Apologetics: Sharing Hope with Gentleness and Respect

Well, I think one is that apologetics, not understanding that it is the responsibility of every believer to have a grasp of what it is you believe, so therefore the assumption, A, is that apologetics is for professionals, you know, just for those who study or teach apologetics. [00:00:46]

There is a tendency to assume that because you win an argument in terms of apologetics, we make it equivalent to evangelism, the assumption that winning the argument is the end of it. But the whole reason for apologetics is to give a reason for the faith. It is not the same thing as sharing the content of the gospel message. [00:01:15]

And I think in that same vein, when we think it's proving or winning someone to the faith because of our apologetics or defense of the faith, it can also breed an unnecessarily contentious and pugnacious spirit in trying to defend the faith. So, we should also remember that Peter says it's with meekness that we give an answer for the hope that's within us. [00:03:06]

So, I think sometimes we can pick up a book on how to answer these objectives. And listen, I was a college debater. There is nothing more that I love than a good debate, but this is not for the purpose of winning arguments. What we're trying to do is give an explanation, whether that's understood or explained, we leave it up to God to change the heart. [00:04:08]

There is a role for apologetics with both. Usually, when we talk about apologetics, we're talking about giving an answer to unbelievers, but actually there can be problems that Christians have, that they doubt, and apologetics can be really helpful in removing some of those doubts. [00:06:02]

Ultimately, apologetics is only truly useful for the elect of God. At the end of the day, whether it's for Christians, those who are doubting, and really not, maybe not even doubting, but also we just need our faith constantly bolstered, constantly grounded. [00:07:02]

Well, I'll answer the last part first. Know what you're talking about. So, if the question that arises is on an issue that you're not sufficiently grounded in, if you don't fully understand it yourself, it's probably, especially with an unbeliever, it's probably best to defer to someone else. [00:08:04]

So, I think, the humility, first off, is knowing what to answer. Sometimes, people will read something, one sentence here or one book and think they are grounded in everything and you are really doing a disservice to the faith if you're trying to answer ... sometimes in debate we used to call it "canned arguments." [00:08:45]

We need to get out of this attack mode, "God has enemies and they're among His. They may attack us." But sometimes they attack us because we are jerks, you know. So, let's not be a jerk. Let's start with respecting a person as an equal image-bearer of God who may have a legitimate question about what we believe. [00:11:21]

And I think that then tells you what the key question you need to be asking is to determine are you doing this right and it's this: Does this apologetic conversation glorify God or me? And you'll know what you're working for. "Is this really to win an argument so that I'm the clever one, so that I'm the winner? [00:13:06]

I think what it doesn't look like is if you have an unbelieving family member or co-worker whose lifestyle you disagree with. Apologetics is not initiating confrontation over their said lifestyle. That's what it doesn't mean. In other words, if you have a co-worker, let's say, who is a homosexual who is married to someone of the same gender, apologetics is not doing any service to the kingdom by you being dismissive towards them. [00:21:33]

We need to recognize— just really related to that— that we do our apologetics within relationships. And so, the question is asking about speaking to family and friends. And if we are simply trying to win or have fights, particularly with those who know us well, then what we're witnessing to them is an un-Christlikeness. [00:26:19]