Apologetics

So, in that last post, I mentioned that we were in Colorado.  Well, Mom and Dad are back in Michigan now, but I'm still in CO.  In fact, I'll be here for quite some time.  See, I just moved to Denver to go to Denver Seminary (no, I'm NOT going to be a pastor).  I'll be getting a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics and Ethics.  

What is apologetics, you ask?  Good question.  The word comes from the Greek word "apologia", which generally referred to a defense given in court.  Thus, apologetics is giving a well-reasoned defense of something.  

Now, why on earth am I studying Christian apologetics?  Because I think it's vital to Christianity.  I feel that it's absolutely essential to know what I believe and why.  I believe that one of the biggest problems in the Christian church today is the lack of education.  Granted, some churches do a phenomenal job of teaching.  In others, however, it seems the actual education is a little sparse.  Christians are supposed to "go into all the world and preach the good news" (Mark 16:15), but how can we do that if we hardly know what the good news is, or why it's so important for others to hear it?  If people don't know exactly what Christianity is, what it teaches, and why it's true, then they have no reason to try to live according to it, to teach others about it, or even to believe in it at all.  Then, when they're faced with questions, attacks, doubts, or whatever, they have nothing to fall back on.  Basically, a lack of education can produce a very weak faith.  And I don't just mean education about Christianity; I think we should be educated on every worldview.  We should know the different viewpoints and their strengths and weaknesses.  Then we'll be able to understand where others are coming from, we'll be able to see which worldview is true, and we'll be able to communicate effectively.

Also, we Christians are instructed to be apologists.  The verse of Christian apologetics is typically 1 Peter 3:15-16, which states, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer (apologia) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 

Therefore, I am going to school to be trained as an apologist: to know how to defend Christianity and teach others why it is rational.  And yes, I can get a job in this.  There are numerous apologetics organizations.  For example, there's Ratio Christi, which places apologetics clubs at universities, and there are many others.  I don't really know exactly what I plan on doing with my degree, but I will be an apologist of some sort, whether I have an official job as one or not.  Wherever I go, and whatever I do, I am a Christian, so that means I always represent Christ.  I am an ambassador for him ("We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:20).  For more on what it means to be an ambassador, go here: http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9585 and here: http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5188.

...and that is why you won't be seeing me in the quilt shop anymore (or not for a while), and I probably won't be posting on here as much, either ... it's been fun :)  (and I'll still be posting some, I'm sure)