A word of Wisdom: Apologetics Not the Way and Life

A word of Wisdom:

Apologetics Not the Way and Life

Apologetics may speak the Truth at times to atheist, scorners and mockers, but it is not the Way that Jesus taught and demonstrated to us and does not result in living out the Life we have been taught by Christ.

The instructions that Jesus gave us instead:

Mark 6:11-13 KJV

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. 

Verily I say unto you, 

It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

[12] And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 

[13] And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Apologetics seek to convert unbelievers intellectually through clever debates and reasonings with excellency of speech but Christ teaches us to preach the Kingdom of God and confirming the word preached with signs and wonders.

1 Corinthians 2:1,4-7 KJV

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 

[4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 

[5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 

[7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

We are commanded to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

We have not been commanded to persuade and debate those who heard and saw and yet still chose not to believe.

Matthew 13:15-16 KJV

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should UNDERSTAND with their HEART, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

[16] But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Mark 4:12 KJV

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be CONVERTED, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Our work is simply to preach in power that they may hear and see the Truth and choose to believe, not in persuading them intellectually.

It is the Holy Spirit's work to convert their hearts and not ours nor do we have the power to do so.

It is the conversion of the heart that matters, not the intellect which is temporal, fickle and double-minded.

Romans 10:8-10 KJV

But what saith it? 

The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 

[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Apologetics is the way of man not the Way of God.

Let us deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.

Let us observe whatsoever He has commanded us.

Let us be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves according to His Way, His Truth and His Life.

Matthew 28:18-20 KJVS

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15-18,20 KJV

And he said unto them, 

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

[17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; 

In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 

[18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

[20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Acts 5:29 KJV

We ought to obey God rather than men.