Defending the Christian Faith

What exactly is apologetics? You might have heard this word used in Christian articles, by Christian authors, in a Sunday school lesson, or perhaps by some pastors in a sermon. I can tell you that apologetics is not an apology for a belief in God. On the contrary, it is substantive proof for creation, for the existence of God, and for the veracity of the Bible.

The original Greek word for apologetics is “apologētikos”. Apologetics, far from being an apology, it is a wide array of conclusive, empirical, and quantifiable evidence that is suitable for defense in believing in God and Him as Creator. Apologetics is a branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines; evidence for Creation, for Jesus Christ’s historicity and His resurrection, and for a refutation for the theory of evolution.

Christian Apologetics is a consummation of empirical evidence which includes the realms of; science, biblical manuscripts, philosophy, logic, moral arguments, biology, astronomy, mathematics, paleontology, prophecy, archeology, and history. It is Christian Apologetic’s answer to the theory of evolution and scientific hypothesis of the origin of life and of the universe. Apologetics examine the hard evidence of what we do have, as opposed to what is assumed. It is living out Peter’s command to “…always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within you” (I Pet. 3:15).

The Cosmological Argument

The general approach for those who don’t believe in a Creator, the argument or theory is an equation: Space + Time + Chance = Everything. How can, in what in reality is, 0 + 0 + 0 = everything!? The space did not cause matter to come into existence, nor did time. Neither is it possible that chance can influence or create events.

Can being come from non-being or can spontaneous generation of matter from nothing? Can chance actually do anything or cause something to happen? Not in the least. Chance is only the likelihood of something occurring. By necessity, there must first be a “cause” before any effect can occur. And a cause logically demands a cause. Chance is powerless in and of itself. It can not make something happen or create something from nothing. It is a non-being.

The Fossil Record Argument

One example of apologetics is that of missing fossil evidence for the evolution of man and the fact that we do not have transitional fossils for animals, mammals, insects, organic life-forms, and plant life. There are three hundred million species that are known of and three hundred million fossils that have been collected and categorized today. The amazing thing is that with these millions and millions of species and fossils, not one single set of transitional fossils have ever been discovered that reveal evidence of one specie evolving into another.

Most of the “missing links” turn out to be either hoaxes or extinct species and besides, one alleged missing link is not conclusive evidence of one specie evolving into a new one. Any claims for a lone, single missing link seems ridiculous when the entire chain is missing. I believe it is because you will never find what has never existed. What we do find are plants, already at the flowering stage, appearing suddenly, with no ancestral fossils above or below in what is called the Cambrian period or the Cambrian explosion.

The same is true with the majority of life forms. Geologically, life forms appeared suddenly and already fully formed with complete body parts, already! Complete flora, fauna, appendages, etc. No one has ever found gradual, progressive, evolutionary patterns of fossils. If you take a look at evolution’s so-called “Tree of Life” in many of the Biology textbooks you will see that a Tyrannosaurus rex is related to a chicken even though no transitional fossils exist to prove this. Even so the chicken and the T. rex appear on the same branch of evolution’s hypothetical Tree of Life.

I understand that Apologetics and the Biblical account of Creation swims upstream in this secular culture: one with the predisposition in classrooms that talk of evolution as a matter-of-fact. If you’ve watched the History Channel, National Geographic, PBS, or the Learning Channel (TLC), evolution is presented as a given. Fore example, they usually show cavemen hunting and gathering and using stone tools.

The Scientific Method Argument

When theories finally become facts of science they have to be able to pass what is called the Scientific Method. To be accepted as fact, theories must be tested and pass through four rigorous demands; they must be observable, repeatable, measurable, and falsifiable. If you look closely, the theory of evolution is built upon what has been observed, but not yet proven. That is even observations of evolution in the fossil record are incomplete and inconclusive. In other words it is an educated guess.

It’s important to know that theories and scientific laws are not the same thing. A theory is a hypothesis, theoretical, conjecture, and is complex, ambiguous explanation for something that lacks concrete proof. In short, a theory is based upon presuppositions and abstract reasoning. It is really a faith-based belief.

A scientific law on the other hand can be verified by experimentation, observation, repeatability and that which can be falsified. However, a theory explains an entire group of related phenomena that can not be explained by scientific fact. Theories can and have been proven wrong over time, but laws can be described single actions that can be validated as true.

In reality, humans can only make a subjective “guess” about how life and the universe came into existence. The theory of evolution doesn’t even attempt to address the origin of life or the origin of the universe because it is outside of its realm. Even so, some scientists claim that the universe has always existed (Steady State theory) even though it is impossible to prove this conclusively.

The Cause and Effect or Logical Argument

The Big Bang theory states that the universe began at a singular focal point. Did the universe have a beginning, or has it always existed (as described in the Steady State theory)? If it has always existed, then the law of Cause and Effect can not always be true. I would ask a scientist to name one thing in the entire universe that had no beginning or that was uncaused. If all physical matter had a beginning, so also must these same all things have an ending, and by necessity they must have had a cause. Matter and life are finite. And cause precedes effect. An uncaused universe defies logic and a created universe demands a cause.

The Origin of Life Argument

Humans have tried for over one hundred years by experiment to create life. It has never been done. Amino acids come in two forms which are called right and left-handed ones because one is a mirror image of the other. Proteins which contain all left-handed amino acids will connect correctly with the surrounding proteins. However, if a right-handed amino acid is included, the shape of the protein is changed and the protein will not work in a living cell. Scientists have not been able to cause amino acids dissolved in water to join together to form proteins. The energy-requiring chemical reactions that join amino acids are reversible and do not occur spontan! eously in water.

Those who say that life may have came from an asteroid, meteor, space debris or matter, or even an alien force still must address where and how that life form came into existence. The conclusion is that scientists really have no conclusive evidence or idea how life originally formed. Human attempts at creating life by experiment have failed miserably, time and time again.

The same results have been found for evolutionary experiments in trying to “boost” evolution along (see the fruit fly experimental failures) by genetic engineering. The fruit fly did change, but it was something out of a science fiction book. It mutated to where it couldn’t fly and ended up with a cumbersome number of wings, and eventually the fruit flies went sterile.

The Argument Against Arguing

The results of arguing are usually a steadfast defensive entrenchment of the one party and a prideful attitude from knowledge on the Christian’s part. It doesn’t hurt to inform people of the facts. For example, those facts that we do have and those that we do not have, about what is known and what is assumed. But it’s so important to do this in a spirit of love, genuineness, and in sincere compassion for the other person.

There are some Christians who believe in evolution. It is not an issue where someone can believe it and not be saved. It’s not about brow-beating them into submission, but revealing the love that the Father has that is so great that He gave the life of His only Son, so that we may live and enjoy Him forever (John 3:16).

Again, it is wise to follow Peter’s admonition in I Peter 3:15 to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. [but importantly, the last sentence reads] But do this with gentleness and respect.”

No one has ever been argued into heaven.

About Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is a freelance writer and Christian author who writes for several websites and online publications. With a BA in history and degrees in science and education, his primary focus is on theology, apologetics and doxology. Jack is also Senior Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church.