I recently received a comment on one of my blogs from a sincere and deeply committed Christian who stated that she saw some uses for apologetics, but said she thinks it’s “highly overrated.” She based her opinion on the understanding that Christianity is not reasonable to fallen man, since spiritual truths are spiritually discerned, and “the man of the flesh (an unredeemed person) cannot know the things of the spirit.” She also said that she doesn’t “believe faith has any more to do with the intellect than with the emotions.” This is true for some people with a tendency to be feelings-oriented. Other people, however, are not feelings-oriented. Some folks are more logical while others are more emotional. We must remember that we were all seekers once, starting out with different tendencies. God doesn’t favor one over the other.
Spiritual truths can be known in two ways: a posteriori, truth known by experience, and a priori, truth known by reason. Like many believers, I came to know God by experience: “a posteriori.” Experiences with God were what I based my faith upon, but soon questions came from skeptics that I couldn’t answer. Wasn’t there more to my faith than just my experiences? I ‘reasoned’ there must be! So, I began to study Christian apologetics. I’ve learned that there are many evidences to the Christian faith, and it is comforting to know them. Many wrestle with the intellectual aspects of the Christian claims before they are open to faith in Christ. Knowing apologetics just may be the seed of faith that we can plant in a seeker’s soul.Knowing apologetics just may be the seed of faith that we can plant in a seeker’s soul. Share on X
We are called to be Ambassadors for Christ on Earth, sharing the Gospel. In a country like the United States, this requires greater use of the intellect because, like other western societies, many people have become cynical and distrust authority. Learning apologetics helps to answer tough questions that challenge the Christian, and/or attempt to undermine the Christian faith. Jesus has invited us to proclaim the Kingdom of God, sharing the good news, which often requires removing intellectual and/or emotional stumbling blocks to faith. Ultimately, only God can save a person, but we’re called to do our part.
How, then, do we best share the Good News? The best place to start is by looking at how the Gospel writers shared their faith. They shared their testimonies, but notice something particular in what these testimonies included: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life…” (1 John 1:1). John testifies to the truth by what he heard, saw, and touched. All of this was empirical evidence of the Risen Lord. Empirical evidence is what scientists base their discoveries on; it’s what you can test with the five senses. This kind of evidence is easy to believe because it’s tangible.
So, why did the disciples repeatedly share the good news of Christ by telling everyone they could about what they had seen and what they had touched? Coming to faith is sometimes the effect of evidence. For example, many people need the extra assurance that the statements in the Bible about Christ are based upon evidence. We must remember that not everyone is wired the same. Some are blessed with the gift of simple faith, and they have no need of empirical evidence: they just believe. Others struggle with faith and need more concrete evidence. Therefore, it is good to know that our faith is not based upon feelings or “blind faith” alone. Peter, Paul, John, and the other disciples repeatedly spoke about what they had seen. They shared their eye-witness testimonies. These accounts given by the disciples were verifiable by their contemporaries, and they may continue to act as a catalyst for the faith of Christians today.
Divine thought: Some people need verifiable facts to place their faith in Christ.
That was very well said. I came to faith by hearing the truth of God’s word which revealed my sin ad need for a savior. I didn’t need any of the evidences that we learn in apologetics teaching to have a strong faith. But that was me and as you point out we’re all different. Regardless of what brought us to faith I think apologetics is quite valuable to help us in our conversations with many people.
Thank you, Bill. I can relate to you in that it was by opening up the Book of John and reading that apostle’s testimony, that I just knew what I was reading was true. Since I began my quest to study of apologetics, I have met several people who came to faith by the evidence first. So, God uses all kinds of ways to bring people to Him. God bless you! Lisa Q
Dear Lisa
At the end your blog post you asked: “why did the disciples repeatedly share the good news of Christ by telling everyone they could about what they had seen and what they had touched?”
That’s a theme, that’s throwing us into the area of rhetoric, which I find highly underrated in the Christian community.
The idea of the disciple as being the poor fisherman is far from a fair description of their writings and faith-life.
It’s great with the kind of comments that preceded your blog post because they give us fuel to put content in front of the Christian community that worth thinking about.
Your blog post commentator touches a topic I find very interesting when she says:
“She doesn’t believe faith has any more to do with the intellect than with the emotions.”
It’s a question if Christianity depends on people; many with a solid foot based in the Christian tradition will say the same.
Faith is not depending on anything in men but comes to us from outside.
We know this from our daily life.
If we believe something, it’s because it’s worth believing.
It’s, in a strict sense, not a matter of choice.
You write about the differences among how people experience the World.
Howard Gardner’s idea about the multiple intelligences support what you say about this topic.
The most important point, as I see it in this blog post is what you say about the a posteriori and the a priori part.
If Christianity is to have a future among the Millennials, we who work with it have to go back to be much more experience orientated.
This leads me back to your question at the end of the blog post.
From a rhetorical point of view, your question could indicate the importance of taking people’s situation into account.
We have to bond with them, and since people are much better educated today than before, we need to take reason into account when we discuss Christianity.
By that, I don’t mean we have to be able to find the reasonable answer in the Bible always.
In many cases, we’ll find it by studying the contemporary culture of the early Christians.
Apologetics is an area we cannot afford to neglect.
God Bless
Edna Davidsen
Hi Edna! Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Since you are much younger than I am, I totally appreciate your understanding of the Millennial generation. I have done a little bit of study on the youth culture, and I agree with your point that this generation wants experiences, to be sure! Funny thing is that I feel called by God to combine the two — the head knowledge with the heart experiences of God. So, maybe He wants me to reach those young folk with this message: “the heart & mind combined!” This is the fullness of the Christian life. What I have come to love about it is the worship aspect of this combination. It gives a much richer and deeper meaning to this verse: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) God bless you!!
The combination of head and heart knowledge must be optimal.
What I dislike is if Christianity becomes to spiritual, and too focusing on what’s happening in heaven etc.
For me, Christianity is a win-win in this life; I’m not a Christian because I’ll come to heaven one that (not that I doubt that Christ has a chair waiting for me there) but because being a Christian gives me a better life and a purpose that I’m willing to work hard for.
Does it make sense?
Hi Edna – yes, I understand what you are saying about how Christianity is a “win-win” in this life. I also think that Christianity makes the most sense when you really sit down and look at all the possible beliefs systems out there. In a nutshell, Christianity shows that God created the world with free beings to either choose to be in relationship with Him, or not. When the first humans chose to go their own way, then God provided a path back to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the solution to the problem of human alienation from God. Christianity is also true, which is why we should believe it. The Resurrection event provides us with solid evidence, and is not some mythical tale. It really happened in history! Jesus is Lord, and eventually, everyone must wrestle with what to believe about Christ. Thanks for your comments.
Thank you for a well articulated post. So much food for thought here – I am still processing. I think what you say is true – our real life accounts – what we’ve seen, tasted and touched is powerful and meaningful. For the seeker or unbeliever it’s more real than the abstract or theology. Thank you for writing about an important subject as a Christian I need to consider.
Hi Liz! Thank you for reading my post. This year, 2018, I will be celebrating 30 years of walking with the Lord. I got saved on an Easter Sunday in 1988, and I remember that day well. It was an “experience” that brought to me faith in Christ. I literally felt His presence on me, like a warm blanket of light and love. It was surreal. It was intense. It was freeing. It was peaceful. It was all of that and so much more in a moment’s time. That carried me for most of my walk with God, until the skeptic’s questions kept at me, and I didn’t have good answers for why I believed Christianity was true. I knew it in my heart, but I could not tell someone why. Studying Apologetics has helped me with the “Why.” God bless you!