Just Thinking Apologetics
Does God exist? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? How do you know the New Testament is not a complete fabrication? These and other questions relate to the field of Christian Apologetics. What is Apologetics? Apologetics is from the Greek word apologia and simply means to give a defense. Christian Apologetics, according to contemporary apologist Dr. William Lane Craig, can be defined as: “a theoretical discipline that tries to answer the question, what rational defense can be given for the Christian faith?”
We live in a culture today where more and more individuals are attacking the Christian worldview. For example, The DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown made the claim that Jesus didn’t die, but in fact, married and had children. The Lost Tomb of Jesus film, produced by James Cameron (who also wrote The Titanic), claimed that Jesus never rose from the dead. Is their validity to these claims?
The role of the Christian Apologist is to answer such questions. I Peter 3:15 states, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” I believe logically consistent answers can be given as a defense to all who would question Christianity. If you have a question, please write as we think together about what claims align with truth.
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Just Thinking Apologetics Part 2 Evidence
Many people today simply do not think about the weighty questions of life. Little research is done to prove or reject some of the claims people make, both for and against Christianity. Apologetics seeks to give answers in defense of the Christian worldview.
Some of the questions I commonly hear from those opposed to Christianity is, “You can’t prove God’s existence or that Jesus rose from the dead.” Usually what the person is saying is that 100% proof can’t be given. One of the great atheist thinkers of the past, David Hume, took this position. Is Hume consistent in his position?
Hume and others are not consistent, for they cannot even meet their own criteria for proving their case. Very rarely is 100% proof necessary. When a case is tried, the prosecution presents evidence that they hope tips the balance (51% or greater) in their favor. Philosopher and theologian, William Lane Craig says, “For an argument to be a good one, it isn’t required that we have 100% certainty.”
In John 8, Jesus was dialoguing with some Jewish leaders and informed them that they could “know the truth.” In fact, Jesus claims in John 14:6 that he represents the truth. What is truth and who was Jesus? These are questions to be addressed next.
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Just Thinking Apologetics: Part 3 Truth
How do individuals decide what is true? There are two competing views in today’s culture. One way is relativism, which states that truth is relative or can change within culture or circumstances. The other way is that truth is objective. Objective truth or absolute truth maintains that truth does not vary.
Objective or absolute truth is what the Bible promotes. In Isaiah 45:19, God declares, “I the LORD speak the truth, I declare what is right.” Again, in Proverbs 8:7 God says, “For my mouth will utter truth.” The Bible makes it clear that truth is objective and can be discovered.
How do you know when you have found truth? The classical theory is referred to the correspondence theory of truth. This theory states that something is true if and only if it corresponds to reality. We use this view all the time. For example, the statement, “the Chiefs won the Super bowl last year” does not conform to what we know to be true. However, the statement, “The Hill City Times is located at 110 N. Pomeroy” does conform to reality. Even Jesus used this line of thinking when he told individuals they could predict storms based on the skies (Matt. 16:3).
C.S. Lewis said, “Religion involves a series of statements about facts, which must be either true or false. If they are true, one set of conclusions will follow… if they are false, quiet a different set (follows).”
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Just Thinking Apologetics: Part 4 Best Explanation
Last time we discussed the two types of truth (relative vs. absolute). Relative truth is self-defeating. If truth can’t really be known, then why would someone say that relativism is true? Someone who states that relativism is true is making an objective statement, but denying objective truth at the same time.
We also talked about the correspondence theory of truth, which states that truth will correspond with reality. Truth in this case is objective or truth does not vary or depend on culture.
Some take the view that correct belief should be based on an inference to the best explanation. This holds that what should be believed is the view that has the best explanatory power. This is used today in many scientific explanations. For example, a fossil shark tooth found in Kansas could best be explained by the fact that an ocean at one time covered Kansas. Jesus used inference to the best explanation when showing the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, that Scripture refutes their view (Mark 12: 18-27).
The Christian worldview can be shown true by evidence (historical, archeological) and reason (Acts 17: 2-3,17). Ultimately, Christians believe that truth can be known by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit (I Thes. 1:5; I John 2:20, 27). In fact, Christianity invites testing as I Thessalonians 5:21 states to “test everything.” How do your views hold up to testing?
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Just Thinking Apologetics: Part 5 Who Was Jesus?
Who was Jesus? This is the most important question to be addressed. If Jesus was just a good man who never rose from the dead, then Christians are living in a fantasy world. Paul says in I Corinthians 15:14 that, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” However, if Jesus was resurrected and represents the only way to God, then this is the one story that we should all follow.
Either the Christian story is true or it is false. Everything pertaining to Christianity stands or falls on the person of Jesus. Today, however, there are a multitude of views of who Jesus was. I hope to look at a series of views concerning the person of Jesus.
C.S. Lewis looked at a series of possibilities in the past such as Jesus being either a Lord, liar, lunatic or legend. Some of the other possibilities include: Jesus as a myth (which relates to Jesus as a legend), Jesus as simply a good man, Jesus as a mystic or Eastern guru or Jesus as a Martian/ Extraterrestrial.
If Jesus is the Messiah, then the whole history of the world revolves around the person of Jesus. Again in I Corinthians 15, Paul states “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are…lost.” However, Paul concludes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” Knowing the real Jesus makes all the difference in the world.
