Miguel Labrador's Blog

Advent Apologetics Day #5 – It’s Humane Advent Apologetics Day #7 – The Samar...

Advent Apologetics Day #6 – Counter Foolishness

Living in the tension between foolishness and wisdom when being amongst others is a delicate matter, even for believers. When it come to giving an answer, we’ll have to decide in the moment which of these is better:

Not answering a fools according to their folly,

becoming like then. (Proverbs 26:4)

Answering fools as their folly deserves,

That they not be wise in their own eyes. (Proverbs 26:5)

There is a certain amount of appealing freedom in being foolish. Foolish people don’t stop to reflect on their actions. Characteristically unimaginative, foolish people don’t stop to consider how their words and actions affect others. Advent Apologetics is about hoping with others, not heaping hurt on them.

See the first 5 Parts of this series here.

But being smarter or right is not simply being more reflective or thoughtful. For many, apologetics is more about proving that they’re right than being righteous. Dallas Willard once said;

“A thoughtless or uninformed theology grips and guides our life with just as great a force as does a thoughtful and informed one.”

Leading up to everyone’s favorite verse on apologetics, 1 Peter 3:15 on Christmas Eve, today’s text comes from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:

“Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:20-22)

Paul is not asking where the Grecian sophistical reasoners or rabbinical hair-splitters are. He’s asking; “Where are those who have hope?” Where are the proclaimers of hope and what is their message?

“It is one thing to show (or attempt to show) that assorted arguments against religious faith are weak or unsound; it is a rather different task to offer people reasons why they should believe. The latter is the task of Advent Apologetics.” ~ Adapted from Ronald Nash

It’s easier, for all of us, to be cynical or angry than hopeful or kindly towards others where matters of faith are concerned. It’s easier for us to leave the true work of apologetics to the few “gifted ones.”

Advent Apologetics is not an intellectual enterprise for the elite or franchise for the few. Advent Apologetics is the task of all believers at all times. We can all give reasons for the hope within us.

This series will continue for the next 18 days. Subscribe here to be updated as they are released.

* For the past 7 years, my wife and I have been adverting during the holiday season by providing tons of food to the families in need during the holiday season. It’s not a fanfare and forget event. We go back throughout the year and visit with them, pray with them, and give them a message of hope. Please consider sponsoring one family this year. Find out more here.

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