Apologetics is not about “Defending the Faith.” | Pathways International

The theological field of apologetics is lauded by most and feared by few.  Great strides have been taken by the church to raise up “defenders of the faith.”  Debating others in public on the veracity of Christianity is a spectator sport that rivals all others.

I can remember my youth in Christ, and how my brain turned to sponge.  Soaking up every theory, every angle, and every point of view regarding the faith, I too wanted to nail it down so as to defend my position.

I read everything I could get my hands on and considered every opinion under the sun.  I also read from those who directly challenged my religion; atheists, agnostics, deists, scientists, and the various writings from those christians would call “the cults.”

ly and confrontationally, sparring with them in a sense to see if I had weaknesses in my theological construct.

But, deep down in my immaturity, I wanted and needed to be right.

My love for apologetics had turned to lust.  I had exchanged Christ, my Hope, for the fallacy of “faith defending.”

Personally, I count that time in my apologetic walk as adulterous and Idolatrous.  Where I sought to defend the faith, I was, in many cases defaming Jesus name.  If any of this strikes a chord with you, stop for a moment and ask the Lord for wisdom, then read the rest.

efending the hope within us,” 1 Peter 3:15, to “defending the faith,” our stance, and our pet doctrines.

Somewhere along the way, the church went from “

I dare say that if any of us had to give a defense of our faith, we could  at least give it a decent showing.  I wonder though, how many could give a solid defense for the HOPE within them.

I would ask the same, “What is your hope?”