Truth. What is That? || Claudia Kalmikov || Mama Bear Apologetics (March 29, 2018)

Hey friends! It’s Claudia Kalmikovof Mama Bear Apologetics, a partner of Ratio Christi International. Mama Bear Apologetics exists for the sole purpose of equipping moms to answer the tough questions of the faith. These questions start in the home, and moms are usually the first ones to hear them. So ladies, let’s band together, and educate ourselves. You can follow Mama Bear Apologetics on the web, Facebook, twitter, youtube, and iTunes. Today’s topic is…Truth!”

Today we live in a world where some say we can’t know truth. Some say there is no truth or that science is the only way we can know anything about truth. Then why should we believe any of these claims if there is no truth? They don’t live up to their own standard. But we don’t really live like there is no truth do we? Think about it, we expect truth from every area of our lives, don’t we? We expect truth from our doctors, spouses, bankers, loved ones and anyone we depend on to make important decisions in our lives. We live in a world where objective truth is known and expected by everyone.

Moral Relativism says there is no objective truth. It says that there is no such thing as right or wrong, good or bad, that we shouldn’t judge, and that your truth is true for you and my truth is true for me. Relativism is the worldview that all worldviews are true. But here’s what I want you all to know: Every person should know that relativism is false and objective truth exists, because of the consequences of relativistic thinking.

Before I explain the consequences of relativistic thinking, I need to talk about truth first. Truth is when your beliefs match up to reality. What we must realize is that there are different kinds of truth and that we should not confuse them. For example: If I say chocolate ice cream is the best ice cream, that is a subjective truth because it is about me—the subject. Not the ice cream. Subjective claims are personal, private, or just your opinion. They are about what you think about something. Subjective claims can be true for some and false for others. So it can be true for me that chocolate ice cream is the best ice cream. But it might not be true for someone else. That’s ok because we are talking about a subjective claim for which there is no consequence. However, if I say that ice cream controls diabetes, can that claim be true for some and false for others? No! This is a different kind of claim isn’t it? This kind of claim has consequences. This is an objective claim--a claim about how the world actually works. Of course we know that ice cream doesn’t control diabetes, but insulin does. Insulin controls diabetes anytime, in any place, for anyone. Objective claims are true for all people, at all times, and in all places. It doesn’t matter what one’s opinion is about an objective claim or whether you believe it or agree with it or not, it’s just true.

So why am I making this distinction between the two different kinds of truth? Because our culture today wants to put religion and morality in the subjective category. That’s why you hear people say, “That’s true for you but not for me,” when it comes to religion and morality. The mood of our culture is that morality is subjective.

If there’s no objective standard of morality, if morality is like ice cream, can we judge anyone for doing anything morally wrong? Can we? Think about it. If morality is like ice cream, we have no more right to make judgements about someone than we do to make judgements about their ice cream preference. If morality is like ice cream, we can’t judge the terrorists for decapitating Christians or any of their captors, and drowning them in cages. We can’t judge anyone for doing anything that offends us no matter how wrong it seems, because moral relativism legitimizes every personal choice. Even the ones most offensive to us.

When a young person says morality is subjective, I don’t believe them. I never believe them. Because I don’t believe people really live like that.

Part of being human is knowing the difference between right and wrong. If you try to jump off a cliff, thinking you can fly, gravity is going to have something to say about it. You can say you don’t believe in gravity but stubbornness doesn’t change truthfulness. Just as we have laws of gravity that exist in the objective world outside of us, there are laws of morality that exist objectively as a transcendent standard.

If you want to know what someone really believes about the objective status of morality, it’s not in what they say or in what they do. It’s in how they want to be treated.

Everybody wants to be treated as though morality is an objective feature of the universe. It’s inescapable. If somebody says there’s no such thing as objective morality, cut in front of them in a line, take their wallet and watch their reaction. We know people’s beliefs about morality not be their actions but by their reactions.

There was a professor teaching an ethics class at a major university in Indiana. He told his students to write on any ethical topic of their choice, requiring each student to back up their thesis with reasons and documentation. An atheist wrote on the topic of moral relativism. In his thesis, he argued that all morals are relative; there is no absolute standard of justice or rightness: it’s all a matter of opinion, he wrote. “You like chocolate, I like vanilla,” and so on. The paper provided what the professor asked; the reasons, the documentation, it was the right length, on time and stylishly presented in a nice blue folder. 

After the professor read the paper he wrote on the front cover, “F--I don’t like blue folders!” When the student got the paper back, he was enraged. He stormed into the professor’s office and yelled, “F! I don’t like blue folders! What is this? That’s not fair! That’s not right! That’s not just! You didn’t grade the paper on its merits!” The professor calmly raised his hand to quiet the student and said, “Wait a minute. Wasn’t your paper the one that said there is no such thing as fairness, rightness, and justice?” “Yes,” answered the student. “Then what’s this you say about me being fair, right and just? Didn’t your paper argue that it’s all a matter of taste? You like chocolate, I like vanilla?” The student replied, “Yes, that’s my view.” “Fine, then,” the professor responded. “I don’t like blue. You get an F!” Suddenly the light bulb went on in the student’s head. He realized he really did believe in objective morality. This simple lesson defeated his entire case for relativism.

