Cultures will eventually begin to inevitably exhibit the logical consequences of their dominant worldview(s). Christian theism is in the minority in our culture today. The worldviews that reign today in our culture are deism (especially moralistic therapeutic deism which I will explain in a later blog post), naturalism, nihilism and existentialism. Nihilism is fueling the current transgender insanity and is particularly dangerous; it’s chief proponent (Friedrich Nietzsche) went insane at age 44 and ended his life in an asylum.

There are consequences to the worldview changes happening in western civilization, changing how the gospel can be effectively shared. More time is now required in sowing seed. Response times are longer and potential harvesting is protracted. Apologetics is becoming increasingly important.

Edward Andrews is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House and Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version. In his excellent essay entitled “Introduction to a Brief History of Christian Apologetics: What Can We Learn?” he correctly states, “The traditional division of Christian theology into Apologetics, dogmatics, and ethics shows the need for Apologetics to defend and commend the faith in the context of contemporary thought. Dogmatics describes the content of faith, ethics prescribes Christian conduct, and Apologetics seeks to remove intellectual and moral hindrances to faith.”

In the 2nd century AD, the apologists arose to defend the faith against an increasingly hostile pagan state. Justin Martyr, Aristides of Athens, Tertullian of Carthage, Clement of Alexandria, Athenagoras of Athens, Ignatius of Antioch, Quadratus of Athens and others rose to accept the challenge. Twenty centuries later, the church now finds itself in a similar situation—surrounded by an increasingly hostile pagan state. A new, golden age for apologetics is emerging. May the Holy Spirit empower us to be as wise, discerning and faithful as the original apologists.

Calvin used the phrase sensus divinitatis (sense of the divine) to describe the innate knowledge of God that everyone has, but that many willfully suppress. Paul makes this same argument in Romans 1:18-22. As the Judeo-Christian worldview recedes from the public square, this willfull suppression of the knowledge of God is escalating. But effective Classical apologetics can help unmask this willfull suppression of the knowledge of God that everyone has. Only the gospel has the power to drive back the encroaching cultural darkness. Everything else will have limited effect—at best—and will ultimately fail.