“Is apologetics any good?” yan po ang series question natin na sinasagot. Last month po we discussed yung biblical mandate ng apologetics. So good siya kasi galing ang apologetics sa utos mismo ng Diyos. This month we will delve into the motive. If apologetics will be any good, it should come from proper biblical motives kasi ang ating good works hindi lang sinusukat sa compliance but on the motives din ng ating heart. Sabi nga ng isang Christian author, "We have a Father, and he cares about our internal world -- issues of motive, issues of fear, issues of validation." So kung last episode we talked about the faith as a motive, today we will talk about the second which is hope. Next episode naman po is the last of these, yung love as a motive.
One struggle that stands out in the ministry of apologetics is elusive happiness o yung mailap na kaligayahann sa mga panahon na nagsa-struggle and ministry. You want to minister na may kagalakan, subalit sa simula pa lang ng apologetics maari ka nang salubungin ng negative emotions. This is not at all surpising especially pag related sa gospel ministry. Sa Philippians 1:7 bahagi ng pakikibahagi natin sa pagbabahagi ng ebanghelyo ay kahirapan. This is a reality in apologetics.
Isang nanay na sinabihan ng anak niya na kolehiyo na parang nawawalan na siya ng pananampalataya, will not be received immediately by the parent with joy and jubilation. In fact baka nga mabalot pa ng pangamba at anxiety si Mommy like that time she was on labor of this child. Kaya nga a few years ago when I opened a certificate course in apologetics, of the 18 enrollees, 10 sa kanila mga nanay and many of them have the same reason: “Paano nila sasagutin anak nila nagdududa sa faith nila.” I have been asked by a downcast senior couple to talk to their adult son who had doubts sa kaniyang pananampalataya. A dad told me once that he felt like a failure for not being able to help his academic juggernaut daughter with her doubts.
To contend for the faith (Jude 3) and defend the gospel (Philippians 1:7,16) are oftentimes stressful situations kasi nga ang apologetics ay naka situate sa conflict and adversity. You can't have it any other way.
However, when we understand Christian hope and include that as our motive for doing apologetics, that missing joy will well up once again. Our Christian hope is big because of the Big God that grants that hope in our hearts. Sinabi ng isang pastor, “Christian hope is a Spirit-given virtue enabling us to joyfully expect things promised by God through Jesus Christ.”
Dagdag pa ni Mark Jones,
"But our expectation in God must be joyful, which alone qualifies as a scriptural hope. The fruit of the Spirit includes peace and joy (Gal. 5:22), which cause us to abound in hope. Given the nature of the promises made to us, our hope in them, as it flows from faith, necessarily issues forth in joy. The Christian’s true aim in this life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, which finds its foundation in the hope of God and all that he promises.*With this joy, we can approach our struggles with positive anticipation, like a mom in labor of her child.
Sa apologetics, marami kang maeencounter na crises -- whether it be a crisis of your faith or the faith of others. Lumalaki pa ang crisis kapag ang nagtatanong sa’yo ay mahal mo sa buhay. You so value your faith that you want to communicate it to the people you love or who are close to you. In situations like these, not only you will have to take the step of faith to face this challenge but you must also have a hopeful disposition addressing the issue dahil both faith and hope (and love) will give the character to your actions. Nakakita na ba kayo ng mga basketball players na nawalan na ng pag-asa sa isang laban? Nawalan na ng character ang gameplay nila. Na-overcome na sila ng futility at disappointment. Sabi ni Martin Luther King Jr. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” That gives character and resilience to our actions. The apostle Paul prays, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Ang kapangyarihan pala ng pamamalagi sa pag-asa ay dulot ng kapangyarihan ng Banal na Espiritu. ‘Yan ang gusto natin.
Do not give in to fear and despair, but “preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13)
So kapag you are doing apologetics, do not lose sight of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:3) kasi kung hindi it is easy to give up and quit especially kung napakahirap ng mga doubts at objections. Kailangan natin ng hope para magpatuloy na mag-aral, magsaliksik, manalangin at mapanatili ang sigla sa ating pakikiharap sa ating mahal sa buhay na nagtatanong.
Sabi ni Mark Jones,
hope consists in desiring God and his promises to us in Christ. We have a confident expectation of receiving what is promised because of where our hope lies: in God. When these elements are present, joy necessarily enters into our understanding of Christian hope, for we are excited by what awaits us (1 Pet. 1:3–6).†At yan ngayon ang nagbibigay ng higit na character sa ating ginagawa.
During the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century, ang German pastor na is Paul Gerhardt at ang kaniyang pamilya ay napilitang lisanin ang kanilang tahanan. Isang gabi habang sila’y namamalagi sa isang small village inn, homeless at punung puno ng takot, napaiyak ang kaniyang asawa na nawawalan na ng pag asa. To comfort her, Gerhardt reminded her of Scripture promises about God's provision and keeping. Pagkatapos nito’y lumisang panandalian is Pastor Gerhardt para mapag-isa kung saan siya ay napahagulgol din at tila nawawalan na ng pag-asa. Pakiramdam niya napunta na siya sa pinakamadilim na bahagi ng kaniyang buhay.
Soon afterward, Gerhardt felt the burden lifted and sensed anew the Lord's presence. Taking his pen, he wrote a hymn that has brought comfort to many.
Give to the winds thy fears;Kalimitan nararanasan natin ang presensiya ng Panginoon sa mga madidilim na panahon ng ating buhay. Kinakasangkapan kasi niya ang ating mga kahirapan at mga pangamba upang ipakita sa atin ang pag-asa na Siya ang pinanggagalingan ng ating lakas. At kapag nakita natin ang katotohanang ito, tulad ni Pastor Gerhardt, nagkakaroon tayo ng pag asa at kagalakan na suungin ang mga pagsubok ng buhay.
hope, and be undismayed;
God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears;
God shall lift up thy head.
Through waves and clouds and storms
He gently clears the way.
Wait thou His time,
so shall the night soon end in joyous day."
Or like Jesus na sabi sa Hebrews 12:2 ay “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Yung joy daw ay naka “set before him.” The imagery of the verse is a race -- the joy is the hope of the finish line. This is the reason why the parallel for running with endurance is very appropriate. Maski mahirap, gawin nating may katatagan dahil ang mata natin andudun sa pag-asa. Ganyan humarap ng mga pagsubok sa apologetics, lalo na sa buhay Kristiyano.
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* Mark Jones, Faith, Hope and Love, 159.
† Jones, 160.
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