The moral to the story is that objective morality exists.  And if you really want to get relativists to admit it, all you need to do is treat them unfairly. Hang around with them long enough, and watch them contradict themselves. The Moral Law is not always the standard by which we treat others, but it is nearly always the standard by which we expect others to treat us.

As I stated before, there are consequences to relativism. Ideas have consequences.

One consequence is that relativists can’t accuse someone of doing something wrong or complain about the problem of evil. Relativism denies such things as right or wrong. What’s right or true for you is not true for me, right? If you believe that morality is about personal definition, then you can’t make moral judgments about another’s actions no matter how offensive they are to you. You can tell them you don’t like their morality, but you can’t tell them they’re wrong. Relativism legitimizes every personal choice.

The next consequence to relativism is that a relativist can’t complain about the problem of evil. How can evil exist if morals are relative? Relativism denies that things are objectively wrong. The problem of evil would disappear in a true relativistic world.

Relativists can’t place blame or accept praise or charge others with unfairness or injustice. Relativism renders these terms as meaningless because there is no external standard of measure. So nothing could be bad and worthy of blame, nor be good and worthy of praise.

Relativists can’t promote tolerance. Relativists argue that morals are individual and that we should tolerate the views of others and not judge other’s behavior and there should be no objective rules. Well this view is self-refuting because if there should be no objective moral rules, how can there be a rule requiring tolerance?

Relativism makes religion irrelevant. Our culture treats objective and subjective truth like a two story house with the bottom floor being the objective floor including things we know for sure like science, math, law, business. On the second floor is where we live—this is the subjective floor where we cook the foods we want, we have the friends we want and we have our personal traditions and all our preferences on this floor. What our culture does is treat religion and morality as though it belongs on the second floor because it’s a personal preference and not science. This makes religion and morality fade into existence and be irrelevant to our lives. But this is wrong, because we have to treat religion as our foundation. In Matt. 7:24-27, Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” If we don’t have Christ as our foundation, our whole house is going to collapse. What is our house? Our future in eternity.

Friends, there is such a thing as truth, it’s written on our hearts and we know it. Jesus calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We need to grasp the fact that we were saved for something.

We have a responsibility to speak truth to others. Our salvation employs us in God’s redemptive plan for the world. You can’t love people by ignoring the cultural evils that victimize them. This should motivate us to have a heart for those who believe the lies of our culture that say that religion and morality are relative. So what do we do now?

1. Get informed about the lies that stand against the truth so you know how to refute them.

You can do this by reading good books on the subject of truth by Greg Koukl. One is called Tactics.

2. Be prepared to respond to bad ideas. Be bold about having conversations about truth with your own children and with others.

3. Teach your children that objective truth does exist and show them how we know.

Okay, that’s it for today. Tune in next month as we discuss (the evidence for God’s existence) And don’t forget! To get more resources from the Mama Bears, please visit us at mamabearapologetics.com

About Claudia Kalmikov

http://straighttalkwithclaudiak.com/

I’m a mom. I graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing and had a career in sales before I married my college sweetheart, then decided to stay at home and be a full time wife and mother.  I loved being a stay-at-home mom for many reasons. Mostly because it kept me well connected with my two boys and gave me great influence over their training. I found it very rewarding and was always grateful that God gave me the chance to focus on my family and be at home with my boys.

Like some of you, I learned to surrender to Jesus after having kids. Funny how quickly you learn after having children that you can’t control anything. Going through the teenage years is enough to bring any mother to her knees!

I have two incredible sons. They are both college graduates with careers, and are out on their own.

My husband, John, and I are enjoying a new phase in our lives. Empty nest-hood. We took advantage of our new found free time by going back to school. We graduated in December 2016 from The Biola University Masters in Christian Apologetics program, and now we are anxious to put that to use. So we are jumping right in by teaching and speaking at various events. We enjoyed Biola a great deal because we learned so much about the Bible and other religions along with Apologetics. Since we hadn’t been in college for 32 years, it was a challenge. But I loved it and the Lord sustained me every step of the way. That’s another story!

It is my hope to be able to share some of my thoughts, experiences and wisdom as an apologist, and  parent with you. I pray that you will be blessed by what you read and that God may speak to you through my blog.

God Bless

Ang Maka Diyos at Mapanuring Isipan sa Apologetics || John Pesebre (March 22, 2018)

Let me introduce my discussion on today’s episode on intellectual virtues by discussing first the “godly life.”

