Francis Schaeffer: Redefining Apologetics

"We have a responsibility to communicate the gospel to our generation.

Christian apologetics is not like living in a castle with the drawbridge up and occasionally tossing a stone over the walls. It is not to be based on a citadel mentality -- sitting inside and saying, "You cannot reach me here." If the Christian adopts this attitude, either in theory or practice, his contacts with those who have accepted twentieth-century thought [the postmodern division between reason and faith] will stop. Apologetics should not merely be an academic subject, a new kind of scholasticism. it should be thought out and practiced in the rough and tumble of living contact with the present generation...

No one can become a Christian unless he understands what Christianity is saying. Many pastors, missionaries and Christian teachers seem to be helpless as they try to speak to the educated people and the mass of people about them. They do not seem to face the fact that it is our task to speak to our generation; the past has gone, the future is not yet here. So the positive side of apologetics is the communication of the gospel to the present generation in terms that they can understand.

The purpose of 'apologetics'  is not just to win an argument or a discussion, but that the people with whom we are in contact may become Christians and then live under the Lordship of Christ in the whole spectrum of life."

(Francis Schaeffer, The God Who Is There. 1968. Italics in original.)

By this argument, the traditional definition of apologetics as "defending the faith" is inadequate. Is this idea closer to the Biblical idea of advancing the Kingdom, rather than merely protecting the church from our spiritual enemies and the corrupted world? Or should we keep the familiar definition and give this process a new name?

Historical Records of Jesus

Dr. Craig S. Keener, professor of New Testament Studies at Ashbury Theological Seminary, wrote an informative article about historical records of Jesus and published it in the religion section of the Huffington Post’s blog. It looks like a great place to start looking for original sources about the historical existence of Jesus, and it’s an outside source in its own right. I can't vouch for all of his theology, but this article is pretty solid.

Happy researching!

Craig S.Keener: Jesus Existed

#YOLO

If you’ve been on facebook much or on Twitter at all this summer, you’ve probably become familiar with the #YOLO trend. YOLO stands for You Only Live Once, and it’s usually tacked onto the end of a statement about the poster doing something unusual, risky, or just plain silly.

While staying fun and casual, #YOLO is quite a metaphysical claim. Several worldviews have something to say about that.

#YOLOATSE: You Only Live Once And Then Stop Existing

If there is no God and no supernatural, humans are stuck in a world void of purpose and moral obligations. This gives us two options: either we’re basically animals subject to an impersonal universe and our own biology, or we’re capable of creating our own meaning, destiny, and identity.

The first option is naturalism. If it’s true, “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die,” and we might as well find sensual pleasure in the material world before we plunge into oblivion. Our desires and choices come from our DNA and our environment; we don’t really have control over our lives.

The second option is secular existentialism. Existentialism means that you exist before you know who you are and what life is really all about. In SE, you have no inherent purpose or destiny, so you make them up. You authenticate your existence by acts of the will, choices that make you who you are. If there is no God, you take the place of God in your own life.

If SE is true, #YOLO is the perfect response. The more choices and experiences you create, the more meaningful your existence is.

#YOLOAOAO: You Only Live Over And Over And Over

Eastern religions hold to pantheism, a belief system in which reality is primarily spiritual and everything is part of a divine Universal. Hinduism and Buddhism teach that human souls are reborn many times into different bodies as they progress towards unification with the Universal. This way of thinking was resurrected (reincarnated?) in 19^th-century Romanticism and the recent New Age movement.

To become one with the Universal, which in modern versions often includes discovering that you are Divine yourself, pantheism encourages meditation, becoming more “in touch” with nature, treating animals and humans with kindness (Hinduism makes an exception for "untouchables", sadly), and various spiritual rituals.

#YOLOF: You Only Live Once—Forever

Theism teaches that human souls live on after death and are either rewarded or punished based on actions done in the body. The only way to avoid a sucky eternity is to find favor with God or the gods.

Notice that I’m not to Christianity just yet. Theism has been dominant for most of human history. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Norsemen tried to please their gods with sacrifice, displays of courage, and good works; Muslims try to keep the Five Pillars to please Allah; and Jews have tried to please God by keeping the Mosaic Law and traditional regulations and by celebrating holy days. Theists tend to take #YOLOF pretty seriously.

As Christians, we believe that we find favor with God by faith; believing God means taking on His righteousness. This is possible because God’s Son, Jesus, found favor with His Father while taking on a human nature. In Jesus’ substitutionary death, God attributed human sin to Jesus and attributed Jesus’ righteousness and favor to anyone who believes.

While faith determines where you spend eternity, God has commanded us to spread the good news and to do good works in the short mortal lives we have now. Believers will not face condemnation, but we will be judged nonetheless.

#YOLOF, but for now, #YOLO. Make it count! 

Stand Out with Memorable Scripture

Some Bible verses come up almost every speech in a round, depending on the category and region. Soon the speeches all start to sound alike (especially in Category IV). Most of us memorized these familiar passages in AWANA or Sunday School, and you know your judges have heard them before. 

