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For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse (Romans 1:19-20 ESV).
Apologetics is the technical word for “defending the Christian faith.” In seminary, I remember a book that defined apologetics “as the philosophical defense of the trinitarian faith.”
If Christians must defend their faith, are we winning?
There has been lots of trash-talking against Christianity by so-called New Atheists. They talk satirically about the Bible being concocted by mindless zealots and overplay the idea of God allowing the slaughter of the innocents in the Old Testament.
They round up their arguments with a few dollops of witticism about the scientific improbability of miracles. Then they wipe their satirical hands thinking victory and sell lots of books.
But are they winning the battle for doubt and disbelief?
Nope! In fact, the opposite.
I am old enough to remember the cover of Time magazine in 1966 that asked the question, “Is God Dead?”
The reasons cited in the article weren’t that convincing in 1966. This reasoning has been regurgitated by the New Atheists today. But with skepticism caused by the Time magazine declaration in 1966, scholars rejoiced and sinners lived without the restraint of judgment.
The agnostic mantras of doubt have permeated culture since.
But something else happened after 1966.
Those of faith sharpened their science, their philosophy, their archeology, and their understanding of joy – and silently began to throw the trash-talkers and their arguments into the garbage.
In Romans 1:20, the phrase “without excuse” comes from the word “apologetos.” We get the word “apologetics” from this Greek word. As a reader of this topic, I’ve been fascinated to see how Christians now win the arguments for the existence of God – miracles such as the resurrection, and the credibility of the Bible.
Yes, for the fair-minded the only conclusion is that atheism is dead.
1966 was a wake-up call for the brilliant minds of faith. Like the Russians as the first in space in the early ’60s propelled the American space program, the Time magazine article challenged believers.
Since then, reasons to believe based on theology, philosophy, science, culture analysis, and archeology have exploded.
Romans 1:20 states emphatically that doubters are without “excuse” because “apologetics” has consistently undermined their arguments in the last 50 years. Agnosticism and atheism have no foundation today.
I am amused to see a sign that reads, “We Believe In Science.” I realize the cultural combat in this phrase, but I chuckle because an 0pen-minded person, truly believing in science, would also believe in the God of the Bible!
Faith wins!
Last note: As the end-times approach, more evidence for God and the Bible has been discovered in the last few decades than at any time in history. Literally, those living in the end-times are without excuse!