Lecture Two: THE TASK OF PRESENTING YOUR CASE: THE BIBLICAL MANDATE OF APOLOGETICS AND POLEMICS

MEET THOMAS: A MODERN COLLEGE DOUBTER The following conversation has been duplicated many times. It took place between the author and a young college student at a coffee shop, around 9 p.m. during the summer of 2009. Though the argument offered by the student may be a bit more acidic that most of us face, the substance is certainly recognizable. Follow the lines of logic and argumentation used by this young intellectual. Thomas (T): Arent you one of those Christian speakers? Myself (Me): Well, I am a speaker, but not a pastor. T: Must be exciting, being able to assuage the fears of the ignorant sheep. M (smiling): Wow. That was an interesting opening statement. I take it your dont believe in Christianity? T: I dont believe in anything that cannot be proven, and certainly nothing based on racism and hatred. M: So what do you believe in? T: I believe in truth. I believe in diversity. I believe in every humans right to live their life the way they want, regardless of the thought police. I believe in peace and justice. I most certainly do NOT believe in your God. The rest of the discussion lasted about fifteen minutes. A long, tedious, and depressing fifteen minutes. No matter how I probed, he inevitably resorted to caricatures and insults. Since I speak fluent sarcasm, I can also get quite caustic, but this time, I actually held my tongue. I felt sorry for the young man. It seemed that he was parroting back one-line bon mots that impressed fellow skeptics, but there was no depth to his beliefs. In fact, his main belief was that he held to no beliefs. An entire worldview based on vague actions of justice. APOLOGETICS DEFINED: What would you have done in the same situation? Would you have silently gritted your teeth, or would you have responded in anger? Would you have simply told him you would pray for him? Or would you have engaged him in further conversation, seeking to find the underlying objections he had to faith in Christ? Your response would illustrate your personal form on apologetics.

24 On the surface, the term apologetics seems to indicate a sheepish apology for ones belief. At this juncture of your studies, however, you have surely come to understand that apologetics is much more intricate and detailed than that. Though the formal practice and study of apologetics is relatively new, the practice is as old as our faith.

SIMPLE DEFINITION:

APOLOGETICS is the defense of the one, true and Living God of the Bible against the claims of false gods and competing worldviews. It is the biblical mandate of presenting the Gospel of the Triune God to the world for which Jesus Christ died.

DIGGING DEEPER: APOLOGETICS is the science and the art of presenting your faith to skeptics, cynics and adherents to all systems of religion. It is based on, and formulated through, knowledge, preparation and discernment.

APOLOGIA: THE NOUN

A DEFENSE OR VINDICATION

The term apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia. It is a feminine noun, used eight times in the New Testament. The context of the biblical usage will help us more clearly define its purpose in the life of a believer. e following chart has been designed so that the student can see be use of the term in the context of the early church. Beginning with the Book of Acts, and highlighted by the writings of Paul and Peter, the student can readily see and apologetics involves a clear, and sometimes emphatic, repudiation of misconceptions. The English word is highlighted in bold.

25 CHART: APOLOGIA IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXT VERSE Acts 22:1 "Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you." Acts 25: 16 "And I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face, and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. 1 Corinthians 9: 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 2 Corinthians 7: 11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. Philippians 1: 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. Philippians 1: 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 2 Timothy 4: 16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 1 Peter 3: 15 But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

YOUR NOTES

Of special interest to the biblical student is that, with one exception, the Apostle Paul was the only human author to use the term. In each case, Paul used the term to describe a dual purpose by defending him the believer would defend the authenticity of the Gospel. In each case, the Gospel was under attack and in hostile territory. Does that sound familiar? Most apologists work in hostile territory. So do you as a believer.

