Christian Apologetics
Question 5: Does having a “winsome” manner mean compromising the claims of the Gospel?
Answer 5: Apologetics entails both truth and a winsome presentation.
Comment: Many years ago, I knew a young new believer in our youth group. This young believer was a junior-varsity football player. His enthusiasm for the faith moved him to tackle someone to whom he was witnessing.
My own experience as a budding apologist led me to get into arguments with others in an attempt to defend my Christian faith.
The apostle Paul gave believers advice on how to proceed with faith conversations.
“Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person” (Colossians 4:6, HCSB).
Our speech should be,
· Gracious. The Greek word here carries the meaning of graciousness in manner or action. By our pleasantness of speech, we should be able to gain a hearing among unbelievers.
· Seasoned with salt. To be seasoned means to be prepared or arranged. The believer should be ready with answers for the questions asked by unbelievers. The preparation for the believer comes from the truth of the Gospel which one keeps in his heart and mind.
If our speech is gracious and seasoned with the gospel truth, then we will be able to engage in apologetic conversations without argument or tackling.
Comment: “Let all your conversation be such as may tend to exemplify and recommend Christianity; let it not only be holy, but wise, gracious, and intelligent. A harsh method of proposing or defending the doctrines of Christianity only serves to repel men from those doctrines, and from the way of salvation.” – Adam Clarke, 1832
Mark Riser - Apologist 