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  • Why Do We Do Apologetics?

    Why are we doing this?

    The link can be found here.

    -----

    So if we know what apologetics is, why do we do it? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

    Recently, I decided to go back to basics for some readers and started with the question of what is apologetics. Now you might have read that and thought "Okay. I see what it is. Why do you do it?" This is something that can confuse many people in the church. Aren't we supposed to have faith?

    Well yes, if you understand it biblically. If you misunderstand faith, then no. A lot of writers called the new atheists like to say something like faith is believing without evidence. Peter Boghossian has defined it as pretending to know things you don't know. I wish this was limited to atheists, but it isn't. A mentor of mine told me of some kids on a youth retreat who went evangelizing on the beach and when they got a hard question just said "That's why it's called faith." Some pastors have even made a similar response.

    Faith is not believing without evidence but trusting in what has shown itself to be reliable. I have written about that here. Blind faith, which is what the new atheists advocate, is not a Christian virtue. It is in fact, just stupidity. If God wanted us to truly have no evidence, there would not even be a Bible. We would just be told a claim somehow and said "Believe it." Jesus also would not have done miracles. He would have just shown up and made a claim and said "Believe it."

    So if we realize we're not to have blind faith, then what? Why do we engage in apologetics. There are three reasons.

    The first is to answer those who contradict the faith. When we meet atheists and skeptics and Muslims and Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses and anyone else, sadly sometimes people who claim to be Christians, we have to give an answer. If someone is saying something that is inaccurate, we need to show what is the accurate answer. We don't need to let a challenge stand without a response. Of course, if others have already responded, it might be wiser to sit to the side especially if you're not equipped on the topic and use it as a learning time.

    The second is to help with our own doubts. It's okay to have doubts. Everyone should. I don't care what your worldview is. If you don't doubt what you believe sometime, you're not really taking it seriously. What happens to you if you're a Christian and you get caught in a spiral of emotions and you start to doubt that Christianity is true? In those times, you tell your emotions to sit back and listen to the facts. When you are asked why you believe, you will have more than a personal testimony. You can give your testimony, but back it up with claims that your opponent can verify first.

    Third is to help your fellow Christians. Many Christians unfortunately have an idea that you can't ask questions or doubt. This is false. When you end up giving a defense of the faith, this can encourage them. In fact, in a debate in a public forum, like Facebook even, I rarely have in mind converting my opponent. I'm thinking more of the audience that is watching. Those people can be encouraged by a strong showing of how Christianity can be defended.

    Apologetics again is also fun. The more you do it, the more you can enjoy it. It's quite fun to know that an atheist who thought he would shut you down has nothing to say after awhile and it's great to see your fellow Christians encouraged. I hope this writing is starting to get you interested in studying this fascinating field for yourself.

    In Christ,
    Nick Peters

  • #2
    There is a book which presents five main views on appologics. There is a web site which summarizes theses five views. Link.
    . . . the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; . . . -- Romans 1:16 KJV

    . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: . . . -- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV

    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . . -- 1 John 5:1 KJV

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Apologiaphoenix View Post
      Why are we doing this?

      The link can be found here.

      -----

      So if we know what apologetics is, why do we do it? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

      Recently, I decided to go back to basics for some readers and started with the question of what is apologetics. Now you might have read that and thought "Okay. I see what it is. Why do you do it?" This is something that can confuse many people in the church. Aren't we supposed to have faith?

      Well yes, if you understand it biblically. If you misunderstand faith, then no. A lot of writers called the new atheists like to say something like faith is believing without evidence. Peter Boghossian has defined it as pretending to know things you don't know. I wish this was limited to atheists, but it isn't. A mentor of mine told me of some kids on a youth retreat who went evangelizing on the beach and when they got a hard question just said "That's why it's called faith." Some pastors have even made a similar response.

      Faith is not believing without evidence but trusting in what has shown itself to be reliable. I have written about that here. Blind faith, which is what the new atheists advocate, is not a Christian virtue. It is in fact, just stupidity. If God wanted us to truly have no evidence, there would not even be a Bible. We would just be told a claim somehow and said "Believe it." Jesus also would not have done miracles. He would have just shown up and made a claim and said "Believe it."

      So if we realize we're not to have blind faith, then what? Why do we engage in apologetics. There are three reasons.

      The first is to answer those who contradict the faith. When we meet atheists and skeptics and Muslims and Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses and anyone else, sadly sometimes people who claim to be Christians, we have to give an answer. If someone is saying something that is inaccurate, we need to show what is the accurate answer. We don't need to let a challenge stand without a response. Of course, if others have already responded, it might be wiser to sit to the side especially if you're not equipped on the topic and use it as a learning time.