26 APOLOGETICS AS A VERB: PREPARING AND PRESENTING A CASE

The Greek word apologeomai is the verbal usage of the term in the New Testament, and is in the middle voice. This usage comes from the judicial world, and can be viewed as an attorney defending his client, or presenting a case before the prosecution. Used ten times in the Bible, we can chart what the Holy Spirit meant by inspiring its use. Follow the context in your own Bible, and see if this practice is a technical science solely reserved for experts, or a mandate from God given to all believers. I believe you will see that giving a defense is an essential part of your faith. To proclaim truth, one must always distinguish it from lies. As you study the chart, you will also notice that the human author of the Book of Acts, the doctor Luke, is especially given to using the term in the narrative of the Apostolic Church. As Paul was planting churches during his three missionary journeys, he was arrested and forced to give a defense (apologia) of his faith. Our Lord Himself warned the Apostles in Luke 12 to anticipate a supernatural defense when you stand before accusers! He tells them not to prepare a lengthy defense, or to worry about the moment before your adversaries, because the Holy Spirit will give you the exact words to say and arguments to use. This is a profound promise indeed. One final feature of the chart: presenting a defense is not solely a Christian action. In Romans 2: 15, your own conscience either defends or accuses you. This act of self-rationalization is built into the human psyche. It is a part of you. Educated followers of every world religion and cult present a defense of their system based on their own rationalizations, teachings, and presuppositions. In fact, even pagans and anarchists have apologists who publicly speak and defend their beliefs.

27 CHART: APOLOGEOMAI IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXT Luke 12: 11 VERSE YOUR NOTES "And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not become anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense, or what you should say; "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; And some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. And when the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, Paul said in his own defense, "I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar." And Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense: "In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; And while Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." They show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

Luke 21: 14 Acts 19: 33

Acts 24: 10

Acts 25: 8

Acts 26: 1

Acts 26: 2

Acts 26: 24

Romans 2: 15

2 Corinthians 12: 19

28 As you can readily see, the Christian apologist simultaneously carries out two tasks he speaks for the Gospel, and he speaks against all other worldviews. This is a vital distinction, especially in light of those who are more skittish when it comes to confrontations. While one does not have to single out any particular system as false, the centrality of the Gospel message is that Jesus Christ is Lord ALONE. He is not the best of many ways, nor is He the best among many gods. He is God alone! Listen to Jesus own words in John 14:6: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by Me. This is called an exclusive statement. THE EXCLUSIVITY OF CHRIST If Jesus Christ is Lord, then He alone is Lord. He is not best among man gods, like Zeus in mythologies. He is not the strongest god among other weaker ones, like Jupiter. He is not just a good man; He is the God Man. He is not just a religious servant; He is Savior. He is not just a prophet. He is Prophet, Priest and King.

WORLDVIEW DEFINED: If we are to present the case for Jesus as Lord against other worldviews, it would be helpful to understand what exactly that means. What is a worldview and what does it affect? The term worldview is actually borrowed from a German word, weltanschauung meaning a "look onto the world". It implies a concept fundamental to German philosophy and refers to a wide world perception. It refers to the framework or grid through which an individual sees the world and interacts in it. The German word is also in wide use in English, as well as the "translated" form worldview. A worldview is like the glasses through which you see the world. It flavors and colors everything you see. It is literally your consuming passion and defining characteristic. I once knew a medical doctor who was so consumed with germs and bacteria that he could not go on a simple vacation without obsessing about the germs he encountered. On the airplane. In the hotel. In the rental car. Everywhere he looked, he saw germs.

29 This would be a clear example of a specific worldview. It affects everything. For some people, it is politics. Everything for them is viewed in light of negotiations, position and politics. For others, it is their philosophy. The person who takes their work home with them, because they are simply marinated in it. A few years ago, a social worker became so overwhelmed by the poverty she saw, she gave away all her worldly goods, and began to live with the homeless. In every conversation and every action, her defining line was, how will this affect the poor? Though her actions may seem radical, her motivation is consistent and pure. A worldview affects everything. It is the filter through which everything flows. For the Christian, our Filter is Jesus Christ. When the WWJD craze hit America some time ago, some secular critics scoffed at the notion of defining our actions by Jesus Christ. Yet it is a clear and distinct worldview. Christianity affects our whole being. Building upon our definition, other voices can contribute to the discussion. The modern Christian author James Sire writes, a worldview is a set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic makeup of our world." (The Universe Next Door [Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1988], 17). Gary Phillips and William Brown wrote that "a worldview is, first of all, an explanation and interpretation of the world and second, an application of this view to life. In simpler terms, our worldview is a view of the world and a view for the world." (W. Gary Phillips and William E. Brown, Making Sense of Your World [Chicago: Moody Press, 1991], 29). In summary, we can see two distinct dimensions of a worldview: 1. The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world. 2. A collection of beliefs about life and universe held by an individual or a group.

