DOCSLIB.ORG

Missional Apologetics Draft

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Missional Apologetics Draft Liberty University Rawlings School of Divinity Missional Apologetics: An Examination of Essential Elements in the Apologetic Approaches of Early Christian Era Apologists in Light of the Mission of Christ to a Pluralistic World. A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Liberty University Rawlings School of Divinity in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by George B. Bannister, Sr. Lynchburg, Virginia December 2018 Copyright © 2018 by George Benjamin Bannister, Sr. All rights reserved Approval Sheet MISSIONAL APOLOGETICS: AN EXAMINATION OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN THE APOLOGETIC APPROACHES OF EARLY CHRISTIAN ERA APOLOGISTS IN LIGHT OF THE MISSION OF CHRIST TO A PLURALISTIC WORLD. George Benjamin Bannister, Sr. Read and approved by: Chairperson: ____________________________________ Date: ______________________________ To the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord, whose grace never ceases to amaze me. To Lisa, my bride, best friend, and holder of my heart; who has loved and supported me for many years and has been the best wife and partner and ministry co-laborer any man could wish for. Without you, I would not have achieved this milestone. To my sons and their brides who have encouraged me to stay the course and pursue the goal of completing this task. Thank you, Ben and Cindy, Dan and Liliana, and Bob and Deborah. I am a man who has been blessed beyond measure and far more than I could ever deserve! Contents Figures .......................................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1 Establishing the Rationale for the Dissertation...................................................1 Problem Statement .......................................................................................1 Some Key Terms..........................................................................................9 Literature Review.......................................................................................10 Method Statement ......................................................................................15 Design Overview .......................................................................................17 Chapter 2 The Concept of Mission .......................................................................................19 Defining Elements of Missio Christi .........................................................24 Provide Salvation from Sin ........................................................................29 Proclaim the Good News ...........................................................................37 Pave the Way for a kingdom ......................................................................39 Missio Christi and Contextualized Preaching ............................................41 Chapter 3 Early Christian Era Apologetics and Missio Christi .........................................48 Aristides .....................................................................................................53 Justin Martyr ..............................................................................................59 Tatian .........................................................................................................72 Tertullian ....................................................................................................90 Conclusion .................................................................................................98 v Chapter 4 The Intersection of Ministry Contexts .............................................................102 Culturally Legitimized Pluralism .............................................................104 Societal Resistance to the Gospel Message .............................................114 Chapter 5 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................138 Summary ..................................................................................................138 Suggestions for Application .....................................................................143 Areas Needing Additional Study .............................................................148 Bibliography ...............................................................................................................................150 vi Figures 1. Missional Positions ......................................................................................................22 2. Gospel Presentations ....................................................................................................45 3. Apostolic Encounters ...................................................................................................46 4. Timeline of Early Christian Era Apologists.................................................................53 vii CHAPTER 1: ESTABLISHING THE RATIONALE FOR THE DISSERTATION The cultural ethos known as postmodernism has impacted the epistemological and functional structures of contemporary society in dramatic ways.1 Changes in the attitudes, standards, and belief systems from which people operate in their day-to-day lives have seen radical alterations in the last fifty years.2 In spite of the assertion that postmodernism is a passing trend, the effects of the postmodern mindset appear to be resilient.3 In fact, the impact of the postmodern milieu has been evident in various ways in local church ministry, as well as the extension of local church ministry on the mission field. Responses from within Christian churches is often to deny the existence of the postmodern milieu and continue to use evangelism methods that are becoming increasingly more ineffective. Donald Posterski has observed that, “our old strategies to reach others with the gospel, for the most part, simply no longer work.”4 As a result of the waning effectiveness of traditional evangelism methods and indications that there is a relationship between that waning efficacy and the postmodern milieu, scholars have attempted to formulate strategies for effectively penetrating the culture with the gospel. Problem Statement There is an urgent need for pre-evangelism tools aimed at garnering the thoughtful 1 Steven Best, The Postmodern Turn (New York: Guilford Press, 1997), viii-xiii. 2 Millard Erickson, Truth or Consequences: The Promise and Perils of Postmodernism (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 13-31. 