Why Is This Important?

The church today faces challenges from every imaginable front: the ancient concepts of Gnosticism plague us, moral absolutes are denied, God is mocked, truth is falling in the streets. In the midst of this Christ has required that you “Let our light shine before men in such as way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (NASB, Matt. 5:16)

In order to do this, the Church must be Educated, they must not hesitate to Engage the Culture, and Evangelism must once again be a primary concern of the Body of Christ. This task can not be done by solitary individuals or even by one large organization.

Background

The Apostle Paul, key pillar of the early church, reasoned with Jews and Gentiles. Peter, gave an eloquent call to give an answer. John’s Gospel is a call to faith supported by evidence. Aristides was an apologist of the early second century. Justin Martyr was the greatest apologist of the second century and gives his life for the faith. Athenagoras addressed Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Commodus when Christians were being publically persecuted. Irenaeus challenged various heresies – primarily Gnosticism. It was Tertullilan in his writing of “Apology” that said “The blood of the Christians is the seed [of the Church]” and who first used the phrase “Trinitas” (Trinity). It was not until the full Deity of Jesus was attacked in the Arian controversy that Athanasius and the ancient church stood up to articulate and defend the orthodox doctrine.

Many others replied to the challenges in their day: the great churchman, Augustine, challenged the pagan philosophy of his day; Boethius; Anselm; Thomas Aquinas was responding to Islam and other influences in his time; Savonarola; John Calvin; William Paley; Blaise Pascal; John Locke; James Orr; Bernard Ramm.

All these men were two things - they were men of the church, and they were apologists. It is important to note that apologetics is not a new thing. It is as old as the church (and even older). Apologetics may have been put aside or even entirely forgotten in the modern era, but apologetics is an ancient trust given by God.

There is no less need to proclaim and defend the truth of the Gospel today! The resurrection of Jesus, biblical authority, moral absolutes, the existence of God, and the very framework of truth are being attacked on every front.

Who

The Church is God’s chosen instrument for change in this dark and lost world. It is through the imperfect church body that God’s plan of redemptive history is being carried out. We should not expect a great move of God to happen in this age without the intimate involvement of the body of Christ.

Furthermore, apologetics, theology, and sound thinking are essential for you to grow in your personal relationship with Christ; to develop good discipleship practices; to impact church growth; make evangelism effective; change the cultural landscape, and pave the way for revival. The abandonment of intellectual pursuits from Christians has left our institutes of higher learning and churches overrun with unbiblical and pagan ideas. These ideas have fully infiltrated society. To counter this trend, Christians need to repent from their intellectual sloppiness and turn to the God who celebrates the life of the mind.

It is time for champions of the cause to step forward. It is time for a movement within the church to “proclaim and defend.” You see that the new call is the same as the old call - Educate, Engage, Evangelize. The new answer is the same as the old answer - The Church is God’s chosen instrument for change in this dark and lost world. It is through the imperfect church body that God’s plan of redemptive history is being carried out. We should not expect a great move of God to happen in this age without the intimate involvement of the body of Christ.

The abandonment of intellectual pursuits from Christians has left our institutes of higher learning and churches overrun with unbiblical and pagan ideas. These ideas have fully infiltrated society. To counter this trend, Christians need to repent from their intellectual sloppiness and turn to the God who celebrates the life of the mind.

Method

How can this be done? First, consider this question:

Would you rather have one hundred thousand dollars today, or a penny doubled each day for 30 days? If you doubled the penny for just one month you would end up with $10,368,709.12! First, this illustrates not to underestimate small beginnings. Second, exponential growth is the key to numeric impact.

It is not enough that individuals are trained in apologetics, the Christian worldview, and prepared for evangelism. That is the power of one. But imagine a movement where inspired and trained individuals return to their local churches and inspire and train others. Those churches become catalysts for change in their communities. In turn many more are reached and trained to reach more. Their churches continue to teach and pass the vision on so that true revival might take place.

