Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol 90.1) The Light of Truth: Apologetics in the 21st Century
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y tim beougher<br />
you don’t have to<br />
be an expert to<br />
share <strong>the</strong> gospel<br />
Many Christians are reluctant to do personal<br />
evangelism out <strong>of</strong> a fear that <strong>the</strong> lost<br />
M person will ask <strong>the</strong>m a question <strong>the</strong>y cannot<br />
answer. This fear presupposes two faulty<br />
l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g: first, that every unbeliever with whom<br />
<strong>the</strong>y converse must be an expert on science, history, and<br />
sociology; and second, that to be an effective witness<br />
<strong>the</strong>y must be able to respond to every s<strong>in</strong>gle question or<br />
objection on <strong>the</strong> spot with carefully crafted answers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> passage most <strong>of</strong>ten associated with <strong>the</strong> exercise <strong>of</strong><br />
answer<strong>in</strong>g questions posed by unbelievers (apologetics)<br />
is 1 Peter 3:15 (NASB): “But sanctify Christ as Lord <strong>in</strong><br />
your hearts, always be<strong>in</strong>g ready to make a defense to everyone<br />
who asks you to give an account for <strong>the</strong> hope that<br />
is <strong>in</strong> you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” Peter writes<br />
to believers call<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m to humility and harmony. In no<br />
40 <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn baptist <strong>the</strong>ological sem<strong>in</strong>ary
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