Recently I have been thinking about retaliation and it's connection to apologetics. If you are talking with someone who is hostile, aggressive, or uncivil, what does one do? It's rare when I write on apologetics that 1 Peter 3:15-16 doesn't come up, and it is going to do so again. Specifically, it is at the end of verse 15 that I wish to highlight: 15 But in your hearts honor … [Read more...]
Community Apologetics: Starting with your family
Before you venture out on your voyage to becoming a community apologist, it’s time for a status check. Fellow CAA blogger, Austin Gravley, points out that becoming a community apologist ripples out from your relationship with Jesus. The next peak in the ripple: If you have a family, they are the first community for which you are responsible. Before you swim off to prevent … [Read more...]
How To Get Apologetics In Your Local Church, Volume 2
In 2012, Brian Auten at Apologetics315 hosted a second series on how to get apologetics in your local church. He has graciously permitted us to repost the table of contents for this series. Enjoy! .... Two years ago, Apologetics 315 addressed the question: "How do I get apologetics in my church?" with an essay series, ebook, and podcast. The goal of this project was simple: … [Read more...]
Becoming an Ambassador, part 1
As a Christian apologist I am haunted by the desire to share what I have learned about the Christian worldview. As someone immersed[1] in this field I am also confronted with the observation of Solomon, What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It … [Read more...]
Personal Obstacles to Becoming a Community Apologist
Throughout the month of January various posts are being published encouraging you to become a “community apologist.” A community apologist is helpfully defined here as, “someone with an interest in apologetics stepping up to the plate and making themselves available to teach apologetics in their church and community.” Maybe you see the validity and need for this, yet there is … [Read more...]
Book Review: Cold Case Christianity
Introduction Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels (Paperback Kindle, Audiobook) is one of the latest books to examine the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament. Detective Jim Wallace was an atheist before he began putting Christianity to the same tests that he places witnesses and suspects to in his investigations of … [Read more...]
Piers Morgan and Rick Warren
Here's an interesting little snippet of an interview between Piers Morgan and Rick Warren on the Bible's teachings about homosexuality and whether it should be "amended" (not clear what that means). I found a couple of things interesting. Morgan is right to observe that these conversations need to be respectful and that they have a habit of turning poisonous. He would seem to … [Read more...]
Why Study Apologetics?
Ever met a Christian who told you not waste your time studying apologetics? I’ve known some well-meaning, but seriously misinformed believers who look down on the practice of providing evidence for the truth of Christianity. Why learn to give people reasons to believe? Here’s a quick response: Because Jesus gave people reasons to believe (See my previous post on this). His … [Read more...]
Getting People Into Apologetics: It Starts With You
If you are a Christian and you are reading this blog, you probably have some degree of interest in apologetics. You may be getting your feet wet, getting your masters in apologetics, or somewhere in between. No matter where you are at in your study of apologetics, hopefully you find it incredibly rewarding and empowering to study the robust defense of the Christian faith. I … [Read more...]
Becoming a Community Apologist: The Significance and Cost of Being an Apologist
It would be fair to say that I have been interested in becoming an apologist since 1992. Yet it was not until the summer of 2009 that I decided to get serious about it. What I have to offer here is less than advice but hopefully more than merely telling my own story. In order to put my remarks in context let me offer a brief sketch of my background and where I am today. I have … [Read more...]