Many people agree that postmodernism marks the most important cultural shift of the past 500 years, upending our theology, philosophy, epistemology (how we know things), and church practice. Youth increasingly are relativistic toward ethics, values, and religion—topics they consider matters of personal preference—i.e. “It may be true for you but not for me.”
Desiring to reach young people, we must ask: “Is scientific proof is an important part of faith? Do people ask about God’s existence, historical evidence for Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the Bible’s reliability?”
Certainly! God doesn’t change (
Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemed Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, said, “Christians are saying that the rational isn’t part of evangelism. The fact is, people are rational. They do have questions. You have to answer those questions. Don’t get the impression that I think that the rational aspect takes you all the way there. But there’s too much emphasis on just the personal now.”
We must not replace a propositional approach to the gospel with a primarily relational methodology. Christianity is rationally compelling and provides the most satisfying solution to the heart’s deepest longings. Christians are regularly challenged to provide reasons for their hope. Professor David Berlinski wrote in The Devil’s Delusion: “The question that all religious believers now face: Show me the evidence.”
Why Apologetics Is Crucial
An apologetics renaissance is occurring. Apologetics conferences train thousands of people annually; apologetics resources are multiplying. In a Christianity Today article, philosopher William Lane Craig tied this awakening of apologetics to the renaissance in Christian philosophy that has taken place during the past 40 years. Science is more open to the existence of a Designer. Biblical criticism has embarked on a renewed quest for the historical Jesus consonant with the portrait of Jesus in the Gospels.
Beyond the biblical mandate, apologetics is important for other reasons. First, apologetics training provides significant benefits. Knowing why you believe what you believe and experiencing it in your life and relationships, for example, provides renewed confidence in sharing your faith.
Training in apologetics also provides an anchor during difficult times. From the moment Christian students arrive on campus, fellow students and teachers assault Christianity. Emotions only take us so far, then we need something more solid. David Kinnaman wrote in his book, unChristian, “We are learning that one of the primary reasons that ministry to teenagers fails to produce a lasting faith is because they are not being taught to think.”
“I almost abandoned my faith in college because I was not sure if the difficult questions people asked me about Christianity had satisfying answers” says Alison Thomas, a seminary graduate who speaks for Ravi Zacharias Ministries.
Apologetics training also enables us to reach spiritually lost people. Jesus’ apostles regularly reasoned with Jews and pagans. Paul spent three Sabbaths reasoning with people from the Scriptures, giving evidence supporting the gospel. And people became followers of Jesus (
Often people who respond to Jesus through apologetics become influential and deeply committed to the faith. My father, Josh McDowell, became a believer as a pre-law student while trying to refute the evidence for Christ.
Effective Apologetics for a New Generation
Apologetics is advancing like never before, and a few characteristics mark effective apologetics for a new generation.
1) The New Apologetics Is Missional
There is a lot of talk now about being missional, that is, getting out of our safe Christian enclaves and reaching people on their turf. This mindset must characterize apologetics for a new generation.
Each spring, Brett Kunkle and I take high school students to the University of California at Berkeley to interact with leading atheists from northern California. We invite various speakers to challenge our students and participate in a lively period of questions and answers. The guests always comment that our students treat them kindly, ask good questions, and are different from stereotypical Christians. This is because, in our preparatory training, we emphasize the importance of defending our beliefs with gentleness and respect, as Peter admonishes (
In Western culture today, Christians are often criticized for being exclusive, closed-minded, and intolerant. Missional apologetics is one way to help shatter this myth firsthand. Interestingly, one atheistic presenter from Berkeley spent 45 minutes arguing that the skeptical way of life is the most open-minded and least dogmatic. I kindly pointed out that it was us—Christians!—who came up to their turf and gave them a platform to present their ideas.
This is not the only perception of Christians that can be softened by missional apologetics. In his book unChristian, David Kinnaman paints a sobering view of how Christians are viewed by those outside the faith.
For example, nearly half of young non-Christians have a negative view of evangelicals. Six common perceptions characterize how young outsiders view Christians:
• Hypocritical;
• Too focused on getting converts;
• Anti-homosexual;
• Sheltered;
• Too political;
• and judgmental.
