Apologetics: Part 1

This past Spring Break, I had a really disturbing incident happen to me. While I was flying to California (and then to Africa), I sat next to a lady on the plane who had a messed up life. She was extremely wealthy, dressed to the nines, hair, make-up were perfect, her clothes were designer everything. We didn't talk much at first, but as the flight went on, she began to tell me her life story. Without going into all the details, she was miserable. She had a terrible marriage (her husband is a drug user and cheats on her), a 15 year old daughter that was out of control and on drugs, and three years ago, her two year old son died by choking on something in the grocery store. At the end of her tale, she said, "There is no God. I don't know much, but I know that much is true." I hadn't spoken to her about God at all up to this point and I, of course, was praying for an open door. And then... the door slammed open. I don't remember my exact words, but I told her I was sorry for her loss and everything she's going through. And then I said, "And I know you are in a lot of pain and bad things have happened, but I do know there is a God. And I know that He loves you very much." Her response was this, "How do you know there's a God? How? Because you believe the Bible? I don't believe in the Bible? Because you 'feel' he's true? That doesn't cut it for me." To be honest, I didn't know what else to say. Here I was, on my way to Africa on a missions trip and I could not tell this lady about the love and peace and validity of my Savior. I had never been in that situation and come up so empty and it hit me hard.

In 1 Peter 3:15, the Bible says, "sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you...". I failed miserably at giving a defense of my faith. And I couldn't even explain to her why I have the hope I have. I was shaken beyond belief by this. And I started praying that God would build me up in this area. I teach at a school that is 80% Mormon and honestly, I have always been scared that one of them would talk to me about their faith (wow, this is confession night, huh?). I know they are trained in what to say and it has intimidated me. Well, God is faithful, even when we are not, and our Saturday night Young Adults Bible has begun a series on Apologetics!


WHAT IS APOLOGETICS?
The word "Apologetics" comes from the Greek word "apologia" which means "a strong defense" (rather than to 'apologize' which is what it sounds like). The word "apologia" can be found in 1 Peter 3:15 "sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you...". This "making a defense" is 'apologia' and that is where the word apologetics comes from. In the church, studying apologetics is used to give a reasonable, rational answer, and a defense of our faith to doubters or unbelievers.

I am going to begin to post some notes from these teachings on my blog. Why? I think our world is sad, and like the lady on the plane, miserable. There is no hope. Morality and truth have been stripped away and most of us Christians don't even know the extent of it because 95% of our lives are lived around other Christians. We are now being told that we are intolerant and we are being bullied into silence. Any lifestyle in our world is accepted and celebrated except Christianity, and we are under heavy attack. It is so extreme, that last Saturday night, a woman actually interrupted our pastor three times to disagree with him. Her most vocal comment was, "You are spreading right-wing fundamentalist propaganda!" Sound familiar? She was not embarrassed at all to speak out against us- in our own service! Would we feel the same freedom in their environment? I doubt it.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks Peter, "Who do you say I am?" And after Peter responds, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God", Jesus says, "Blessed are you... I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail over it." Matt 16:16-19. Jesus is not building His church on Peter, but upon the confession of Christ. And then He goes on to say, "the gates of Hades shall not prevail." Gates are a defensive measure. In battle, you do not charge with gates. They are used to protect something. In this verse, we see that we should be on the offensive, and that Hell should be on the defensive. But I think we would all agree that the tides have turned. ****Having said that, we should be on the offensive, but I want to say that I don't mean we should charge out and run everyone over with the Gospel. It MUST be delivered in LOVE, with PATIENCE and GENTLENSS and it must be SPIRIT-LED. "The Lord's bond-serveant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" 2 Tim 2:24-26. More on that later....

But Apologetics is a way to explore what we believe and why we believe it. We do not have a blind faith. The more confidence we have in what we believe, the more likely we are to let it affect our lives. And when it affects our lives, hopefully the result is people coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Apologetics is one tool that can help us share His love.

I am going to end this particular post because it is waaaaaaayy longer than I wanted it to be. But I am going to leave off on this note. I am extremely passionate and so excited about this (as if you can't tell!). WHY? I see the effects of evil everyday in my classroom. There are more and more foster kids. More and more children alcoholics (I have a 15 year old student who is a raging alcoholic)... there are drugs, there is sex, there is hurt, and cycles of abuse and unspeakable pain. We have the only hope that will help anyone in this world. And we need to step out in faith and in love and begin to take responsibility for sharing "the reason for our hope." We cannot let fear or ignorance stand in our way.

Earlier today, I was looking at a photography site and I saw a quote from one of the photographers that exemplifies our culture today. It said, "I know not if I sink or swim". The world has thrown out truth and morals and people know not if they are sinking or swimming. We have the knowledge that can set them free. So that not only will they know if they are living or dying, but they will know why.