How do we Christians start to cultivate a godly life? We start by believing the Gospel, and believe consequently that "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (1 Peter 1:3). Notice diyan “through our knowledge of Him.” That is again the Gospel, the person and work of Christ. Also notice that this knowledge is a knowledge that is outside of us to which we assent. Carl Schultz explains that “[T]he world knows God . . . through the divine initiative (Gal 4:8-9).”* Tinatanggap ng tao ‘yang initiative na ‘yan as “a response of faith and an acceptance of Christ. It is he who has made God known ( John 1:18 ). To know Christ is to know God ( John 14:7 ). Eternal life is to know the true God and Jesus Christ ( John 17:3 ). Paul desires to know Christ in his death and resurrection ( Php 3:10 ). Failure to know Jesus as Lord and Messiah ( Acts 2:36 ) resulted in his rejection and crucifixion ( 1 Cor 2:8 ).” But to know God does not settle as merely a belief about God but “[t]o know God is not to struggle philosophically with his eternal essence, but rather to recognize and accept his claims. It is not some mystical contemplation, but dutiful obedience.”† So this knowledge settles in our lives, snuggles in our heart, soul and mind. It flourishes in true beliefs and actions. It is to this that Paul “thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” sa Colossians 1:3-6 kasi daw “we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel  that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.” Lumalago siya at namumunga.

So nabanggit ko kanina na introduction ko lang ‘yan. Introduction siya kasi ang focus ng episode natin ay ‘yung faculty na ginagamit natin para matalastas natin ang “knowledge of God” that would inform our godly life. Ang tinutukoy ko na faculty ay ang ating isipan. Ang ating isipan kapag ito ay nagiging reliable at responsible sa pagsusuri ay nagkakaroon ito ng greater chance of discovering the knowledge of God and His will. A mind that has developed intellectual virtues is a godly mind in that respect kasi nakapag cultivate siya ng isipan that is well-suited to find the goods of truth, knowledge and wisdom in God at hindi yung patterns and standards of this world. Napakalaki ng role ng mind sa pagtuklas at pagtalima sa knowledge of God. Sabi ni Philip Towner,

“Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the mind/reason is alternatively the thought system and the faculty of conscious reflection and perception. It is with the mind that decisions are made, whether moral or amoral in nature. It is with the mind that one chooses to accept God and obey his commandments, or to reject him and rebel against him.” ‡

So ngayon ang sunod na tanong natin is how do you cultivate a mind na maging reliable at responsible na tool siya for the goods of truth, knowledge and wisdom in Christ? Isantabi muna natin sandali yung issue ng “godly life” kasi ang magiging focus natin ngayon ay kung paano nai-inform ‘yung godly life. So again, how do you cultivate a mind na maging reliable at responsible na tool siya for the goods of truth, knowledge and wisdom in Christ which will then give sanction or inform na magkaroon ka ng godly life? Ang sagot diyan is to develop a GODLY mind suited for inquiry. Your mind must develop habits that are godly in relation to the discovery of the goods of truth, knowledge and wisdom.  Kakailanganin ‘yan sa ministry ng apologetics.

A godly mind suited for inquiry ay ‘yung may disposisyon o tamang paniniwalang pinanghahawakan at sinasabuhay sabi ng kaibigan kong si Pastor Phonny Jorquia. Ang mga goods (i.e., mga bagay na beneficial) na truth, knowledge at wisdom of God ay pursuit ng isang lingkod ng Diyos. Ang mga bagay na ito ay pursuit ng isang taong may maka-Diyos na isipan. Hindi mo na siya kailangan turuan palagi kasi oriented na siya sa pagsasaliksik sa kalooban at kaisipan ng Diyos sa lahat ng bagay ng kaniyang buhay. If he would have this godly mind, and you put him in a stressful situation and ang instinct nya is to inquire of God. Kaya sa apologetics ganiyang utak ang gusto natin. Marami kang mae-encounter na mga objections that will probably shake you to the core, most especially kung ang nagtatanong is isang atheist na dating worship leader at anak ng pastor. The questions are like melee blades hurled at you from all direction, they look chaotic but they are calculated and well-thought. So the habit of a godly mind is to inquire, but not only to inquire to God but to inquire with hope, faith and love.

However ang discussion natin ngayon does not only understand the godly mind as something to be cultivated to be reliable and responsible but may isa pa po siyang epekto if we practice thsi godly mind sa mga conversations especially kung ang context nito conversation sa doubting na kapatiran. Ang pag practice nito nagpo promote pagtuklas ng knowledge of God. May epekto siya sa environment kung may kausap kang kapatiran na nagtatanong sa’yo about his own struggles in life or baffling questions that give him doubt. A godly mind ay may inquiry-relevant na characteristic which then creates a congenial, cognitive environment para ‘yung usapan ay maging inquiry-relevant din all for the simple sake ng pag produce ng new beliefs, at hopefully beliefs about and in God. Sabi ni James, “Everyone should be quick to listen” (1:19).

