Apologia
Have you ever heard the phrase “That’s Greek to me.” People use that phrase to say – I don’t understand what you are saying. That phrase would certainly be appropriate here because apologia is a Greek word.
Full disclosure: I do not through around Greek words to try to impress people. But it is often helpful to use a Greek word.
The word apologia might sound like someone is getting ready to apologize or issue an apology. But that is not the case at all.
The word is found nine times in our New Testament. One of those is found in Acts 22:1 where Paul the Apostle said, “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”
When we are doing apologetics we are defending the faith. I like to think of apologetics as – exposing lies and half-truths while discovering truth and then learning how to communicate that truth to others.
We find the idea or the practice of apologetics in the little book of Jude. In verse three, Jude, the half-brother of our Lord, was preparing to write a letter. However, as he began to write, the Holy Spirit led Jude to write about something different.
He opens the letter with a general greeting and then he wrote, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Without using the word apologia, Jude tells us he found it necessary to contend for the faith. You can probably see the connection of “contend” for the faith and “defend” the faith.
Early in the ministry I think I was appointed to be an apologist. However, in those days all I wanted to do was win an argument. In these days I am more redemptive and seek to help people understand what we believe and why we believe what we believe.
If you would like to be a professional or semi-pro apologist reach out to me. The world needs more people like you.
If something is true it can be proven. Truth can be defended because it is true. In the work of apologetics, we are defending the truth because it is true and it is necessary.
People out in the world, people in our family, our friends, our coworkers, and our teachers do not believe us just because we say something. We must be able to defend the truth when they have questions and when they challenge us. Let me help you be a defender of the faith. Not just so you can win an argument, but so you can stand for the truth.
Jesus said it very clearly when He said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Reach out and let me help you be the apologist you were meant to be. God Bless!
