Apologetics is an interesting discipline in Christian theology. In simple terms, apologetics is giving a defense of the Christian faith. There are many applications and views of apologetics in Christian culture. There are those that put too much emphasis on it; simply striving to “prove” themselves and their thoughts to be correct. Some say it is not useful and refute it outright. There are even some that say it is not useful, yet use apologetic techniques unknowingly. The proper application will be discussed briefly in this blog. This approach sees apologetics as a resourceful theological tool to bring people to the transformational message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Apologetics is not intended to replace faith, but to strengthen and enhance your faith. Many apologists will quote 1 Peter 3:15 that states we need to always be prepared to give a defense or give an answer for the hope that we have in Jesus (paraphrase). Apologetics is generally given through scientific, philosophical, and historical approaches.
I would have a hard time being a Christian if Jesus Christ's resurrection were a farce. The resurrection is proof that Christ's sacrifice was accepted by the Father. Without the resurrection, the claims of achievement of His sacrificial death would be reduced greatly. It would logically lead me to wonder about Vicarious Atonement as a whole. "From the standpoint of an apologetic for Christian theology, belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God stands or falls with the question of His bodily resurrection. . . . The resurrection, therefore, is properly considered a proof of the person of Christ, His deity, Messiahship, and His power to save from sin" (John Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord, pg. 191). The belief of the resurrection is a non-negotiable for all Christians.
We are all called to carry out the great commission, but who really holds the office of an evangelist?
Many Christians would describe an evangelist as someone that travels from church to church to preach messages. Their messages inspire believers to give to ministries that focus on taking the gospel to the unreached. Perhaps they would mention someone that preaches a message to bring revival to the church and convince people we bring to their meetings to become a follower of Christ. The right answer, however, according to Ephesians chapter 4, is that the evangelist is a person who equips believers to “do the work of the ministry so that they may build up the church.” That means the person who gives us the intellectual ability to answer the questions and objections of family and friends is really acting in the office of the evangelist. By training believers to give a reasonable answer, these people are probably doing more to win people to Christ than many traveling preachers. Apologetics is the branch of Christian theology that seeks to address the intellectual obstacles that keep people from taking faith seriously, and therefore it is the apologist who is the true evangelist.
