Apologetics & The
Present Culture
Our generation does not embrace the Christian worldview as
wholeheartedly compared to recent generations. As early as the 1960’s, Craig
suggests that a contributing factor was the rise of atheist philosophers
(Craig, 94). As the context of the question suggests “the atheists are striking
back vigorously since the 9/11 attacks”. Apologist and author Ravi Zacharias
has painted a vivid picture of the decline of our culture over the last few
generation: He states that it is commonplace in our society that Christianity
is attacked. “It is rampant” he says. “Unbelievers once revered the church, and
its teachings, but today they scorn them. Films such as the Da Vinci Code and
organizations such as The Jesus Seminar attack the credibility of Jesus and the
Bible”. It is to this decline in a God-influence that Apologetics plays a very
important role.
I really believe that at the heart of all this is the
strategy of the enemy of God to win the hearts and minds of men, women, boys
and girls. It is an attempt to suppress the reality of God and give license to
all that the mind of men can conceive. The Bible states that the will of God is
that men (the just) shall live by Faith (Romans 1:17). The Bible also describes
the strategy of the enemy as a great exchange – God has revealed Himself to
mankind, but their hearts became dark, they became fools (saying there is no
God), leading to the exchanging of “the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:
18-25). Apologetics is needed to combat this rampant wave of attacks from the
atheists, agnostics and secularists in our society who wish to silence the
voice of absolute truth.
