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A General Introduction to
Apologetics and Witnessing
What is apologetics?
Apologetics comes from the Greek word "apologia" which means, "to give a
verbal defense." This could be a defense of a person, institution, or ideology.
For our purposes when we say apologetics we refer specifically to "Christian
apologetics" or the art of defending the Christian faith with prayer, testimony,
logic, reason, and evidence.
Why do we need apologetics?
We need apologetics because the nature of our faith is that it is true for
everyone, whether or not they believe it. In addition, we believe that this
truth can be presented to people in a clear, persuasive fashion. Our faith isn't
subjective like Buddhism. You'll be in for a long look when searching for
Buddhist apologetics. Buddhism predominately teaches what suffering is and how
to lead a life that minimizes suffering. Like many modern philosophies it is
focused on presenting a belief system that "works". Christianity, however, is
focused on presenting a belief system that's true. If Buddha never existed, then
it wouldn't be such a big deal; his teachings are what's important. On the other
hand, if Christ never existed then it's all over, there is no point in being a
Christian.
"And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching;
empty, too, your faith." (1 Corinthians 15:14)
Therefore, apologetics is needed to defend truth. Truth is Jesus Christ
(John 14:6), and His Church (1 Tim 3:15), and that is what we defend,
the truth. In addition we refute the arguments of people who believe it is
false.
The History of Apologetics
Apologetics has had a long and important place in the history of
Christianity. During Christianity's humble beginnings apologetics was used to
answer Jewish objections to belief in Christ. Because it was a small splinter
sect of Judaism and because Christ did not meet the cultural expectations of the
messiah, Christianity was seen as nothing more than a new heresy. In 160 A.D.
Justin Martyr wrote one of the first apologetics works with his defense against
Jewish objections in "Dialogue with Trypho the Jew." Later, Christianity would
face serious opposition from paganism, both from the Roman Empire and from the
ubiquitous "Mystery Religions." Apologists Tertullian and St. Augustine, among
others, would faithfully answer the challenge and show that Christianity was
light and strength while paganism was darkness and weakness.
After Christianity was granted legal protection in the Roman Empire, the
Church would experience dramatic growth through the middle ages. As the Church
grew in power and wealth opposition came not from without, but from within.
During the Protestant Reformation apologetics was used in what was dubbed the
"counter reformation" to bring the faithful back to the Catholic Church.
After the Middle Ages the Church would confront its most recent foe that
apologetics still does battle with today. In the 17th-19 centuries the new
philosophies of rationalism and empiricism would challenge the faith.
Rationalism is the philosophy that all truth is known by human reason and
empiricism is the philosophy that knowledge can only be acquired through the
five senses. Both philosophies have no room for faith or divine revelation.
During the nineteenth century Charles Darwin published his work on the origin of
species and made evolution a viable alternative to explain the origin of life.
In that same century Rudolf Bultmann and other German theologians would create
the art of "demythologizing" the New Testament. This process, also known as form
criticism, involved removing everything supernatural and "non-historical" from
the ancient texts in order to find the "historical Jesus." In light of these new
and continual challenges to the faith God has raised up many ardent and zealous
defenders of the Church including, G.K. Chetserton, C.S. Lewis, John Henry
Newman, and more recently Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, and Dr. Peter Kreeft.
How is apologetics related to witnessing?
We are all called to share our faith with non-Catholic and non-Christian
friends. Often times that involves personal testimonials of how God has touched
our lives and made us better people. This evidence is "unfalsifiable" because no
one can prove you did not experience God, or that your testimony is false.
However, the pressure increases when others are asked to believe in our faith.
At that point the hearer will want objective evidence. Objective evidence can be
seen or heard by anyone, and if it is a claim, then it is falsifiable, or can be
shown to be false. In contrast, personal experiences are subjective because they
only effect the one who experiences them.
Apologetics most often takes the form of answering peoples' questions about
the Faith. It also includes presenting reasons why it's true and answering
arguments set out to prove that Catholicism is false. However, one must take
care not to think that they and their arguments alone can convert and change
someone's mind. Apologetics falls into the same class as everything else
involved in witnessing, it is a tool used as needed by the Holy Spirit. We are
merely instruments in His divine mission, and if we submit to His will then we
will change people's hearts toward God, but only if we let God work through us.
