» Random Thoughts Current Archive [an error occurred while processing this directive]		November 4, 2008- Barriers to Pursing Intellectual Christianity "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." -1 Peter 3:15        I went to an apologetics conference today and though I've been a bit stagnant in recent months in my vigor for Christian apologetics, today revitalized me a fair amount.  Apologetics, in relation to faith, is basically the defense of faith.  This conference sought to equip and strengthen Believers with the knowledge and skills to defend the Christian faith adroitly and to further grasp the relation and harmony that exists between science and faith, as well to challenge skeptics.  Christian apologetics as a whole is huge and ranges from Biblical archeology to having some sort of answer to the age-old skeptic question, "How could a good God allow suffering and pain?"  It is an art that the apostle Paul exhorts Believers to train themselves in and has been an integral part of Christian history including venerable Christian thinkers and philosophers such as Tertullian (160-220), Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Issac Newton ( 1643-1727), and more recently the likes of C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and contemporaries Ravi Zacharias and Tim Keller.  Though we all don't have the mental ingenuity of a Newton (who discovered Calculus in his spare time) I do believe we're all called to use what mental gifts we have to be able to tell people we're a Christian because of some "so-and-so" knowledge; not just because of emotions and/or experiences - though important.  That said, I believe a vast majority of Christians today (mostly referring to tenured Christians) do not exercise nor train their faith intellectually very much or at all and Satan the secular worldview has been able to overwhelm, and in many respects, bully western culture and Christian influence in it because of this.  Instead of like in the past when many of the greatest thinkers, scientists, and politicians had strong faith, today the world sees Christians mostly as a bunch of backwoods, ignorant fundementalists who hate science and Marilyn Manson. Here are a few barriers to pursuing Christian apologetics that I believe face many Christians today.  This list does not insinuate that many Christians purposely avoid or neglect intellectualism. I'm merely stating circumstantial observations; which I think are mostly unconscious omissions anyways.  But it is what it is. Also, I do not condone the pursuit of intellectual Christianity at the expense of relational, emotional, and experiential Christianity.  Nor for the sake of knowledge and enlightenment alone.  The intellectual pursuit of Christianity is merely one asset to know Christ and his death and resurrection even more intimately.  That said, I don't believe one can be a "complete" Christian without a noticeable portion of it in their lives and faith. 1. Too Hard        Most of us have gone to school for 16 years of our lives, who wants to go back for more?  Believe me I know.  Perhaps the only real major motivator of a continued education beyond a bachelor's degree is to increase one's professional status and income.  Very few go continue school for just the sake of learning.  Apologetics is learning.  Sure it's not term papers and finals, but it's akin to spiritual academia with some disciplines easily college-level and beyond.  The average Christian may look at the breadth of Christian apologetics and just say to themselves it's too far over their head and not for them, reserved for Christian scholars and professors; which is untrue by the way.  Remember, Peter wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, yet he knew a certain level of intellectual knowledge and reasoning was required to promote and defend his Christian faith.  (Also apologetics isn't just all learning and head knowledge, it is just another way to grow closer and more intimate with your God and Creator; similar to activities like praying, worshipping, and doing volunteer service.) 2. Waving the White Flag        Have you seen the media lately?  Anyone still holding onto the archaic notions that the Bible is a reputable source of history or science or that its narrow principles and declarations can stand up to today's scientific knowledge, open-minded "enlightenment", and post-modernity is considered pitiful at best.  So why try to stand up to our culture's and media's apparent Darwinistic superiority?  It's an uphill battle no doubt.  Though I think media "statistics" sharing scientists' and citizens' propensity for tossing traditional Biblical viewpoints and worldviews to the wayside are overblown, it's no secret the general public, and especially academia, have taken to bed with more naturalistic, self-deterministic viewpoints.  Understandably so, Christians are often intimidated by what seems to be an overwhelming campaign of disparagement and even complete marginalization, if not persecution; though it's not like many Christians are getting much help from the pulpit. 3. Disassociation        I think perhaps a lot of Christians don't really see the link between being one of faith and science or apologetics.  "What does evolution have to do with me loving Jesus?"  Or perhaps "Even if we can't prove Jesus lived, the things he taught are still great to live by."  These are just a few of the statements people may say in justifying a lack of interest in apologetics.  Though I personally don't think most realms of apologetics are core theological issues affecting one's salvation, I do believe it is still very important.  Some issues, such as the authenticity of the Bible or the truth of the Resurrection, are in fact completely integral to core Christian theology.  If truth claims like those are false, Christianity is a farce altogether itself.  Having "an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have", and hopefully a well-informed and Spirit-driven one, is most definitely important when talking to someone else about your faith. 