3 Gene Veith, Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1994), 209-234. 4 Donald C. Posterski, Reinventing Evangelism: New Strategies for Presenting Christ in Today’s World (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989), 13–15. 1 consideration of the Christian message by a society identified as postmodern, post-evangelical, and post-Christian by researchers and scholars.5 Apologetics has historically filled the needed role in presenting arguments and evidence designed to legitimize the Christian worldview in cultures where it was not seen as a viable option. Unfortunately, some authors such as Myron Bradley Penner have announced the death of evidential apologetics.6 Such scholars see apologetics as merely an extension of the Enlightenment Project and the age of Common Sense Reason. Penner states that apologetic arguments for the Christian faith and natural theology have no place in a pluralistic, postmodern society. Along with Stackhouse and Kierkegaard, Penner sees apologetics as damaging to the message of Christ.7 The apologetic task may make some postmodern theorists uncomfortable due to its appeal to evidence and objective truth, but evidential apologetics can no more be summarily dismissed by contemporary culture than can evidence in the prosecution of a criminal in the courtroom. Those who would posit the rejection of proof in either situation would be advocating an untenable decision. The decision to reject the truth is to accept the relativism and nihilism of the postmodern ethos, which has already proven to be an unlivable worldview. The decision of some scholars to reject the legitimacy of apologetics based upon the association of rationally defending the Christian faith as merely an extension of Enlightenment philosophy is misguided. The roots of offering apologetic witness to the Christian faith precede the Enlightenment by many centuries. There are strong apologetic appeals to evidence present in the addresses and discourses in the Gospels and in the book of Acts, as well as in some of the 5 George Barna, “How Post-Christian Is America? - Barna Group,” Barna Group, last modified April 15, 2013, accessed November 25, 2014, https://www.barna.org/barna-update/culture/608-hpca#.VHPvp5PF-zg. 6 Myron Bradley Penner, The End of Apologetics: Christian Witness in a Postmodern Context (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013), 6. 7 Ibid., 8–10. 2 epistles. The apologetic arguments seen in the pages of scripture found their natural extension in the apologies of second and third-century Christian theologians and philosophers. Christ followers of the first three centuries faced the daunting task of engaging a pluralistic culture that was becoming increasingly more hostile to the claims of Christ and the existence of his followers. The situation demanded that Christians thought and acted missionally.8 The resulting missional lifestyle produces a radical transformation of worldview and character. Christians came to understand that the mission of Christ was the mission of every disciple of Christ.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • C H a P T E R Christian Theology
    C H A P T E R CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY etailed replies to the detailed criticisms made of my views by the critics mentioned would not be very useful Dunless seen in the light of the general structure of my thought. Then too, Daane has specifically dealt with this general structure so far as he found it expressed in Common Grace. It would be quite impossible to deal with his criticism otherwise than by stating what I myself consider the structure of my thought to have been, and to be. Now the basic structure of my thought is very simple. I have never been called upon to work out any form of systematic theol- ogy. My business is to teach apologetics. I therefore presuppose the Reformed system of doctrine.1 I try to show my students that it is this system of doctrine that men need. Since most students have not had much systematic theology when they first come to my classes, I give them a brief survey of it. Then as they take courses in 1. As we noted in the introduction, this statement is highly significant, bears repeating here, and should be noted. Van Til never saw himself as doing anything other than applying the Reformed system of doctrine to the specific concerns of apologetics. Because of this methodology, what Van Til was advocating was both old and new. It was old in that he was applying the basic tenets of Reformed dogmatics to apologetics; he was not attempting self-consciously to change any of the basic content or loci of that theology.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Come': Apologetics and the Witness of the Holy Spirit
    1 THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY ‘COME’: APOLOGETICS AND THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Kevin Kinghorn and Jerry L. Walls In a word, Christian apologetics is a defense of Christian theism. The Greek word apologia may refer to the kind of reasoned case a lawyer provides in defending the innocence of an accused person. Or, more broadly, the word may refer to any line of argument showing the truth of some position. 1 Peter 3:15 contains the instruction to Christians: “Always be prepared to give an answer [apologia] to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”1 1. Testimony: human and divine Within the four Gospels one finds a heavy emphasis on human testimony in helping others come to beliefs about Christ. For example, St. Luke opens his Gospel by explaining to its recipient, Theophilus, that he is writing “an orderly account” of the life of Jesus “so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Luke describes himself as drawing together a written account of things “just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word.”2 As Richard Swinburne remarks, “it is hard to read the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and 1 Corinthians without seeing them as claiming that various historical events (above all, the Resurrection) occurred and that others can know these things on the testimony of the apostles to have seen them.”3 This passing down of apostolic testimony continued through the next generations of the early Christian Church.
