Apologetics

So for the last week we were taught on apologetics, the defending of our faith and what we know to be true. My whole perspective on the “How” of defending my faith has changed.

I always thought that all you had to do is show them some proof for why their view is wrong and a few points why my faith is right… However it is clear that that is no way to show someone truth.

To show someone truth you have to first understand what they believe, specifically what worldview they hold. Theistic worldview, naturalism worldview, and pantheistic worldview. We have to start at the basics. Do they believe in a god, believe in no god, or do they believe that god is all and all is god?

Once we have this knowledge we can begin to show people truth. The next step is to then prove the existence of a God. We can do this by many means; one of the most common ways is to do it by proving it with creation. We can show that there must have been a beginning of the earth so there must be a purpose, so there must be a god.

Once we get people to the theistic worldview we can truly make a case for Christianity. We show the validity of the Bible, its contents, and Jesus.

Apologetics is something that we are all called to do and should all strive for.

1Peter 3:15

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence

Discipleship and Church

The book 1Timothy is a book that talks about the qualifications of a church, specifically the leaders in the church.

What hit me the most about this is with regard to prayer. In chapter 2 Paul instructs Timothy and the church in what they are to be praying about, and how to pray for them. Paul says that we should pray for ALL men, specifically kings in authority. This couldn’t be more vital for today. With elections coming later this year and the tension between the United States and Muslims, this kind of prayer is needed. We are to pray for all people; so I ask you, when was the last time you prayed for the members of ISIS?

When is the last time you prayed about the fallen people of this world desiring that they would come to know Christ’s love towards them?

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth- 1 Timothy 2:3-4 

The second thing that I enjoyed learning about is the leaders of the church. Paul goes in detail the kind of people that should be overseers and Deacons. There are 14 qualifications for overseers, and 8 qualifications for deacons. We should all strive to be leaders in our church; this doesn’t mean that we will all be pastors by any means. It was helpful to me to read through all of these qualifications and seeing where I line up and where I fall short.

Everyone should read through 1 Timothy chapter 3 and see what they can improve on and learn.

1 Timothy is a book of discipleship, leadership, and prayer. 

Superiority of the Messiah

Hebrews seems to be a book that I have in the past attempted to read multiple times, yet I have never seemed to quite get it. It is a life-giving book rooted in deep and sometimes confusing theology.

Hebrews was a book written to a large audience, mostly to believers. It was written to encourage believers to stand firm on Christ’s Divinity, rather than falling for other false doctrines.

The Thing that hits me the most is that sometimes we do not realize the power and the greatness that comes with what Jesus did on the cross. It should break us daily. The message of the gospel should inspire us to live our lives passionately following our savior and telling others about his unending grace.

The book of Hebrews goes through and proves the validity of Christ as a prophet, as a priest, and as a King. The covenant in the Old Testament was not removed through Christ’s coming, but rather it was fulfilled. The book ends with giving encouragement to stay faithful to what God has called us to do.

Hebrews 12:11

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.