A Case for Christian Apologetics

Today, November 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  The day was a very dark time in our nation’s history.  Many people still remember where they were when they first heard the tragic news.

The day also marks the 50th anniversary of the death of a major contributor to evangelical Christian thought and living, C.S. Lewis.  Lewis’s writings, including such classics as The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia has challenged and fed Christians for nearly 75 years.  Lewis’ most profound work, however, may be his book titled Mere Christianity, dealing with what we call Christian Apologetics.

Christian apologetics is the reasoned explanation for what we believe about God, His Word, work, and world. It is indeed a discipline sorely lacking in today’s Christian community.  We need to know what we believe, why we believe it, and how to use what we believe.  I am convinced the reason so many believers fall for false teaching is that we do a poor job in grounding ourselves in God’s objective truths.  Peter encourages believers scatter throughout Asia Minor due to persecution:

…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… – 1 Peter 3:15

Do you know what you believe and why you believe it?  Doctrine, theology, and apologetics are not for the seminary trained or super-spiritual and scholarly. Knowing what we believe and why we believe it is important for two reasons. First, we must be prepared to share truth with a world who is far from it.  Second, we ultimately behave what we believe.  If we do not believe rightly, we will not behave rightly.

Let me suggest a path that will help you gain a fuller understanding of God’s truth.

  1. Read God’s Word.  God’s Word is our infallible and authoritative source for truth.  There are no shortcuts.  Reading books about the Bible is not substitute for the regular intentional reading of God’s Word.
  2. Read the works of Christian Apologists.  Note how they systematically discuss these great truths. I highly recommend Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig.
  3. Read theological works. Systematic Theology books arrange Biblical teaching into major doctrinal headings that give the believer a comprehensive look at what the entire Bible has to teach on various topics.  A Systematic Theology I recommend is Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith by Wayne Grudem.

The study of Christian Apologetics will strengthen your faith, straighten your walk, and supply you with knowledge to defend our faith.

Hope for the Downcast

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I am feeling a heavy burden these days for several family members, friends, and church folks who are going through difficult times in their lives.  Some are battling disease, some face financial issues, some emotional distress, still others are dealing with family matters that hurt to the core of their souls. I wish I could snap my fingers and make all of their problems go away.  I deal with things in my own life, but I hurt even more when people I care for are hurting.

Many of you reading this are going through challenging times in your life as well.  So, today, I want to just share some Bible verses that I hope will encourage you.  If you are where you can do it, read them out loud.  Let the devil hear the reason for hope in you.  Meditate on theses verses; claim the truth for your life.  Refuse to be governed by how you FEEL about your circumstances, and choose instead to yield to what you KNOW about our Sovereign God and HIS truth for your life.

Know that I am praying for those of you whose hurts I know.

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:19 – And my God will supply every need of yours
according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 9:9-10 – The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 34:17-19 –  When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

1 Peter 5:10 – And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,
who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Faith… REALLY?

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Faith is one of the foundations of our spiritual lives.  Without it, we have no hope.  Place it in the wrong object, and we have false security.  Ground it in the nature of God, finished work of Christ, and unchallenged power of the Holy Spirit, and we are powerful people.

Two particular Bible verses shape my view of faith: Hebrews 11:1 and 6.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

From time to time, I hear some well-intentioned soul misrepresent Scripture and tell someone that they will be healed, or their need will be met, or some other positive outcome will happen of they just “have faith.”  The implication of that statement is that if it doesn’t work out the way they think it should, their faith is somehow deficient.

Think about that a moment.  What requires more faith – trusting a God who gives you whatever you ask when you want it or trusting a God who sometimes tells you no without any explanation?  I believe the latter allows us to demonstrate more faith.

Since faith is being sure of and believing even though we can’t see, then a situation that remains unresolved requires us to continue to exercise that faith.  Once we receive that for which we asked, we can see it, and it no longer exercises our faith.  The exercise of our faith pleases God, therefore we are in a greater position to please God when situations remain a challenge.

So, if you are experiencing a season in which you have asked God for a resolution and He has yet to provide it, keep believing.  That very situation and the faith you demonstrate in it is allowing you to please God.

Does anyone have a “faith” story they would like to share?  The comment section is open for you to

 

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