Did you know that the scriptures command us to give a reason for our faith?

“Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

“Why am I a Christian?” That was a question that I could not answer until I came to college. For so long that question was incredibly hard to answer, I had no idea or reason.

But then I was introduced to apologetics in my freshman year with the campus ministry I now work full time with. I found out that apologetics means: to give a rational defense for the Christian faith.  I also discovered there was another student organization on campus called Ratio Christi, Latin for “the reason for Christ.” This organization is “a global movement that equips university students and faculty to give historical, philosophical, and scientific reasons for following Jesus Christ. Bringing together faith and reason to establish the intellectual voice of Christ in the University.”

Whenever I had free time in my busy college schedule, I would go to these meetings and be amazed at these different findings, and I discovered that instead of halting my critical thinking when I become a Christian, it was quite the opposite.

“In short, I didn’t become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing.  Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus really is the one-and-only Son of God who proved his divinity by rising from the dead. That meant following him was the most rational and logical step I could possibly take.” –Lee Strobel

As I’ve talked to numerous students here in the U.S. and overseas, I have encountered many who often think faith and reason are the same as water and oil. I remember talking with a student in Austria who said, “I believe in science, not God.” I then challenged him and asked, “Have you ever thought that faith and science can work together?” It was evident this was a question that he never put into thought before.

Less Strobel and Josh McDowell took challenges from their friends – mostly out of spite to prove them wrong.  They did intensive intellectual examinations of the claims of Christ.  It resulted in their bestselling books: Case for Christ and More than a Carpenter (respectively).  Both these men wanted to disprove Christianity and took months to put in the amount of research to finally admit “that the Old and New Testament documents were some of the most reliable writing in all of antiquity.”  I wonder what would happen if all people – including myself – believers and nonbelievers, truly took the time to discover the claims, historical and archeological evidence, and reasoning behind the Christian faith.  I wonder what God might reveal to them.

Apologetics also provides an avenue to learn about other religions in comparison to the gospel. This has helped me tremendously as I learned more about why I believe that the Father sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:11). I often bring up the different claims within a few different religions and ask students about their thoughts about how every other religion teaches us to earn our way to God. What I learned through this is that Christianity is the only religion and relationship that teaches that God came to us. He humbled Himself for us. He took the form of a servant for us. He made Himself nothing for us. (Philippians 2:7-8)

Even with apologetics, I realize that I’m not going to have all the answers and that is how God designed it. The beauty of apologetics is self-discovering the reasons to defend your faith along with your personal testimony and taking a step of faith in the midst of the evidence instead of a leap in the dark.

People may start with the “intellectual” questions about the Christian faith, but as it was with the Pharisees, it often comes down to a heart issue with Christianity.  It will always come down to a changed heart. A heart that God has softened and revealed to us our brokenness and need for a Savior. It’s all about the relationship with God, and it starts with our hearts. That’s what He’s after.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:20-21

Aaron Burden