Imagine an army that never trained and was poorly equipped. Without training, the soldiers would not know how to use the weapons in their possession Such an army would be decimated by the enemy.
Or, imagine a football team whose training table consisted entirely of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and other junk food. Instead of lifting weights they play video games. Instead of watching game film, they watch soap operas. This is not a team that will gain anything except a larger waist.
In the same way, for the Church to accomplish her mission, we need to train our people to understand and defend their faith. We need to be able to explain to our children not only what we believe but on what basis we believe it.
To encourage us in this endeavor, the Christian Apologetics Alliance has produced a petition. I encourage those who are committed to building up the church, defending their faith and willing to teach others to do so, to sign the petition.
Knowing that two thirds of our children leave the church, many to never return, the importance of this work should be obvious. There are many churches who struggle to know what they believe and what comes from those pulpits is the verbal equivalent of pureed peas. It is no wonder that children raised in this environment reject the nonsense that they’ve been taught.
But I have seen teens who have grown up in solid churches where the Gospel is clearly taught from the pulpit also walk away. While training them and their parents about what we believe and why would not prevent all these departures, I wonder if many or even most of them could be avoided.
We have good reason to believe as we do. The arguments used by the “new” atheists can be answered. We need to do a better job of knowing and teaching those answers.
To read and sign the petition, click on the CAA logo in this post or click on this link.
Angi MacAllister says
October 6, 2013 at 3:05 AMI really do not understand the request. Who are we petitioning to do exactly what? I clicked the link contained within the story to go to The Christian Apologetics Alliance website. Unless I’m missing it, the home page makes no mention of the petition. I see a number of problems in the presentation of the Gospel and the fellowship in church. I also know even the corner church closest to my house has not been active in over 5 years in neighborhood outreach. If they have any community projects for cleaning or feeding or helping anybody, they have not advertised it. The kids in the neighborhood are just as disrespectful and more so, than any other neighborhood in which I have lived. I’ve lived in a few big cities and find greater outreach in them, but Dayton, Ohio seems to have very few big names in evangelism ever stepping foot here to rally the troops as it were. I think church-going has declined and will continue to decline as long as local churches don’t give a flying leap about their neighbors or the teenagers who run the streets.
Mark McIntyre says
October 7, 2013 at 3:49 PMThanks. I’ll check on the link but here is the link to the petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/churches-for-apologetics
The idea is for church leaders to pledge to allow God to use them to minister to the spiritual hunger that has been ignored by much of the institutional church in the last few decades.
Kevin Jandt says
January 25, 2013 at 9:48 PMThanks brother, I stand with you on that statement and I always appreciate your work.
Kevin Jandt says
January 25, 2013 at 3:32 PMMark, as much as I agree with the sentiment, I’m not convinced this is the answer. Our local assemblies must be committed to teach and preach God’s Word. To live out Ephesians 4:11-12 and then challenging men to live out Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6.
If the local assembly isn’t training those for ministry they are not doing their job and we should challenge them or find a church that does.
I really hope I’m wrong in my assessment. I read their site and I’m pleased someone is doing something to bring attention to this. I will personally battle and fight that my children know how to defend the faith, “IF” they are saved. If not they will consistently hear the gospel.
If men of God will do their jobs this would be unnecessary, if church leaders would do their jobs this would be unnecessary. Apologetics, I believe is for “Believers”, you will never argue someone into the kingdom. They must be shown their sin and the need for a Savior.
Kevin
Mark McIntyre says
January 25, 2013 at 5:35 PMI agree with you that apologetics is not “the” answer but I think it is part of the answer.
Agreed that we will never argue someone into the kingdom. I think the emphasis with unbelievers is answering legitimate questions for those who are willing to examine teh claims of Jesus Christ. It is more of a process of guiding thought than bashing unbelief.