La necesidad de la apologética en la iglesia local

By Maggie Hendrick

Apologetics, when done gently and respectfully (1 Peter 3:15), is beneficial in evangelism, as we see the Holy Spirit using it over and over again in Scripture through Paul’s “reasoning” and “persuasion” to draw souls to the Lord. However, in this article, I will show how apologetics in the local church has other benefits: equipping the saints and preventing apostasy. Of course, our entire Christian walk should be dedicated to evangelism; that is a fact.

But, in order not to sound too internally focused, I want to show that apologetics has benefits for believers themselves and why the local church is the best source for implementing them.

Apologetics is useful in: Making disciples

The Great Commission in Matthew 28 commands believers to make disciples, not converts. This is an important distinction for apologetics, as it has many benefits and goals. We know that apologetics can be used in evangelism to lead to conversion, as Paul did in Acts, but it doesn’t stop there. The church needs to motivate love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12), help them keep their faith firm to the end (Hebrews 3:14), and encourage them to love God with their mind (Matthew 22:37). Apologetics can be used in all of these—not limited to a classroom or specialized ministry, but throughout the local church.

The local church is essential to equipping believers. But what should we be equipped with? Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the FULL armor of God so that we can withstand the wiles of the devil. Apologetics helps strengthen our faith, “that is able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one” and helps us “stand firm” with the “belt of truth.” Often local churches focus on “the breastplate of righteousness” and the “helmet of salvation,” but we need the full armor of God.

The church is founded on the Word of God, and must compare everything to it. Apologetics is another aid to knowing our Creator through the study of His creation, as well as helping us to love Him with our minds. Apologetics is not a substitute for Bible study or preaching, but is a useful tool used simultaneously to produce richer study and preaching. Therefore, it is not only helpful in evangelism as Paul used it, but also through making stronger and wiser disciples with a faith built on a solid foundation.

Evangelization+

Apologetics is not only used at the time of evangelism, but also before it. This is a huge benefit of incorporating apologetics into the church. Fear paralyzes congregants more than pastors want to admit. Of course, no matter how much we know, we can still feel nervous before sharing the gospel. However, the confidence that comes from being able to defend our faith, through apologetics, alleviates those fears and can lead to more conversations and encounters with unbelievers about the gospel. I experienced this myself when I was a 16-year-old girl heading to Utah to share my faith with Mormons. I knew very little and never wanted to be the one to initiate or speak in conversations. The more I studied, the more confident and able I was to share and defend my faith grew. This made me WANT to initiate conversations and continue sharing the gospel even when I got home. Having a congregation that can share the gospel more effectively and clearly, while also increasing the number of times they actually share it, should be an encouragement to pastors to embrace apologetics.

If the focus of apologetics in a local church is geared toward benefiting believers (not just reaching unbelievers) the church will have stronger congregants who will be better able to spur one another on to love and good works. This is because apologetics equips the saints to live out the Christian worldview outside the walls of the church…which includes evangelism! It is not a means for believers to quarrel with one another over trivial matters, but is used to fine-tune one another to better resist false ideologies and the evils of the world.

Preventing apostasy

“Now he who received seed on rocky places is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no deep root in himself, but is temporary. And when affliction or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately stumbles and falls.” Matthew 13:20-21

Another important aspect of a local church is helping the saints persevere and hold fast their faith to the end. Apologetics is a helpful tool in preventing apostasy. I have experienced this benefit of apologetics personally. If I had not attended a youth group so committed to equipping us before college, I would have been eaten alive there. Ultimately, being a Christian at a secular college is HARD. Our sinful hearts sometimes don’t “feel like” living out the Christian faith or even “want” to do so. But I felt like Peter, when Jesus asked him if he wanted to go too. Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69) No matter how I felt each day, the gospel is true, and my faith is based on truth and not feelings.

A local church may think that apologetics is not necessary since it is growing and its members are evangelizing. I would caution against that belief because, just as apologetics helps equip us to share the Good News, it also protects us. Even though it may seem like everyone has a strong faith and is not struggling with doubt, we know that many have and will leave the faith because they do not feel they have a good reason to believe it is true.

If we don’t give believers good reasons for their faith, it will be much easier for the world to shake that faith when life gets tough. Speaking of apologetics as a training avenue, William Lane Craig says, “Unfortunately, our churches have dropped the ball in this area. It is insufficient for youth groups and Sunday school classes to focus on entertainment and engaging devotional thoughts. We need to train our children for war.” [1] The world is at war with us. That’s why we need the whole armor of God.

Apologetics helps us formulate sufficient answers to the world’s tough questions. At some point (if not already), we will be faced with tough questions. If our faith resembles blind faith, or is built on feelings, it can be more easily shaken. Therefore, the local church must cultivate strong faith in its congregants so that “we are no longer children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human craftiness, by deceitful schemes.” ( Ephesians 4:14)

How can pastors incorporate apologetics?

