Apologetics 1 - Introduction

Why Christian apologetics? On one extreme, some people state that you can never prove Christianity is true, so you should not believe in it. They are right that it cannot be proven, but that does not mean it is not true and that there are not good reasons to believe. Actually proving something requires complete elimination of all other possibilities, which is almost always impossible, even in science, much less religion. However, evidence can be examined and the best possible conclusion can be drawn from that evidence. This is exactly how our legal system works. Both sides present evidence and conclusions are made. Prosecutions have have to make their case beyond a reasonable doubt, not prove their case beyond the shadow of a doubt, or to a certainty. In fact, there are different levels of knowledge, as stated in Roderick Chisholm's Book, Theory of Knowledge. This used in the legal system as well as in the intelligence community to define certainty of analyses.

Certainly True
Obviously True
Evidently True
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - not justified in withholding
In the Clear to Affirm                - can withhold or affirm reasonably
Probable                                   - should withhold
Counterbalanced                     - must withhold
Improbable                               - should withhold
In the Clear to Deny                 - may withhold or deny reasonably
Reasonable to Deny                - not justified in withholding
Evidently False
Obviously False
Certainly False

On the other extreme, some people claim that having a reason for believing something exclude the need for faith. Stated another way, would you put your trust in anything that was completely irrational? I hope not. Faith does not exclude evidence, it implies that you have evidence as a basis of that faith. If a belief does not require evidence, then it would be completely arbitrary. It would us just believing what we want to be true, not what we actually think is true. In my previous post, I described how much of modern pop American Christianity is anti-intellectual, which is hurting the church. This shows a need for apologetics and learning in general, for Christians as well as non-believers. 1 Peter 3:15 says that we should have a reason for our faith, "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you." Also Acts 17:17 tells us that St. Paul, "reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there."

Everyone, whether Christian or not has beliefs. Everyone has a worldview, which is that set of beliefs and presuppositions about the world and how things are. These are things we know about they way things are. Our worldviews help us to understand and interpret our knowledge and life experiences. I am also claiming that we not only can have beliefs, but we can have knowledge of our beliefs. We must have reasons to believe what we believe. After all, our worldviews also have to survive a collision with the truth. In fact, Hebrews 11:1 states, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Of course many books have been written about apologetics and I will not be able to cover all of the material in a few bog posts, but I am going to attempt to summarize the main points and arguments, hopefully well enough to follow the logic.

A disclaimer, however, is that while apologetics is great for learning and having a defense of our faith, it does have limitations, especially in evangelism. From a false Palagian or Armenian viewpoint, some have tried to argue non-believers into the faith. This simply cannot be done. Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8) and comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17).  People cannot convert people, only God can do that. While having reasons for our faith can eliminate intellectual barriers to the gospel, we confess along with Martin Luther, from his Small Catechism that “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.” Therefore, apologetics does not function as an "Natural Theology." In fact, it is not properly theology at all. While there is a natural revelation (Romans 1:20), it is not infallible and cannot tell us about Jesus' atoning sacrifice.  Only the Bible is the infallible revealed revelation of God (sola Scriptura). However, God's revelation does not run counter to reason, as can be (and hopefully was) shown.