To help overcome these perceptions, says Kinnaman, Christians must build meaningful, genuine relationships with non-Christians and live out their faith consistently. It is in the context of a loving relationship, says Dan Kimball in his chapter, “A New Kind of Apologist,” that we most effectively reach the lost today.
2) The New Apologetics Influences How We Live
Though I disagree with his philosophy of pragmatism, William James has an insight of practical importance for apologetics training today. He said that when considering any idea, we should always ask, “What difference does it make?” If it makes no existential difference to the way we live whether it is true or false, then according to James, we should not bother with it.
When training in apologetics, we must regularly ask, “So what?” How does belief in the historical resurrection of Jesus affect my relationship to myself, others, and God? How does belief in creation influence my view of the environment? How does the Incarnation affect my self-image?
Much criticism today is not with apologetics per se but with our failure to connect apologetics to the way we live. Some criticism is deserved. If we don’t apply the truth to our relationship with God and others, what’s the point? Brian McLaren, a leading voice in the Emergent church, is right: Having right answers that don’t lead us to better love God and our neighbors are more or less worthless.
Many outspoken critics of Christianity have backgrounds of personal disappointment with Christians and the church. Pastor Tim Keller explains:
“We all bring to issues intellectual predispositions based on our experiences. If you have known many wise, loving, kind, and insightful Christians over the years, and if you have seen churches that are devout in belief yet civic-minded and generous, you will find the intellectual case for Christianity more plausible. If, on the other hand, the preponderance of your experience is with nominal Christians (who bear the name but don’t practice) or with self-righteous fanatics, then the arguments for Christianity will have to be extremely strong for you to concede that they have any cogency at all.”
The philosopher Frederick Nietzsche commented that Christians have no joy. No wonder he found the evidence for God unconvincing. The sad part about his observation is that Christians have the best reason to be joyful. If Christ has not risen, says Paul, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (
3) The New Apologetics Is Humble
I failed miserably to act humbly years ago when getting my hair cut in Breckenridge, Colorado. The hairdresser noticed I was carrying a copy of The Gospel in a Pluralist Society by Leslie Newbigin.
“Are you a Christian?” she asked me. “If so, how can you explain all the evil in the world?”
I proceeded to give her a ten-minute lecture about the origin of evil, nature of free will, and the Christian solution. My reasons were solid, but I lacked humility and sensitivity. I had a slick answer to her every question, but I missed the fact that her needs went beyond the intellect to her heart.
Eventually she started crying—not because she became a Christian but because she was so offended by my callousness. To be honest, it was unsettling having a hairdresser, who held sharp scissors in her hand, crying and lecturing me while cutting my hair.
I should have first asked her questions to try and understand why evil was such a pressing issue in her life. What pain had she experienced that caused her to question God’s goodness? Sometimes questions are primarily intellectual, but more often than not they stem from the heart’s deeper longing.
From the beginning, Christian apologists have emphasized the importance of humility in presenting our defense of the faith. There is a reason why
Equipping Believers to Be Ambassadors
In the fall of 2007, Christianity Today International and Zondervan partnered to conduct attitudinal and behavioral research of American Christians. Leadership Journal discussed the findings with leading pastors and religious experts. Three critical issues emerged:
1. The local church is no longer considered the only outlet for spiritual growth.
2. Churches must develop relational and community-oriented outreach.
3. Lay people have to be better equipped to be God’s ambassadors [apologists].
In the article, Joel Hunter, senior pastor of Northland Church in Longwood, Florida, said, “We need to preach with apologetics in mind, with a rational explanation and defense of the Christian faith in mind.” One of the best ways to counter biblical illiteracy, claims Hunter, is to equip active Christians to be teachers, ambassadors, and apologists.
Yes! The time has never been greater for renewed focus on apologetics—developing a biblical and culturally relevant approach for reaching this new generation.
This article was adapted from Apologetics for a New Generation. Copyright © 2009 by Sean McDowell. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by Permission.