4. Time        Similar to Christian intellectualism being "too hard", most of us just don't have the time to invest in another part of our faith.  With church on Sundays, small groups, Bible studies, service projects, and worship sessions, not to mention family and friends and the job, the average Christian just doesn't have any extra time to add more spiritual "things" to the plate.  Of all the reasons I think people don't pursue intellectual Christianity, this one is probably the most palatable.  It does take a time investment, on top of more critical areas of spiritual growth such as church involvement and Bible studies, so it's more understandable to skip out on the latest "Creationism vs. Evolution" book.  It definitely takes a concerted time effort to increase one's mind knowledge of Christian apologetics; time a lot of us don't have the luxury of. 5. Ignorance        A lot of ignorance I blame on churches and pastors and priests (more below), but a lot is really nobody's fault.  I'm not sure if I would've ever got into Christian apologetics if it wasn't for my older brother.  Though there is definitely much Biblical text that exhorts believers to "love God with all their mind", "test all things", and "reason together", it often get's lost in the shuffle of many more prominent Christian virtues.  Though I think at least basic "book" knowledge of the faith is for all Believers, I do believe God can gives a stronger passion for apologetics to certain persons.  Much like he will give an overwhelming passion to Believers for charity, service, and teaching.  We're all called to those individually, but we may not make them our full-time job. 6. Church Neglect        I heard once from Christian apologist Gary Habernas at a conference that we have tons of churches named 'So-and-so Bible Church' but he wasn't aware of any called 'So-and-so Knowledge Church'.  Which was odd to him because the Master we follow, Jesus Christ, was and is the smartest man that ever lived…right?  Yet when's the last time you heard a sermon on something related to Christian apologetics or the defense of the Christian faith?  I've heard a couple, but typically they're given by an outside speaker.  Pastors these days seem terribly unequipped to address with much surety the nature and relationship between science, faith, and culture.  Which is also odd, because many of the greatest Christian thinkers, writers, and preachers throughout the ages were priests, monks, and ministers for hundreds of years used to go through a strict scientific education when studying for the clergy.  Nowadays I'm not even sure they teach any basic science courses at seminary.  And I highly doubt the number of physicists, socialogists, biologists, and engineers enrolling in seminary is very high.  I could be wrong. 7. Solitary Defense        As with most aspects of "gut-level" Christian living, it can be a lonely affair.  Though the pursuit of intellectual Christianity isn't on par with the persecution or isolation a Christian may receive for choosing not to view R movies or abstaining from sex until marriage - it can be a daunting, forlorn pursuit nonetheless.  Not only do you have to weather the barrage of verbal asteroids and land mines the secular worldview launches at you, you have to navigate the often confused, ignorant, and in some cases, wayward positions from within the Church itself.  It's not an easy "cross to bear", and I think these barriers lead to another barrier that is feeling like you're in the fight/defense alone. This is one of the more prominent barriers in my own life.  Though I know not everyone is called to be a scholar in the area, I've found many of my Christian peers have nary even a working knowledge of the historical and foundational doctrines of the Bible and Christian Church, let alone any of the vast ancillary information and disciplines that pervade our skeptical society.  Add to this a dearth of formal, or even informal, education in logic and reasoning, the very tools the Apostle Paul relied on imperatively throughout his ministry and writing to justify the Gospel of Christ, and you have a large Christian contingent that just moves about their faith through merely emotions and experience.  Ergo the high Christian "turnover rate" in my opinion. Incomplete Christians?        As I mention above, I don't think Christian intellectualism or apologetics is a critical salvation issue.  Clearly God can grow and work in Believers who don't pursue this area passionately or even causually.  That said, Peter, as well as Paul and other authors in Scripture, consistently appeal to ones reason in order to persuade them to the Gospel of Christ.  Further the defense of Christianity was massively important to early Believers and is still terribly relevant today in our everyday lives.  Reasoning with or defending the Christian faith with a non-believer most likely will not convert them no, but it definitely has the potential, Spirit-willing, to remove stumbling blocks or barriers in their own life that cloud their understanding or acceptance of the Gospel.  I've seen that myself many times and I know that it is true.  People aren't just looking for love or to be saved, they're looking for a lover that knows what they're saying and they want to know that what they're saying is true.  Truth that can be tested and trusted…enough so that eventually taking that leap of faith isn't a "blind leap" after all. "Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done." -Sir Issac Newton Recommended Reading: Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions by Kenneth R. Samples The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller Why I Am a Christian: Leading Thinkers Explain Why They Believe by Norman L. Geisler What's So Great About Christianity by Dinesh D'Souza Recommended Websites: Reasons To Believe Ravi Zacharias International Ministries C.S. Lewis Institue

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