Apologetics

This is one of my favorite subjects - a·pol·o·get·ics.

The dictionary tells us that apologetics is a:
1. The branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of
Christian doctrines.
2. Formal argumentation in defense of something, such as a position or system.
The term comes from the Greek word apologia, meaning the defense of a position against an attack, not from the English word apology (Merriam-Webster dictionary).

Apologetics is not about proving that our faith is true beyond a shadow of a doubt. It’s about putting forth evidence that suggests reliability and reasonableness. In my opinion there’s much more evidence than most people realize.


For example, Jesus is mentioned a number of times outside of the New Testament. You might have heard of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. He was born in the year 37 AD. He wrote this about Jesus:

At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.

Roman writers in the early 2nd Century, such as Pliny the Younger and Suetonius, also wrote about Jesus, as well as, a guy named Cornelius Tacitus, who wrote about "Christus," the founder of a new religious sect, who was put to death by Pontius Pilate.

In the Hebrew Talmud, we read that Jesus was conceived out of wedlock, gathered disciples, made blasphemous claims about himself, and worked miracles, but these miracles are attributed to black magic and not to God.

Here are some other topics of Apologetics:


A. The reliability of the scriptures, especially the Gospels.
For example, in 1920 archaeologists discovered the oldest fragment of one of the Gospels that we have to date. It's called P52 and records John 18:31-33. What's fascinating is that the discovery was made in Egypt and the fragment dates to 125 AD. Think about that! By the year 125 AD, copies of the New Testament had already made it to Egypt. This suggests First Century authorship of the Gospel and also demonstrates how the four Gospels in our Bible gained authoritative status in the church very, very early in the history of Christianity.

B. Evidences for the Resurrection
Early church writers claim that 11 out of the 12 disciples were martyred for preaching the Good News of Christ's life, death and resurrection. If they had made up the Resurrection of Christ, would they have willingly died for a lie?

C. The Prophesies
The Old Testament predicts that the Messiah would be born in Jerusalem, to a young maiden/virgin, ride into Jerusalem on a donkey and suffer an unjust death. Coincidences?

D. Archaeology
Archaeological discoveries have done much to demonstrate the accuracy of many passages of scripture. There’s even an Archaeological Bible which notes the evidence that has been uncovered. For example, for years scholars doubted the existence of Nazareth and believed it to be a fictional name. Then in 2009 archaeologist dug it up. One of the more startling findings concerns the Battle of Jericho, where "the walls came a-tumblin' down." In 1931 John Garstang, concluded: "As to the main fact, then, there remains no doubt: the walls fell outwards so completely, the attackers would be able to clamber up and over the ruins of the city." If an army had stormed the city, the walls would have most likely collapsed inward. As Time Magazine put it, "Score One for the Bible." And that's the point.

Thought for the Day: The "Leap of Faith" may not be such a big leap after all.
Question: Do the evidences cited above strengthen your faith or not effect it at all?
Prayer: Strengthen my faith, O Lord. Add to my faith, knowledge and conviction. Amen.

“I’m not an overly spiritual person,” she said, “but I’ll tell you what - it had to have been an angel!” My friend was trying to get her ailing husband out of their car and then up some stairs. He was very weak. She was trying to assist him and still carry the important papers needed for their appointment. Suddenly a large man was at their side. He got on the other side of her husband and helped him up the stairs and through the door. As her husband caught his breath inside the building, she stepped outside to thank the man and he was gone. She looked both ways and there was no where he could have disappeared to. That’s why she said it must have been an angel. I’ve never had such an experience but I’ve talked to others who have, and who am I to deny the possibility?

As you know angels are prominant in the Bible. The word itself, angelos, means messenger. Angels deliver God’s messages to people, such as to Joseph and Mary. In the Old Testament angels carry out the work of God. “An angel of the Lord went before them and delivered them.” And in the book of Revelation angels worship God with all the company of heaven. The idea of a Guardian Angel is found only once in the Bible. In Matthew 18:10 Jesus says, “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.” Angels are spiritual beings. We don’t become one once we die. They are distinct creatures. Apparently Satan was an angel who rebelled against God.

Well, that’s about all I know about angels. What do you think?

“All day, all night, angels watching over me, My Lord.”

Thought: Is it possible that there is a spiritual world all around us?
Question: Do you believe in angels?
Prayer: Dear God, help me live like one of your angels - carrying the message of your love, doing your work and worshipping you in the heavenly places. Amen.

P.S. According to artists through the years, many angels are apparently chubby.

Something else to look forward to in Heaven - no dieting.

Adam & Eve

Let me start by asking you a few questions about the Bible: Does it matter to you if there was never a real Prodigal Son and that Jesus' parable might simply be that, a story? Or how about the Good Samaritan? Does it matter that the story is factual and historical, or is the truth of the story deeper than that?

To me those parables are true whether they're "true" or not. The same is true for Adam & Eve. I used to try and harmonize them with evolution. Perhaps they're the Missing Link? Some scholars place them in the Upper Paleolithic era. Is that when we became the soul-filled humans we are today? On the other hand maybe Genesis 2 is a parable?

Genesis Chapter 1 is a poem - "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Think of the rhythm of that incredible, divinely inspired masterpiece. Many scholars believe that it had a different author than Genesis Chapter 2, which is a narrative, a story, the story of Adam & Eve. The two chapters use different names for God (Elohim, "God" in Ch. 1, Adonai, "Lord" in Ch. 2). The view common among scholars today is that the Bible gives us two creation stories. It's such a big event - the creation of the world - that one account just couldn't do it justice. Afterall it takes 4 gospels to tell us about the life of Jesus.

The problem with the historical question is it gets us off task. If you believe that Adam & Eve is historical you still have to ask, "What's the point?" And if you believe it's a parable you ask the very same question. So, what's the point?

The point is that you and I were created to walk with God. However, we are prone to wander and rebel. Yet God is always calling us back "Adam, where are you?" God knew. It was Adam who needed to be reminded. It's also a story about personal responsibility and not passing the buck. After The Fall (Adam & Eve's rebellion, eating the forbidden fruit), Eve blames the serpent ("The serpent deceived me!") and Adam blames Eve and God ("It's that woman that You gave me!").

But ultimately we're the responsible ones - responsible to ourselves, to each other and to God. And we're responsible for our own relationship with God. It's up to us. We're Adam and Eve.

How true is that?

Thought for the day: You were created to walk with God.
Question: Are you taking responsibility for that?
Prayer: Thank you, God, that you created us to have fellowship with you. Amen.

Abba

The great religions of the world seek to answer various questions about God and life. Buddhism strives to answer the question of human suffering and how to transcend it (Enlightenment). Islam seeks to answer the question - what does God ask of us? What does it mean to be obedient to God?(the Five Pillars of Islam) At its core Christianity seeks to answer these questions: what is the nature of God and how can one be in relationship with God? That brings us to our first word in this Christian Literacy Project - Abba.

In Jesus’ day Abba was one of the first words that a little child would learn. It’s Aramaic for “Daddy.” It’s also the word Jesus used for God. In fact, it’s accurate to translate the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Daddy who art in heaven.” How would that sound on Sunday morning?

How can we relate to our Creator? Well, it’s a whole lot easier if we think of our God as Jesus did, as Abba. As a warm, tender, loving parent.

Thought for the day: God loves you like a Daddy loves.
Question: How would your prayer life be different if you truly believed that God looks at you the way a loving parent looks at their young child?
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your incredible, unconditional love. Amen.