On the March 7, 2009 Battle Lines broadcast we discussed the importance of apologetics. Most basically, apologetics is defending the faith, giving reasons for your faith. If you believe that the Bible is true and you share with someone why you believe that, you’re practicing apologetics. If you believe that Jesus is the only true God and someone asks you to explain your reasons, your response is an apologetic. An apologetic, a defense of the faith, might include historical or archeological evidence, philosophical arguments, or personal experience. There are two aspects of apologetics, both of which you will hear practiced on Battle Lines. 1) Authenticating Christianity (marshalling evidence and arguments that support Christianity). 2) Refuting opposing worldviews (answering the reasons they give for their belief). “Apologetics shows that Christianity is reasonable; its purpose is to give the non-Christian good reasons to embrace the Christian faith” (bible.org). The context of apologetics is always a world, a culture, or a specific conversation, in which the truth of Christianity is being questioned. Our defense is not with swords but with truth. On the broadcast, we discussed a few biblical examples of apologetics. Paul was an apologist, as was the Apostle Peter, who wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have” (I Pet. 3:15). We also discussed the importance of apologetics: In order to trust in Christ, a person must know the truth of Christ and give assent to, or embrace, that truth. God never does an “end around” on a person’s intellect. When God brings a skeptic to faith in Christ, God always changes their mind about the truth of Christ. It is important for Christians to know how to defend the faith because God uses us as His instruments to draw people to Himself. Also on the broadcast, we talked about the attitude in which to practice apologetics. I Pet. 3:15-16 says “But do this with gentleness, respect, keeping a clear conscience…” and Col. 4:6 instructs us to be “full of grace.” The primary motive for practicing apologetics should be one of compassion. Apologetics is not about proving that you’re right; it’s about the good of the other. If there is such a thing as truth, to know it and to live it is good for you; but to believe a lie is self-destructive. We speak in defense of the faith for the good of others, not so we can be right.