1 Thessalonians 2, 3 and Apologetics

I am not in this post seeking to formulate a total, exhaustive definition of apologetics. I am however, seeking to emphasize what is in my mind a clear part of apologetics that often gets missed, and that is its relation to reality, or in another way, its practice. What I am arguing for is that apologetics is both intellectual and practical and that Paul exhibited an apologetic for ministry by using his own as an example. He put his apologetic in the flesh. He communicated his apologetic through his ministry. You cannot divorce your apologetic from your life! Apologetics is, to borrow a term from Francis Schaeffer, “orthodoxy in the flesh” as much as it is intellectual.

It has been said Paul is not giving an apologetic (defense) of his ministry to the church at Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 2 and 3. I think that is true, I agree that he was not giving an apologetic for his ministry, but he was giving an apologetic nonetheless, an apologetic of Christian ministry in the flesh (in practice). Let me explain. Paul is not giving a defense of what he did as if he did something wrong, came under attack for it, and had to defend himself, but he is presenting an apologetic of how he did his ministry and hence how anyone else should do it! Thus Paul presents an apologetic of ministry in 1 Thessalonians 2 and 3 by giving example of his own ministry. This example of his ministry is a defense (or apologetic) of the proper manner by which ministry should be done. Not a “defense” in the manner of being on the defensive or under attack, not “defense” in the sense of justifying ones actions or words, but a “defense” in the sense of proving the right and proper manner by which something should be done or understood, in this case, ministry.

Apologetics is often described or discussed in relation to its being a "defense." This is certainly true, and this is certainly its primary purpose. However, in my honest opinion, for apologetics to be understood as merely a "defense" is to rob it of any effectiveness by keeping it merely academic or intellectual. Let me explain. It is important for one to be ready and able to give a defense of ones worldview, especially in the realm of Christianity because the Christian worldview proclaims itself to be total truth, total reality, or true truth. For such a profound and staggering claim then, those who hold to it must be able to defend its truth to all who would ask. But being able to defend something intellectually is not nearly the same as being able to live accordingly to it. You see, for something to be "true" it must correspond to reality, because reality reflects truth. Christianity as a worldview certainly corresponds to reality, and this is why it becomes tantamount in importance for believers to defend it intellectually, but also to practice their apologetic in the everyday rhythm of life! To intellectually understand and defend the credibility of the Christian worldview is one thing, but then to live another is no apologetic whatsoever. The way you live your life is an apologetic. The way you do ministry is an apologetic. The way you interact with people is an apologetic. The way Paul said he does his ministry is an apologetic. The way you live your life exhibits and effectively communicates a defense of your faith.

I do not think we can rip the practical part out of apologetics, because then what is the worth of even having an apologetic? Isn’t the nature or purpose of an apologetic to defend a position? But why defend that position if it is not even applicable to the reality of life! One cannot divorce from ones apologetic theory its day to day practice. So while Paul may not have been explicitly defending his ministry to the church of Thessalonica, he is certainly in my mind giving an apologetic for how ministry should be done by giving example of how he does ministry! In other words, his apologetic is being put into the flesh. Apologetics must be visible and observable. Apologetics must correspond to reality.

Apologetics can be understood as an academic study that teaches students to effectively defend the credibility of Christianity, but I ask you what is the value of such a system if it at the same time it does not teach you how to “live in the flesh” your apologetic? What value is it to know intellectually a worldview, if you cannot or do not think you must communicate it to the whole world through words and lifestyle? One's apologetic then must incorporate the intellectual and the practical. Any other apologetic might as well be thrown out the window or thrown into the trash receptacle. !Apologetics then is as much concerned with an academic, scholastic, intellectual defense of a system as it with the everyday fleshing out of it in life.

In conclusion, let me summarize with these two points. First, Paul is giving an apologetic. Not a defensive apologetic in that he thinks he has to justify to the Thessalonian church how he does ministry, but an apologetic in that he has provided a defense for how to do ministry. One is a noun, the other is a verb. One is reactionary, the other is setting the standard. Secondly, I am saying Paul has provided an apologetic that is life encompassing. It is more than intellectual, scholastic, or academic. The way Paul did his ministry exhibited and effectively communicated an apologetic of the proper mode of ministry. Apologetics then is intellectual and practical. Apologetics is much more than an intellectual defensive system that goes up every time one feels his or her worldview is under attack, it is a manner of life. It is incorporated into your lifestyle.

I hope this post has been helpful whether you agree or not.

Escape From Reason

I read Francis Schaeffer's book, "Escape From Reason" yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed. I would recommend that you also read this book. It is short and easy to read (I read it in just over an hour). Here are some quotes from it to whet your appetite some.

"It is an important principle to remember, in the contemporary interest in communication and in language study, that the biblical presentation is that, though we do not have exhaustive truth, we have from the Bible what I term 'true truth.' In this way we know true truth about God, true truth about man and something truly about nature. Thus on the basis of the Scriptures, while we do not have exhaustive knowledge, we have true and unified knowledge."

This is an important point that Schaeffer makes because humanity at large is seeking "true and unified knowledge" apart from God. Albeit, the modern trend of "postmodernism" posits the impossibility of ever having "true and unified knowledge," but it has this belief due to humanity's failure over the centuries to establish a unified knowledge of the world. Thus in despair, post-modernity has thrown up its arms in disgust and cried it is not possible to have any "unified knowledge."

