Apologetics. The art and science of defending the faith has been around almost as soon as the faith began to go public. The idea of offering up reasons for why the faith of Christianity is true became necessary as soon as someone questioned the authenticity of Christianity and its message.
In the early days apologetics centered on two defences -- against paganism on the one hand and philosophy on the other.
Today apologetics usually centers on defending the faith against atheism and agnosticism with evolution as their basis. The truth is though that our culture has changed to the point that even paganism is making a comeback -- numerous religions have now found their place in American culture including pagan cults and full blown polytheism. Magic and Wicca also are present in ever increasing numbers. If there was ever a need to give an answer of the hope that is within us -- it is today. The problem is that the number of answers needed has been greatly multiplied and we no longer have home court advantage.
My chief concern is that I have in my own lifetime watch the Christian church in America go from being the dominate force in American culture to being a subculture that is fighting to survive. Now we are typical of most people groups that this happens too we do two things that are not helpful : 1) We blame others and 2) We fail to look at our own behavior as a cause.
Over the weeks to come I want to look at apologetics, not to offer a better apologetics but to ask if the current ways of doing apologetics are effective. To me, apologetics isn't just something you argue -- you live it.
In short, I think the church has largely forgotten one quote when it comes to apologetics:
"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians. People who profess Christ in the pews and then walk out the door and deny it by their lifestyle."
Hopefully as I discuss this we may find something better.
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