Tayong mga tao naturally nag-iinquire tayo. Sabi ni Jason Baehr,

“One remarkable feature of our species is its propensity for inquiry. We humans are neither oblivious to nor indifferent about our surroundings. Nor is our interest in our surroundings purely practical. Rather, as beings that are both reflective and rational, we often find ourselves fascinated and puzzled by the world around us. We desire to know, to understand how things are, were, or might someday be. As a result, we make intentional and sustained efforts to figure things out. We inquire.”§

A person involved in apologetics ministry especially one that ministers with doubting believers will do well in setting up an environment na maayos for inquiry. Kung nadevelop na sa kaniyang isipan ang mga inquiry-relevant traits like attentiveness or focus, ‘yung kausap niya would see that he’s in a congenial environment kung saan bawat obstacles sa kaniyang doubts would be jumped over. This is the reason why apologetics is also a great venue for mentoring at discipleship program sa mga nais yakapin ang kalooban na ito ng Panginoon. This congenial environment is a perfect place for inquiry kasi yung doubting mind ng believer ay sa totoo lang ay may design plan na luwalhatiin at kilalanin ang Diyos. So kung mailagay mo ang doubting believer sa congenial environment na ganiyan malaki ang chance na maisakatuparan niya ang design plan ng Lord sa kaniyang isipan -- na luwalhatiin at tuklasin ang knowledge of God. A mind that is attuned to God’s design plan for her mind is a mind that will constantly pursue the goods of truth, understanding, and wisdom in Christ. At ang maganda nandiyan ka to understand ang nature ng doubt niya at kung paano mawawala sana ang tanikala ng doubt na ito sa kaniya.

Pero kailangang nating tandaan palagi din na ang nabubuong congenial environment ng isang godly mind is not a direct response to the question of the doubter. What you're trying to avoid is for people to feel that your answer to his question is a congenial environment. A hospital may secure for you a sterile room but it would be wrong to assume that this room will cure you. You need doctors to attend to the true reason you are there. What this environment does for you is to give you a better assurance na ‘yung kausap mo na may design plan din ang Lord sa kaniyang isipan na mag inquire, will have a more warrant kung natagpuan nya ang sagot na ito sa isang inquiry-relevant na context, na hindi siya pinilit o sininghalan atbp. He is in a place where na tugma sa kalikasan ng kaniyang isipan.

Next episode po babanggitin ko po ang ilan sa mga traits na ito ng godly mind para po ma-identify ninyo ang mga virtues na ito, na malaki po ang role sa susunod na monthly topic natin na 4H apologetics. Kung nais po ninyong mabasa ang manuscript ng episode na ito, pumunta lamang kayo sa fb page ng Kaliwanagan kay Kristo.

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* Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology (BEDBT), sv "Know, Knowledge"; https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/know-knowledge.html

† BEDBT, sv "Know, Knowledge"

‡ BEDBT, sv "Mind/Reason"; accessed at https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/mind-reason.html

§ Jason Baehr, The Inquiring Mind, 1

Ang Patotoo ng Pagtatanggol sa Pananampalataya || John Pesebre (March 20, 2018)

Christian apologetics is good because the Christian witness undergirds it. What we mean by undergird is nakakapit. This word “undergird” appears in Acts 27:17 “After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship.” Sa salin sa Tagalog, ang “undergird” ay “matalian.” The Greek word means “to bear, to carry.” My point dito is that Christian witness carries Christian apologetic. Christian witness chauffeurs apologetics. Or to put it in a Pinoy way, ang Christian witness ang tricycle at ang apologetics ang pasahero. Apologetics ties neatly in the charter of Acts 1:8 “and you shall be My witnesses” which then ties well also with the Gospel ministry as Paul said in Philippians 1:16, “knowing that I am put here for the defense [apologian] of the gospel.” Apologetics then is well undergirded by the Christian witness that both Jesus and the apostles emphasized. Ito po ang pag uusapan natin ngayong episode.

The Greek word for “witness” in Acts 1:8 na binasa ko kanina is martures from where we get our word “martyr.” Sa Greek a “martyr” is, according sa Friberg Lexicon, “generally one who testifies to something.” There are at least two ways one can do this as one testifies about Christ -- through propositions and conduct. “The focus,” ayon kay Michael Carino, “is not only on the validity of knowledge but also on the virtue of the knower . . . from propositions to persons, from appraising beliefs to assessing believers.”* So Christian witness mahalaga ang integration both ng proposition at conduct.

Another meaning of “martyr” in Greek is that it means “to witness to ascertainable facts.” This is what we suggest here by proposition as a way to testify or witness. A proposition is “ a statement in which something is affirmed or denied, so that it can therefore be significantly characterized as either true or false.”† So, for example, we give testimony na si Kristo ay isang historical person -- yan ang ating proposition. And then we provide support or reasons or arguments for the truthfulness of that claim. Much of Christian apologetics is engaged sa ganitong type -- to build a case for the faith and  to challenge the presuppositions and arguments of opponents. Iiwan muna natin ang topic na ito kasi magku concentrate tayo dito sa mga susunod na episodes as I talk about the 4H apologetics.