    [Show full text]
  • Church History
    Village Missions Website: http://www.vmcdi.com Contenders Discipleship Initiative E-mail: [email protected] Church History Ecclesiology Church History History of Christian Doctrine Church History - Ecclesiology and the History of Christian Doctrine Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Church History Instructor’s Guide TRAINING MODULE SUMMARY Course Name Church History Course Number in Series 5 Creation Date August 2017 Created By: Russell Richardson Last Date Modified January 2018 Version Number 2 Copyright Note Contenders Bible School is a two-year ministry equipping program started in 1995 by Pastor Ron Sallee at Machias Community Church, Snohomish, WA. More information regarding the full Contenders program and copies of this guide and corresponding videos can be found at http://www.vmcontenders.org or http://www.vmcdi.com Copyright is retained by Village Missions with all rights reserved to protect the integrity of this material and the Village Missions Contenders Discipleship Initiative. Contenders Discipleship Initiative Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in the Contenders Discipleship Initiative courses are those of the instructors and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Village Missions. The viewpoints of Village Missions may be found at https://villagemissions.org/doctrinal-statement/ The Contenders program is provided free of charge and it is expected that those who receive freely will in turn give freely. Permission for non-commercial use is hereby granted but re-sale is prohibited. Copyright
    [Show full text]
  • Colin Mcallister Regnum Caelorum Terrestre: the Apocalyptic Vision of Lactantius May 2016
    Colin McAllister Regnum Caelorum Terrestre: The Apocalyptic Vision of Lactantius May 2016 Abstract: The writings of the early fourth-century Christian apologist L. Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius have been extensively studied by historians, classicists, philosophers and theologians. But his unique apocalyptic eschatology expounded in book VII of the Divinae Institutiones, his largest work, has been relatively neglected. This paper will distill Lactantius’s complex narrative and summarize his sources. In particular, I investigate his chiliasm and the nature of the intermediate state, as well as his portrayal of the Antichrist. I argue that his apocalypticism is not an indiscriminate synthesis of varying sources - as it often stated - but is essentially based on the Book of Revelation and other Patristic sources. +++++ The eminent expert on all things apocalyptic, Bernard McGinn, wrote: Even the students and admirers of Lactantius have not bestowed undue praise upon him. To Rene Pichon [who wrote in 1901 what is perhaps still the seminal work on Lactantius’ thought] ‘Lactantius is mediocre in the Latin sense of the word - and also a bit in the French sense’; to Vincenzo Loi [who studied Lactantius’ use of the Bible] ‘Lactantius is neither a philosophical or theological genius nor linguistic genius.’ Despite these uneven appraisals, the writings of the early fourth-century Christian apologist L. Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius [c. 250-325] hold, it seems, a little something for everyone.1 Political historians study Lactantius as an important historical witness to the crucial transitional period from the Great Persecution of Diocletian to the ascension of Constantine, and for insight into the career of the philosopher Porphyry.2 Classicists and 1 All dates are anno domini unless otherwise indicated.
    [Show full text]
  • Defining and Practicing Apologetics
    Defining and Practicing Apologetics In Thinking About Christian Apologetics, author James Beilby focuses on that which normally is not explained in apologetics texts and courses: the nature, history and practice of Christian apologetics, as well as the approaches and objections to it. Specifically, this text examines: What does it mean to do Christian apologetics? “Apologetics is, in the simplest possible terms, the attempt to defend a particular belief or system of beliefs against objections. Christian Thinking About apologetics involves an action (defending), a focus of the action (the Christian Apologetics: Christian faith itself), a goal (upholding Christianity as true) and a context What It Is and (the circumstances in which apologetics occurs).” Why We Do It Available What is required to “do apologetics well”? November 2011 “Doing apologetics well requires three things. First, one’s arguments must $17, 214 pages, paper, be effective. They must be logically valid and persuasive, and they must 978-0-8308-3945-2 directly address the objections offered by skeptics. Second, one must have a proper conceptualization of the nature of both Christian belief and unbelief. In other words, an apologist must properly understand both the reasons why people do not believe in the Christian God and what mature “Jim Beilby’s volume is belief in God should look like. Third, and most important, one’s attitude distinctive—it’s not your and approach to apologetic conversations must be appropriate.” normal apologetics What is problematic about overlooking the goals and textbook. As such, it is an background of apologetics? excellent addition to the “When Christian apologists bypass these questions and immediately jump growing study in this field.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 Spring Commencement 3 Best Wishes from the President
