COMMON SENSE APOLOGETICS

Recently, I wrote a BLOG in which I stated everyone is a preacher. This BLOG is similar in that I believe everyone fits in this category, too. Everyone is an apologist. Let’s define our term first: Apologetics; (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of information. Everyone is defending a position, a belief, even unbelief, if that’s what you believe. As Christians we are called upon to explain, if not to defend, our faith. 1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) “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:” Another translation may say it more clearly, 1 Peter 3:15 (HCSB) “but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” So, you, as a Christian are commanded, by scripture to be an apologist.

Now, what type of apologist you are is a choice you must make. There are basically three versions of apologetics that are formally recognized, these are; Classical, Evidential and Presuppositional. Classical is defined as a method of apologetics that begins by first employing various theistic arguments to establish the existence of God. Evidential is then, emphasizing the use of evidence to demonstrate that God exists. The evidence is supposed to be evidence both the believer and nonbeliever share, that is to say one need not presuppose God's existence. Christian philosopher Norman Geisler summarized the difference between classical and evidential apologetics in this way: "The difference between the classical apologists and the evidentialists on the use of historical evidences is that the classical see the need to first establish that this is a theistic universe...The basic argument of the classical apologist is that it makes no sense to speak about the resurrection as an act of God unless, as a logical prerequisite, it is first established that there is a God who can act" (Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics). Finally, Presuppositionalism is a school of Christian apologetics that believes the Christian faith is the only basis for rational thought. It presupposes that the Bible is divine revelation and attempts to expose flaws in other worldviews.

Now, you can study each of these approaches, and be ready to defend the faith. I would encourage you to look at various authors, websites, and BLOGS, of each approach, as all have value. Norman Geisler is a great examples of Classical Apologists. James White may be the most astute proponent of Presuppositionalism. And, for the evidential version there is Dr. William Craig, who may be as gifted as there is in philosophical arguments in apologetics. As a plug for a friend, check out Rob Johnson’s site, http://www.apologetics105.com/, which has tons of useful stuff for apologetics, especially from an evendentialists point of view. I would like to introduce a new branch of apologetics. This is a form, in its infancy, but may be as old as reason itself. I have chosen to give it a name, as to reflect its approach. It will be ‘self-evident’ as to how ‘my’ approach to apologetics is to be manifested. I give you, Common Sense Apologetics.

As a founder and inventor of the name, I will try to lay out, what I feel, is the best approach to apologetics for the common man (Christian man/woman, if you will). Common Sense Apologetics is based on what I believe is missing in our world today, i.e. common sense. I think most people have it, though the argument could be made that it is not be used enough today, and thus, is rusty and not running as smoothly as it should. But with that said, I believe that most Christians can employ the secret weapon of ‘common sense’ in a defense of God, the Bible, and ultimately the Gospel. So, if we are laying down guidelines, rules, and regulations, this is our creed: ‘Defend and Declare God, His Word, and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ’ and this is where it will all lead to but we must start somewhere.

The first argument of ‘Common Sense Apologetics’ will be, what I will call the ‘Nothing-Something’ argument. Now mind you, this is not logic, as with other forms of apologetics, nor use of strong evidence, no this is from the sense that God gave us, thus, common. In my argument, it goes like this. For something to be, it can’t come from nothing. Nothing always produces nothing. Something could produce nothing, but nothing can’t produce something. As apologetics, this is foundational. How can a universe come into existence, with its vastness, complexity, and order, from nothing? Ah, this is where our common sense says, “NO WAY, nothing can’t produce something.” Something has always had to exist, thus there was something, eternally here, thus, it had to be well…, and common sense says, thus God!

Recently I seen a video of Dr. Craig, expounding how philosophically and scientifically for centuries it was presumed that the universe was eternal. In other words, it just keeps self-perpetuating itself, just a random, evolutionary process of matter and energy ever changing. Einstein’s theory of relativity in the early part of the 20th Century put this theory on its head. One naturalistic response to this was the idea of the ‘Big Bang’ and a universe began from a moment, time, matter, energy, explodes onto the scene. The problem with this, common sense would say, what started it. This is where common sense is valuable as an apologetics approach. Something greater creates something less, and a greater thing than the universe would have to be, well, Great! Common sense says, a great thing big and powerful enough to start a universe would have to be a god. Our God, the one in the Bible, fits the bill, common sense dictates that to be so.

If this takes off, as I suspect it won’t, I’ll start universities of higher common sense learning. Common sense will become a movement of the common man. We will employ common sense in, politics, government, education, and other areas of life. Common sense will save our society and culture. Then again, it may be too late to expect common sense to take hold once again. Maybe Paul was lamenting the loss of common sense here, Romans 1:21-25 (HCSB) “For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.”

#apologetics #philosophy #foolishness #christianityproof