Is Apologetics needed in the church?

I think apologetics is extremely important today. John MacArthur I feel would strongly agree, he uses apologetics often in his teaching. I look at apologetics from within the church more than as a evangelistic tool. I feel we need to defend from within of all the false teachings we see in our churches today. I'm not sold on arguing a person into Heaven, but apologetics can remove stumblimg blocks an unsaved person may be dealing with. I'll be interested to see what others here say.

Merry Christmas all

 

I agree with this, and just to reaffirm I wouldn't waste time with someone that is just trying to pick a fight, but if someone has concerns or needs clarification why not?

 

Will you please define for me what "Carp-Tender" means?

 

When Jesus did battle with the devil He never once quoted Greek philosophers. He never once quoted any of the great teachers in the Temple. Without commentary He proclaimed His Father's words and found them wholly sufficient for the battle.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.​

Psalms 119:98-100 KJV

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.​

2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:​

 

Other students I met with at Princeton were enrolled in a class taught by the New Testament critic Elaine Pagels which they nicknamed the “Faithbusters Class” because of its destructive effect on the faith of many Christian students. They had no way of knowing how far out of mainstream scholarship Prof. Pagels’ views on the Gnostic gospels are. It was a privilege to share with them grounds for the credibility of the New Testament witness to Jesus.

Their experience is not unusual. In high school and college Christian teenagers are intellectually assaulted with every manner of non-Christian worldview coupled with an overwhelming relativism. If parents are not intellectually engaged with their faith and do not have sound arguments for Christian theism and good answers to their children’s questions, then we are in real danger of losing our youth. It’s no longer enough to teach our children simply Bible stories; they need doctrine and apologetics. It’s hard to understand how people today can risk parenthood without having studied apologetics.

Unfortunately, our churches have also largely dropped the ball in this area. It’s insufficient for youth groups and Sunday school classes to focus on entertainment and simpering devotional thoughts. We’ve got to train our kids for war. We dare not send them out to public high school and university armed with rubber swords and plastic armor. The time for playing games is past. – William Lane Craig

 

I'd look at Php. 1:16:

'The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense (apologia) of the gospel'.

Jude 3 also seems suggestive of defense of truth (apologia).

'Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.'

When preaching is going on there is generally some apologetics going on within the message. I believe it is absolutely necessary in the church.

 

:thumbs::applause::thumbs:

 

I find that apologetics helps to strengthen my faith.