Nothing is wrong with these verses; they're just overused. Standing out from the competition is crucial to moving up in the ranks, so why use the same scripture as everyone else? At the same time, you have to support your points with Biblical evidence. 

I invite you to get creative with what Bible passages you cite, and I’ve made a list to get you started. I haven’t included the verse texts because it’s up to you what version you wish to use.

Category IV

Instead of John 3:16 and Romans 6:23, try 1 John 4:9-10.

Instead of Ephesians 2:8-9, try Galatians 2:16, Titus 3:5 (or verses 3-7 in context), or 2 Timothy 1:9-10.

Instead of Romans 5:8, try 1 Peter 3:18.

Also consider Galatians 4:3-5 and Acts 10:38-43.

Category V

Instead of John 14:6, try 1 John 5:11-12 and 20.

Also consider 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Hebrews 2:14 & 17.

Category II

Instead of 2 Timothy 3:16, try Proverbs 30:6.

Also consider Isaiah 45:19 and Numbers 23:19.

Category III

Instead of Romans 3:23, try Romans 5:12, Psalms 14:2-3, or Ecclesiastes 7:20.

Is there another overused verse in your region that you think should be substituted? Found a helpful passage you’d like to share? Post a comment!

5 Launching Pads for Stellar Content

Do you ever feel like you’re having a hard time getting your research off the ground? Here are five starting points for content that’s out of this world.

1. Yourself

If you’re a Christian, you certainly know the gospel, and probably much more if you grew up in church.  

As the light of the world, Christians ought to have internalized enough of our faith to understand and explain it in our own words while conversing with an unbeliever. As professional, credible speakers, we hold to higher standards of academic integrity than we do in everyday conversations, of course. An informal, working knowledge may not be enough, but it’s a great start.

You’re also your own launching pad because you have unique life experiences and stories that no other speaker could contribute. Perhaps you used to believe one of the statements for analysis, and then God corrected your thinking. Maybe learning the meaning of a term was a breakthrough for you in understanding the gospel. It’s your speech, so make it truly yours.

2. Books

Books are fantastic, and since theology doesn’t change, you don’t have to worry about your sources being outdated. Church libraries are the best; you can also borrow books from club members and friends. Wait to buy a book until you know it’s the one you want.

A. Systematic Theologies

Most of these are really thick books, and some can feel dry and dense. Keep reading, though—they tend to be solid and very beneficial. This year I discovered Foundations of the Christian Faith by James Montgomery Boice, and I wish I had had it during my time in NCFCA.

B. Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Okay, we know that explaining the meaning and significance of something is way more than just defining it. Still, reading a definition in a speech improves credibility and clarity, and it earns you points for outside sources. Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias are also beneficial in expanding and crystalizing your own knowledge base.

C. Books Specifically for Apologetics

Lucky for us, real-life apologists write books to persuade unbelievers or equip Christians to do so. My favorite is C.S. Lewis’ classic Mere Christianity; two other excellent examples are Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ and Josh McDowell’s Evidence that Demands a Verdict. These cover a variety of topics and are interesting.

D. Books on Specific Topics

Apologists, theologians, pastors, and philosophers have written hundreds of books dealing with subjects relevant to our speech topics. Just make sure you know the author’s positions before you believe or cite him. I like The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W Tozer for Category I and W.A. Criswell’s Why I Preach that the Bible is Literally True for Category II. Ravi Zacharias has several helpful gems dealing with other worldviews.

3. Pastors and Church Leaders

Seriously, what pastor or youth pastor wouldn’t want to talk with a curious student about a specific Bible-related question? Be courteous and schedule a meeting (with a time limit) in advance. Remember to ask where to find more information, since you need outside sources. If you’re really polite, you might score a killer speech AND a community judge!

4. The Internet

No matter how instinctive it is to pull up Google whenever we need information, researching on the internet isn’t your best option. The most important tip is to know what makes the author a trustworthy expert. As in debate, the only excuses for being on Wikipedia are mining it for real sources or checking an author’s bio.

Still, there is a lot of helpful information, if you’re willing to search for it. You can also use the internet to read from non-Christian sources for free. For instance, you may not want to support Richard Dawkins by paying for one of his books, but you can access his website to learn about atheism and naturalism from the perspective of their proponents.

5. Unexpected Places

Everyday life is full of tidbits to incorporate. Listening to a sermon? Take good notes! Having your quiet time? Ask God to teach you as you read, and you’re certain to run into something for competition as you seek God in His Word. Reading the news? Listening to music? Watching a movie? Guess which worldviews are at play. Reading literature? Look for analogies and illustrations.

The great thing about apologetics is that it deals with real-life questions about real-life issues. Ideas are everywhere people are. We know that competitive apol is supposed to help with real apologetics, but can I tell you a secret?

It works the other way, too.

Some of my best speeches used stories of actual people with whom I’ve shared the gospel or talked about spiritual matters. Seriously, go interact with unbelievers and have the courage and compassion to bring up the best news you could ever give them.

With these five launching pads, you’ll be well on your way to speaking with stellar content. Take to the sky, and remember to have a blast along the way.