    CROWN 422 ALMA MATER Washington, my Washington, the Crimson and the Gray! CROWN 790 ‘Tis the song of memory that we sing today. When the sad hours come to you and sorrows ’round you play, Just sing the songs of Washington, the Crimson and the Gray! Just sing the songs of Washington, the Crimson and the Gray! SPRING COMMENCEMENT SATURDAY, MAY NINTH Celebrating ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH ANNUAL SPRING COMMENCEMENT SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015 BEASLEY COLISEUM WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY PULLMAN, WASHINGTON Commencement Mission Statement Commencement at Washington State University represents the culmination of a student’s academic achievement. It is a time for celebration and reflection for students, families, faculty, and staff. It brings together the campus community to share the joy of the accomplished goals of our students. The commencement ceremony at Washington State University serves a dual purpose: to mark a point of achievement, thus completing a chapter in the lives of students and those who support them, and to encourage continued pursuit of learning, personal fulfillment, and engagement with their local and worldwide communities. P hot o: WS U campus , Thompso n Hall and Brya n Cloc k Tow er in foregr ound Contents 148526 4/15 TABLE OF CONTENTS Best Wishes from the President 4 President’s Ceremonial Stole and Chain of Offce 5 Best Wishes from the Faculty Senate and Administrative Professional Advisory Council Chairs 6 Greetings from the GPSA, ASWSU, and ASWSU Global Presidents 7 Order of Exercises 8:00 a m Ceremony 8 College of Arts and
    [Show full text]
  • A Study in Church History Gene Taylor -1- Table of Contents
    A Study of CHURCH HISTORY Cane Ridge Meeting House Gene Taylor Preface It is said that those who are ignorant of history tend to repeat it. While I do not know if that is always true, I do know that it is important to have a knowledge of church history. I believe that one can make it to heaven without ever knowing many of the facts related in this study for all one needs to know in order to safely reach the eternal abode is the inspired word of God—its facts to be believed and its commands to be obeyed. At the same time, though, a study of the material found in these lessons will help one avoid many of the errors that have led others away from the Lord and cost them eternity. For, in reality, our study is not of church history, per se. Rather, it is mostly a study of the digressions that have plagued the cause of Christ down through the ages and how man struggled to overcome those apostasies. This study is by no means exhaustive. There are many other sources for in-depth consideration on nearly every aspect of this work. Instead it is meant to be an overview of the events which have affected the religion of Christ from the first century unto this present day. This material was first presented as a series of lectures at the Centerville Road church of Christ in Tallahassee, Florida, during the winter of 1997-1998. It has been published in the hope that it will help someone understand more about the true church, the one which is being built by and belongs to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.
    [Show full text]
  • Rereading Paul on Circumcision, Torah, and the Gentiles Asha K
    A Seal of Faith: Rereading Paul on Circumcision, Torah, and the Gentiles Asha K. Moorthy Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2014 © 2014 Asha K. Moorthy All rights reserved ABSTRACT A Seal of Faith: Rereading Paul on Circumcision, Torah, and the Gentiles Asha K. Moorthy It is generally held that the Apostle Paul dismissed the rite of circumcision for Gentiles. This dissertation, however, offers a different perspective. Through examination of relevant sources regarding the role of circumcision in conversion along with consideration of Philo of Alexandria’s depiction of Abraham as an exemplar of and for the proselyte, this project will suggest that Paul, in Rom 4:11‐ 12, uses the example of Abraham in order to explain the value of circumcision for Jews as well as for Gentiles. It will be argued, moreover, that Paul’s objections to circumcision, as found in Romans as well as in Galatians, Philippians, and 1 Corinthians, were not to the rite per se but rather to the notion that circumcision was necessary for entering the Abrahamic covenant, “becoming a Jew,” justification, salvation, spiritual transformation, protection or identity in Christ. A case will be made, moreover, that in Paul’s day there were two competing forms of circumcision and that Paul was opposed to the more radical procedure. Finally, divergences in Paul’s handling of the topic of circumcision in different letters will be explained through attention to particular audience concerns. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.
    [Show full text]
  • IMAGINATIVE Apologetics
    IMAGINATIVE Apologetics Theology, Philosophy and the Catholic Tradition Foreword by John Milbank Edited by Andrew Davison k Andrew Davison, ed. Imaginative Apologetics Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2011. Used by permission. Davison_ImagtinativeApolo.indd 3 2/21/12 10:00 AM foreword These websites are hyperlinked. monologues take the form (in some measure) of apologias, which are never without extreme ambiguity. In his first long poem,Paracelsus, the www.bakerpublishinggroup.com message would seem to be that the speaking protagonist has tried to www.bakeracademic.com perfect the human race through power under the inspiration of romantic love, while wrongly despising the little that can be made of faint loves or www.brazospress.com even hates that conceal an unadmitted love at their hearts. And yet he is www.chosenbooks.com brought to the realisation that he is ‘from the over-radiant star too mad / to drink the light-springs’ by one ‘Festus’, whose very name surely invites www.revellbooks.com caution in the reader who recalls Acts and another eponymous diagnosti- www.bethanyhouse.com © 2011 by Andrew Davison cian of supposed insanity. This surely further invites her to read Paracel- sus’ final hope for a day when human advance through a mere refusal of E-book copyright sample. Published in 2012 by Baker Academic the worst will be surpassed, and his own offer of full ‘splendour’ can be a division of Baker Publishing Group admitted on earth, as truly belonging to Christian eschatology parsed in © 2000 by Copyright holder P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakeracademic.com terms of a magical or technological release of all natural powers.2 Published by Baker But in other poems by Browning this order of apologetic and of suspi- a division of Baker Publishing Group First published in the UK by SCM Press (an imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern) in 2011 cious counter-apologetic is exactly reversed.
