The Purpose of Apologetics in a Post-Modern World :: By James Pannafino

Apologetics is the discipline that deals with a rational defense of the Christian faith, and this is the personal responsibility of all who follow Jesus…

• The most important reason to do apologetics is God’s command to us, and that people need to know the reasonable hope we have in Christ.

We are instructed to “always be ready” to intelligently and proactively engage with others ‘why’ we believe in Jesus…

• Apologetics is not just a matter of having the right information available; it is also an attitude of readiness and love to share the truth of our Christian faith.

Jude 1:3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Titus 1:9 “Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (see also 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 1:7; 2 Timothy 2:24-25).

Why should we take ‘apologetics’ seriously and endeavor to defend our faith among those of our generation?

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

• God created humans to make use of reason as part of His ‘image’ in our world today.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (cf. Colossians 3:10).

It is by reasoning that humans are distinguished from “brute beasts” (Jude 1:10) and God calls upon His people to use reason to discern truth from error…

1 John 4:6 “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

• It is incumbent upon Christians to give a defense for their hope to others. This is part of the great command to love God with all our mind, as well as our heart and soul (Matthew 22:36-37).

We give defense and reasons for the truth of Christianity through apologetics…

• Believers should seek to be faithful in this endeavor because our world needs it!
• People rightly refuse to believe without evidence. God created humans as rational beings, and it is wise to live as such… to look before you leap!
• This does not mean there is no room for faith. But God wants us to take a step of faith in the light of the evidence, and Biblical apologetics does this!
• Apologetics should always lead us to discernment and the saving knowledge of Jesus.

Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

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