An apologist is one who defends the faith and refutes attacks upon it. Is the theme a prominant one in the New Testament church? The creeds were certainly layed down in response to false doctrine being taught in the church, but not because of attacks being made from outside of the church. The Apostle Paul commands Timothy and Titus to rebuke false doctrine and uphold good doctrine, and always be ready to give an answer. But again, that was in the context of within the church.

Satan will always be devising new schemes to attack, sometimes from within and sometimes from without. The goal of the church should be to confront those attacks which threaten the spiritual maturity of the believers. Somewhere along the line Christians have gained the reputation of being intolerant and judgemental. The Apostle Paul only judges those sins and heresies which are inside the church. When he does refer to the error of the world it is in reference to the former way of life of the believers; again, it is serving the purpose of strengthening the church’s faith in the one who has already saved them from the world.

Francis Schaeffer portrays much of modern apologetics as spitballs launched from the fortress of orthodoxy. This is an image that we all contribute to cultivating when we elevate the defense of right doctrine above the uncomfortable role of being Christ to our neighbor. Ephesians 4:1-16 lays out the proper approach to spiritual maturity as it relates both to ‘right doctrine’ and the workings out of love within the body.

If all that is revealed, both in nature and in scripture, is a procession of Christ (though nature, of course has been corrupted since sin) according to John 1, then all truth and essential created beauty can be said to be an expression of Christ. For he said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” and also “God is Love.” This word, or ‘communication’ of God will always have very physical implications, and vise versa; all physical interaction can be seen as an image of spiritual truth.

Therefore, to study, teach or act upon truth in any of its forms, be it spiritual or physical, for any reason other than to strengthen and preserve the relationship between Christ and his creation and between those of us who are in that creation, is vain and perverted.

part 1

God is continually hounding us to move from that familiar country of selfishness toward the state of generosity whose capital is contentment.

— Neil Atkinson

And we all nod our heads in agreement at such a perceptive observation. So…anyone in debt?

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I was recently asked by a friend what I thought college did for the identity of the students. The university likes to tell us that college is where we’ll ‘find ourselves.’ I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the question, and appreciate even more the opportunity to think on it myself!

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