WORLDVIEW EXAMINED:

ANSWERING THE GREAT QUESTIONS OF LIFE

What does a worldview entail? Exactly how does an opinion rise to the level of a worldview? Is an individuals personal philosophy of life necessarily become a worldview, or is it simply an opinion?

30 Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias submits that a worldview must answer four defining questions in order to be coherent. In Deliver Us From Evil, he states that these four questions are the issues of absolute essence. Questions of Origin Questions of Meaning Questions of Morality Questions of Destinyi Stated in another fashion, every world religion must meet four absolute needs that are common to all of humanity. If a world religion or a worldview is going to garner followers, it must meet these universal requirements. In order to be a sustainable position, a worldview or religion must meet universal needs. The chart that follows outlines these needs:

CHART: THE FOUR UNIVERSAL NEEDS OF A WORLDVIEW THE NEED FOR KNOWLEDGE OFFERS Wisdom and Ethics EXPLAINED Every worldview must answer those questions that nag every person, such as how do I live with my neighbor, and where do I come from? Every worldview must offer a banner under which each person can live, and a group with which he is identified. Every worldview must deal with evil in a comprehensive way, including personal sin, regardless of how they define it. Even worldviews that do not offer an eternal destination (i.e. Humanism) must offer the individual to participate in something bigger than themself, that will last beyond their life.

COMMUNITY

Belonging and Fellowship

FORGIVENESS

Freedom from Guilt

LEGACY

Eternal or Everlasting Significance

Does Christianity rise to meet that challenge? Does your personal worldview? Can you adequately answer such questions as meaning and purpose? In the Gospels, Jesus Christ offered sustainable answers to all these questions. Purpose, meaning and

31 knowledge are found in our relationship with God, and our community in the Body of Christ (through the local church) offers accountability and encouragement. Furthermore, Christ offered eternity in His presence, where knowledge is perfected and our community is complete. Forgiveness has been purchased by His death on the Cross. A perfect example of this fully orbed worldview can be found in Galatians 1: 2-5: To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

CHART: THE FOUR UNIVERSAL NEEDS ILLUSTRATED IN GALATIANS 1: 3-5 THE NEED FOR KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITY FORGIVENESS LEGACY OFFERS Wisdom and Ethics Belonging and Fellowship Freedom from Guilt Eternal or Everlasting Significance GALATIANS 1: 3-5 Graceand peace To the churches of Galatia who gave Himself for our sins deliver us from this present evil ageforever and ever

32 GETTING DOWN TO BRASS TACKS Having now presented the overview of the objectives of apologetics, we must now settle some of the subjective questions that arise from this task. In short, the individual Christian will ask, how I carry out this mandate from God? Since all Christians our gifted by the Holy Spirit at the moment of their salvation, your methodology will be uniquely your own. Within the confines of your talents, gifts, and personality, you can sense which approaches would be more most effective for you.

A DEFINITION OF THE THREE TYPES OF APOLOGETIC APPROACH An apologetic approach is nothing more in the perspective from which you will operate. For example, most Christians have walked into a conversation already in progress. This conversation, usually between two friends, is usually heated and obviously concerning matters of religion. As you approach the table, your two friends attempt to bring you into the discourse. For some of us this is a fulfillment of prayer. We hunger for moments like this. For others however, immediately brings butterflies to your stomach. Confrontations of all type cause you great distress. The differentiation of the two responses is based on personality and temperament. God is uniquely equipped you for this moment, and he knows your gifts. The following three choices are based on personality, not effectiveness. All three approaches have validity and biblical precedent. 1. Positive Apologetics- presenting a defense of the supernatural nature of Christianity in a logical, reasonable and coherent manner to present Jesus Christ as the Living Lord and Savior. By and large the positive apologist dislikes arguments and would rather spend their time defending the truth of Christianity, rather than attacking the lies of another system. A character in the Bible with whom you feel commonality would be Barnabas. He was an encourager and a gentle spirit. Virtually everyone in the Early Church loved him. For those of you who dislike confrontation, positive apologetics is the approach with which you will have the most success. 2. Negative Apologetics (Polemics)- attacking the lies of false religious systems in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The polemicist has many spiritual forefathers in the Bible perhaps the best known would be the apostle Paul but certainly others such as Elijah on Mount Caramel and

