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1) One of the major instruments that have been used to bring people to the foot of the cross should be not be used.
2) Other methods of evangelism impales in comparison to his preferred method; the method of showing signs, the wonders of God, miracles and healings.
In my article, that can be found here, I didn't undermine Clarks teaching that "Biblical evangelism is a revelation encounter with the power and presence of God, resulting in faith (“hearing” and obeying God)."[i] I also argued that the method of signs, wonders, healings and miracles was, in the New Testament at least a common occurrence, especially in the book of Acts. However this evangelical toolkit was not the only method of evangelicalism that was used in Scripture. The sensationalism[ii] vs. charismatic[ii] debate regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit being used today, such as prophecy and healing, etc. is no secret. I won't engage into this discussion but rather for the sake of argument let's assume that the charismatic camp is correct and signs, wonders, healings and miracles are still alive & kick'n today; just as to how it was in the first century this package of wonders isn't the only game in town. In my article I gave 5 examples of influences that brought people to a saving faith in Christ of only which one was apologetics.
What is apologetics?
What is apologetics? Dr. Richard L. Pratt writes:
The word “apologetics” is ... derived from the Greek APOLOGY... When Paul stood before the mob in Jerusalem, he said, “hear my defense (apology) which I now offered to you.” (Acts 22:1)[iii]
There are a lot of references in Scripture that offer a direct promotion of the tool of apologetics; however out of them all there is one that seems to get special attention: 1 Peter 3:15b:
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
I recently went through a three part analysis of this passage that can be located here[iii]; however in short Peter is encouraging them to be ready to answer any question or respond to any comments about their faith. In the same way the Christian is to likewise be ready to offer reasons for their hope in Christ. Unfortunately to its demise apologetics has been held captive in the academic sandbox resulting in people being afraid of it. Many people as Pratt states, believe apologetics is for "...the so-called professionals, not the average Christian layman."[v] Prat continues:
...apologetics is thought to be too philosophical, abstract, and impractical for the layman."[vi]
However apologetics is much more widespread in its application than academic. Apologetics simply is the discipline of being ready to represent Christ via answered questions that were asked and respond to comments that were made. The method of how one gives that answer is dependant on the question being asked or the comment being made. Paul in Acts 22:1-21 gives his testimony. Peter in Acts 3 felt it appropriate to represent the work of God in the life of the newly healed disabled man at the temple gate; Peter was ready to explain to the crowd who thought that this healing was their work that it was the work of God, (cf. Acts 3:12-13); this was his apologetic. In the same way with the sign of the Holy Spirit one chapter earlier in Acts 2:14-47 Peter stood up and explained from Scripture the sign, namely the fiery-tongues and the spontaneous ability of people to speak foreign languages is prophesy being fulfilled (cf. Joel 2:28-32). Peter then gives them a detailed run-through of the signs and wonders that God offered through the Old Testament; signs that all point to Christ. So one can see here that God used several major methods: signs, wonders, prophecies, miracles and an explanation that made those facts coherent, apologetics, to bring what Scripture indicated was 3000 people receiving Christ as their saviour.
Carrying on after the healing of the disabled man at the temple gate Peter was hauled to the Sadducees. The Sadducees were perplexed to see this man who all they ever known to be disabled is now able-bodied. They inquired about this miracle, and Peter was all too eager to explain, (cf. Acts 4:8-12). Then Sadducees commanded them to stop speaking in the name of Christ, (cf. Acts 4:17); of which Peter responds to their request with reason, his rationale as to why he is going to respectfully decline their request, (cf. Acts 4:19-20). Moving ahead to Acts 6 for a case where apologetics is used another way. An accusation was made against to the apostle Stephen: blaspheming Moses and God (cf, Acts 7:11); this accusation was then changed to blaspheming against the temple and the law (cf. Acts 6:13). In his defense against that accusation, in Acts 7 Stephen gives his audience a summary of their history showing that their accusation is without merit; but to also represent God properly to those who are true seekers. Again one can see the combination of several tools of evangelism being used: miracles, which were signs of God, and accusations being made against a believer were the defence was a history lesson.
