My dictionary defines
apologetics as a “systematic and logical
defence of Christianity against its
detractors and unbelievers” In 1 Peter 3.15, Christians are told to be ready to
give a reason (apologia) for their hope in Christ.
Apologetics can draw
people to Christ as we read in the Book of Acts with Saint Peter on the day of
Pentecost. Peter’s sermon was a classic example of apologetics and drew 3,000
people to faith in Christ. Saint Paul’s witness in Athens was another example
of apologetics at work. It is documented in Acts 17.17-34.
Apologetics does not
always convert people. They must have an open mind and a seeking heart. The
most brilliant defence of Christianity will not change the hearts of those who
refuse to accept it. Look at the events
leading up to the Martyrdom of Stephen. We read in the 6th Chapter
of Acts that he was “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (verse 5). People who were opposed to his witness for
Christ were not able to resist “the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”(verse.
10) How did they respond? The shocking answer is found in Chapter 7: They killed
Stephen.
Stephen’s words cut
deep into the hearts of an unreceptive group of religious leaders in Jerusalem.
Anger toward Stephen by the crowd grew to a climax and they turned into a mob. In what must have been a terrifying moment for
Stephen, God gave him a serene vision of heaven. Looking past the terror of his impending
death, Stephen saw to the Glory of Jesus waiting for him. He said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the
right hand of God.” (Throughout the centuries, this has been
the hope that dissolves fear for believers who die in Christ.)
Those words of Stephen
the Martyr were too much for his accusers. They rushed and ceased him, threw
him out of the city and stoned him. As he was dying Stephen was heard praying
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” The stones continued to rain down on him. He
fell to his knees and uttered his last words: “Lord, do not hold this sin
against them.”
What happened to the murderous
crowd as a result of Stephen’s witness for Christ and his brutal death at their
hands? We don’t know what happened to most of them but one was a man named Saul
― a terrible persecutor of Christians. He later had a dramatic encounter with
Christ on the road to Damascus. He became the great Saint Paul and went to his
own death after years of witness for Christ and defending faith in Him
(apologia).
Other examples of
ancient apologetics include a defence of Christianity (Apologia) by Saint Quadratus of Athens to the Roman Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 130. Justin
Martyr left two apologiae. In his book City of
God,
Saint Augustine defended Christianity against pagan allegations that Christians
were responsible for the fall of Rome. Saint Thomas Aquinas defined apologetics
as making known the truth of the Catholic Church.
Always be prepared to
share your faith in Christ at the right opportunity. You never know the impact
your words and example will have on people. Your witness may not be the final
link in the chain of another person’s journey to faith in Christ but make sure you’re
not the missing link.
Like Stephen, there is
a privilege in being given an opportunity to witness and glorify God in the
face of great adversity. In some parts of the world that can mean death. Boldly express confidence in the reality
that we will spend eternity with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, can be a
powerful opportunity to witness to sceptics and unbelievers.
Personally, I have
found more opportunities to witness for the hope
within me since becoming
disabled and wheelchair-dependent than when I was healthy and able-bodied. It
seems contradictory to a generation of people focused on youth and health.
My circumstances allow
me opportunities to speak of faith that transcends physical limitations and
focuses on eternal matters.
Use whatever
circumstances you find yourself in to defend the Christian hope within you. -- Mark
2 comments:
As a person with a disability I want to comment on when you says "becoming disabled and wheelchair-dependent than when I was healthy and able-bodied."
I have cerebral palsy. It is not a medical condition. While I am disabled, the only times I am not healthy is when I have the fly or a cold. Otherwise I am healthy.
I think when we create awareness of disability, and thus attitudes, we must differentiate between specific disabilities and their traits, rather than generalizing on such statements.
We are all, alas, individuals. And I think we need to start talking about our own unique traits.
Cam Tait
Newspaper columnist and author
Thank you for your comment Cam. I appreciate your feedback. You seem to have taken exception to my comment you highlighted. The full sentence said, “Personally, I have found more opportunities to witness for the hope within me since becoming disabled and wheelchair-dependent than when I was healthy and able-bodied.” I then stated, “It seems contradictory to a generation of people focused on youth and health.” Remember the overall subject of the post was defending the Christian faith in an un-Christian world, not creating disability awareness. As important as creating disability awareness is, my focus was witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Notice the song I posted “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” When I address disability issues in the HumanLifeMatters blog, it tends to be in a Christian context. Why? Our unique traits, that you mention, are made complete in our surrender to Jesus Christ.
I want to comment on another matter: Your disability is cerebral palsy acquired at birth or shortly thereafter. It does not generally affect your health. I have the incurable and degenerative disease of MS acquired in adulthood. It does impact my health. Our realities are dramatically different. My comment in my blog post dealt specifically with my disease and I thought that was clear. Remember, Cam, my blog is Christocentric: Everything emanates out from there and written with that as a backdrop. I am convinced that the most important thing on earth is to personally encounter Jesus Christ. Self-awareness in completed in Him, the author of life.
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