Marami pong practical na benefits ang apologetics most especially sa gawain ng Panginoon. Of course it has some value in the way we think, the way we articulate etc but our focus today is to see the goodness of apologetics as a practical discipline to help the body of Christ. May mga consequences po siya na napakahalaga nating makita. Maappreciate po siguro ito lalo ng mga magulang, pastors at mga cell group leaders ang mga ministry benefits na ito.
Apologetics is a branch of theology. It is a defense of the faith. Many people -- malicious or not -- ask a lot of things about Christianity, Jesus Christ and many more. Apologetics is that branch of theology that seeks to respond to these questions. Kailangang grounded siya sa theoretical na sistema na concerned sa contemplation ng knowledge. In a biblical theoretical system, one utilizes biblical data, methodology, arguments, logic, proof, etc.
But apologetics as a branch of theology is not just a theoretical discipline, as some would think about what theology is. It doesn’t stop in contemplation or only in the weaving together of inferences and propositions. Sabi ni Johannes Wollebius, “Theology consist of both contemplation and action. It is both wisdom and prudence; wisdom in that it apprehends principles through divinely illumined intelligence and reaches conclusions from them through knowledge; and prudence, in that it guides the human soul in its actions.” Ang prudence ay kakayahan upang mag deliberate ng tamang actions. Ang prudence ay kakayahan upang mag deliberate ng tamang actions. If I were to write a manifesto on apologetics para sa mga Christians dito sa atin sa Pilipinas I will emphasize that, with apologetics you weave a life that insists on a human trait that is not only necessary for right thinking but for right action. It is a disposition of the Christian soul not only to think well but to act well, to see the goods delivered.
On October 1, 1971, five years after the great Walt Disney passed away; Disney World had its grand opening. During the dedication ceremony, someone turned to Mrs. Walt Disney and said, "Isn't it a shame that Walt didn't live to see this?" Mrs. Disney replied, "He did see it, that's why it's here."
Ang theological knowledge po natin move from the theoreotical to the practical; from abstraction to action; from drawing to doing. This is the reason why apologetics will never and should not be merely an armchair discipline. It goes to the crowd and works its way to the faces of people -- people who are oftentimes our children, our loved ones and for many of us, that person in the mirror.
Para kay Francis Turretin, “A practical system is that which does not consist in the knowledge of a thing alone, but in its very nature and by itself goes forth into practice and has operation for its object.” The teachings of Scripture is “chiefly practical.”
This is the reason why Paul would boast about the Roman believers whose “faith is being reported all over the world” (Romans 1:8). Christianity is a religion of good deeds, not salvation by good deeds but a relationship with Christ that produces good deeds. Paul admonishes the Galatians, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9-10). The Book of Hebrews 3:16 adds, “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Sabi ni Kevin De Young, “Right doctrine counts for nothing if it does not sink into our hearts and find expression in our lives. Theology is chiefly practical.”
Ganiyan po ang apologetics bilang branch ng theology -- ‘yung sabi ni Kevin de Young na “chiefly practical.” Sa ilang taon na rin pong karanasan ko sa Ratio Christi conducting apologetics meet up with college students, nakita ko ang practical na impact ng apologetics sa mga bata. We see this as a Gospel ministry. Hindi makakaila mismo ni apostol Pablo na bahagi ang pagtatanggol sa ministeryo ng ebanghelyo sa Philippians 1:7, 16. Maraming sa mga students who would attend our meetings na may mga dala-dalang doubts that hinder them from the promise of growth in their own discipleship groups. Somehow, as they doubt God’s work, the glory of the gospel slowly ebbs away -- no longer do they cling strongly to the God of Grace because that is now threatened by a persisting doubt. Kumbaga, hindi na sila makatakbo ng maayos sa kanilang spiritual life kasi may lapnos ang paa sa paulit ulit na pressures na dala ng mga doubts nila. In these apologetics meet ups slowly the obstacles are removed. Then they would leave our group with a renewed energy for fellowship, discipleship and evangelism. Parang ‘yung kasabihan sa atin na nabunutan ng tinik. This is one of the ways I would explain apologetics as practical -- it is practical to the lives of the doubting Christian.
Isa sa mga paborito kong practical na consequences na dala ng isang mabuting apologetics ministry ay ang paggabay sa mga believers to persevere in their faith. Sabi ng isang Puritan divine na si Thomas Watson, “The last fruit of sanctification is perseverance in grace.” A Christian teaching ministry not only desires na ang mga believers would grow in holiness and obedience but also to sustain and maintain that direction. However, when doubts arise maaaring may misdirection or, sadly, derailment.
A good part ng apologetics ministry namin sa Ratio Christi is to situate ourselves diyan sa sinasabi na yan ni Watson na “perseverance.” It is a God-glorifying ministry to walk with a doubting Christian to persevere, to hang on, to keep the faith. Ang mga pagdududa at mga tanong na hindi nasasagot ay tila parang bato sa loob ng ating sapatos na nagbibigay ng discomfort and injury. In a spiritual sense, they eat away our trust in God. The ministries that are called into this kind of situations are varied -- and one of the God-given means is apologetics.
Maski walang nagtatagal sa Ratio Christi na mga students, natutuwa kami kasi parang nagsisilbi kaming vulcanizing shop ng mga tao who are really on a journey of faith. May mga kaniya-kaniya naman kasi silang mga discipleship groups tulad ng Campus Crusade, Navigators, InterVaristy, atbp at mga campus church ministry tulad ng Elevate, Destiny, atbp. Masaya na kami sa consequence na ganon. Nung una medyo nalulungkot kami kasi walang nagtatagal -- mag-aattend ng mga 4 weeks, tuturuan namin ng 4H apologetics, sasagutin mga tanong, at mawawala na. But we get to see them continue in their walk with God. Their smiles have a simple but meaningful effect on us.
In our first year alone sa University of the Phililippines, we were able to meet about 150 students, professors, young professionals. Then mawawala na sila after a few weeks. Now we realize na ang practicality ng apologetics is the practicality of a vulcanizing shop to motorist -- as soon as things got patched up with reasonable responses, they will be on their way. Masaya na kami sa ganon. To patch up a broken tire might be a menial task for many, pero sobrang gaan ang dala nito sa naflatan. Ganiyan kasimple ang kaligayahan ng grassroots apologetics ministry.
So apologetics as a branch of theology that is practical has very good consequences to the kingdom of God. It might not be as mainstream as the many discipleship groups around but its humble utility is to the hurting believer confused by a lot of doubts.
You might have heard of this story but I will tell it anyway because it is one of my favorite sermon illustrations. One day an old man was walking along the beach. It was low tide, and the sand was littered with thousands of stranded starfish that the water had carried in and then left behind.
The man began walking very carefully so as not to step on any of the beautiful creatures. Since the animals still seemed to be alive, he considered picking some of them up and putting them back in the water, where they could resume their lives.
The man knew the starfish would die if left on the beach's dry sand but he reasoned that he could not possibly help them all, so he chose to do nothing and continued walking.
Soon afterward, the man came upon a small child on the beach who was frantically throwing one starfish after another back into the sea. The old man stopped and asked the child, "What are you doing?"
"I'm saving the starfish," the child replied.
"Why waste your time?... There are so many you can't save them all so what does is matter?" argued the man.
Without hesitation, the child picked up another starfish and tossed the starfish back into the water... "It matters to this one," the child explained.
Just to have one unknown college student na nagdududa sa kaniyang pananampalataya ang maministeran, that’s good enough reason to affirm the practical benefit of apologetics.
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