Apologetics

[TadQueasy]

Apologetics has become the most overrated/overvalued area of Christian ministry. Many seem today to want to engage in apologetics because they enjoy arguing/debating. Many seem to convince themselves that arguing some point regarding worldview is the same as the proclamation of the Gospel. It isn't and it should not be considered as such. I fear that many today in the church are distracted by a good thing (apologetics) and are missing the best thing (making disciples/proclaiming the gospel). Don't get me wrong, apologetics has its place, but IMO it is becoming the focus of too many ministries. I am sure many of you will disagree with me, and that is fine. Just some food for thought and discussion.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Apologetics has become the most overrated/overvalued area of Christian ministry. Many seem today to want to engage in apologetics because they enjoy arguing/debating. Many seem to convince themselves that arguing some point regarding worldview is the same as the proclamation of the Gospel. It isn't and it should not be considered as such. I fear that many today in the church are distracted by a good thing (apologetics) and are missing the best thing (making disciples/proclaiming the gospel). Don't get me wrong, apologetics has its place, but IMO it is becoming the focus of too many ministries. I am sure many of you will disagree with me, and that is fine. Just some food for thought and discussion.

OK, Slash .... I am one of the ones who will agree with you. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Apologetics definitely has an important place, but so do many other aspects of the Christian walk, sanctification, and daily life devouted to Christ.

By-the-by, why is it that everytime I see your avatar, I want to burst out singing "Welcome to the Jungle"?

 

[DiamondLady]

By-the-by, why is it that everytime I see your avatar, I want to burst out singing "Welcome to the Jungle"?

Why not? This morning, in church, we read from Jeremiah. The first thing that came into my mind when the pastor announced the scripture was, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine." LOL

 

[Scarlett O.]

Why not? This morning, in church, we read from Jeremiah. The first thing that came into my mind when the pastor announced the scripture was, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine." LOL

LOL!! :laugh:

 

[Bob Alkire]

Why not? This morning, in church, we read from Jeremiah. The first thing that came into my mind when the pastor announced the scripture was, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine." LOL

I knew Hoyt Axton was many things, but a sermon writer, I didn't know. Maybe Joy to the World was another sermon by Hoyt. Please excuse me for getting off subject.

 

[SolaSaint]

I don't really understand when you say many in the church want to engage in Apologetics. I find the opposite. I love apologetics but not for the reasons you state. I find most Christians shy away from apologetics. However the reason I call myself an apologist is not to engage in debates or because it is my way of proclaiming the word. I engage in apologetics to help defend the gospel and encourage believers to know truth. I feel many today are deceived by the false doctrines taught in churches and by what is falsely proclaimed from the secular media against Christianity. I feel this is a great need in the church. IMO. I'll agree if someone is using apologetics just to argue and bully people then it is wrong.

 

[Scarlett O.]

I don't really understand when you say many in the church want to engage in Apologetics. I find the opposite. I love apologetics but not for the reasons you state. I find most Christians shy away from apologetics. However the reason I call myself an apologist is not to engage in debates or because it is my way of proclaiming the word. I engage in apologetics to help defend the gospel and encourage believers to know truth. I feel many today are deceived by the false doctrines taught in churches and by what is falsely proclaimed from the secular media against Christianity. I feel this is a great need in the church. IMO. I'll agree if someone is using apologetics just to argue and bully people then it is wrong.

What you are describing is the proper role of apologetics. It should lead to the disclosure of the Truth - made clear and plain - which leads to salvation and sanctification.

I think - and I can't speak for "Slash" in his OP - but I think what's making him a tad queasy is that there seems to be Christians both in the church and the internet who get more of a jolt in hearing themselves pontificate than in teaching and reasoning together.

 

[TadQueasy]

By-the-by, why is it that everytime I see your avatar, I want to burst out singing "Welcome to the Jungle"?

:thumbs: Glad I can bring music to your ears.

 

[just-want-peace]

I think - and I can't speak for "Slash" in his OP - but I think what's making him a tad queasy is that there seems to be Christians both in the church and the internet who get more of a jolt in hearing themselves pontificate than in teaching and reasoning together.

Emphasis mine

An understatement if I ever read one!!

 

[Tom Butler]

When apologetics is de-emphasized, it can result in sermons and teaching that are about a mile wide and an inch deep.

 

[TadQueasy]

When apologetics is de-emphasized, it can result in sermons and teaching that are about a mile wide and an inch deep.

Replace apologetics with doctrine and I am in complete agreement with you.

 

[JonC]

It’s a little ironic. Some will downplay the role of the gospel and simply use “apologetics” to argue their perspective and never actually point towards Christ. Others will “evangelize” without truly engaging false worldviews (apologetics) and believe they have actually communicated the gospel.

I think that apologetics is growing in importance in the American culture today because of the variety of worldviews and religions that are out there (much like the task the early church faced). If you engage a Mormon, for example, concerning Christianity and just state the gospel message - you are not speaking the same language. Apologetics will be needed to defend the Christian concept of God, Christ, and even salvation or you will never actually communicate the gospel.

 

[TadQueasy]

It’s a little ironic. Some will downplay the role of the gospel and simply use “apologetics” to argue their perspective and never actually point towards Christ. Others will “evangelize” without truly engaging false worldviews (apologetics) and believe they have actually communicated the gospel.

I think that apologetics is growing in importance in the American culture today because of the variety of worldviews and religions that are out there (much like the task the early church faced). If you engage a Mormon, for example, concerning Christianity and just state the gospel message - you are not speaking the same language. Apologetics will be needed to defend the Christian concept of God, Christ, and even salvation or you will never actually communicate the gospel.

Interesting thoughts. Not sure I completely agree with your last paragraph, but I do think apologetics has a role to play in the proclamation of the gospel. It just should not be the centerpiece. The centerpiece must remain the faithful proclamation of the gospel.

For example, I have a friend who is completely consumed with the creation vs. evolution debate. He can spend 2 hours arguing with someone over this issue and in his mind he has just proclaimed the gospel. In my mind he has not, because he never gets to the actual specifics of the gospel, he just wants to prove the biblical account of creation to someone. As important as that is, it is not proclaiming the gospel. Someone can change their opinion from evolution to biblical creation and never understand the gospel at all.

 

[JonC]

Interesting thoughts. Not sure I completely agree with your last paragraph, but I do think apologetics has a role to play in the proclamation of the gospel. It just should not be the centerpiece. The centerpiece must remain the faithful proclamation of the gospel.

For example, I have a friend who is completely consumed with the creation vs. evolution debate. He can spend 2 hours arguing with someone over this issue and in his mind he has just proclaimed the gospel. In my mind he has not, because he never gets to the actual specifics of the gospel, he just wants to prove the biblical account of creation to someone. As important as that is, it is not proclaiming the gospel. Someone can change their opinion from evolution to biblical creation and never understand the gospel at all.

I think you are correct in regards to your friend. IMO, the only reason to debate evolution would to facilitate the introduction of the gospel. What I mean is that if you are talking to someone who holds to evolution as absolute fact, and that is his/her obstacle or proof against Christianity, then I think it warranted to highlight the flaws in that system. I view apologetics as removing obstacles to the faith rather than proving Christianity to be true.

I’m not a big fan of evidential apologetics – I guess I just don’t have the mind/interest for it. I am thankful that some do – I have a friend who was atheist because he viewed evolution as proof that God didn’t exist. He came to believe (through evidential apologetic readings) that evolution was flawed, which ultimately was the means God used to draw him to Christ.

But too often I think people just want to debate and argue their point. The gospel becomes secondary to presenting themselves as intellectual or correct.