LIBERTY UNIVERSITY EVIDENTIAL APOLOGETICS: JUST THE FACTS APOLOGETIC METHOD ANALYSIS SUBMITTED TO ADONIS VIDU

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1 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY EVIDENTIAL APOLOGETICS: JUST THE FACTS APOLOGETIC METHOD ANALYSIS SUBMITTED TO ADONIS VIDU IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE APOL 500-B10 LUO LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BY TRAVIS NOWELL LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA JANUARY 22, 2012

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SUMMARY OF EVIDENTIAL APOLOGETICS CRITIQUE OF EVIDENTIAL APOLOGETICS POPULAR EVIDENTIAL APOLOGISTS CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY

3 INTRODUCTION Christians face many challenges when presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. How they react and deal with challenges, questions, and concerns from the unbeliever can be respectively lumped into the term apologetics. This paper will attempt to shed light on why some believe evidential apologetics is the proper method of defending the Christian faith. A summary of the basic overview of evidential apologetics, along with a critique, and a short list of the advocates for this particular method will be addressed. SUMMARY OF EVIDENTIAL APOLOGETICS Evidential apologetics always builds its case on the factual evidence of the Bible and its message of Jesus. They believe quite frankly that the facts speak for themselves. 1 Bernard Ramm believes the evidential apologetic model is classified into three categories of material facts (historical events, documents, archaeological artifacts), supernatural facts (events or phenomena explained by the supernatural), and experiential facts (individual and social phenomena). 2 Simply put, a wide variety of concrete evidence is considered with more emphasis placed on the death, resurrection, and miracles of Jesus. If you want proof for believing in Jesus, evidential apologetics will give you an abundance of evidence to consider. An evidential apologist adheres to a burden of proof on themselves to show unbelievers why it is sensible to believe in the life and message of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, they believe the truth of the Gospel should never be fully denied without a fair deliberation of the factual basis for the Christian truth claim. Evidential apologists do not walk by blind faith. 1 Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman Jr., Faith Has Its Reasons: Integrative Approaches to Defending the Christian Faith (Colorado Springs, CO.: Paternoster, 2006), Bernard Ramm, Protestant Christian Evidences (Chicago: Moody, 1953),

4 CRITIQUE OF EVIDENTIAL APOLOGETICS All Christians believe the lost must be prompted by the Holy Spirit to repent and accept the Gospel. However, we are instructed in 1 Peter 3:15 to be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 3 Anyone who has ever witnessed to an unbeliever knows they will receive many questions. As Scripture commands we must answer those questions to the best of our ability. Evidential apologetics properly equips Christians with a wonderful understanding of concrete facts that can abundantly answer the inevitable questions of why. Why should I believe Jesus message? Why is the Bible accurate? Why is Christianity right and all the other religions wrong? The evidential apologist can immediately reveal the relevant facts that substantiate the claims of Scripture like an attorney building a case. 4 POPULAR EVIDENTIAL APOLOGISTS One popular evidential apologist is Josh McDowell. In his book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, he lays out his belief in Christ through the following evidences: archaeological discoveries, the extant manuscripts of the biblical texts, fulfilled prophecies, and the miracle of the resurrection. McDowell states the "evidence for Christianity in the Scriptures is not exhaustive, but it is sufficient." 5 Another world renowned evidential apologist is John Warwick Montgomery. Montgomery openly advocates evidential apologetics and draws his philosophy exclusively from the historical facts of Scripture in his book Faith Founded on Fact. Montgomery's apologetic work establishes the divinity of Christ through the historical and legal 3 English Standard Version 4 Ed Hindson, Ergun Caner and general editors, The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics (Eugene, OR.: Harvest House Publishers, 2008), Christy Tennant, "Josh McDowell on Defending the Bible," Bible Study Magazine, (2008): 13.

5 evidences for the resurrection. 6 Lee Strobel is yet another evidential apologist who has become very popular in recent years. Strobel maintains the overwhelming evidence in favor of Christ clearly destroys the claims of other religions and atheism. 7 His books, Case for Christ, Case for Creator, and Case for Faith, are all evidential apologetic in nature. CONCLUSION Defining the word apologetics in today s time can be rather exhausting. In our practical Christian walk the term most resonates with simply being equipped with a firm knowledge of the facts and reasons why we believe and maintain the faith in Christ. Evidential apologetics answers the skeptic s questions with sound, concrete facts. Some theories start with faith and work outwardly from there. Evidential apologetics and its advocates present practical evidence that Christians and unbelievers both can agree on in a non-biased fashion. Simply, look at the evidence and make your choice based on all the facts we have available. Those inquiring further study on the topic could look into Fredric Howe s book entitled Challenge and Response: A Handbook for Christian Apologetics and Ronald Mayer s entitled Balanced Apologetics: Using Evidences and Presuppositions in Defense of the Faith. (2009): Bowman, Faith Has Its Reasons, JD Barry, "Investigative Bible Study: Lee Strobel on Engaging a Pluralistic World". Bible Study Magazine

6 BIBLIOGRAPHY Barry, JD. "Investigative Bible Study: Lee Strobel on Engaging a Pluralistic World". Bible Study Magazine (2009): Boa, Kenneth D., and Robert M. Bowman Jr. Faith Has Its Reasons: Integrative Approaches to Defending the Christian Faith. Colorado Springs, CO.: Paternoster, English Standard Version. Hindson, Ed, Ergun Caner, and general editors. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Eugene, OR.: Harvest House Publishers, Ramm, Bernard. Protestant Christian Evidences. Chicago: Moody, Tennant, Christy. "Josh McDowell on Defending the Bible," Bible Study Magazine, (2008): 13.