The Importance of Apologetics to the Christian Faith

-John Dunfee

            I don’t believe in God. You just have to have faith. There is no evidence for God. Jesus never existed. I see no reasons to believe in Christianity. People don’t come to Christ through arguments. Why does a Good God allow Evil? Why are Christians such Hypocrites? Why are there so many contradictions in the Bible? Are the gospels reliable eyewitness accounts? Are eyewitnesses even reliable as a source of truth? Does God even exist?
 
            These questions and objections to Christianity are good for Christians to ponder about. My first encounter with these questions destroyed my faith because I wasn’t exposed to good answers to these questions and objections. Apologetics deal with these questions and objections by providing a solid defense for the truth of Christianity. It deals with these questions by answering them with well thought answers. Objections are dealt with by providing well thought out responses and refutations. Apologetics is the cornerstone for the foundation that holds the truth and validity of Christianity. As Christians, we are commanded to study apologetics and give a defense for the hope within us (1st Peter 3:15). Isn’t also helpful to know why something is true in the first place? I would hope the answer is yes because otherwise you are left with unbiblical faith. This type of faith would be blind faith which is believing without evidence. The type of faith described in the Bible is a type of Forensic Faith or trust based on evidence. James Warner Wallace has made a case for this in his book Forensic Faith.
 
            Through my journey as a Christian, I’ve realized that the truth of Christianity is being attacked intellectually. The New Atheists have accused Christians of being irrational for believing in Christianity. Are they right? What are the main reasons for why Christians believe in Jesus of Nazareth described in the Bible? Typically, a person believes in the Christian faith because they were raised in a Christian home, they’ve had an experience with Christianity, or they just like the religion. Are these actual rational reasons for believing Christianity to be true? These are just subjective, personal preferences that have no truth value in reality. If Christianity is true, then these would not be the reasons to show why. Atheists are unfortunately are right when it comes to modern day Christian’s lack of pursuit for intellectual reasons for their beliefs. Does this mean that Christianity is not true? Are their actual intellectual reasons for believing Christianity to be true? Apologetics strives to answer these questions.
 
            Again, apologetics means to give a defense for something. Christian apologetics seeks to give a defense for the truth of Christianity. Modern Christians lack the proper theology of apologetics that Christ and his followers practiced. In the book Forensic Faith, James Warner Wallace makes the case for why Christians should make the case for Christianity. He shows how the main man Jesus himself, made a Case for his divinity. He performed miracles in his own name to establish his deity as God incarnate. Paul reasoned with the Pharisees that Christ was who he claimed to be. He referred to the scriptures to show how they establish his position as messiah. Justin Martyer wrote the First Apology, which was the first apologetics document written to the polytheists of the Roman Empire. He made the case for theism and the truth of Christianity like every Christian should. These early Christians were apologists because they had experience with the greatest apologist who was Christ himself. Apologetics is of the upmost importance since is reflects the likeness of Christ.
 
            Apologetics is important for five main reasons. First, It’s a commandment from Scripture; 1 Peter 3:15 demonstrates this point because Peter tells us to give a reason for the hope within you. We must remember the rest of the verse “Do this with gentleness and respect”. We can give an argument without being argumentative. We can give a defense without being defensive. Basically, we have to present our case without a condescending attitude because no one will listen to what we have to say. We will be shut out if we break down the door. The second reason for why apologetics is important is because it helps us with our own doubts. If we have unanswered questions that you don’t know how to deal with, then you will most likely fall from our faith. If you have apologetics under your belt, then you will be able to deal with these questions and concerns. Thirdly, apologetics will help equip us better for evangelizing. When people cast their questions and objections, we will be able to answer them. The questions and objections answered to those we witness too will leave a good impression of Christianity. If Christians are prepared to give a defense for the gospel, then those asking will have good reasons to believe. Fourthly, apologetics helps us to fulfill the first commandant to love the Lord our God with all our mind. If we love the Lord with all our mind, then we show our commitment towards him. Finally, apologetics glorifies God because it shows why he is the ultimate reality. God is established as the ultimate truth and why we should put our faith in him. If Apologetics is falls behind, then the truth of Christianity will fall.

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