Defending the Faith
Friday Highlight – Defending the Faith
apologetics. – Occasionally called eristics, apologetics is the formal defense of the Christian faith.[1]
“Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” – 1 Peter 3:14-16
Most often, when we think of the theological discipline of apologetics, we think of scholars, pastors, podcasters, and YouTube stars who are able to argue winsomely and convincingly for the rationality of God’s existence or the historicity of the resurrection. Those disciplines, experts, and approaches are all needed and helpful, but they are only a small fraction of what the theological concept of apologetics encompasses. Let’s look at the verse from Peter again. Peter was writing to believers who were being harassed, slandered, and physically persecuted for their faith in Jesus. The Roman Empire and their non-believing neighbors were not kind to them in any way imaginable. They had lost jobs, homes, and even loved ones all because they worshipped Jesus. So what is Peter’s advice to them? Defend the faith! How? By being able to give a reason for the hope that is within you. Oh, and do it with gentleness and respect. Why? So that you would have a good conscience because you honored Jesus and honored those who persecuted you… just like Jesus did in his earthly life and ministry.
I really hope you don’t miss it here. Peter didn’t tell them to shout, yell, get loud, or wield political influence. He told them to be gentle and respectful. The rest of the Roman world was loud, chaotic, harried, and obsessed with death and pleasure. Jesus’ people are to be different. He also didn’t tell them to brush up on the logical arguments for the validity of the resurrection. … By the way, there were all sorts of theories floating around: the body had been stolen or swapped out, Jesus only pretended to be dead, or the disciples had just gone to the wrong tomb. Instead, Peter tells them to talk about the hope that resided within them. You can almost say it this way, “Hope… you’ve experienced it. It was all of the times that God came through. When he provided enough bread for the day, a new home, peace in the face of chaos, and comfort in the middle of pain. You’ve experienced the goodness of God; that is what you should talk about. That is what makes you different.”
Here’s Peter’s definition of apologetics – talking about how Jesus makes your life better, more peaceful and hopeful, and how God has met you throughout your life.
This definition of defending the faith (apologetics) frees us up to live our lives as everyday missionaries. We don’t have to be experts on the Bible, theology, logical or philosophical arguments for the resurrection, or do a deep dive through church history. We just need to be able to talk about what God is actively doing in our lives.
So, what is God doing in your life? What has God done in your life?
Before we can talk about what God has done, we need to take time to reflect on it, praise him for doing it, and then ask God to help us remember it in the flow of natural and normal conversations.
Defending the faith doesn’t have to be complicated; let’s just be in the habit of talking about the good things God has done and is doing.
[1] Stanley Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1999), 13–14.