Prepare yourself to GO to your community, your church,and have EXPONENTIAL IMPACT.

Models

As previously mentioned, apologetics is not a fad, but a command from God in Scripture. While in the last two hundred years apologetics became almost unknown and relegated to obscure texts and brilliant minds, the last thirty has seen a resurgence of the need for the rigorous application of the mind to the Christian life, and a thoughtful approach to evangelism and theology. Many great academics and teachers have come to the forefront of the Christian dialogue and raised profound awareness of aberrant theologies, the dangers of isolation, and the plague of an unthinking Christian psyche. Great strides have been made to put the reasoned defense of our faith into the hearts and minds of many Christians.

Steps have been made in engaging the academic arena previously so unpopulated by sacred minds. A general awareness is forming within evangelical society of a number of outspoken and articulate defenders of the Christian faith who are sometimes sought out for instruction during tumultuous times. While a large portion of the evangelical church is blindly following after the false promises of postmodern thought, a small, but ever increasing number are learning how to understand the false philosophies and combat them. Youth programs focusing on world view comprehension are being developed, counter cult and discernment ministries are having an impact, speakers of great quality are available, and several institutions of Christian higher learning (including Southern Evangelical Seminary) are developing the Christian mind to impact Christianity and the world.

However, apologetics today tends to be “event driven.” Due to the lack of exposure in the Christian community apologetics teaching tends to be carried out by well trained speakers to a one time audience. This is a good starting point and needs to continue. It is not enough. Lasting and widespread change always demands a differnt model. Several examples may help illustrate. During an election year many leaders come forward to espouse their particular “platform.” Among them may be some very articulate voices. Some have a better grasp than others on the complex social and political issues. However, in order for any particular candidate to have any chance at being elected, they must have unique qualities that set them apart in the eyes of the populace. Perhaps they have demonstrated leadership, or the ability to communicate, or firm understanding of policies. (One hopes that character and truth are also evident, though unfortunately this is not always the case.)

It is not enough. The policy expert does not always win, the most articulate often fall sadly short, and the unique leader does not automatically win. Why? Simply understood - votes. The real work happens at the “grass roots” level, in a vibrant, organized, active body of “believers” who carry out the day to day actions of the candidate. If this dynamic group of helpers is forgotten at the top levels of the campaign, failure can be the only result. True enough, it is the duty and privilege of the candidate to motivate by their vision, leadership, and rhetoric, but a leader without a group of local representative who organizes, motivates, and acts at the foundational level is doomed before they have started.

Another example - Long before the modern democratic republic was formed, another people were called by a vision, by words, and by leadership. Certain apostles of this vision proclaimed it throughout the world, demonstrated its unique truth, and modeled its ultimate ends. It was not enough. In a certain sense, even the Incarnate Word Himself was not enough (John 16:7). In His embodied form He could not be everywhere for everyone. He would send Another. By some mysterious means the Holy Spirit would take the mantel of mustering the “grass roots.” His instruments: the written Word of God and the Church. This church is be made up of fallible, finite, and confused humanity - an imperfect army commissioned for a perfect plan. The mystery is how something so broken could be used for such a critical mission. But it has been, is, and will continue to be used as a vessel of the Holy Spirit to a broken world. Often the Church even ministers to the Church as a vessel of love and rebuke to itself.

Made up of true believers in Christ, the Church is a living, functioning, interacting unit. Each part is made unique, so that without each part the whole can not function. Many gifts, one Church. The Apostles had a mission: articulating a blessed and true message, distributing to the masses the unique evidence of having lived a life with Christ. Then they appointed elders in the Church who taught and maintained order, promoted doctrinal purity, and exhorted the flock when the fleeting times with the apostles were ended. The Twelve discipled the disciples. These disciples discipled more. The Church was made to function like this. Having been taught initially from the outside, they grew from the inside as they interacted, corrected, confirmed, blended, gave, and received. This is a strange model indeed to our corporate mind set, but it is the one mysteriously chosen by God to take a perfect message to a fallen world via an imperfect people through the Spirit of God.

