- The primary mission Jesus Christ gave the Church was to go into the whole world and make disciples of him (Matthew 28:19-20). Apologetics is an essential tool in fulfilling this mission.
- Apologetics is the science and art of defending the Christian faith. The word apologetics comes from the Greek legal term ‘apologia’, which means ‘to give a defense’.
- Having an ability to practice apologetics is necessary for believers as we are called to proactively ‘contend’ with non-believers and false worldviews (Jude 3).
- The skill of apologetics is also helpful as Christians are called to be ready always to give an answer to those who ask us about our faith (1 Peter 3:15).
- However, having answers alone is not enough. The manner in which we do apologetics is as important as the words we express (1 Peter 3:15).
- In sharing our faith we must always balance our proclamation of the truth with a demonstration of God’s love for people- through the tone of our words, our mannerisms, and our reactions to critique or questions.
- Remember, it’s possible to win the intellectual battle yet lose the war for a person’s heart. Having the best arguments and winning the debate will mean nothing if we don’t also convey the love of Christ.
For more information on why and how we should engage in Christian apologetics, please check out the book, Apologetics for a New Generation, available in our online store.