Do's and Don'ts
Do Pray, Don't not pray
Prayer is the cornerstone of faith and apologetics. Without prayer we
separate ourselves from God and are unable to accomplish his will.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him
will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
Often times I have found that when I would be asked a tough question I would
say a quick prayer and open my mouth and the words would come out without me
planning what to say. That is an example of the power of prayer and the power of
God.
Do Dialogue, Don't Debate
A dialogue is a friendly conversation between two people, in which both are
open to sharing and changing their beliefs and ideas. A debate consists of two
opposing sides trying to prove that they are right and that the other is wrong.
If you begin to debate people then you will have no chance of changing their
minds, even if you "beat" them. Instead of believing you're right, they will
merely believe that they did not have a strong enough argument to beat you!
Therefore it is essential that if we want to witness to people, we must
dialogue, not debate.
"A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
(Proverbs 15:1)
Do be humble, Don't be proud
If someone asks a question that you can't answer or seems to be winning the
"debate," then reevaluate what you're doing. Though it is challenging, admit
that you don't have the answer, or you are unsure how to answer the question, or
you want to have the right resources and will get back to that person. Your goal
is to help them find the truth and there is no expiration date on that. You
shouldn't be expected to know everything all the time. Avoid the urge to be
confrontational or feebly attempt to answer in order to win the "debate."
"He who answers before he hears, his is the folly and the shame."
(Proverbs 18:13)
Objections to apologetics
With answers from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church
(CCC)
"You should just believe without
evidence."
We are told to love the Lord not only with all of our heart and strength, but
with our minds as well (Matthew 22:37):
"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a
defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you,
yet with gentleness and reverence," (1 Peter 3:15).
"Test everything; retain what is good," (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
"What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as
true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe 'because of
the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be
deceived.' So 'that the submission of our faith might nevertheless be in
accordance with reason, God willed that external proofs of his Revelation should
be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit.' Thus the miracles of Christ
and the saints, prophecies, the Church's growth and holiness, and her
fruitfulness and stability 'are the most certain signs of divine Revelation,
adapted to the intelligence of all'; they are 'motives of credibility' (motiva
credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is 'by no means a blind
impulse of the mind,' (CCC 156).
"You can't prove anything anyway."
Of course that statement is just as "unprovable" as anything else. We can
demonstrate certainty of truth with logic and reason. To paraphrase St. Thomas
Aquinas, "Truth cannot contradict truth."
"For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the
flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously
powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every
pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought
captive in obedience to Christ," (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
"The man who pleads his case first seems to be in the right; then his
opponent comes and puts him to the test," (Proverbs 18:17).
Faith is a personal act-the free response of the human person to the
initiative of God who reveals himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No one
can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. You have not given yourself
faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from
others and should hand it on to others. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor
impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in
the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the
faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith (CCC
166).
"I'm not smart enough"
As Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, "I can do anything in
Christ who strengthens me."
"When they lead you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about
what you are to say. But say whatever will be given to you at that hour. For it
will not be you who are speaking but the holy Spirit." (Mark 13:11)
-"Christ . . . fulfills this prophetic office, not only by the hierarchy .
. . but also by the laity. He accordingly both establishes them as witnesses and
provides them with the sense of the faith [sensus fidei] and the grace of the
word"
-To teach in order to lead others to faith is the task of every preacher and of
each believer.
-Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, "that is,
the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life." For lay people,
"this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy
because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world."
-This witness of life, however, is not the sole element in the apostolate; the
true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word,
either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful (CCC 904-905).
Some final tips and advice
-Keep an ignorance journal. Right down subjects you have been asked about and
haven't been able to give an answer for. Use that for research later.
-Use the Socratic Method. First developed by the Ancient Greek philosopher
Socrates, the Socratic Method involves asking questions to get to the root of an
argument. It also allows for two people to have a dialogue instead of a debate.
-Read scripture, the catechism, and attend life teen nights and prayer
meetings to grow deeper in knowledge of your faith. Knowing and being able to
clearly explain what you believe comprises most of apologetics.
-Always be cordial and polite. Remember, it isn't what you say, but how you
say it that counts.
"Avoid foolish and ignorant debates, for you know that they breed
quarrels. A slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but should be gentle with
everyone, able to teach, tolerant, correcting opponents with kindness. It may be
that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth . . ."
(2 Timothy 2:23-25)
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Last updated on
Monday, November 07, 2005 |
