Apologetics
The word “apologetics” comes from the Greek word “defense” found in 1 Peter 3:15 – “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Peter commands all Christians to be apologists or defenders of the faith. This is not a subject reserved to the expert. Indeed, all Christians are apologists whether they like it or not; they are either good apologists or bad ones, but all Christians are defenders of something. We might be defending ourselves from looking stupid in the eyes of unbelievers. That is not a good motivation. We might be defending our Christianity by appealing simply to our opinions. That is not a good method. We might be defending Christianity with the sole goal of making our opponents look like idiots. That is not a good goal. But whether our motive, goal or standard is good or bad, being an apologist is inescapable - unless we totally give up the faith.
There are three basic approaches to apologetics. The rationalist apologetic is summarized in the statement associated with Thomas Aquinas: “I believe because I understand.” This approach starts by understanding worldly wisdom and has tended to syncretize Christianity with the wisdom of the world. The irrational (or fideistic) approach is summarized in the statement associated with Tertullian: “I believe what is absurd.” This approach tries to escape from the world because it fears worldly wisdom and has failed to apply Scripture to all of life. The presuppositional approach is summarized in the statement associated with Augustine of Hippo: “I believe, therefore I understand.” This approach starts with the Bible’s axioms for all of life and seeks to comprehensively apply the Bible to all of life. It also seeks to show unbelievers that they cannot make any systematic defense of any worldview if they reject God’s revelation as found in the Bible. Biblical Blueprints is committed to the presuppositional approach to apologetics that has most consistently transformed Western Civilization.