As apologists, we would do well to take note. There is nothing wrong with para-church organizations. In many ways they are providing a corrective and supporting role to the Church. Neither can the University be neglected. As in politics, the messages from institutions of higher learning filter from the top to the masses and are uncannily absorbed. In particular, Christians teachers and preachers must be trained well and learn to engage the ideas at the academic level. Futhermore, their should be more, not less, conferences, lectures, and training sessions for apologetists, evangelists, and worldview thinkers.

But let us not forget the lesson from politics and early Christianity. Without intentionally energizing the local Church, the scriptural value of the Christian mind will, at worst, be ignored, and, at best, reach the ears of only a few. The pulse of apologetics as ascertained in Scripture must be better integrated into the Church. It must be pondered, taught, and exhorted at the level of the local body of believers. This has been done in isolated churches and has been promoted in sevaral books (see Love Your God with all Your Mind - J.P. Moreland and Is Your Church Ready? - Zacharias and Geisler), but in recent history this has not been the focus of apologetics integration into evangelical circles. Many excellent books have now been written, many top quality speakers are being heard, seminars and workshops are available to earnest churches. The rationality of faith is being articulately proclaimed, and the defense of The Truth is enhancing the Christian dialogue. But it is, by and large, being brought to the Church from without (by those in the church at large, but not locally). The fostering of the Christian mind is not yet seminal within the local church.

What can be done?

Strategy

First, continue advancing in the course that has previously been set. Penetrate as deeply as possible the academic sphere (cf www.RatioChristi.org). Send scholars to shape ideas from their point of origin. Do not leave the molding of culture to those who can not understand the biblical worldview. Develop Christian institutions with a focus on apologetics and evangelism. Build and foster the organizations that work diligently to promote discernment, wisdom, and evangelism to an ill equipped church. Promote the articulate defenders of the faith and send them into the world. More, not less, effort, dedication, and finance are needed in these critical areas.

Second, understand that the Church is God’s agent of change in the world and within the church itself. Aiding and lifting up the Church from without will be necessary. The critical component of apologetics that has been overlooked and undervalued can be spurred to life from articulate and clear teachers. Primarily, though, change must come from within. The dynamics and continuity of sustained results happen as a biblical ideal takes root at the local level.

Consider for a moment the recent history of several values in the church. How many youth pastors were ministering in local churches just thirty years ago? Twenty years ago, were there many small group ministries formulated from within local churches? Similarly, how many churches, other than very large ones, had worship pastors, or had family life counselors, just a short time ago? There has been a noticeable change in these areas in recent years. The church has learned to value the importance of young people, not just as a future generation, but as presently integral to the body of Christ. The fundamental building block of the family has been recognized and fostered, and the importance of intimacy, sharing one another’s burdens, and mutual support has been accepted by many as a biblical value.

Why did this happen? Because in each instance a small band of brave visionaries saw the scriptural mandate, took action, and articulated the need to the masses. Vision - communication - leadership. It was not enough. The vibrant ministries to families, youth, and small groups within churches today did not result from well known leaders and organizations speaking and teaching in every local church. These organizations and individuals championed the cause, promoted, and provided resources. Yet, the impact, came from the typical church goer "buying into" the cause. In Walnut Creek, California, in Manchester, New Hampshire, in Lumberton, North Carolina someone caught the vision that was passed to them and they believed it was important enough not to keep it to themselves. They talked to their pastor, they communicated to their friends, and they formed a ministry within their church. James Dobson did not counsel every broken family. But, someone inspired by him called for lay counselors from the congregation and larger churches hired family life pastors. Only as the biblical value took hold from within could deep rooted and widespread growth be sustained. Two things happened: one, the people’s needs were met; two, the visionary ministries gained even more far reaching influence. Apologetics, worldview, and evangelism ministries need to focus on this type of symbiotic relationship.

