Why Do We Do Apologetics?

So if we know what apologetics is, why do we do it? Let’s plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

Recently, I decided to go back to basics for some readers and started with the question of what is apologetics. Now you might have read that and thought “Okay. I see what it is. Why do you do it?” This is something that can confuse many people in the church. Aren’t we supposed to have faith?

Well yes, if you understand it biblically. If you misunderstand faith, then no. A lot of writers called the new atheists like to say something like faith is believing without evidence. Peter Boghossian has defined it as pretending to know things you don’t know. I wish this was limited to atheists, but it isn’t. A mentor of mine told me of some kids on a youth retreat who went evangelizing on the beach and when they got a hard question just said “That’s why it’s called faith.” Some pastors have even made a similar response.

Faith is not believing without evidence but trusting in what has shown itself to be reliable. I have written about that here. Blind faith, which is what the new atheists advocate, is not a Christian virtue. It is in fact, just stupidity. If God wanted us to truly have no evidence, there would not even be a Bible. We would just be told a claim somehow and said “Believe it.” Jesus also would not have done miracles. He would have just shown up and made a claim and said “Believe it.”

So if we realize we’re not to have blind faith, then what? Why do we engage in apologetics. There are three reasons.

The first is to answer those who contradict the faith. When we meet atheists and skeptics and Muslims and Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses and anyone else, sadly sometimes people who claim to be Christians, we have to give an answer. If someone is saying something that is inaccurate, we need to show what is the accurate answer. We don’t need to let a challenge stand without a response. Of course, if others have already responded, it might be wiser to sit to the side especially if you’re not equipped on the topic and use it as a learning time.

The second is to help with our own doubts. It’s okay to have doubts. Everyone should. I don’t care what your worldview is. If you don’t doubt what you believe sometime, you’re not really taking it seriously. What happens to you if you’re a Christian and you get caught in a spiral of emotions and you start to doubt that Christianity is true? In those times, you tell your emotions to sit back and listen to the facts. When you are asked why you believe, you will have more than a personal testimony. You can give your testimony, but back it up with claims that your opponent can verify first.

Third is to help your fellow Christians. Many Christians unfortunately have an idea that you can’t ask questions or doubt. This is false. When you end up giving a defense of the faith, this can encourage them. In fact, in a debate in a public forum, like Facebook even, I rarely have in mind converting my opponent. I’m thinking more of the audience that is watching. Those people can be encouraged by a strong showing of how Christianity can be defended.

Apologetics again is also fun. The more you do it, the more you can enjoy it. It’s quite fun to know that an atheist who thought he would shut you down has nothing to say after awhile and it’s great to see your fellow Christians encouraged. I hope this writing is starting to get you interested in studying this fascinating field for yourself.

In Christ,
Nick Peters