33 Peter in the Book of Acts spoke to the errors of pagan worship. If this fits your personality type, you cannot stand for a lie to go unanswered. Viewing these other systems from the biblical perspective you can't imagine how anyone can follow these systems when their errors are so clearly in view. Sometimes your emotions get ahead of you, in your discussions become more heat than light. 3. Cultural Apologetics- using all resources of common ground (also called conversational). The conversational apologist is equally comfortable with antagonists and genuine seekers. He is also remarkably adept at using virtually every conversation to give a gospel witness. He is neither distressed by confrontation nor provoked into it. One of the clear demarcations of a cultural apologist is that he is always on the offensive, bringing Christianity into the conversation easily. Is able to use art science, music, theater, dance, television, in all forms of social interaction to apply biblical principles and seemingly un-biblical contexts. If this description fits you, you will know it because rarely are you ever brought in to a conversation. You are the one who initiates it. Look over these three options again. You feel any commonality with one over the others? Consider your spiritual gifts as listed in the New Testament. Begin to ask the Lord in prayer, where my most apt to offer a successful presentation? This is not to say that you will always use one approach exclusively. Sometimes you will be forced to use another approach by sheer circumstance. After you have determined your approach, the wise apologist must learn to prepare for those universal questions with which we are all familiar. These are the common objections Christianity. Though they arise in many contexts, the end result is a question that we have heard hundreds of times. I have listed the seven major objections to Christianity below. While this list is certainly not comprehensive, it does cover and large majority of the questions with which we wrestle. I call these the gorilla questions because they are often the unspoken and all-consuming issues that color the conversation. They are the 800-pound gorilla in the room. If you begin to prepare for them now, you will not be surprised when they arise in the most unlikely of places.

34

SEVEN MAJOR OBJECTIONS TO CHRISTIANITY (The Gorilla Questions) 1. It Doesnt Matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere. 2. All religions are basically the same. 3. Why is there evil, pain and suffering in the world. a. Either God is unable to help- and thus NOT Omnipotent b. God is unwilling to help- and thus NOT Omnibenevolent. 4. 5. 6. 7. What about those who have never heard of Jesus? Doesnt the Bible have contradictions/man-made book unreliable? Isnt Christianity a crutch and an escape from the real world? Isnt it arrogant to say that Christianity is the only way?

THREE OPTIONS FOR THE CHRISTIAN 1. Never say anything, because it ends up in a fight 2. Always argue- push the door down 3. Let the Holy Spirit guide you- right time, right way to do it, right reason. THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING NOTHING As you cruise the seven major objections above what is your first instinct? Fundamentally it must be admitted that virtually every question Christian has asked these questions at one time or another. Please notice that these questions are fundamentally questions of worldview. Those that believe all religions are basically the same are known as relativists. Those that believe that sincerity is the measure of truth believe that being a good person is more important and the substance of your belief. Regardless what form of apologetics you follow, all committed Christians can agree on one primary point. Doing nothing is not an option. The consequence of saying nothing is far-reaching. You allow lies to be perpetuated and truth to be silenced. As we have studied, man is genetically religious. The consequence of Christian silence is that false gods arise to take Gods place. Where there is a vacuum of Christian witness, inevitably people will worship something.

