Few things make people more scared than having to face hard questions about their faith. One of the reasons this is the case is that we are told by the world around us that faith is personal. Thus, when others ask us about our faith or challenge our faith we become flustered because we feel like they are prying into something that is deeply personal. However, Christians need to repent of this thinking; the Gospel of Jesus is not just "my personal truth" - instead we should understand the gospel as public truth - it is truth for all people that implicates the whole world!

It is Jesus, not Christians, who told the whole world to "repent and believe" (Mark 1:15). It is Jesus, not Christians, who calls all people everywhere to "deny themselves and take up their cross" (Luke 9:23). Thus, we should not feel attacked, insulted, or offended when people question Christianity; they are not questioning us they are questioning Him.

Below are five things we should all have in mind when it comes to defending our faith:

1. Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:16 says, "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith." In the Apostle Paul's discussion about the armor of God, faith serves as a shield that "extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." Sometimes when people ask us difficult questions about faith and we don't know the answer, it can cause us to question our own faith. Faith serves as a shield, or defense, in these circumstances. What makes us Christians is not having all the answers, rather what makes us Christians is that by faith we have Jesus as our Lord. Anselm of Canterbury (around 1100AD) said, "I believe that I may understand" and similarly James K.A. Smith (around 2014AD) said, "we don't believe instead of doubting, rather we believe while doubting." 

There are two errors to be made when presented with questions one does not know the answers to 1) saying, "I have faith, therefore I don't need to know the answer" and, 2) completely panicking and have a "faith crisis" because you don't know the answer. Rather, the third and better way is to use the "shield of faith" by saying, "The answer is out there I just don't know it yet" and then, using the resources available to you, search out an answer. Faith is a shield, but the Word is the sword (Eph 6:17). Faith protects us under trial - but we should not stop there! When people ask us questions we don't know the answer to we should interpret it in two ways:

1. God is using the question to call you to learn something new about Him. Or,
2. God put you in the person's life who is asking the question for a reason. Be a servant, posture yourself as a learner, and come alongside them. 

We shouldn't get in the habit of telling people who have legitimate questions to "just have faith like me" - this can be patronizing and dehumanizing. 

We need to be careful of saying, “Just believe,” because what we’re really saying is, “Believe because I say so.” That sounds like a Nietzschean power play. That’s very different from Paul, who reasoned, argued, and proved in the Book of Acts, and from Peter, who called us to give the reason for our hope in 1 Peter 3:15. - Tim Keller

The shield of faith protects us when we don't know the answer, but it does not excuse us from doing the work of seeking out an answer - both for our sake and the sake of those God has placed around us. Our work in becoming better apologists might very well be what the Holy Spirit uses to impart faith into the people around us!

2. Attitude

"Attitude is everything" - every coach, ever. If you really love people, it will come out in your tone and demeanor. Apologetics means to give a defense or an answer, and Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." The people you are reasoning with, whether they are Christians or not, are made in God's image. Treat God's image like you would treat God - with honor, listening well, patience, and genuine interest. Don't listen in order to speak; listen in order to understand. Don't speak in order to be heard; speak in order to let the Holy Spirit speak through you. Yelling facts at people does not lead to repentance; it is God's kindness that leads to repentance (Rom 2:4).

3. Verify and Clarify

The first apologist in the history of the church was Justin the Martyr. His apologetics almost exclusively had to do with clarifying what Christians believe. In the second century, there were three rumors circulating about Christians: 1) Christians are cannibals, 2) Christians are incestuous, and 3) Christians are atheists. These might sound ridiculous to us today, but in the 2nd century Christians were being killed for these misconceptions! Justin wrote to clarify: 1) Christians are not cannibals. Christians celebrate the Lord's Supper by eating the "body" and the "blood" of Jesus - this is a symbolic activity - people aren't really being eaten! 2) Christians are not incestuous. Though a man calls his wife his "sister in Christ" she is not actually his sister! This is a reference to the Christians doctrine that we are adopted by God the Father when we come to faith in Jesus. 3) Christians are not atheists. Just because Christians don't bow down to the "gods" in the Greek temple, does not make them atheists - they worship a God who is not made by human hands, but a God who is Spirit (John 4:24). 

Along with Justin, a major component of apologetics will be verifying and clarifying to non-Christians what it is that Christians actually believe. There are many misconceptions about what Christians think in today's society. The Church's primary task in evangelism and apologetics is to preach the real Gospel and instruct the world with the real doctrines of the Church that Jesus handed to the apostles 2,000 years ago. 

There are no shortcuts here: we cannot refute misconceptions without knowing the Word! Let me be clear: this is work. 

4. Eliminate the Opposing Arguments

While most people think this is step 1 in apologetics, it intentionally follows the prior three. We learn in 1 Corinthians 10:5 that "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God". Likewise, we see Paul in Acts 17:22-31 doing apologetics at the "Areopagus" (a court of philosophers and government officials) by using their own reasoning against them. Learning how to do this is a skill that takes a lot of time. Is it worth it? Absolutely! People need to know Jesus and we need to do whatever we can to eliminate the obstacles in their way - including intellectual barriers! The best thing I have ever read on how to do this was written by Tim Keller and it is titled Deconstructing Defeater Beliefs. Grab a cup of coffee (or two) and dive in!

The journey of becoming better at answering difficult questions is a lifelong process. Don't be discouraged with where you currently are in your abilities, rather, get a vision for how God wants to use you and press into a lifetime of training! We are works in process and "I am sure of this, that "he who began a good work in you is faithful to be completing us until the final day" (Philippians 1:6).

5. Stick With It!

Win the person, not the argument. With boldness, we are called to invest in people for the long haul. The majority of persons that I know who came to faith after the age of 18 did so over the course of months and many, many conversations. If "winning" an argument means "losing" the person, then was the argument really won? Being winsome is, arguably, more valuable than winning when it comes to defending the faith. Be unashamed of the gospel and proclaim it with boldness, but persevere in helping people understand the faith.

Share your life with them; "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Sometimes the "apologetic" people need is to see a Christians who is fully devoted to Jesus and passionately living for Him! Sometimes it will be the foundation of your character that opens them up to listening to "the reason you have for hope" (1 Pet 3:15). 

Every person is different - be at peace with lots of trial and error.

My Prayer for Grace Community Church:

1. That we would have Endurance: we must be learners if we are to be effective in defending the faith. Paul prays this for the church in Colossae, and I also pray it now, "I never cease praying for you...that you may be strengthened with all power, endurance, and patience" (Col 1:9, 11). Let's be learners to the grave!

2. That we would have Boldness: we must be unashamed of the gospel if we are to be effective in defending the faith. The new church prays for boldness in Acts 4:24-31 and I pray the same prayer now - "Lord grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness."