Note: This is a guest post since presently I am overseas. This is by Todd Clay. He is no stranger to some of you who read this blog. His blog be found here and he tweets here.
Three Ways to Remain Christian in Apologetics
Not all “Christian” apologetics is actually Christian.
That may sound strange to those unfamiliar with the apologetics landscape. But if apologetics is a defense of the Christian faith (taken from 1 Peter 3:15), they you don’t have to travel far into the Apologetics blogosphere to learn some “apologetics” doesn’t always defend Christianity.
In some cases much ink is spilled and energy is spent to turning people away from atheism to theism. Yes, theism is an improvement on atheism, but generic theism doesn’t save anyone. In fact, even the demons are theists and it doesn’t help them (James 2:19).
The Danger of Non-Christian Apologetics
In K. Scott Oliphint’s lecture Introduction to Apologetics, Part 7, Oliphint reviews the Thomistic approach to apologetics. He discusses how Thomas Aquinas use of pure reason pointed to the existence of God – though not necessarily to the Christian God.
Oliphint later explained the reason why traditional proofs for the existence of God apart from Scripture was problematic. He illustrated what happened to philosopher and former rabid atheist, Antony Flew, who became a theist late in life. Oliphint quipped (25:40), “When Antony Flew was converted, he was converted by some of these arguments (traditional proofs), but it sent him right to hell. So his theism was not useful. And so I think this is why this apologetic is bankrupt – it’s really not worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Oliphint brings up an important point to anyone engaged in Christian apologetics. If our apologetics is not distinctly Christian, that is a catastrophic problem. For as helpful as we may be in exposing the errors or atheism, our apologetic will be worthless without pointing people to Christ in the Gospel (1 Timothy 1:15).
That is why it’s essential for all of our apologetics remain thoroughly Christian. Here are three ways for apologists to remain Christian in Apologetics.
1. Get educated.
One of the best things a budding apologist can do is get educated. Too many people have gone before us fighting the battles against unbelief. There’s simply no excuse not to benefit from their learnings and apply it to our own ministries.
If you have studied apologetics for any time, you have likely learned much about apologetics from books, blogs, podcasts, videos, and other media. That’s awesome. My encouragement to you is to continue to learn, especially in areas that pertain to theology, philosophy, science, and above all else the Bible.
If you haven’t delved into Presuppositional (aka Coventental) Apologetics yet, definitely get familiar with it. I think it is the most biblically-tethered approach to apologetics available. Read articles and books from apologists like K Scott Oliphant, Greg Bahnsen, John Frame, and Cornelius Van Til.
For an entertaining primer on the presuppositional method, checkout Sye Ten Bruggencate on the video: How To Answer The Fool (1:25:45)
2. Stay Evangelistic
A second way to remain Christian and your apologetics is to stay evangelistic. Evangelism is proclaiming the gospel. The message of the gospel is that Jesus Christ died to save sinners and everyone who turns from their sin and believes in him will be saved (Matthew 3:2, John 3:16). If your apologetics ministry stays close to this gospel message, it will be an anchor for your ministry.
This is not to say the traditional proofs for the existence of God have no place in apologetics. But the Kalām cosmological argument for God’s Existence never saved anyone. Only believing the gospel saves people (Romans 1:16). Keep the apologetics close to the proclamation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (the gospel), and your Apologetics will remain Christian.
3. Remain Biblical
Finally, and most importantly, the number one way your apologetics will remain Christian is to stay biblical. The Bible is the foundation for all truth in the Christian religion. If your teaching, preaching, writing, conversations, or any other way of communicating cannot be supported by Scripture it is not Christian. It may be religious, interesting, or even thought-provoking. But it is not Christian if it’s not biblical.
There are many churches that affirm a form of Christianity. They proclaim something about Jesus and hold to many doctrines that confessional Christians adhere to. However, they diverge on many key points like the deity of Christ, the reliability of the Bible, or traditional sexuality. In each of these groups or cults, they have departed from the truth. They may look like Christians, but Jesus would call them false prophets (Matthew 7:15,16) because they abandoned the Scriptures at some point. That is why it’s vital that your apologetics to remain Biblical. You never want to be counted among the false prophets or cults, because you departed from confessional Christianity.
Final Thoughts On Staying Christian in Apologetics:
Be A Faithful Christian
These three ways should keep you well-grounded in apologetics: getting educated, staying evangelistic, and remaining Biblical. If you do all of these things, your apologetics ministry will be much more aligned with Christian apologetics than not.
One final tip: be a good Christian by the power of the Spirit. Read the Bible more and you read any other apologetics textbook. Go to church. Listen to solid biblical teaching. If you’re married, love your spouse. If you’re a parent, raise your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Obey the Lord in the station he has assigned to you. Your testimony will be a core component to an effective and thoroughly Christian apologetics to any non-believer. And it will also ensure you remain Christian in apologetics.
Todd Clay is a husband, dad, and a Christian (Reformed Baptist). He enjoys researching about everyday, complex, and sometimes obscure theological issues in every field of knowledge and tries to make things easy to understand. He is married and has 4 children, one of whom (Knox) is now with the Lord. Todd holds a BA in history from the University of Texas at Austin and an MA in Theological Studies from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Todd blogs at Theolocast.
Interesting.
Thanks, jmshistorycorner!
You’re welcome 🙂
Helpful Todd
Good counsel here, Thanks
Thanks, Wally! Blessings!
You are most welcome, Todd
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Appreciate it, Vincent!
Blessings!
You’re very welcome Todd and God bless you too Brother 😎
Excellent overview. Love this: “be a good Christian by the power of the Spirit.”
That is the real deal.
Blessings, grace and peace from the Messiah Jesus!
Thanks, Michael! Have a good one!
Thank you, Todd. Blessings as you continue to research.
Appreciate it – have a blessed week!
Ty.:)
Thank you, hawk2017!
:))
Good Share, I’ll look you up more being new to WordPress, you have some inspiring shares…
Blessings
Shalom
Marcia
Thanks, Marcia!
Blessings!
Great thoughts! I think arguments about theism vs. atheism can have their place, as long as it’s not the end of the argument. As you say, theism in and of itself has no value without some action resulting from it. Thank you for sharing this.
-David (https://greenwalledchapel.home.blog/)
Agreed, David. Theism must not be the end of the conversation. If it is, you’re discussing philosophy, NOT the gospel of Christ.
Thank you for writing this essay
The second one convicted me. I love apologetics but sometimes I love debating more than sharing the Gospel.
i see a hardcore bias against apologetics, mainly from the Elders. Classic apologetics is merely tolerated. Try to warn them about current living advocates of false doctrines is like talking to a wall. That is if your lucky they politely dismiss you as a bit of a lone loon. They refuse to consider it and investigate it themselves. Even worse they will treat like Stephen for telling them the truth.
There are legions of Christians orphaned from fellowship because the Elders seem to be totally blinded to reality.
That is the sad state of American Churchanity…shallow and superficially nice.
But what about the huge stepping stone that is theism? That should not be overlooked.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
HOLD YOUR GROUND GOD WILL BE YOUR GUIDE!
STAND AND ENDURE FOR YOUR REWARD IS SURE! 😀