Christian conduct on the other hand is also part of Christian apologetics as a witness. Sabi sa Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology,

Another New Testament form of testifying to Jesus and the gospel is through proper Christian conduct. Jesus tells his disciples ( John 13:34-35 ), "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." The command to love is not new (cf. Lev 19:18 ; Deut 6:5 ). What is new is the revelation of God's love through Jesus. As Jesus bore witness of God's love to the world by his life and death ( John 3:16 ), his followers by loving as he has loved will reveal a Christ-like love to a world that has never seen him. Any inquiry into the reason for this selfless love will encounter the good news of Jesus' saving work an event historically reliable and theologically certain. Proper Christian conduct, therefore, provides timeless testimony to Jesus' perfect and final expression of God's love.‡

 Hindi ito related lang sa mere compliant na mga actions but more fully sa virtuous life. It is a life na ang tawag ni Paul is in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27). More than just talking about specific actions that are good, we are actually talking here more deeply when we talk of conduct. At yan yung habituated action na naging bahagi na ng iyong goal to have a character that is exemplary. Ang tawag diyan ay the virtuous na life o yung sabi ng kaibigan kong pastor na si Phonny Jorquia na “disposition” o yung “paniniwalang pinaninindigan at sinasabuhay.”

May binanggit si Carino sa kaniyang thesis na napakaganda nating iconsider sa pagbibigay ng witness sa related sa sinasabi ko dito na conduct,

Everyday discourses do not use blanket terms such as justified or unjustified [propositions]. Rather ordinary people direct their evaluation  to persons. We condemn people who are narrow-minded, careless, rash, prejudiced, rigid, obtuse, jumping to conclusions, ignoring relevant facts, relying on untrustworthy authority, lacking insight, etc. We admire people who are insightful, sensitive to detail, able to think up explanations of complex data, open-minded, aware of their own fallibility, wise in making judgments, etc.§

A witness of Christ does not only present justified propositions but also a conduct that is worthy of the Gospel. This is the reason why apologetics is good because it carried by the Christian witness.

Nabubuo ang conduct na ito by habituation o ‘yung nagawa na niyang ugali. Nauunawaan niya na biniyayaan siya ng Diyos, ayon 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Subalit kasama nyang reliable na mga faculties na yan, responsable pa rin ang Christian na pagyamanin ito. Kasi nga ministry siya sa ebanghelyo sabi sa Philippians 1:7, 16 na pagtatanggol sa ebanghelyo. Apologetics is a witness to the faith.

Ang pagtatanggol ay may kaakibat na disposition. It means that “your walk does not give the lie to your confession” (Meyer’s NT Commentary). Ang kanilang readiness to give a defense nagsisimula sa pundasyong nilatag nila ng kanilang disposisyon. Sabi ni Arthur Holmes,

a disposition is a tendency to act in certain ways. Disposition is more basic, lasting and pervasive than the particular motive or intention behind a certain action. It differs from a sudden impulse in being a settled habit of mind, an internalized and often reflective trait. Virtues are general character traits that provide inner sanctions on our particular motives, intentions and outward conduct.║

Nagtanong ako sa mga kaibigan ko kung ano ang pagkaunawa nila sa salitang disposisyon. Napakaraming sagot. Malimit it is a translation of the English word disposition which “state of mind regarding something; inclination.” Ang pinakapaborito kong defnition galing sa mga kaibigan ko ay galing kay Pastor Phonny Jorquia. Ang disposisyon daw ay isang “paniniwalang pinanghahawakan at pinamumuhay.” It is within the orbit ng practical wisdom kasi while it begins as an abstract concept like kabaitan sa ating kaisipan, siya ay nagiging action sa taong may disposisyon. It is a motion of the will. Dagdag pa ni Holmes na ang taong may disposisyon ay may katangian na,

stemming from who you are at your core level, to act in certain ways . . . [I]t is not simply, therefore, an impulse, good or bad, but rather a settled habit of mind. [I]t has a function of providing judgment on motives and outward actions. Virtues, then, relate to who we are as people; our character.¶

Sa apologetics, naka undergird ang ganitong kaisipan. Sa 1 Peter 3:13-16 naka indicate ang mga katangiang “Zealous for that which is good,” “for righteousness’ sake,” “sanctify the Lord,” “with meekness and fear,” “a good conscience,” “your good conversation.” Mga katibayan na naka-undergird talaga ang apologetics sa sinasabi na witness as conduct. So apologetics is really good.

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*  Michael R. Carino, Epistemically Reasonable and Responsible Faith (thesis), 37.

†  "Proposition" Dictionary.com (website); accessed at http://www.dictionary.com/browse/proposition.

‡  Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, sv., "Testimony"; https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/testimony.html

§ Carino, 40

║ Arthur Holmes, Ethics: Approving Moral Decisions, Contours of Christian Philosophy, ed. C. Stephen Evans (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1984), 116.

¶ Holmes, 116.

Ang Pagiging Praktikal ng Apologetics || John Pesebre (March 15, 2018)

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.

Pag-Ibig Bilang Motibo sa Pagtatanggol sa Pananampalataya || John Pesebre (March 8, 2018)

Pag kinalabit mo ang nakabukang dahon ng makahiya plant, tumitikom ito na tila baga lumalayo na sa’yo. Ganon din kapag may namamaga ang sugat mo, ilinalayo mo ito sa kung anumang bumangga dito kasi ayaw mong masaktan. Oftentimes this is what happens sa ministry kapag tayo’y nasaktan o nagkaroon ng hindi maganda o negative na karanasan. We withdraw. What was once an act of giving (yung ministry natin), now is holding back na parang makahiya o sugat na delikadong makalabit. Ang problema sa apologetics is that it will always begin with a discomfort kasi apologetics being a defense of the faith or the gospel is always situated in a conflict, assumes an objection. So how do you continue?

