An Introduction to… Truth and Nail

I’ve been teaching apologetics for nearly 10 years.  Wait, what’s that word – apologetics?  Does that mean I’m apologizing for something?  While many of us could benefit from a class on better ways to say we’re sorry, I’m talking about something completely different.  I’ll explain, but first a little background on myself.

I come from a military family.  We moved from base to base until my dad retired from the Army in the late ’70’s.  During my time in elementary school I had friends of all races and cultural backgrounds.  This exposed me to many different belief systems, worldviews if you will, but I never gave any of them a second thought.  You see, when it came to talking about religion, my family just didn’t do it.  Yes, I went to a few churches and vacation bible school camps when invited, but it never went any further than that.  If asked about their religion, my dad claimed Methodist and my mom Episcopalian.  I had no clue what that meant, and frankly didn’t really care. Yet, when asked what I identified with, my response was Episcopalian… probably because I was so close to my mother.

Fast forward to my mid-20’s.  After the birth of my first child, my wife dropped a bombshell on me: “We are going to raise our daughter in the Church and you’re going with me!”.  Yeah, sure, no problem, I’ll go.  I never knew she felt this way about church and family, but I am so thankful she did.  You see, it was a few years later that Pastor Harold Lewis shared the Gospel with me and explained the meaning of salvation, grace, and mercy.  I bought into it, was baptized, and never looked back.  I was saved, yet there was something missing.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was having more and more questions about my own convictions. I didn’t know how (or if it was appropriate) to raise these questions.  So I buried them deep inside thinking they were hidden from others, but all too often they would manifest in my inability to make sense of the social and cultural issues of the day.

The year was 2005.  A loving wife, two children, a dog, a house in south, a great job, involved at church… still something was missing.  My daughter, now in high school, said “Dad you have GOT to read this book!” and she handed me a small red paperback edition of Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis.  There, in the pages of this book, were answers… solid answers to questions I had. Thoughtful answers to questions I didn’t even know I had!  I couldn’t put it down.  For the next three years I was consumed with learning as much as I could about this discipline called apologetics.

There’s that word again – apologetics.  It comes from the Greek word apologia, meaning a defense, a thoughtful reason, a clear case for one’s view.  Lawyers give their apologia by presenting arguments along with evidence in the courtroom.  Christians are also called to give their apologia, their reasons, for the Hope that lies within them, to anyone who asks (1 Peter 3:13-15).  Paul did it, the Disciples did it, Jesus did it, early church fathers did it, and Christians today should do it too.  With so many competing worldviews, along with today’s nearly instantaneous speed of information (and misinformation), it is extremely important to have a Biblical worldview grounded on good sound reasoning instead of reasons that sound good.

That’s my goal here – to provide sound commentary on life’s difficult questions and today’s hottest issues, from a Biblical worldview.  I hope to give you, the reader, something to consider, or at the very least, put a stone in your shoe.  Also, you’re encouraged to participate – I’d love to hear your feedback, even if critical.