    [Show full text]
  • Developing a Christian Apologetics Based on the African Christological Themes Edward Wekesa Wanyonyi Kibabii University 9.1 Abst
    Developing a Christian Apologetics Based On the African Christological Themes Edward Wekesa Wanyonyi Kibabii University 9.1 Abstract In the Researcher’s view, Africa is no longer a dark continent characterized by people who are physically and spiritually obscure and that therefore nothing good could come out of her. As it were, the imagination of the westerners conspired with ignorance and prejudice to an understanding that gives Africa a false image on the religious global platform. On the contrary, Africa should and is capable of developing her own Christology and soteriology that appeal and endorses the religious curiosity of her people. African Christianity has the right to answer the question posed by Jesus in the scripture based on her own understanding of who Christ really is in the African world view. Therefore in this paper, the researcher is poised to provide an apologia to the text in (Mark 8:27-29) based on the African Christological themes. “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets" "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." (Mark 8:27-31 NIV). To the African Christians, Jesus is the Savior, but yet pictured in several ways as provided for in different communities. In essence Jesus Christ is to be defined and propagated based on his role in meeting diverse needs in the African society.
    [Show full text]
  • Catholic Apologetics: a Senior Capstone Year in Theology
    CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS: A SENIOR CAPSTONE YEAR IN THEOLOGY A YEAR-LONG COURSE OF CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS IN LINE WITH THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ DOCTRINAL ELEMENTS OF A CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK © 2014. Office of Catholic Education. Catholic Diocese of Richmond. 2 © 2014. Office of Catholic Education. Catholic Diocese of Richmond. 3 © 2014. Office of Catholic Education. Catholic Diocese of Richmond. 4 CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS: A SENIOR CAPSTONE YEAR IN THEOLOGY Course Description: For the final and 4th year of Theology in the Catholic High School, students will firm the foundation of Catholic theology and belief through a year-long course in Catholic apologetics. Students will be able to defend the teaching and belief of the Catholic faith in the areas of Theology of God, the Authority of the Catholic Church, the Sacraments of the Church, and the selected Moral teachings of the Church. Particular emphasis on the dangers of relativism will be faced, while building a strong and competent understanding of a full life within the Catholic Church. Course Requirements: Students completing the course will have a working knowledge of the essential teachings of the Church. Students will complete a summer reading assignment (Mere Christianity) and regular readings throughout the year relevant to explaining and defending the faith. The course will move them through basic Christian and Catholic apologetics. Students should be able to defend any of the teachings of the Church from a Biblical, Catechetical, and Pastoral approach. Students will specifically work toward embracing the fullness of the Church’s teaching and achieve competence in explaining and, when necessary, defending the faith.
    [Show full text]
  • Thinking Missiologically About the History of Mission Stanley H
    Thinking Missiologically About the History of Mission Stanley H. Skreslet s there a missiological approach to the history of mission?1 of texts at our disposal. the documents so avidly produced by I Prompting this question is the fact that the history of mis- missionaries and their sending agencies in the past can assume sion is no longer the special preserve of those who support and an inordinate degree of authority for us today simply because participate in missionary activities. now a growing legion of they often are the only written sources for this history we now scholars is being drawn to the study of mission history, among possess.3 this imbalance in the record is a serious methodologi- whom we find specialists in politics and economics, marxists, cal problem to be negotiated and overcome, which explains why feminists, historical anthropologists and other kinds of social investigators of every kind (including missiologists) are eager historians, and americanists as well as researchers focused on to recover lost voices and to retrieve the contributions of lesser- non-Western societies, not to mention religious historians of known actors in the history of mission. material evidence of every stripe who make it their business to study the world’s indigenous missionary activity, oral history, and other forms of burgeoning collection of faith communities and traditions. all nonliterary self-representation are among the means available to these and more have found in the history of christian mission scholars to recover more of what may otherwise be missing from a virtually inexhaustible supply of data with which to fuel their what we know of the history of mission.
    [Show full text]