We have been studying motives for apologetics and today is our last of the three. Kailangan nating malaman na ang assumption ng ating three-part series na ang ating pag-papaliwanag at kapamaraanan sa pag-apologetics ay hindi formula to assure na maniniwala ang tao sa katotohanan ng Diyos. We leave it to God’s decision to reveal Himself to a person. We do not consider our apologetics method or tactics na final na susi sa pagbukas ng puso at isipan ng tao. This leaves us with a humble realization that this work is not finally our work but God’s. Not our kindness and our reasoning that have the final say.

We may have gained skills in setting the stage and presenting our case and demolishing arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against the knowledge of Christ, but these things do not have the final say. Tulad nga ng nasabi ng the late Bill Bright about witnessing na related din sa apologetics, “Success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.” And this reality oftentimes frustrates us because we want immediate outcomes. We can't control that pero we can can calibrate our motives. So we need a motivation to continue doing without the desired outcome that oftentimes entice us away.

We call these the motivations of faith, hope and love. When faith is our motive in apologetics, we take a step of confidence to a ministry that might probably leave us insulted, uncomfortable etc. but our trust is in a Person who is committed to teach us; when hope is also our motive, we work with contagious energy because our hope is bigger than our task: the Big God who gives us joy; and lastly, when love is also our motive [along with faith and hope], we will continue to serve and give despite the many hurts and negative trials that come our way because that is the love we learned from Christ, a love that gives, a love that serves -- not merely a feeling kind of love, but an action kind of love. Because apologetics is also a witness, we witness for Christ because of our love.

This loves gives back to God and to neighbor. Sa Matthew 22:36 tinanong ang ating Panginoong Hesus,

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This is the situation that also makes apologetics good. To continue to love as an act of grateful obedience sa Diyos. Pero nararapat na maunawaan pa natin ang katangiang pagbibigay ng pag-ibig.

To understand love, we have to start with the love of God. Love is nasa nature ng Diyos. Just as breathing is part of our life, love is with God. God is love (1 John 4:8) -- yang ang nature Niya. Pag sinabing nature o kalikasan, ang katangiang ito ay inseparable sa Kanya. Napakalawak ng meaning ng divine love pero sa interes ng topic natin ngayon let’s focus sa isang key characteristic netong divine love. Mag focus tayo sa motion of the will. This motion is one of giving. We understand love also as a giving attribute and reaching-out motivation from God. If He is not loving wala ang idea ng blessing, grace at favor.

This motion should characterize our apologetics ministry. Magbigay maski may mga obstacles.

Kung wala pong motion of the will to give ang Diyos, wala pong meaning ang divine grace at mercy. Wala tayong kaligtasan kung hindi bahagi ng kalikasan ng Diyos ang mag-gawad, magbigay. Ang grace, if you look sa verses like, Ephesians  2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” may motion ang will ng Diyos from Himself giving a gift to someone. Again, kung walang love ang Diyos hindi mago-occur sa isipan niya to grant something. Ika nga ng isang kilalang Baptist theologian na is D.A. Carson, “[God’s] love wells up amidst His perfections and is not generated by the loveliness of the loved.” Grace amplifies our understanding of what divine love is. Imaginine niyo na lang na imbes love, God would be like the Canaanite god na Moloch na may lust for blood. Imbes na magbigay siya, kukuha siya ng mga child sacrifice.

Ang mercy halos tulad din ng grace pero may key distinction. While sa grace, the receiver is undeserving of gifts because he is not qualified, mercy on the other hand the receiver deserves punishment sa ginawa niya laban doon sa magga-grant ng mercy sa kanya. Parang yung sa Prodigal Son. Siya na nga yung lumapastangan sa Ama niya ang Ama pa ang tumakbo palapit sa kanya nang siya ay manumbalik. Imbes parusahan siya, mercy ang natanggap niya. Sa madaling salita, ikaw na nga yung binigyan ng Diyos ng buhay ikaw pa ang gumawa ng sala sa kanya, subalit in His mercy He bestowed salvation pa. Hightlighted ang love diyan kasi kung wala sa bokabolaryo ng Diyos na magbigay, then you won’t receive any. Mercy amplifies our understanding of that giving nature of God.

The love of God is an act of His will din to grant something, give favor etc. It is this best depicted in the act of giving a gift. Sa apologetics, you are trying a doubter to arrive at knowledge goods of truth, understanding and wisdom na galing sa Diyos. This is your motion to give.

God gave in creation. Kung wala sa nature ng Diyos ang love, He wouldn’t even think of granting somebody something. He wouldn’t create a world that obviously He does not need but is needed by the people He created and loved.