Scripture of course teaches the exact opposite. We can have a "true and unified knowledge" because God's word reveals God as the supernatural, infinite, being who is both heavenly (supernatural) and personal, who has given us knowledge concerning Himself and of men and nature. Thus humanity can have "true and unified knowledge" because God as the Creator has spoken and given truth on his earth and in His Scriptures, and because this truth speaks to the supernatural and the natural. There can be no split between what is rational truth (viewed as objective, and fact) and faith (often viewed as private, subjective, relative) because they both are from God and revelation of true truth. God's revelation is total reality, it is total truth or as Schaeffer says, "true truth."

One more quote from Francis Schaeffer, "We cannot deal with people like human beings, we cannot deal with them on the high level of true humanity, unless we really know their origin - who they are. God tells mans who he is. God tells us that He created man in His image. So man is something wonderful....Why is he so wonderful and yet so flawed? Who is man? Who am I? Why can man do these things that make man so unique, and yet why is man so horrible? Why is it? The Bible says that you are wonderful because you are made in the image of God, but that you are flawed because, at a space-time point of history, man fell."

Who wants reformed criminals anyways?

Over at the Musclehead Revolution, Kevin McCullough has posted a link to a NY Times article decrying government funding of a Christian criminal reform program.

Kevin McCullough, after asking a few questions to those who oppose the criminal reform program says, "Evidently the answer to these questions is - YES. We would prefer for society to become a much more dangerous place than to admit - that God's way just MIGHT straighten out a few bad apples."

At the heart of this issue is one's wordlview. Either these criminals need to "get right" with their Creator who made them, by repentance of their sin, or these criminals need to deny their Creator and any supposed responsibility to listen and follow him, and "get right" with their autonomy as an individual, with having no moral responsbility, and only follow their animal like instincts...since after all, they are no different or better than those from which they have evolved...

It should be clear which worldview I support! The Truth of the Bible is truth with a capital "T." It is total reality. It is total Truth.

Gender issues

In case you haven't heard about this I thought I would post some thoughts about it. Transgender activists brought a proposal to the NYC health department that would have allowed them to change their gender on their birth certificate without a sex change operation. Thankfully, this proposal was rejected...so it is back to the drawing board for the GLBT association. However, read carefully why it was rejected and your rejoicings for its denial will soon end. It was not denied because it is contrary to common sense, or because it is contrary to human nature itself, or because it is plain wrong, but because of "certain societal ramifications."

We live in a society that has rejected any platform from which we can judge right and wrong. We live in a society where truth is thought of as relative, and instead of moral absolutes like "right and wrong," "sin and righteousness," we are confronted with a philosophy of "if it feels good, do it" and that is all that matters.

Well, lets follow this thinking through. If it feels good for someone to commit pedophilia, does that make it OK? If it feels good for someone to rape a women and then stab her to death, does that make it OK? If it felt good for Hitler to wipe out the Jews, did that make it OK? In other words, what feels good to one person may not feel good to another person, so who is right?

The fact of the matter is, it really doesn't matter how you feel or what might seem right to you, because after all what makes your feelings or thoughts better than anyone else? What matters is TRUTH, and if what you "feel" goes contrary to what is truth or reality, then don't follow through with what you feel. What matters is if as Scripture says, God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it, and that God made us in His image, then that means we are accountable to live to the standard for which he created us.

The truth is, God created man and woman. God wants women, who are women because of certain physical anatomy, to be women! God wants men, who are men because of certain physical anatomy, to be men! Is that really such a radical idea! Is that really so terrible! I think not. What is terrible and indeed, quite sad, are those who people who are so convinced they are not made in the image of God and are merely the sum of their actions and feelings, feel they must change their sex to be happy and free!

This book you MUST read

As you may have noticed or even heard me say, I am currently reading Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity. This is a book you absolutely must read and should have readily accessible on your home book shelf. Albert Mohler says the same thing.

For those who were at the bible study Wednesday night you will remember me making a point on history, evangelism and our worldview beginning in Genesis 1:1. Well just this morning I was reading from "Total Truth" and Pearcey hit the nail on the head with this paragraph, "The Christian message does not begin with "accept Christ as your Savior"; it begins with "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The Bible teaches that God is the sole source of the entire created order. No other gods compete with Him; no natural forces exist on their own; nothing receives its nature or existence from antoher source. Thus His word, or laws, or creation ordinances give the world its order and structure. God's creative word is the source of the laws of physical nature, which we study in the natural sciences. It is also the source of the laws of human nature - the principles of morality (ethics), of justice (politics), of creative enterprises (economics), of aesthetics (the arts), and even of clear thinking (logic). That's why Psalm 119:01 says, "all things are your servants." There is no philosophically or spiritually neutral subject matter (Pearcey, Total Truth, 45).

Humble Beginning...

While most of the world will take little notice, if any at all, to this new blog that has entered its realm, it is nevertheless a ground breaking event for me. I am quite honestly excited about it and look forward to the future there might be in it, however bleak or bright it may be!

One may be wondering why I have chosen the title "Phroneo." This is actually a transliteration of a Koine Greek verb that is defined by BAGD in the following manner: "to have an opinion with regard to something, to give careful consideration to something, or to develop an attitude based on careful thought." That is me in a nutshell. I like to think and give careful thought to anything and everything, as well I should, because life without thought is colorless and boring.

In an age rich with intellectual atrophy, this blog will be a call to myself and whomever might read it to give careful consideration to ones worldview, ones "weltanschauung." Everyone has one of these, whether they are aware of it or not, and everyone acts in accordance with it, each and every moment of the day.

So go ahead, go out there and start using the muscle in your head and start giving careful thought to anything and everything. Don't just go through the motions and accept things the way they are. Think! Exercise your brain!