Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol 90.1) The Light of Truth: Apologetics in the 21st Century

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the changing face of apologetics in a secular age at worst enemies of the common good. In other words, the scandal that Christianity faces right now is primarily a moral scandal. 3 Finally, Reformed theology is the only adequate framework for a genuinely scriptural and kerygmatic apologetic. Because a theistic foundation is now so far from the society’s imagination, our seminary graduates will likely never live in a moment when the most basic truth claims of Christianity will be heard or understood in anything like the way they are intended. Sociologist and theologian Peter Berger points out that secularization has changed the plausibility structures for people even if they recite the same creed. Even if someone says the Apostle’s Creed precisely as their great grandparents had said it, they may not believe the Apostle’s Creed in exactly the same way. In the US, and even in evangelical life according to Berger, secularization works internally. Rather than taking the Christian faith as a whole package, evangelicals typically choose which doctrines they want to believe and which they don’t. The same person may choose to affirm both the bodily resurrection of Christ and gay marriage. Confessing both doctrines feels life-giving so the jerrymandered logic used to cobble them together goes unnoticed. After all, belief is as a matter choice. Berger calls this the heretical imperative, and I, frankly, think it is quite frightening. How does the Christian pastor or apologist speak to a culture that doesn’t even have the foundation to hear and understand a coherent biblical framework? How do we speak to a culture that not only has lower rates of people who say they believe in God, but who when they do say they believe in God, give decreasing importance to what they’re saying? Reformed theology is the only way. In Reformed theology, we not only begin with the sovereignty of God, but we understand God’s sovereign grace to be the operative principle throughout the entire system of our thinking. We believe that the most important work is the Spirit’s internal work, a work which is beyond cognitive realization. We know there is no way to break through the defenses of a rebellious heart, even with the most ingenious argument, until something happens inside that heart, which can only come by the sovereign power of God. For this reason, we affirm that the preaching of the Word of God is the primary means of grace by which God, by the Holy Spirit, reaches into dead human hearts bringing regeneration, quickening, illumination, awakening. The Christian apologist certainly employs intellectual tools to defend the Christian faith. The task of apologetics necessarily requires the use of intellectual tools. It necessitates our taking ideas and truth claims seriously and giving a reason for the hope that is in us. But ultimately, our confidence is not in our intellect but in the power of God. R. Albert Mohler Jr. is President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and daily host of The Briefing. “We affirm that the preaching of the Word of God is the primary means of grace by which God, by the Holy Spirit, reaches into dead human hearts bringing regeneration, quickening, illumination, awakening.” 8 the southern baptist theological seminary
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 In the midst of chaos and confusion, you need a source you can trust. Featuring daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview. ALBERTMOHLER.COM
Page 1 and 2: 4 The Changing Face of Apologetics
Page 3 and 4: Summer 2022. Vol. 90, No. 1. Copyri
Page 5 and 6: President’s Message r. albert moh
Page 7 and 8: “How do we speak to a culture tha
Page 9: . albert mohler, jr. de-Christianiz
Page 13 and 14: y kyle d. claunch The Expulsion of
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Page 21 and 22: What does apologetic method and str
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Page 29 and 30: andrew t. walker theology. Instead,
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Page 37 and 38: Master of Arts Biblical Counseling
Page 39 and 40: “A FEW YEARS AGO, EVANGELICALS DI
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Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol 90.1) The Light of Truth: Apologetics in the 21st Century

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