The word itself is derived from the root word apologia which means: “a formal speech or explanation to reply to, or to defend. To rebut a charge” so, you might ask, what are we as Christians defending or rebutting? That answer is broad, and basically the defending part would fall under the verse where the title of this blog comes from; Jude 3. Among other verses such as 2 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” or Titus 1:9 “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” Then others like 2 Timothy 2:15, as well as 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (same references, different books) Even the Apostle Paul knew his role was to be a defence of the Gospel he says that very thing in Phillipians 1:7.

So now we know defending the faith is obviously spoken of, but what about rebutting or refutting charges? Well let’s again look at Scripture. Starting in 2 Timothy 2:24-25 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” as well as the aforementioned verse of Titus 1:9 and Colossians 4:5-6 “⁵Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. ⁶Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Also, 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”. We can also find verses in Psalms which talk about refutting, including Psalms 119:41-42 “41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.⁴² So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.“. And it’s not stretching those verses to look st them this way. The bottom line is as Believers in Jesus Christ, and children of the Heavenly Father we have a duty to boldly proclaim the Gospel message. Which also means to defend it when called upon.

As Christians we are told to be lights (Matthew 5:14), a city on a hill for others to see (again Matthew 5:14), salt (Matthew 5:13). All of these instances have a direct effect on the things they come in contact with. Which is exactly what a Christian should have on the world around him. However if he is not speaking, sharing, or defending the faith which he holds so deeply then he’s good for nothing( again, Matthew 5:13)! We must be about witnessing of what the love of Christ has done for us, and declaring the truths of Scripture to those we meet.

Another item that needs to be looked at comes from a passage in the Old Testament book of Hosea which tells the story of God telling a sad truth about the people of Israel it goes like this “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children”. Out of this we can learn a very important truth about God, and it’s this: He does not like His people being stupid regarding His Word. This is a sobering thought to consider when we analyze that the children of Israel, His chosen nation that saw miracles upon miracles had rejected God’s law, and had no knowledge of His ways. This now brings us to the subject of apologetics and its importance. Our brains are wired and designed to remember what we learn, but if we don’t practice what we learn and perfect it then those neural pathways become old. Once they become unused the brain looks to “write” over it if you will, with things that the brain is currently studying or thinking on. It’s called Neuroplasticity, look it up! Bottom line is; we are what we think, and if we want to be about the work of the Gospel then we need to be studying on what we are to be, and what we need to share and defend.

One last thing to ponder, and this is from a logical point of view, If we believe something; and hold it so dear to our hearts, then why not want to share that joy with the world around us? And likewise if we hold something to be morally true, then wouldn’t we want to defend it before naysayers and critics? Pointing out where their misconceptions or accusations are wrong? If we don’t then the logical question we need to ask ourselves is this: Do we value what we say we believe? I will close with a hymn of Isaac Watts: Am I a soldier of the cross,
A foll’wer of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His name?