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Christian apologetics is one of the most overlooked branches of theology
in the church today.
It is something that is not being taught in
our churches in this day and age. It appears that Christians
have become more interested in experience from an emotional standpoint,
than experience from a cerebral context. Not understanding that
what we feel is based upon what we know.
But what is this thing called apologetics?
Where in scripture are we ever exhorted to engage ourselves in
this so-called branch of theology?
A good and simple definition of Christian
apologetics is - the branch of theology having to do with the
defense of and communication of Bible based Christianity.
The traditional Scripture held to be the “battle
cry” for apologetics is found in 1 Peter 3:15: But sanctify
the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer
to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in
you with meekness and fear: (from The King James Version, Electronic
Database. Copyright (c) 1988, by Biblesoft)
This scripture says we are to “be ready
always to give an answer”. The word “answer” is
translated from the Greek word “apologia” and means
to “make a defense”. Notice also that the scripture
indicates that we are to be ready “always” not some
of the time. Now if you look back at the definition we see the
words, “and communication of”.
That is probably the most important thing
to remember about apologetics. It is the beginning of our witness.
According to 1 Peter 3:15 we are to give this “answer”,
or “defense” with a certain attitude. Peter uses the
words “meekness and fear”. It is an extremely difficult
task in the English language to express what the word translated
meekness means.
It comes from a Greek word, “prautes”
and means to have grace of the soul, primarily expressed to God.
It is not just an outward expression of behavior. For most people,
the term meek, means to be weak. When that is far from the real
meaning of this word.
According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle,
this word means to be in the middle ground of two extremes, getting
angry without reason, and not getting angry at all.
In other words, it means to get angry at the
right time, with the right amount of anger, and for the right
reason. It is a state of heart and mind that demonstrates gentleness
in power. It is found in someone who has balance in strength
and character.
The word, “fear” means to show reverence,
respect, and honor. Like a child does for a father. This honor
has an eye towards God at all times. In future articles, we will
begin with a series on the comparison of Christianity with one
of the strongest and most persuasive of the cults, the Jehovah’s
Witnesses. We will look at their history and doctrine while comparing
it to sound Christian doctrine.
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We will begin a series on one of the most persuasive of
the Christian cults, the Jehovah's Witnesses.
A Christian cult
is any religious group or organization claiming to be Christian
that denies the deity of Christ.
I will stop there because that is usually enough.
The history of the JW's is going to be discussed in the
last of the series. Most JW's don't know their religion's history.
What we want to do is first see the doctrine and find
the truth.
This is what the JW's believe:
Jesus is not God. He is the archangel Michael, a "lesser"
God.
JW's can't worship Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is an impersonal force.
Only 144,000 will go to heaven.
In 1914, Jesus became the invisible ruler of God's kingdom
in heaven, with His visible agency on earth at the Watchtower
Society, headquarters in Brooklyn, NY.
Let's take these one at a time.
Is Jesus God?
The JW's use "The New World Translation" for their
Bible. In John 1:1 their Bible reads:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was a god."
There is a small error in this verse from the New World Translation
when translated from the original Greek writing.
At the end of the verse the word "a" is incorrect.
By putting the letter "a" in front of the Greek word
for God, they have implied that the "Word" is another
god. In English the letter "a" is what we call an indefinite
article.
However, in Greek there is no indefinite article. The
Scripture should read, "the Word was God."
Secondly, we can be very sure that Jesus is no angel:
Heb 1:4-6
4: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath
by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5: For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art
my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to
him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
6: And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the
world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Lastly, Scripture is clear that Jesus is God. God said in Ex
20:3, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Yet
the Bible says in Colossians 1:19,"For God was pleased to
have all his fullness dwell in him [Jesus]," - NIV.
In the next issue we will continue
where we left off with Scripture showing us how God and Jesus
have the same titles and share the same authority and power.
We will go on to expose the rest of the error in doctrine from
the JW's scriptural.
Have you ever wondered why there is evil
in the world, while we have a loving and kind God? Can
God do anything about it? If He can, why is there still evil?
We will look at that in a few weeks.
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