Day 18 of #366love (Jan 18)
Today I'm going to 'side-track' a bit (more so than usual) and write a reflection on the topic of Apologetics and how it's been relevant to my faith journey.
Dictionary.com defines Apologetics [uh-pol-uh-jet-iks]: the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity.
It doesn't mean to 'apologize' in the sense to some fault, insult, failure, or injury, but this word comes from the Greek word apologia (ἀπολογία) meaning "speaking in defense".
It's not where one argues non-believers into submission to the truth of Christianity, but instead it is a DEFENSE through the systematic use of reason to share WHY one believes what one believes.
In the case of Christianity, "the best offense is a good defense". After hearing Ravi Zacharias speak 3 nights in a row and having started reading the book by Norman Geisler "Who Made God?", I'm undoubtedly convinced that the primary purpose of apologetics is the strengthening of a believer's faith by demolishing strangleholds, removing barriers and stumbling blocks to faith.
Apologetics is part of the wider work "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" (Ephesians 4:12-14)
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"
While the primary purpose is to equip, there are two primary methods in which we "give an answer":
Personal Testimony, which is a public declaration of experience
Demonstrating the historical, philosophical and scientific reasons for believing Christianity to be true
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In 2006-2008, God had dragged me back to Hong Kong and despite having grown up in the church, it was only in this period when I had truly 'encountered' the Holy and living God of the bible for the first time in my life and understood that its not God who needs me, but that its I who need God. When I came back to Toronto in September 2008, I was on a spiritual high and was ready to 1) "bring God to the campus" and 2) change Toronto...but very soon, there were two things I realized: 1) That God was already here and 2) How little I had actually known.
Firstly, in my new interactions with campus fellowships, street ministry and churches, I was SHOCKED by the 'level' of faith I discovered and how sharply different this was to my experience of university in first and second year. Rather than "bringing God", I learned to "join in" to the work that God was already doing abundantly both on my campus and in the city...and wow, what an amazing final two years it was. I'm still very much involved even after graduation because I just love "joining into" what God is doing on campus so much.
Secondly, I learned how little I knew through my classes. As a Philosophy and Religion Major, I wanted to sign up to all the "Christian" courses like "Early Christian Writing" and "Paul of Tarsus"...but as I sat in these classes I came to a scary realization: not only was I being taught by atheist/agnostic professors who presented 'evidence' against the bible, but that I also really didn't know it very well. Seemingly harmless arguments had huge implications, just like how Dan Brown's "The Davinci Code" had totally SHOOK and confused my faith back when I was in high school.
The good news was that I'm not like I was in High School anymore and God had become SO real in my life that I just couldn't deny Him even if I wanted to, so I started to dig DEEP. I learned not only the 'text' of the bible but also the historical 'context'. Discovered amazing 'reasons' behind what we believe as Christians and how it stands up to every test of reason. In wrestling with what my professors and the textbook taught, I dug deep into the truth of God. That was an interesting year indeed, as I learned to love God's word in a new way but it was also really tough and stressful as I went from NEVER talking in class to becoming "that guy" who always had something to say.
Thank God that our faith is not blind, and that he is the creator of reason and order itself! While 'apologetics' didn't convince me to believe, it definitely affirmed my belief in the midst of attacks from all sides and is still doing so today.
So, I encourage you dear reader, who has made it surprisingly this far, to start questioning your faith/lack of faith and why you believe what you believe!
Here are some great resources:
http://www.rzim.org/resources/watch.aspx
http://www.allaboutgod.com/
