InterVarsity Press, 2006, 112 pages, $12.00,
ivpress.com
Maybe you think you aren’t intellectual enough to develop successful apologetics skills. No problem — because Sire defines an apologist as one who pursues ongoing education, biblical knowledge, personal holiness, Christ-like love and interpersonal communication skills. These characteristics should describe all Christians — but especially those of us in full-time ministry.
It’s easy to associate apologetics with intellectual debate. True, the purpose of apologetics is to defend the Christian faith with persuasive and winsome arguments. But many lose sight of the “winsome” part when winning the argument becomes the driving consideration.
Sire, thankfully, draws a much more fulfilling conclusion. The purpose of apologetics is not to win an argument — or a convert — but to remain faithful to Jesus. This actually excited me, as I realized that A Little Primer on Humble Apologetics was a call to practice apologetics with humility by relying on the power of God instead of the persuasion of our own arguments.
Like peering through a keyhole, Sire provides a glimpse of a very large and complex discipline. As a primer, it succeeds at giving the reader a thorough overview of apologetics while referring to larger texts for more in-depth study on specific topics. You’ll find the chapter on “The Contexts of Apologetics” particularly helpful for matching apologetics and audience.
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Review by: Matthew Monberg, freelance writer, Denver, Colorado.