Everyone has questions. Only those who know everything don’t have questions, and that of course, is not any of us. Even pastors and church leaders have questions…and questions are a good thing! The local church should encourage their congregation to ask questions so they can join them in finding quality answers. Pastors should share the questions they themselves have had, how they have found the answers (within the church body and not the world), and even invite their congregants to ask questions to emphasize the benefits of faithfully asking and seeking the truth. This type of culture within a church will lead to loving God with their minds, no longer cowering in doubt. After all, we know that JESUS ​​IS THE TRUTH and therefore we know that we have true and genuine answers to give. There is no need to be afraid of questions when the truth is on our side.

Apologetics can be implemented in all teaching ministries of a local church. Of course, you can do specific series on these topics or organize apologetics events, but apologetics can be brought to all areas without leaving aside expository preaching. Find time in all teaching moments in the church to introduce some apologetics. Even if it is not overt apologetics, it is about creating a culture in which members can grow in their knowledge of the Lord, while receiving answers to their questions or doubts within the walls of the church.

If not for you, do it for them

As I have discussed many benefits of apologetics in a local church and practical ways to implement it, I must emphasize that apologetics must be taught early. Apologetics is not just for adults and should not be limited to the main pulpit. It should not even be limited to college or high school students. Apologetics begins when the children’s questions begin. As a mother of four young children, I can attest to how early it begins.

We should not answer any of our children’s questions with “because the Bible says so” for the same reason we reject our own parents’ “reason” of “because I said so.” These kinds of explanations didn’t satisfy us then, and they certainly won’t satisfy our children, ESPECIALLY if the question concerns big life issues and not just why they should make their bed. John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle write:

“Challenges that undermine the authority of God’s Word cannot go unanswered. And we cannot simply claim that the Bible is God’s authoritative book and expect children to simply believe us. Young people must understand the nature of biblical authority. They must have good reasons to trust the Bible as God’s Word.” [2]

We have better answers than “because the Bible says so,” so let’s give them!

Another important reason to start young is that we must begin before we feel the urgent need to do so. As J. Warner Wallace writes, “According to statistics, young Christians decide to leave the church long before they tell anyone, and usually before they leave their parents’ home… That’s why it’s so important that we start early, even before your children verbalize their questions.” [3] Many times, parents jump into apologetics when it’s too late. Even though your children may ask you questions, if you don’t give them sufficient answers, they won’t stop asking—they’ll stop asking YOU. We must lead them to the truth in a satisfactory and complete way, or we’ll find them looking elsewhere for answers.

Conclusion

Apologetics is needed in the local church, in every ministry, and for every age. Even if a believer doesn’t personally believe they need apologetics or good reasons for their own faith, why take the risk and not protect themselves from the apostasy the Bible regularly warns against? And even if they don’t ultimately need apologetics for themselves, someone they love does. And to be a wise “disciple,” we must have good answers to give or risk having them turn to the world for answers.

We need apologetics in the local church to equip us to better know and love God with our minds, train and encourage us to evangelize, prepare us to better disciple young believers, and protect ourselves (and others) from the deceptive ideologies of this world and from falling into apostasy. The church is responsible for equipping its congregation, and therefore, it must implement apologetics regularly.

Now let’s fasten our belts of truth and get to work!

Footnotes:

[1] William Lane Craig. “Christian Apologetics: Who Needs It?: Reasonable Faith.” Who Needs It? Reasonable Faith, www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/apologetics/christian-apologetics-who-needs-it/.

[2] John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle. A Practical Guide to Culture. David C. Cook, 2020. 309.

[3] Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace. So the Next Generation Will Know. David C Cook, 2019. 41.

Recommended resources in Spanish:

Stealing from God ( Paperback ), ( Teacher Study Guide ), and ( Student Study Guide ) by Dr. Frank Turek

Why I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist ( Complete DVD Series ), ( Teacher’s Workbook ), and ( Student’s Handbook ) by Dr. Frank Turek

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Maggie is Curtis’ wife, a stay-at-home wife. She is the mother of their sons Troy (in heaven), Ty, Jay, Palin, and Boyd. She received her BA in Religious Studies from Chapman University and her MA in Christian Apologetics and Evangelism from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary. She is currently the coordinator of the Immersive Bible Experience at Maven where she has the joy of planning trips for Christian youth to share their faith with Mormons in Utah. In addition to her love for Christian youth and Mormon ministry, she is a pro-life and adoption advocate. She has a deep love for babies and has been nicknamed “the baby whisperer.” You’ll likely find her curled up on the couch with one of her sons while eating bacon and drinking a glass of chocolate milk (Nesquik, of course).

Original source of the blog: https://bit.ly/3kwocJS

Translated by Jennifer Chavez

Edited by Monica Pirateque