Idagdag ko lang etong sinabi ng Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology on God’s love,

That seeking and bridging reaches its pinnacle when God sends his Son into the world to rescue sinners and to provide them with eternal life ( John 3:16 ; Rom 5:7-8 ; Eph 2:1-5 ). John declares, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us" ( 1 John 3:16 ). God's love is not based on the merit of the recipient ( Deut 7:7-8 ; Rom 5:7-8 ). Because he is love, God is not willing that any person should perish, but wills that everyone repent and live ( Ezek 18:32 ; 2 Peter 3:9 ).†

And this love serves as the foundation for our loving for in 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.   Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” This is foundational sa ministry ng apologetics.

How we understand love should not be merely emotive o yung arousing intense feeling na typical sa mga puppy love at mga hugot. Importante din yan pero feelings can disappear, but that doesn't mean love can go to. We may not have great feelings, but we can still continue with great love -- the love that we learn from Christ.

We learned from the nature of God na ang love ay may motion of the will that gives. Yes, magbigay. Without God's love, the ideas of grace, mercy and blessing do not make sense at all --
in fact they will be empty words pag ganon. Ang John 3:16 has this idea, "For God so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only Son."

Pinakita ni Kristo na praiseworthy ang ganitong uri ng pagmamahal sa Luke 7:44-46 kung saan kinukumpara nya ang gawi ni Simon the Pharisee to that of the sinful woman. So notice the act of the will that “gives” here --

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.”

This motion of the will to give is one of the cardinal features of love in the Bible. This feature should be a burning motive in our commitment to serve even in an adversity-filled Christian task called apologetics. Oo mahihirapan talaga kasi malimit mahihirap ang tanong at may naka-angkas pang emotion. Madali kang madiscourage. Subalit, kung isa sa mga key motives mo for ministry is to love with its motion to give, 'yang motive na yan will give character to your action to continue the God-given task of defending the faith. That is the love of Christ in action.

Pag-asa sa Diyos Bilang Motibasyon sa Pagtatanggol sa Pananampalataya || John Pesebre (March 6, 2018)

“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;
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."

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.

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.

____________
* Mark Jones, Faith, Hope and Love, 159.

† Jones, 160.

An Icy Bag of Trinkets || John Pesebre

Take me to an ice-covered mountain
From where snowballs roll down
To a frozen lake below, like a set of
Marbles in the hand of a dead child.

Where the chill of the morning fog
Burns my skin, and freezes my tears
Like funny dew drops falling from
The roof sills down to a frigid earth.

There where no vultures stake out
And no bear lies in wait to ambush --
Just me and these little trinkets of pain
Rattling with the howling Siberian wind.

Tiwala sa Diyos Bilang Motibo sa Apologetics || John Pesebre (March 1, 2018)

“It’s motive alone which gives character to the actions of men,” ika nga nung 17th century na French philosopher na si Jean de la Bruyere. Although I do not fully agree, but I think mayroon siyang malinaw na idea kung ano ang nagagawa ng motive sa ating mga actions. Motive is something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing. When a basketball player does not have the motive to win, you can see it sa kaniyang performance -- most notably yung recent na losing skid nila Lebron James bago sila nagtrade ng maraming players. After nung trade they suddenly had a motive to win and it really showed not only in their actions but in the games they won against top caliber teams. Motive does that. Sa apologetics kailangan natin ng motive. For the next three episodes, we will talk about three important motives for ministry: faith, hope and love. Ngayong episode we will talk about faith.

When you engage in Christian apologetics you are making a step of faith. It means you are going out of your comfort zone at pupunta ka sa isang mundo ng adventure kung saan haharapin mo ang mga mga pagsubok ng doubts, objections even insults from people. There is uncertainty, oftentimes you would doubt pa whether you are doing the right thing or not. Sabi ni Mark Jones,

Living by faith means moving into a realm whereby we are uncertain of ourselves but more certain of God and his faithfulness. Faith relinquishes self-dependence for dependence on one whom we can never fully grasp or understand.*

Yet this is our situational condition being finite beings -- we act in faith. We might not know the rules of the apologetics game completely. We might not be as eloquent as Ravi Zacharias or as philosophically savvy as William Lane Craig, yet our motive is to do things with trust in God, despite our inadequacies.

Ayaw naman natin mabuhay na hindi akma sa pagkatawag sa ministry ng ebanghelyo. Kasama kasi sa pagkatawag ng ministry of the gospel is to defend the gospel (Phillippians 1:7, 16). Ayaw nating magkasala by committing the sin of omission. Sabi sa James 4:17, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." To embrace the task of defending the gospel or contending for the faith (Jude 3) must be done as an act of faith because, “Everything that is not from faith is sin,” says Romans 14:23.

If apologetics is to be good, it has to emerge not only from a divine mandate but also of a proper biblical motive or situation for it to be blessed by God.

