This discussion started here (the fact that a discussion of Platonist influence on Tolkien turned into a debate over apologetics proves that we really are Presbyterians ).
So here we are:
Apologetics is the defense of the faith. Its purpose is to give an answer for the hope that is within us and to present the Gospel intelligibly and persuasively to shut the mouth of the skeptic.
I here make a distinction: as much as I love apologetics and the philosophical arguments that it generates, I recognize that no one was ever converted by apologetics. Similarly, no one was ever converted by the word preached. In every case, the Spirit has used the apologetic or the spoken words of the preacher to bring the person to a knowledge of God. Therefore, our task in apologetics is to be faithful in presenting the word, so that the unbeliever will have no excuse.
Calvinus said:Maybe we should reexamine the idea of aplogetics and what it does and does not achieve.
So here we are:
Apologetics is the defense of the faith. Its purpose is to give an answer for the hope that is within us and to present the Gospel intelligibly and persuasively to shut the mouth of the skeptic.
I here make a distinction: as much as I love apologetics and the philosophical arguments that it generates, I recognize that no one was ever converted by apologetics. Similarly, no one was ever converted by the word preached. In every case, the Spirit has used the apologetic or the spoken words of the preacher to bring the person to a knowledge of God. Therefore, our task in apologetics is to be faithful in presenting the word, so that the unbeliever will have no excuse.