What does apologetics mean?

[Vic]

I think one of the things thats important, aside from allowing the Holy Spirit giving us the words and providing the persons we are to share Christ with....is not only do we need to wear the armor of God, and wield the sword of the Spirit in defence of truth, but we need to also be on the offensive--

-Note for all you sports fans--I did not say to be offensive

So often Christians get into a we can't do that, go there, be whatever, that opportunities to share Christ and defend the faith are missed. A long time ago I was impressed with some verses that I hold to today.

Jud 1:21-25
(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
(22) And of some have compassion, making a difference:
(23) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.(24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
(25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

I have had opportunity to talk with atheists, satanists, unbelieving Jews, muslims, etc, and every type of "christian" I am sure there is--although nothing would surprise me if more "different" ones appeared. Through it all, I know that if even one person comes to Christ, or comes out of a deception, it has been worth it.

God knows the end results, we need to just be willing to do His good will.

[Mary]

Strefanesh:
I am now in fact skeptical as to the value of apologetics. It does seem to me to be too much the arm of the flesh, one favoured by the most intelligent in the church. I was a member of a secret high powered invitation only internet apologetics group. The pride there was such that, though flattered at being invited there, I did not fit there and tried to leave several times. They all ignored Romans 1:19-20, which in my opinion changes everything. THese were Ph.D.'s and the like, and little old me also. . . .

The thing is the Bible in this passage says the we (all humans) all know the truth and repress it. This changes the focus of everything. If the truth is known but repressed then the repression is a sin, and is wilfull, and not to be stopped just by having it talked about.

If the Kingdom is not words but power then surely showing people a love they have never ever seen would be effective where talk is not? But if we do not have this we have nothing but a philosophy, and our talk, our rational presentation of logical arguments, is worthless for reaching the lost

the fact is people, not being rational creatures, are not persuaded by reason. I was not, i encountered the Holy Spirit in my room one midnight 30 years ago.


I seized on apologetics to try and force my doubts down. And of course it did not work, not by itself, but by God's personal involvement with me over the years. But all this came after my conversion, not before

I now regard the faith as absolutely logical, rational and increasingly am I certain of its truth, but without the fruit of the sprit in my life i have nothing that the average unbeliever would be even remotely interested in

All too often we show we are not rational creatures by the fact that our rational discussion degenerate into quarrels, and in fact some websites now advocate obnoxious quarrelsome behaviour as being the challenge ripose method that Jesus Christ used in refuting error

Apologetic reasoning is useful to help those who have believed, by showing that they have not believed in vain.

But if we had the fruit and the power to what extent would rational arguments, though perfectly valid yet being non persuasive as man does not listen to reason, be irrelevant?

these are good points. See James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

[sheep wrecked]

(10-04-2010 06:30 AM)Mary Wrote:  
these are good points. See James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Without apologetics this forum would not exist I have found that most people who oppose apologetics can usually not defend their doctrinal positions. I do not believe that the post by Strefanash was made from a neutral view, but rather a subtle way to object to the refutations against his own errors on this forum.

Paul was an "apologetic" and he had plenty of pretty spicy words to say about those in sinful error. So did Jesus. I think we need a balanced approach. Firmness is not necessarily tactlessness.

[Mary]

(10-04-2010 12:09 PM)sheep wrecked Wrote:  

(10-04-2010 06:30 AM)Mary Wrote:  
these are good points. See James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Without apologetics this forum would not exist I have found that most people who oppose apologetics can usually not defend their doctrinal positions. I do not believe that the post by Strefanash was made from a neutral view, but rather a subtle way to object to the refutations against his own errors on this forum.

Paul was an "apologetic" and he had plenty of pretty spicy words to say about those in sinful error. So did Jesus. I think we need a balanced approach. Firmness is not necessarily tactlessness.

I'm not opposed to apologetics - I will use apologetics at any opportunity, and read and listen to others. I just think that if people become angry and /or abusive ( and we know there are "ministers/teachers' out there who do) when defending the Word, then they're defeated already. I probably should have quoted James 3: 13 - 18, and not just 13.
My favourite apologetics site is Come Reason with Lenny Espositio.

[sheep wrecked]

(10-04-2010 03:37 PM)Mary Wrote:  I'm not opposed to apologetics - I will use apologetics at any opportunity, and read and listen to others. I just think that if people become angry and /or abusive ( and we know there are "ministers/teachers' out there who do) when defending the Word, then they're defeated already. I probably should have quoted James 3: 13 - 18, and not just 13.
My favourite apologetics site is Come Reason with Lenny Espositio.

My favorite apologetics site is http://seekgod.ca/

[Mary]

:

(10-04-2010 05:43 PM)sheep wrecked Wrote:  

(10-04-2010 03:37 PM)Mary Wrote:  I'm not opposed to apologetics - I will use apologetics at any opportunity, and read and listen to others. I just think that if people become angry and /or abusive ( and we know there are "ministers/teachers' out there who do) when defending the Word, then they're defeated already. I probably should have quoted James 3: 13 - 18, and not just 13.
My favourite apologetics site is Come Reason with Lenny Espositio.

My favorite apologetics site is http://seekgod.ca/

:reading
my favourite discussion and apologetics site is http://seekgod.ca