Carrying on after the healing of the disabled man at the temple gate Peter was hauled to the Sadducees. The Sadducees were perplexed to see this man who all they ever known to be disabled is now able-bodied. They inquired about this miracle, and Peter was all too eager to explain, (cf. Acts 4:8-12). Then Sadducees commanded them to stop speaking in the name of Christ, (cf. Acts 4:17); of which Peter responds to their request with reason, his rationale as to why he is going to respectfully decline their request, (cf. Acts 4:19-20). Moving ahead to Acts 6 for a case where apologetics is used another way. An accusation was made against to the apostle Stephen: blaspheming Moses and God (cf, Acts 7:11); this accusation was then changed to blaspheming against the temple and the law (cf. Acts 6:13). In his defense against that accusation, in Acts 7 Stephen gives his audience a summary of their history showing that their accusation is without merit; but to also represent God properly to those who are true seekers. Again one can see the combination of several tools of evangelism being used: miracles, which were signs of God, and accusations being made against a believer were the defence was a history lesson.
Pastor Randy Clark states that "Biblical evangelism is a revelation encounter with the power and presence of God, resulting in faith (“hearing” and obeying God)."[viii] As I've shown this is true. It is via the Holy Spirit that these great acts and their commentaries by the apostles were done. One theme among many of today's Christian apologists is the citation of 1 Peter 3:15b (see above). However the first part of that verse is:
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. - (cf. 1 Peter 3:15a - NIV 1984).
Nobody can effectively do the work of God, may it be a miracle, a sign, a wonder or an apologetic on their own power. It doesn't mean that the Christian cannot learn facts and recite knowledge, but if they attempt to show off how smart they are or how educated they are God may see to it to humble them by not backing up their efforts, (cf. Psalms 127:1). This is why in everything the Christian does they should do it for God's glory, not their own, (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31).
How effective are signs without explanation?
Now let's take the apologetics aspect out of the stories cited above for the sake of entertaining Randy Clark's wishes. How effective would these signs, wonders and miracles be if there was nobody willing to explain them? Would God be glorified in Acts 3 if Peter didn't explain the true origin of the healing of the disabled man? No. Would the mere signs of fiery tongues and untrained people speaking foreign languages clarify Christ in the minds of those at Pentecost, causing them to repent, without Peter's theological history lesson? No. Would any true seekers in Stephen's audience be taught truth if he hadn't defended his position against the accusations and clearly showed how Christ is shown through the prophets? No. God presents himself to people by miracles and signs, but send his followers to explain what they mean. Signs and miracles cannot be divorced from apologetics.
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[0] http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-news/columns/67-pastors-heart/19752-leave-apologetics-out-of-evangelism - accessed March 13, 2014
[i] Ibid., - accessed March 13, 2014
[ii] In Christian circles there is an internal debate between two major theological camps: A) Sensationalism: the belief that the 'gifts of the Sprit' were only used in the first century and are no longer are applicable today. B) Charismatic: a theological movement that regarding the topic of the 'gifts of the Sprit' they are very much applicable and are active today.
[i] Ibid., - accessed March 13, 2014
[ii] In Christian circles there is an internal debate between two major theological camps: A) Sensationalism: the belief that the 'gifts of the Sprit' were only used in the first century and are no longer are applicable today. B) Charismatic: a theological movement that regarding the topic of the 'gifts of the Sprit' they are very much applicable and are active today.
[iii] Richard L. Pratt, Every Thought Captive: A study manual for the defense of Christian truth. (Atlanta Georgia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1979), 2.
[iv] A study in 1 Peter 3:15:
- Part 1 - http://acrazychristian.blogspot.ca/2014/02/let-jesus-be-god-study-in-1-peter-315.html - accessed March 13, 2014
- Part 2 - http://acrazychristian.blogspot.ca/2014/02/your-personal-story-study-in-1-peter-315.html - accessed March 13, 2014
- Part 2 - http://acrazychristian.blogspot.ca/2014/02/dealing-with-evil-with-love-study-in-1.html - accessed March 13, 2014
[v] Richard L. Pratt, Every Thought Captive: A study manual for the defense of Christian truth. (Atlanta Georgia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1979), 7.
[vi] Ibid., 7.
[vii] http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-news/columns/67-pastors-heart/19752-leave-apologetics-out-of-evangelism - accessed March 13, 2014
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