Third, encourage scholars, lecturers, and orgnaizations to establish and implement a clear goal of planting within the local church ministries that equip people to defend the faith, engage the culture at large, and bring attention to evangelism. An itinerate apologist should never leave a church without having planted a seed that will grow and flourish over time. A visiting professor should not leave a venue without encouraging a small band of disciples to take up the cause at the university. This involves an element of trust as a poorly equipped team can sometimes do more harm than good. In the end, however, the trust is not in the team left behind, but in the Holy Spirit who works. Paul trained Timothy then said, “Go.” Once the vision is cast, the disciples must be sent out. God is able to do with His body as He sees fit.

Fourth, a group should not be left without the appropriate resources to find training, encouragement, support, and counsel. Tools can be developed that can give an apologetics/evangelism cell group a jump start on training, planning, and implementation. Resources can be made available for those entering this world for the first time, and who are seeking direction. Contacts, a support network, and regional study centers can be established for churches and groups. Specifically, material should be developed that gives someone with an interest and gift in apologetics the guidance necessary to integrate an apologetics/evangelism ministry within their existing church.

Fifth, as many training resources are already available, it becomes apparent that one of the major gaps is in collaboration and communication within the apologetics world. Often, new resources do not need to be developed, but existing organizations, materials and curriculums need to be accessible from a centralized location that cell groups can go to with the knowledge that this portal to apologetics and evangelism has the relevant resources and ministry connections to start an effective local ministry.

An "Apologetics Chamber of Commerce" will be provided where where centralized collaboration and support among apologetic/evangelism organizations and ministries can occur. With the varied perspectives and goals of the body of Christ, it is necessary to provide a venue where common goals can be supported, but where differing emphases will not be hindered.

Basics of Implementation

Integration of apologetics, worldview training, and grace filled evangelism is the goal. Realizing that many great organizations and much valuable material has already been developed in these areas, the concern is not to “reinvent the wheel.” 3e Impact proposes to provide a framework that benefits existing apologetic, worldview, and evangelism efforts through collaboration and a simple strategy of planting within local church bodies a growing Christian mind. Several practical steps are involved.

First, 3e Impact is seeking partnerships with other organizations (called 3e Affiliates) to endorse the common goal of planting ministries in local churches. Affiliate members will commit to help plant local spokes-people, cell groups, lay leaders, and pastors in variious ways that "fit" both the local body and the partner organization. the Affiliates will provide discounts on resources, free and discounted passes, member only materials, subscriptions, and other benefits as appropriate. The Body of Christ should be aided in “taking ownership” of apologetics and evangelism principles. The mutual support and promotion will also help strengthen the individual ministries, as apologetics and evangelism groups become more widespread locally.

Second, centralized resources for churches seeking a start in this arena will be provided through the Resource Center of 3e Impact (www.ApologeticsDirectory.com). This will enable easier access to resources and enable local groups to bypass lengthy searches for appropriate research, material, and connections. A searchable database of events, schedules, and area ministries is being compiled for on-line access in order to foster collaboration, sharing, and support within various parts of the body of Christ.

Third, 3e Impact's main focus will be on the practical aspects of starting and aiding local ministries in churches and communities. Direct support is offered to members, and training will be made available for those needing assistance. Curriculums and teaching aids will provided. Many videos, audio files, and other multi-media will be accessible by members.

Fourth, limited use of the 3e Impact branding will be allowed for member churches and organizations if so desired. This will enable them to have graphic and media content available to help promote and jump start a campaign in their churches. Other vision casting, planning, and administrative tools are provided to assist in the implementation of local ministry.

Conclusion

Considering the importance God has placed on the Body of Christ – His church – we can do no less. Please prayerfully consider if you, your organization, or your ministry can partner together with other like minded members of His Body to “change the world for Him, as we are being changed by Him.”

To God be the glory, His will be done.