35 THE FALSE GODS ARISE Let me now make a controversial statement. It is a simple statement of doctrinal fact that contradicts our present culture of inclusivism. In light of Jesus Christs claims to Lordship in the Scriptures, all other worldviews and religions are false. Read that statement again. If Jesus Christ is in fact Lord, then all other systems with competing gods are false. The litany of false gods in our world is long: Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and all other religions that offer different gods and different paths to heaven are FALSE. This is difficult for the modern Christian, because it is at odds with our culture of tolerance. It did not conflict with the Bible however. False gods are not new. Even our Bible is full of false gods and phony worship. In fact, the very first commandment God gave Moses flew in the face of diversity and tolerance. He told the children of God to worship no one else but Him, because He ALONE was God! This section will end with a chart of the thirteen different false gods of the Bible. It is not only a testable point for the student; it is an essential study. False gods arise because sinful man does not want to worship the True and Living God! However, every human was created by God, for a relationship with God, to worship God. The barrier to this worship is sin. Apologetics is the call to accept Christ as the Atoning Lamb who paid for my sin. To further study this topic, consider a missiological question. If you were living in the days of the worship of these false gods, would you ever consider using these gods as a bridge to a Gospel witness? For example, as a missionary to the Ammonites, would you say, Let me tell you about the Molech I know, who is named Jesus? Would you try to bring a Canaanite to Christ by dressing like a worshiper of Baal? Modern missions movements have made the heretical mistake of confusing building relationships with building bridges. We must build relationships in order to witness, but we cannot dilute the Gospel with heresy. False gods are man-made, and they are idols. So too are the false gods of false religions. It is heresy to reduce the Living, resurrected Lord to the status of an idol.

36 CHART: THIRTEEN FALSE GODS OF THE BIBLE FALSE GOD ARTEMIS ASHERAH ASHTORETH BAAL PEOPLE Greek Canaanite Canaanite Canaanite DEFINED Goddess of Fertility, worshipped at Ephesus Wife of Baal Goddess in Canaan Animism Male God- wife is AsherahName means "Lord" from ba'lu Involved in animal sacrifices "lord of dung" Worshipped at Ekron National god of war and defense Upper human, lower fish Human sacrifice Warrior-God of Assyrians Lotan, god of the underworld Sumerian for "Lord" "Abomination" Solomon built an altar to him too. Said to eat babies. God of fertility, adopted by Greeks and made Adonis They would sing and chant to him TEXT Acts 19: 23-41 1 Kings 18; Judges 2: 13, 3:7 1 Sam 31: 6-10 1 Kings 16: 2934 Matt 12: 24, 10:25; 2 Kng 1: 2-16 Num. 21: 21-32; Jeremiah 38 Jud 16: 23-24 Genesis 36 Job Jer 50:2 1 Kings 11: 5-33 1 Kings 11: 5-33 Ezekiel 8: 1-18

BEEL-ZEBUB

Phoenician

CHEMOSH DAGON HADAD LEVIATHAN MARDUK MILCOM MOLECH TAMMUZ

Moabite Philistine Arameans, Edomites Ugaritic Babylon Ammonites Ammonites Syrian

THE RESPONSE OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD In light of the many false gods that arose, even during the biblical times, what was the response of the children of God? Did they hide in a conclave, awaiting God to come and vindicate them? Did they keep to themselves, hidden behind a compound wall? Did they allow truth to be consumed by the diversity of culture, and just go along with whatever their particular culture dictated? Of course the answer to each of these questions is NO.

37 The children of God found a way to proclaim the truth of the God of Heaven, even when it cost them their lives! Think of it this way: If Jesus is the only Way to heavenand He is And if the God of the Bible is the only true and living Godand He is And if eternity (heaven or hell) is hinged on accepting Christ as Lordand it does Then does not the proclamation of this Truth warrant our complete attention? Imagine if we were doctors on a foreign field, with the only antidote to a horrible, incurable and lethal disease. Would we not be guilty of the highest crimes of neglect if we only stayed in our tents and kept the antidote to ourselves? Of course we would. Yet Christians (by and large) are afraid to venture into the diseased world, because false doctors are out there, offering their tragically flawed elixirs, and selling people cures that cure nothing.

