Apologetics Resources

What is apologetics? The term apologetics does not mean apology.  Instead, it comes from the Greek word apologia, which means “to give a defense of what one believes to be true.”1 The word apologia is used in a number of places in the Bible, the most relevant of which is 1 Peter 3:15: …in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect… Of course, the primary aim of apologetics is to prove the truth of Christianity, to defend it from its’ detractors.  What is interesting to me, and ultimately why I came to accept Christianity as the truth, is that if you honestly examine the evidence and accept the most fair interpretation of the facts, the best explanation of the facts turns out to be Christianity itself.  As each counterpoint to Christianity is raised by critics and ultimately defeated, we are left with a simple choice; to believe by faith in Christ or to turn our backs on the most fundamental truth of life.  I am providing this resource page as a gateway to many sites on apologetics that will help you in that decision. Below, you will find a number of apologetics resources. These are of course only a small portion of the many available resources.  I am also adding more all the time.

Apologetics with a Focus on Creation: So why link to those crazy creation scientists?  Well, in a word, because more than any other, they have committed themselves to the purist and truest interpretation of the Bible.  They have bowed to the sovereignty of God and His Word.  Over the last several years, after much reading and research, I have committed to the Biblical account of creation.  So, naturally, the first and best place to start an apologetic is with our origins.  Creation Ministries International: CMI is “a group of autonomous ministries in several countries. The ministries are non-profit in nature.”  CMI is focused on science in the light of creationism.  I find not only the science aspect of CMI to be informative and intriguing, but I also find the Biblical knowledge to be consistent and dependable. Institute for Creation Research: ICR’s goal is to “serve as an education, research, and communications media institution specializing in the study and promotion of scientific creationism, Biblical creationism, and related fields.”  ICR has a number of great articles, products, and information in both the field of science and Biblical studies. Answers in Genesis: The goal of Answers in Genesis is to be “an apologetics (i.e., Christianity-defending) ministry, dedicated to enabling Christians to defend their faith, and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively. We focus particularly on providing answers to questions surrounding the book of Genesis, as it is the most-attacked book of the Bible. We also desire to train others to develop a biblical worldview, and seek to expose the bankruptcy of evolutionary ideas, and its bedfellow, a “millions of years old” earth (and even older universe).”  This is a wonderful site from the perspective of creation science.

Apologetics/Theological Sites (Defenders of the Bible) Many of the sites I am sharing below are not true apologetics sites.  However, more and more, I have begun to realize that the best apologetic comes from the proclaiming the Gospel.  Thus, many of the sites I am sharing — for instance, Grace to You — are for a pastor who proclaims the gospel boldly and accurately.  Apologetics is good, but only if relying upon correct theology. Grace to You From offices around the world, Grace to You extends John MacArthur’s verse-by-verse Bible teaching using modern media-radio, television, books, and the World Wide Web. Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God’s Word, John MacArthur is a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. Alpha and Omega Ministries: Dr. James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona.  He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics.  He has authored or contributed to more than twenty books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter’s Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than sixty moderated, public debates with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism.  He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than twenty-five years, and has two children, Joshua and Summer. >>Click here for the Alpha and Omega You Tube videos. Ligonier Ministries: Ligonier Ministries is the ministry of R.C. Sproul.  The site has a number of great resources, including videos, audio, books, a newsletter, and a magazine.  I would not call it a true apologetics ministry, but the site has a number of great resources that solidify the Christian faith, and ultimately as a result, defends the faith. Desiring God: John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. John is the author of more than 30 books and more than 25 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM): Ravi Zacharias is not your typical apologist.  His messages carry a heavy heartfelt impact that go far beyond the intellectual apologist.  His site contains numerous articles, as well as audio downloads of some great messages.  If I were to pick a most recommended for the average person, it would be the work of Ravi Zacharias. >> Click here for the RZIM You Tube videos. Stand to Reason: Stand to Reason “was founded by Greg Koukl and Melinda Penner in 1993.”  STR is an excellent resource for the Christian seeking resources on apologetics. If you are looking for an opportunity to gain some formal training in apologetics, this is also a perfect place to go. >>Click here for the Stand to Reason You Tube videos. Christian CADRE: The Christian CADRE (Christian Colligation of Apologetics Debate Research & Evangelism) is an excellent resource for apologetics. The site has many great articles, all thoroughly researched and well-sourced.  The site’s description is that “is a comprehensive guide to the apologetic efforts of CADRE members, as well as a guide to contemporary and traditional Christian scholarship not affiliated with the CADRE. It is broad in scope, offering websites and articles related to almost every facet of Christian apologetics.” Tektonics: Tektonics is an apologetics site authored by the somewhat notorious apologist J.P. Holding.  I call him notorious because some don’t take well to his style.  Despite what some might not like about his methods, the site is perhaps the most comprehensive apologetics site you will find on the internet.  A great resource on the site is the verse by verse apologetics.  On the top left-hand side of the front page table, you will find a box titled Apologetics Encyclopedia.  You can go to specific verses or search specific topics. The Whitehorse Inn: The Whitehorse Inn is “…(named after the pub in Cambridge, England, where the Reformation came to the English-speaking world), is a nationally syndicated radio broadcast featuring regular round-table discussions on faith, culture and apologetics. Hosted by Michael Horton, Ken Jones, Kim Riddlebarger, and Rod Rosenbladt, the White Horse Inn aims each week to equip Christians to “know what they believe and why they believe it.”  If you take the time to listen to the radio broadcasts or download them from the site, you will find them well worthwhile.

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Know of a good Apologetics site?  Send me an email at in-faith@live.com.

Note on the sharing of the above sites: By sharing these sites, I am not necessarily endorsing any particular one.  I cannout vouch for all of the content on these sites, so as with everything in the Lord, do your homework – -wich means, check everything against the Bible.

References:
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1. Josh McDowell, Evidence for Christianity, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Pg. 1, 2006