Often, when we come to the area of “apologetics” (or a defense of our faith), the teaching and writing rapidly rises into what we might call “academic apologetics” where the words grow larger and stranger to the common ear and mind. That material is of great value, but it may not always communicate. And if something doesn’t communicate, then the communication was pretty much useless.
In ‘the Engagement Project’, we are calling the Body of Christ to engage their neighbors, to build deep relationships with them, praying that God will open their hearts and minds to hear the truth of God. And if God should do so and Christian Joe and Suzy can’t understand our academic teachings on apologetics, and therefore not be able to communicate them, then, for sure, their widow neighbor across the street, Mrs. Smith, won't hear much from Joe and Suzy. But if they did try to share the academic apologetic, it may not communicate. And if it doesn't communicate...
So, we are shooting for what we will call “neighborly apologetics”. This will be the “poor man’s apologetic” so to speak…the kind of approach and understanding that would communicate, not in the academic classroom, but in our living room…the front porch…the back yard…as we engage with our neighbors through that significant relationship.
And, we are going to take the approach that I believe is implied in the Scriptures: every believer has a responsibility to prepare himself for this defense. In 1 Peter 3:15 we read this:
“…but in your hearts honor Christ as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
This was written to every believer, not just the cleric with a PhD in Apologetics, and the “preparation” called for is linked with several things:
It is also quite obvious that the thrust of this passage requires a significant relationship. No one will recognize the “hope” in your life, and then feel comfortable to ask you about it, if they are not observing your life in its difficult circumstances and engaged with you in a relationship that is deep enough to allow for such conversation.
So, we are going to be calling for the Body of Christ to “engage” their neighbors in a deep relationship and “prepare” themselves to be able to give an “apologetic” when asked. That preparation calls us to roll up our sleeves and learn the basic biblical worldview responses for the major areas in which people have questions. This, I pray, will become a family project in which parents and children are learning together and maybe even role-playing at the dinner table where dad asks his son, "Johnny, if Mrs. Smith says to you, 'I don't know how you can believe in a God that would allow my husband to die such a horrible death from cancer', how would you respond?"
Several years ago, I did a survey of Truth Project leaders and asked them to give me the top three things that people have raised as arguments against Christian beliefs. I also asked them to include the things that they have wrestled with in their faith. I found that all of those responses sorted themselves into twelve categories. Here they are:
To help us prepare ourselves and our families to “honor Christ as holy” and speak clearly with our neighbors, we will try to give a summation for each of these areas as well as more detailed explanations for the thornier issues and questions.
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