THE BIBLICAL PROCLAMATION The Bible is replete with Gods instruction: tell the world that God loves them and wants to have a relationship with them. He is willing that no one perishes, but that everyone comes unto repentance, according to 2 Peter 3:9. He loves the world, and all that are in it. This central message, when proclaimed, is the genetic code of apologetics. At the outset of Gods revelation to Moses was the message, called the Shema. In Deuteronomy 6: 4-9, God offers a summary of the central truth of God being God alone:
4

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (NIV)

38 This central message was to be the key to their very existence. It was so important that they were commanded to physically tie these words to their foreheads and arms. It was the essence of their faith. God is one God, and God alone. When the disciple Thomas told Jesus that they did not know the way or even the destination of life, Jesus responded in John 14:6-7 with an emphatic statement of His exclusivity, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. Christ was categorical in His emphasis that He alone is the access point to God the Father. Any attempt at diversity to the claims of men falls in the face of the central claims of Christ. Returning to 1 Peter 3, we see the motif for this proclamation, as well as Gods promise to those who act accordingly:
13

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. 15 But in your hearts set apart 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, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. Our purpose is clear. Look at verse fifteen again, and highlight the key terms. The chart below also focuses on the five terms that you must know in order to fully understand the text.

CHART: 1 PETER 3: 15 KEY TERMS TERM SET APART LORD ALWAYS PREPARED ANSWER GREEK Hagiadzo Kurios Aie Hetoymos Apologia MEANING Purify, Consecrate The only true and living Lord Perpetually Diligently armed Defense

39 THE TWO APPROACHES: TIMOTHY AND TITUS

To end this lesson, we return to the distinction between apologetics and polemics. A strong example of the difference between the two approaches can be found in the letters that the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus. While both men were spiritual sons of the apostle Paul, each had a different temperament. Paul approached both of them as sons and the Ministry, who were serving in local churches, but needed different types of encouragement. Timothy served as a pastor in Ephesus, a church of great influence. When he came under attack, the apostle Paul wrote to him and reminded him that God had not given him a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (1 Timothy 1:7). Mostly local scholars believe that Timothy had a timid personality and needed to reinforce his boldness is if he was to succeed at the church. The apostle Paul left Titus on the island of Crete to pastor the fledgling church. Though he also was coming under intense scrutiny, Paul's recommendation to him was much different. Biblical scholars believe that Titus was a much more aggressive personality because Paul had to remind him to avoid foolish genealogies and fights (Titus 3:9). In summary, one can see Timothy as a model for the apologist who does not like confrontation and would rather have peace. Paul had remind Timothy at there were times he needed to speak as a prophet. He needed boldness. If timidity is the caricature of the apologist than brashness is the caricature of the polemicist. Titus needed to be reminded that engaging in ruthless debate was often futile exercise. He needed to remember the gift of gentleness. The casual Christian who is impressed with the desire to defend the faith and present the Gospel of Christ will face two major forms or approaches, called apologetics and polemics. These two terms are important to formulating a plan of action. Some Christians are intrinsically averse to arguing. It is just not in their nature. They loathe arguing, and confrontations leave them withered and weary. Can they adequately do apologetics? The answer is YES. Throughout the history of Christianity, many people have focused on simply presenting the claims of Christ, rather than focusing on the errors in other systems. This positive approach is called simply

40 APOLOGETICS. You are giving an answer for the hope within you, specifically. Your gift is mercy, and when you see a soul without Christ, your compassion compels you to speak to them. Other Christians, however, also focus on the competing worldviews, religions and belief systems. They have no problem with argumentation, and can spot errors in these other systems. The specific term for this discipline is POLEMICS. If this describes you, then your gift is discernment. When you see others who have been fooled into believing a false religion or worldview, you are gifted to address the lie, and present the Gospel accordingly. Both approaches are imminently necessary. Ephesians 4: 15 demands that we speak the truth in love. Polemicists focus on truth, and apologists focus on love. Both aspects are needed in the Body of Christ. Both have been successful and helpful in the history of the Christian Church.

CHART: APOLOGETICS VERSUS POLEMICS APOLOGETICS APPROACH Present the Truth of Christianity PERSPECTIVE Positive and Conversational FOCUS Telling the truth in LOVE METHODS Conversation INTERESTS Witnessing Seminars GOSPEL Jesus and the Woman at the EXAMPLE Well in John 4 APOSTOLIC Peter and the healing of the EXAMPLE Lame man in Acts 3 POLEMICS Attack the Errors of Other World Systems Negative and Argumentative Telling the TRUTH in love Confrontation Cult and Religion Studies Jesus and the Religious Leaders in Matthew 23 Paul at Mars Hill in Acts 17

