22 Section A DECEMBER 2008 The Woodside News

THE BIBLE AND SCIENCE BY WILLIAM T. PELLETIER, PH.D [WOODSIDE NEWS COLUMNIST]
Apologetics Is Vital Woodside is intent upon cur-
riculums that train in doc-
Christianity can be heard and recog-
nized as intellectually respectable,” said
“Apologetics should be part of trine,” said Haven. “The chil- Craig.
parenting classes!” dren’s ministry uses the Western culture is deeply post-
Does this sound off-the- Desiring God curriculum. Christian and western intellectuals no
wall, or does it strike a reso- Middle School Pastor Steve longer consider theological knowledge
nant chord in your soul? This Zarrilli and High School possible, according to Craig. This atti-
fresh concept came from Dr. Pastor Jerry Hines use age- tude is now widely entrenched in the
William Lane Craig, interna- WILLIAM T. PELLETIER appropriate training materials culture and influences the hearing the
tionally-known Christian PH.D.
which reinforce Biblical doc- Gospel receives since the Gospel is
apologist, philosopher and trine and apologetics for pre- always heard against a cultural back-
author. Craig visited Detroit teens and teens. Adult small ground. Through apologetics Christians
recently for two apologetics sessions. groups use The Truth Project.” can restore an attitude of respect for
Apologetics doesn’t mean being “I picked up one of Craig’s books the reasonableness of the Gospel in
sorry for something. Rather it comes several years ago and found it pretty the culture.
from the Greek word apologia mean- difficult,” said Mike Browning from Craig disputed the idea that
ing defense. Apologetics is the Woodside’s Troy campus, who attend- America is a post-modern culture for
defense of Christianity using evidence, ed both talks. But after studying apolo- which appeals to rational arguments are
reason, and logic. getics, Browning and his wife Kelly unhelpful. He said nobody is post-mod-
“It was a treat to have an apologist found Craig’s talks engaging, under- ern when reading labels on medicine or
of Craig’s stature in our area,” standable and informative. poison bottles. People are not relativistic Dr. William Lane Craig, philosophy
remarked Patrick Smith, Woodside Browning was impressed with the with technology, even though they may professor at Talbot Seminary
Bible Church’s theolo-
gian. William Lane
Craig is Research
Professor of Philosophy “We’ve got to train our kids for war.
at Talbot seminary with
earned doctorates in the-
ology and philosophy.
The time for playing games is over.”
The Material World:
Is this all there is? was –- DR. WILLIAM LANE CRAIG
Craig’s topic at
Woodside’s Warren cam-
gracious way Craig handled a ques- think they are in religion. APOLOGETICS
pus on November 7. “Craig reviewed
tioner who insisted she didn’t need Satan has used the excuse of post- AND EVANGELISM
five classic proofs for the existence of
God to be happy. Craig asserted the modernism to deceive Christians into Thirdly, Craig said apologetics is
God to argue the material world is not
existence of God is the most reason- laying down our best weapons of effective in evangelism. He disagreed
all there is,” reported Woodside’s
able explanation of the evidence, and logic and rational argument, accord- with those who say, “Nobody comes to
Executive Pastor Eric Haven.
personal happiness is beside the point. ing to Craig. At his university lec- Christ through arguments.” He point-
Craig’s talk was particularly
In three arenas apologetics plays a tures and debates, students never ed to examples of the apostles in the
appropriate looking toward Christmas,
vital role: shaping culture, strengthening challenge Craig’s use of logic as a New Testament who used apologetics
when many focus exclusively on mate-
believers and evangelizing unbelievers. tool to deduce truth. in their evangelistic messages. They
rial aspects. Craig’s talk energized
gave creation as evidence for the exis-
hearers to look deeper.
APOLOGETICS SHAPES CULTURE APOLOGETICS STRENGTHENS tence of God and then presented eye-
“Many I spoke with appreciated
Is Christianity a viable option for think- CHRISTIANS witness testimony for the resurrection
Craig’s clear arguments,” said Patrick
ing people? “Apologetics helps create Secondly, Craig said apologetics in arguing for the Gospel.
Smith. “Craig’s presentation stimulat-
and sustain a cultural milieu in which strengthens believers and prevents Craig identified engineers,
ed numerous audience questions.
apostasy (abandoning lawyers, and medical personnel as
Although some of his sup-
faith). Many non- those who respond best to his apolo-
porting evidence may have
Christian worldviews getic arguments. These key influencers
been unfamiliar, he pro-
assault us and our chil- in society can be reached effectively
vided helpful examples to
dren. Knowing good through apologetics.
illustrate his arguments.
answers to questions and Craig also said that in his debates
Audience interaction
sound reasons for what we with Islamic apologists, they are
showed the need for the
believe can help prevent always rigorously rational. Apologetics
church to take seriously
people losing their faith is one avenue that has proved success-
the life of the mind and
when challenged by evo- ful in reaching Muslims who are often
the importance of apolo-
lutionist claims – whether resistant to other approaches.
getics in today’s world.”
Prepare for the Battle! by friends, by the media,
or in college classrooms. SEASON’S REASON
was Craig’s talk at Royal
For life in today’s cul- Craig presented a persuasive pragmat-
Oak Missionary Church
ture, training in sound doc- ic case for the vital role of apologetics
November 8 as he chal-
trine and rigorous apolo- in Christian discipleship. He showed
lenged Christians to equip
getics is vital. “Apologetics why the Apostle Peter commanded,
themselves to defend their
should be part of parenting “Always be ready to make a defense to
faith.
classes,” said Craig. “We’ve everyone who asks you to give an account
For Haven, Craig’s
got to train our kids for for the hope that is in you, yet with gen-
talk highlighted the neces-
war. The time for playing tleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15)
sity for Woodside to offer
games is over.” The Christmas season presents
age-appropriate apologet-
Apologetics is a many chances for apologetics discus-
ics training for every gen-
tremendous boost to con- sions. “Jesus is the reason for the sea-
eration. Haven said, “I was
fidence. Students tell son,” is a natural opening. Make the
impressed again with the
Craig how proud and most of your opportunities!
value of teaching doctrine
in the church and how to confident they are as
Christians after hearing ©2008 William T. Pelletier
defend that doctrine in the
his debates, because they BibleScienceGuy@woodsidenews.org
marketplace.
realize their faith is intel- Read the Bible-Science Guy Blog at
“Craig said we can’t
lectually sound and emi- http://www.woodsidebible.org/category/
send children into battle
nently defensible. blogs/Bible-Science-Guy/
with rubber swords.