that such an old, outdated book like the Bible is Divinely inspired?” “Why do you even believe there is a God when science so clearly has proven that we have evolved from more primitive life-forms?”
We must be able to answer these questions meekly “with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear.” This attitude is possible only if you are confident in your knowledge and do not feel threatened by your questioners. Obviously, this implies that we must study beforehand and study is sometimes difficult. It requires seriousness, diligence and disciplined thought. Our Master demands this of us. After all, He set the example for us. Didn’t He speak to each man in his language, on his level and to his need?
Speak to each man in his language, on his level and to his need.
Paul, probably the greatest missionary ever, writer of a good portion of the New Testament, and martyr for the Faith, showed us the method he used to evangelize. He explained, “For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win those under the law. To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law--not being outside God's law, but under the law of Christ--to win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.”[3]
He made himself without law to the lawless, weak to the weak, strong to the strong. There are certain men that, when approached, already have the assumption of God’s existence and with such, it is unnecessary to deal with chemistry, physics and apologetics. It would unnecessarily confuse the more important issue of their salvation. We must not be side tracked by petty arguments from preaching the cross.
However, others fancy themselves to be wise. Paul described these people for us saying, “For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools”.[4]
With such, it is sometimes necessary to approach on an entirely different level. It is primarily for these that we study apologetics, or as some refer to it “natural theology.” Paul’s goal was, as ours must be, the winning of eternal souls. All other considerations must have the importance of “dung” when we are faced with the possibility of winning Christ.[5]
Use the study of nature to lead them to faith.
In this effort, nature is our ally. Nature can be used to come to know God in a limited fashion. This is the point of Paul’s discourse when he accused non-believers, “For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.”[6]
This passage in the letter to the Romans gives us the foundation for the study of apologetics. It teaches the possibility of knowing the “invisible things” of God through the study of the visible, clearly seen creation. This makes it right and fair for a Holy God to judge a primitive tribe in the jungles of Ecuador for their sin; because they should be able to know of the existence of God, and even some of His nature and attributes, simply by observing nature.
Am I simply taking an isolated passage and interpreting it the way I choose? Look at how Paul himself meant this: “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. But I ask, "Did they not hear?" Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.”[7] Paul is alluding to a passage in the book of Psalms that goes, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.”[8]
Anyone who looks carefully and deeply at nature finds in its complexity and order signs of intelligence. We discover a garden in the middle of chaotic woodlands and know there is a gardener at work. Look into the vastness of space and know God’s immensity. Look into the sun and worship His power. Gaze upon a snowflake and stand in awe at His workmanship. Sit beneath sighing pines and bathe in His comfort.
Study widely, read generally, seek wisdom everywhere.
Another point that we can learn from Paul is that we not only need to heed the Scriptures, we not only have to balance our views with scientific observations, but we are also allowed to know, quote and refute our audience’s own works. When preaching on Mars Hill to a bunch of Greek philosophers, Paul quoted the Cretan poet Epimenides, and the Cilician poet Aratus.[9] He knew their writings well enough to quote them on the spot. Yes, Paul was a famed scholar, but his studies had been in Judaic Halakha at the feet of Gamaliel. His normal course of study would not have included Greek philosophy, so somewhere along the line, Paul spent time reading their books, studying their thought patterns.
Notice, that even though these poets were godless philosophers, they had stumbled on a useable truth. Just because a person is not a Christian does not mean that person is an idiot. Wisdom can be found in the market square, in the city gates, outside the town, on the hill top – everywhere.[10] Sometimes, men listen to just a part of what Wisdom is saying. I may hear something you don’t. You may hear something another can’t, but each of us is capable of hearing if only we’ll listen.
Expect to work hard.
Last, expect to work hard. Paul cried out for Christians to study, to think and to prepare for the furtherance of the truth.[11] You will find that your faith is not unfounded. You need not be ashamed in an “age of science.”
You need to show that you are not following a particular man or set of man-made dogma; that you did not simply wake up one morning and haphazardly pick Christianity as a metaphysical outlook. You did not simply look in the phone book and pick the first denomination that fell under your eye. Your faith is not blind! It is reasonable, based on demonstrable truth.
In order to “correctly teach the word of truth”, you need to be able to know the difference between the statements “I possess a soul” and “I am a soul.” It is more than semantics. It is the basis of life-changing decisions. Of course, it is hard work, but it is a responsibility that God has placed squarely on His disciples’ shoulders.
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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