This truth I take to heart -- etong motive of faith. As I type this section I am having hard time breathing because of the accumulation of fluid on my lungs dahil nga kidney transplant ako at medyo hindi na optimum level yung transplanted kidney ko. I pause every five or ten minutes just to breathe well, and I question myself from time to time whether tama pa ba itong ginagawa ko -- in short, I doubt the reason for my actions. Yet I am reminded by living by faith. Feeling ko minsan tulad ako ni Ananias sa Acts 9 na sa una ay reluctant but because He believed Jesus, he stepped in faith to go to Saul of Tarsus who Ananias said just meant “harm to [God’s] holy people in Jerusalem” (v13). May big fear or anxiety but the relationship with Jesus is what made him take that step of faith and heal Saul of blindess. I may not know whether God will use what I am doing or not but I embrace this task with the belief of His love for His people. Sabi ni Mark Jones ulit,

Faith, then, is not simply (or merely) assent to the truth God has revealed (cf. James 2:19). Rather, it denotes the radical principle by which man thinks and acts in relation to God and man. God looks for this kind of faith: a firm and unwavering confidence based on an ingrained attitude of trust in him (cf. Num. 14:11, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?”). Faith and trust go hand in hand (Ps. 78:22).†

 This faith is the “Spirit-enabled embrace of and resting on our faithful God in Christ for the redemption offered by him through the promise of the gospel.” The faith we are talking about here is one that was instrumental in the Christian’s salvation. Sa dahilan ng pananampalatayang ito nabuksan ang ating kamalayan patungkol sa habag at awa ng Panginoon. This is the faith that comes from a person that was once filled with guilt for violating God’s will and then this person came to trust Jesus for His rescue. From this grace emerges a life full of gratitude to the Gospel that is the person and work of Christ.

This is not man-centered self-confidence on one’s own abilities motivated by self-aggrandizement, but Christ-centered on one’s own sense of gratitude.

The Puritan Robert Leighton in his most excellent commentary to 1 Peter said of faith, “Faith is the root of all graces, and of all obedience and holiness.” Apologetics situates itself almost always in conflicts. There is always the stress of going on or bailing out especially if our minds are severely beset by doubts of our own or by others. To continue to believe in the mandate of God requires faith. To obey requires that we trust and have confidence in the will of God for us. To be able to see the manifold blessing of God even in the presence of paralyzing suffering because of we took a step of faith requires the continuance of that faith – “from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17).

Kumbaga nakabuhos ang sarili mo sa pagsunod sa kaniya. Leighton explains,

It is an excellent life, and the proper life of a Christian, to be daily outstripping himself, to be spiritually wiser, holier, more heavenly-minded . . . Every day loving the world less, and Christ more . . . Notwithstanding all your imperfections, and the strength of sin, [Christ] can and will subdue it . . . Though you are weak, he is strong . . . and renews your strength (Isaiah 40:28-31).

“We walk by faith, not by sight,” says Paul in 2 Corinthian 5:7. Although we engage in something that is overwhelming as responding to objections of people or deep doubts in our lives, ang ating pananampalataya na naging instrumento sa ating kaligtasan ang siyang nagbibigay sa atin ng mapanghahawakan na hindi tayo iniiwan ng Diyos sa ating pagpapagal. Kaya naman sa gitna ng mga pagsubok sa ministry, hindi basta-basta tumitiklop ang mga David sa harapan ni Goliath. Sabi sa Isaiah 7:9, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”

In much the same reason as others have, the fear at anxiety sa apologetics is not being able to know what to do or what to say. And this is oftentimes the reason why we sin as servants of the gospel. We are overcome by fear and lack of faith. “I have come to understand and listen to the fear. I walk towards it and I lean into it to find new information — and the things it has to teach me.” sabi ni Tracee Ellis Ross. God is pretty much involved sa buhay natin bilang mga mananampalataya. If we dip into the work of God, He will enable us. Kaya naman kung ika’y may pag aagam agam sa pagsusuri at pag aaral sa pagtatanggol ng iyong pananampalataya, marapat lamang na tumalima ka sa buhay na may pananampalataya. Wag kang takot.

Pero wag ka ring mapagmataas sa natutunan mong mga bagong paraan ng pagsagot. Tandaan natin na hindi sa sarili ang ating pananampalataya. Nasa Diyos. Sabi sa Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” Pareho ang kawalan ng pagtitiwala sa Diyos at ang sobrang pagtitiwala sa sarili o mga methods ay salungat sa living by faith.

Sana po napagpala kayo sa lesson ngayon araw na ito at sa next episode naman po pag uusapan natin ang pangalawa sa tatlong motives at yan ang hope. Kung nais ninyong mabasa ang manuscript ng episode natin ngayon pumunta lamang po kayo sa fb page na Kaliwanagan Kay Kristo.

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* Mark Jones, Faith, Hope and Love, 35

† Jones, 37.


PS
Because apologists are more than rational beings, and because no one knows with absolute certainty where ideas will lead, apologetic discourse involves more than a systematic argument. Apology also entails risk. All who defend faith open themselves to opponents’ fire. But risk extends beyond enduring retaliatory attacks. “Worse still,” he tellingly admits, “we expose ourselves to the recoil from our own shots: for if I may trust my personal experience, no doctrine is, for the moment, dimmer to the eye of faith than that which a man has just successfully defended.

Andrew Hoffecker https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/doubt-and-the-apologist/

See also "Christian Apologetics" by CS Lewis http://www.virtueonline.org/christian-apologetics-cs-lewis-1945