Tools of Apologetics 1.21.1
How To Use Apologetics
Dr. Johnson C. Philip & Dr. Saneesh Cherian
Introduction
Christian Apologetics is a powerful system of communication. This power is enhanced when people become acquainted with the Tools of Apologetics. However, the mere possession of tools does not make them powerful. On the contrary, a tool in the hands of an unskilled person will only make it destructive. Witness the proverbial Monkey With A Razor In His Hand. Possession of a tool does not guarantee the ability to use it, and ability to use does not guarantee proper use. Just as some lawyers, doctors and policemen misuse their profession, some Christian Apologists also misuse the tools in their possession. However, since they are under God’s supervision, misuse of a spiritual capacity brings divine discipline. If a person causes even the smallest one in the spiritual world to stumble, God is displeased. Thus the Apologist needs to be careful. Further, since a careless exercise of apologetics can hurt others (when the apologist becomes harsh , egotistical, or sarcastic) all apologists should seriously consider the areas where they can go wrong. They should tailor their approach to match what God expects from them.
Have The Right Attitude And Perspective
In the classic passage on Christian Apologetics, the Holy Spirit says, "Set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts. And be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason concerning the hope that is in you, but with meekness and fear". Obviously, the attitude is an integral part of Christian Apologetics. First, every defense should come as a consequence of placing Christ on the throne of one’s mind. Second, humility and fear of God should also be an integral part of one’s ministry. This can be expressed as follows:
a. Not For Competition: People compete against one another in games and in business. There is legitimate place there for healthy competition. But the same attitude would be wrong as a motivation for practicing Christian Apologetics.
b. Not To Establish Superiority: Once persons acquire the tools of Apologetics, they are in a superior position compared to a many who attack the Christian faith. They can answer opponents’ questions easily and disarm them quickly. While Apologists might need to do both, these are not the sole purpose of Apologetics. On the contrary, they are only the first few steps in the long process of sharing the Gospel and removing doubts.
c. Not Merely To Defeat or To Silence People: There are occasions when a noisy, troublesome, or irritating opponent needs to be silenced. But that should not be the only goal. On the contrary, the debater should be silenced so as to lead to a more conducive atmosphere in which the genuine process of inquiry can take place. In other words, though all the elements of conventional debate might be present in an apologetic discussion or debate, Christian apologetics is not merely a debate. The purpose is not merely to defeat or silence the critic. On the contrary, the Apologist tries to silence people so as to create an atmosphere where the Gospel can be proclaimed openly, authoritatively, and without unnecessary intrusion.
d. Not An End In Itself: While Christian Apologists do try to defeat and silence the opponent that is not the final goal. If they leave it at that, then the goal of apologetics is defeated. The goal and purpose is to help the unbeliever accept the Gospel and strengthen believers in their faith. Thus once Apologists are able to silence the critic, and once they are able to get the attention of the inquirer, they should begin concentrating on inquirers who have many genuine questions which hinder them from accepting Christ. New believers will have many questions that challenge their new-found faith. More mature believers will have serious questions that puzzle them. All of them need answers and the Apologist should help them all. That is the ultimate goal of Christian Apologetics.
e. Not To Prove The Bible Rationally: Since Christian Apologists speak of the uniqueness of the Bible and since they try to defend its historical and scientific accuracy, many people erroneously think that Apologists’ aim is to "prove" that the Bible is God’s word. Such a proof does not exist, as this is neither a mathematical subject, nor an empirical topic. On the contrary, the divinity of the Bible is an inter-disciplinary subject in which the Apologist uses a vast array of information. One deduces the divinity of the Bible using a combination of empirical, mathematical, historical-legal and relational proofs. When all of them are put together, and when the result is combined with objective faith, one arrives at the "deduction" that the Bible is God’s word. This is a logical process totally different from the conventional proofs. Thus the Christian Apologist does not "prove" the Bible, but rather leads sincere inquirers to objectively come to the deduction that the Bible is the Word of God. Thus Apologists should never arrogantly think that they can, or that they are able to, prove directly that the Bible is the Word of God. Nor should they ever brashly claim to anyone that they will be able to "prove" such a thesis. On the contrary, they should always tell inquirers that they can prove the uniqueness of the Bible, which will lead them to the deduction that the Bible is God’s unique message for mankind.
f. Not To Prove God’s Existence Rationally: Rational proofs are possible for things that are empirical or mathematical in nature. However, entities that are not mathematical or empirical are not easily proved rationally. On the contrary, they can only be examined rationally to arrive at deductions that are highly accurate or highly probable. Information related to historical subjects, sociological subjects and relational subjects fall into this category. The existence of God also falls into this category.
No empirical methodology can prove or disprove God’s existence. Similarly, mathematical or geometrical methods cannot be used to prove or disprove the existence of God. On the contrary, people make an informed deduction about God’s existence based upon a matrix of proofs that includes empirical, mathematical, historical-legal and relational proofs, Thus Apologists should not brashly claim that they can rationally prove the existence of God. On the contrary, they should only claim that they will present a whole matrix of rational information, using which any thinking person will come to the conclusion that God exists. Proof is possible only in mathematics and empirical science. When it comes to the existence of God, what we offer is a rational deduction that He is real and that He exists.
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