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PRIMARY SOURCE READING This article by Dr. Ravi Zacharias is a profound examination of our personal motivation for standing in the midst of culture. In this very personal article, Dr. Zacharias pulls the curtain back and reveals the heart of the Christian who practices apologetics. He is a best selling author, and Visiting Professor at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University. THE APOLOGISTS FIRST QUESTION By Dr. Ravi Zacharias (b. 1946) I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the Gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out. I remember well in the early days of my Christian faith talking to a close Hindu friend. He was questioning the experience of conversion as being supernatural. He absolutely insisted that conversion was nothing more than a decision to lead a more ethical life and that, in most cases, it was not any different from other ethical religions. I had heard his argument before. But then he said something I have never forgotten: If this conversion is truly supernatural, why is it not more evident in the lives of so many Christians I know? His question is a troublesome one. In fact, it is so deeply disturbing a question that I think of all the challenges to belief, this is the most difficult question of all. I have never struggled with my own personal faith as far as intellectual challenges to the Gospel are concerned. But I have often had struggles of the soul in trying to figure out why the Christian faith is not more visible. After lecturing at a major American university, I was driven to the airport by the organizer of the event. I was quite jolted by what he told me. He said, My wife brought our neighbor last night. She is a medical doctor and had not been to anything like this before. On their way home, my wife asked her what she thought of it all. He paused and then continued, Do you know what she said? Rather reluctantly, I shook my head. She said, That was a very powerful evening. The arguments were very persuasive. I wonder what he is like in his private life. Because my Hindu friend had not witnessed spiritual transformation in the life of Christians, whatever answers he received were nullified. In the doctors case, the answers were intellectually and existentially satisfying, but she still needed to know, did they really make a difference in the life of the one proclaiming them? The Irish evangelist Gypsy Smith once said, There are five Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, and some people will never read the first four. In other words, the message is seen before it is heard. For both the Hindu questioner and the American doctor, the answers to their questions were not enough; they depended upon the visible transformation of the one offering them. 1 Peter 3:15 gives us the gives us the defining statement: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer (apologia) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. Notice that before the answer is given, the one giving the answer is called to a certain prerequisite. The lordship of Christ over the life of the apologist is foundational to

42 all answers given. Peter, of all the disciples, knew well how to ask questions and also how fickle the human heart is. He knew the seductive power of the spectacular in momentary enthrallment. He knew what it was to betray someone and to fail. He knew what it was to try to explain the Gospel--as he did at Pentecost. Peters strong reminder of the heart of the apologist is the basis of all apologetic attempts. With character in mind, there follow two immediate imperatives: the quality of life lived and the clarity of answers given. The way the Christians life is lived will determine the impact upon believers and skeptics alike. This is a defining line because the claim by the believer is unique. The claim is that of a new birth. After all, no Buddhist or Hindu or Muslim claims his or her life of devotion to be supernatural, yet they often live a more consistent life. And how often does the so-called Christian, even while teaching some of the loftiest truths one could ever teach, live a life bereft of that beauty and character. In apologetics the question is often asked, If there is only one way, how is it that there are few in all of creation who qualify? That question is actually more potent than the questioner realizes. It should further be raised, Out of the few who actually qualify, why are even fewer living it out? The spiritual condition and character of the apologist are of immense importance. This call to a life reflecting the person of Christ is the ultimate call of everyone who wishes to do apologetics. When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well (John 4:126) she raised one question after another as if that were really her problem. It would have been very easy for the Lord to call her bluff with some castigating words. Instead, like a gentle and nimble-handed goldsmith he rubbed away the markings of sin and pain in her life until she was amazed at how much true gold he brought out in her. He gave her hope, knowing all along who she was on the inside. Likewise, we cannot simply vanquish the person in an attempt to rescue the message. The value of the person is an essential part of the message. This means the apologists task begins with a godly walk. One ought to take time to reflect seriously upon the question, Has God truly wrought a miracle in my life? Is my own heart proof of the supernatural intervention of God? That is the apologists first question. Ravi Zacharias is founder and president of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Excerpted from Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend (Nashville: Nelson, 2007)
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Ravi Zacharias, Deliver Us From Evil (Nashville: Word, 1997), 219.