APOLOGETICS
or, No Apologies Accepted
by brother Christian
If you have visited this web site before you have probably read where I referred to apologetics as being about "giving our testimony to non-believers without assuming that they believe the same things we believe." I also mentioned it "allows us to reach others not with the word of God, but from a human perspective." I would like to elaborate a bit on this notion first. When an apologist engages in debate, formal or friendly, with a non-believer, we are appointing ourselves the representatives of the entirety of Christendom. As such, it is not our place to infuse our personal interpretations of the word of God (i.e. what the Holy Spirit has shown us and only us) into our arguments or explanations. Honestly, that is a job best left to those who have been called to be our spiritual leaders and to preach God's Word in the Church of our choice.
When speaking to the rational, analytical, above-average intelligence of today's agnostic or atheist, one of the best tools at our disposal is to display that same amount of rationality and analysis and show how that does not contradict with our faith. If a person is seeking answers, and they find you to be a rational, sane person who is as smart and creative and funny as they are, they will begin to wonder how you have all this faith and they don't. That is the opening of the door, the planting of the seed, (whatever metaphor you like) which we are looking for. There is no need to press on (especially if not invited to do so). In our zeal to bring another to the Word of God, we must remember that too much can sometimes lead to overload. Because we speak from our experiences and personal rationalizations and not the inspired Word of God, we should also apply our personal experience to the way we interact. For many of us this means remembering what it was like to be genuinely interested in what a Christian was saying about his faith and expressing that interest; then to be quietly mulling it over at home and have that same Christian ring the doorbell, invade our private space and demand to know if we are ready to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
Apologists tread in dangerous waters, and sometimes the lifestyle seems like attempting suicide of the faith. There are many opportunities to waiver when surrounded by so many unbelievers who are smarter and wittier and can deftly formulate a cogent and thoroughly rational argument against one's faith. But therein lies the great rewards of the apologist, to somehow reach just one of them; and better, to walk away with the same or even greater faith.
So how does one go about conversing with non-Christians? How do we answer tough questions in a way that will satisfy them and yet stay true to the core beliefs (or 'mere' Christianity) that defines our faith. I don't know. Just do it. I can give a neat example that knocked the socks off some extremely bright atheists once. An atheist posed the question: "If you got to Heaven and were told that you could switch places with one person in Hell, but you can't decide who it is, would you do it? This isn't a trick question or anything to trap you with, I just want to know." My answer was thus: "A soul in Hell has made the decision to be there, the will God gave us is ours to use, even if used to defy Him. Though I may have the wish to do it, my decision would be void by God's own law and would actually strengthen my inheritance to His kingdom. For a Christian this is, in fact, a trap question. You aver that this is not the intended nature of your question, and I do believe you. The real question is, 'Would you give up something you really want more than anything just so someone undeserving can have it?' Most Christians I know would answer with a resounding 'Yes!', and I'm sure you know that. So in an effort to put the question to its greatest test (not an unworthy endeavor) you evoked a hypothetical situation from the ages and superimposed the ultimate salvation sacrifice scenario (for Christians). The problem is, any answer I give will be wrong. If I say I would in a heartbeat I may sound like a good Christian, but my answer is qualified by my knowledge that it is an impossibility; if I say I would not (because I know it's impossible) then I am an apostate to my beliefs of sacrifice and generosity. So while the spirit of your question is valid and worthy, the question itself is a paradox and unanswerable." I could have simply said, "Yes, of course I would. That's what Christians do." But I seized the opportunity to display the cool calculated logic a Christian is capable of while at the same time relating some of the basic tenets of mere Christianity. I thanked God that day not only for giving me skill of words, but for providing me an avenue whereby I could use that gift to glorify Him.
And that's all an apologist should ever really strive to do, glorify God. Oh, and never, ever push someone away from the truth.
God Bless. |
