Christian Apologetics

This website holds a number of articles on apologetics. The name means 'argumentative defence', and so Christian Apologetics is a reasoned, logical defence of the Christian faith. Using the Bible, logical reasoning, philosophy, knowledge and human experience, it attempts to justify the mainstream Christian view on the big questions of life. For instance:

  • Does God exist? If so, is He knowable and personal?
  • How did the universe come into existence?
  • Who are we? Where did we come from?
  • Does life have a purpose? If so, what is it?
  • Does absolute truth exist? If so, where do we find it?
  • Why all the suffering? Is there hope despite it?
  • What happens after death?
  • Where do ethics and morality come from?
  • Is life as we know it coming to an end?
  • Who is Jesus Christ?

A viewpoint on these issues leads to what is called a 'worldview'. Whatever worldview we hold, it must be consistent, coherent and comprehensive. It should, for example, give a coherent explanation for:

  • the existence and order of the universe
  • human rationality and intelligence
  • moral conciousness
  • religious experience

In general, a Christian worldview would answer the above questions as follows:

  • God exists, and is knowable and personal.
  • All things, seen and unseen, from atoms to stars, were created by God.
  • We are created beings; created by, and in the image of God.
  • The main purpose in life is to know the Fatherhood of God and His Son Jesus Christ.
  • Absolute truth exists and is to be found in the person and teachings of Jesus Christ.
  • Suffering is a result of man's continuous rebellion against God. A Christian worldview gives hope through suffering.
  • After death we await judgement for things done in this life. A believer in Christ is justified in the sight of God and so is judged worthy of passing into eternal life.
  • As created beings we all have an in-built conscience, reflecting the ethics and morality of our Creator. But we can choose to ignore our conscience.
  • The current age is rapidly coming to an end, and will terminate at the Second Coming of Christ .
  • Jesus Christ was indwelt by the fullness of God. He claimed to be God and so is God. He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit in a Holy Trinity (see also Christian Creeds).

Apologetics gives the reasoning behind these and similar statements. Of course, many issues in life are not black and white and need to be debated. For instance, is there a Christian worldview on Genetic Engineering or Euthanasia? Are we sometimes justifed in being politically incorrect in the search for truth? What are the ethics of a particular situation? Whatever the issue, the Christian relies upon the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the inspired word of God (the Bible) to lead him or her into the truth. As fallible beings, we will never know the complete truth on many issues, but we can be guided by God's Spirit in the right direction. As St. Paul says:

'... now I know in part, but then (in the resurrection) I will know fully ...' (1 Cor 13.12)

Bible quotations are from the New American Standard Bible