      The second is to help with our own doubts. It's okay to have doubts. Everyone should. I don't care what your worldview is. If you don't doubt what you believe sometime, you're not really taking it seriously. What happens to you if you're a Christian and you get caught in a spiral of emotions and you start to doubt that Christianity is true? In those times, you tell your emotions to sit back and listen to the facts. When you are asked why you believe, you will have more than a personal testimony. You can give your testimony, but back it up with claims that your opponent can verify first.

      Third is to help your fellow Christians. Many Christians unfortunately have an idea that you can't ask questions or doubt. This is false. When you end up giving a defense of the faith, this can encourage them. In fact, in a debate in a public forum, like Facebook even, I rarely have in mind converting my opponent. I'm thinking more of the audience that is watching. Those people can be encouraged by a strong showing of how Christianity can be defended.

      Apologetics again is also fun. The more you do it, the more you can enjoy it. It's quite fun to know that an atheist who thought he would shut you down has nothing to say after awhile and it's great to see your fellow Christians encouraged. I hope this writing is starting to get you interested in studying this fascinating field for yourself.

      In Christ,
      Nick Peters
      Its called faith, because you don't know, so the evangelizing youth were correct. That is why you, sometimes, probably all of the time, have doubts, because you don't know.

      Comment


      • #4
        now JimL, is this what you have in mind when you say 'faith'?

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Punkish View Post
          now JimL, is this what you have in mind when you say 'faith'?
          Do you know of any non story book cases? Have you moved any mountains lately? I'll bet you go to the doctor when you're sick.

          Comment


          • #6
            I'll bet you go to the doctor when you're sick.
            Because we have faith (to an extent :P) that the doctor may be able to help... based on the evidence. ;)

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by logician bones View Post
              Because we have faith (to an extent :P) that the doctor may be able to help... based on the evidence. ;)
              What, no faith in Jesus doing the job?

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by JimL View Post
                What, no faith in Jesus doing the job?
                Gumball machine god fallacy... And you've heard my reasoning on that in detail before... Feigning ignorance? ;)

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by logician bones View Post
                  Gumball machine god fallacy... And you've heard my reasoning on that in detail before... Feigning ignorance? ;)
                  So, what are you saying, faith healing is a fallacy?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by JimL View Post
                    So, what are you saying, faith healing is a fallacy?
                    You're technically confused. "Faith healing" as it's normally used nowadays -- you know, the "just pray and God will heal you!" thing -- is a false view. Fallacies may be used in arguing for it. Your argument implied a fallacy attempting to argue that unless it happens on demand, God doesn't exist. However, God CAN heal people... if he knows in his omniscience (which we don't have) that it's right in the particular situation. Usually it isn't -- in this life, for reasons I've mentioned.

                    That said, maybe you mean it as an honest question, though you made it look like the worst fundy atheist spammers. I'm curious -- can you list the major downsides that would happen if God did do that, and if you think that if he exists, he should, how would you have him mitigate them? Have you actually thought it through?

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by JimL View Post
                      Do you know of any non story book cases? Have you moved any mountains lately? I'll bet you go to the doctor when you're sick.
                      I am not even talking about healing. I mean what's said in vs 8-10.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by logician bones View Post
                        You're technically confused. "Faith healing" as it's normally used nowadays -- you know, the "just pray and God will heal you!" thing -- is a false view. Fallacies may be used in arguing for it. Your argument implied a fallacy attempting to argue that unless it happens on demand, God doesn't exist. However, God CAN heal people... if he knows in his omniscience (which we don't have) that it's right in the particular situation. Usually it isn't -- in this life, for reasons I've mentioned.

                        That said, maybe you mean it as an honest question, though you made it look like the worst fundy atheist spammers. I'm curious -- can you list the major downsides that would happen if God did do that, and if you think that if he exists, he should, how would you have him mitigate them? Have you actually thought it through?
                        Ooh! Pick me! I can guess what would happen! We'd lose all autonomy and rely on God solving all our problems instead of growing and solving them ourselves! And we'd get in more trouble than a certain nosy fictional reporter. Or we'd get super bored. Or we'd turn into spoiled brats. Or we'd take God for granted and still not improve our behavior. Or we'd get annoyed if we were prevented from doing any dangerous activity. Or we take advantage of the situation(e.g. if God save everyone from getting hurt or killed from a fall, we'd take the gravity shortcut more often, free elevator!)Or...
                        Last edited by Christianbookworm; 07-09-2016, 03:55 PM.
                        If it weren't for the Resurrection of Jesus, we'd all be in DEEP TROUBLE!

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