James Beilby on Apologetic Success

“Apologetic success, however, is neither strictly a matter of the quality of one’s arguments nor the apparent response of your interlocutor…apologetic success is best understood as faithfulness to Jesus Christ. In our apologetic endeavors, we are called to be faithful to Christ in at least three senses. First, what we say should accurately represent who Jesus is, what he taught and, specifically, the good news he brought to the world. Second, the way we do our apologetics should augment our arguments, not detract from them. We must defend Christ in a way that fits with Christ’s message. Finally, we must be faithful to God’s purposes in specific situations. In some cases, apologetics appropriately and naturally leads to an offer for a person to commit her life to Christ, but in the vast majority of cases, our apologetic endeavors are a small step in a person’s long and winding journey that one hopes will culminate in relationship with Jesus Christ.”

—James Beilby

1. Beilby, James K. Thinking About Christian Apologetics. Pages 22-23. [HT: TruthBomb]