Crucial Questions: An Apologetics Catechism

Christian Apologetics

Question 12: What is “Mere Christianity”?

Answer: “Mere Christianity” is an approach to teaching the essentials of Christian Apologetics.

Comment: When making the case for the Christian faith, what is most important?

· The existence of God?

· The length of the days of creation?

· The organization of the church?

· The reliability of the Bible?

· The nature of the atonement?

· The resurrection of Jesus?

· The nature of baptism and the Lord’s Supper?

We could go on. How does one decide where to start?

Christianity has many doctrinal issues. Many of those issues figure into Christian Apologetics. Some of those issues are secondary and even tertiary issues.

Dr. William Lane Craig is one of those Christian philosophers and apologists who proposes a method for taking decisions on those doctrinal issues. He suggests “mere Christianity.” In his words, “mere Christianity” is “the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith affirmed by all the great Christian confessions, whether Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, or Coptic.”

We can see examples from Dr. Craig’s debates the “mere Christianity” approach. In those debates, Dr. Craig advocates for the existence of God, the resurrection of Jesus, and the immediate knowability of the truth Christianity through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The “mere Christianity” approach is a form of theological triage. Theological triage, according to theologian Dr. Adam Harwood is “the idea that the Christian community should prioritize doctrinal questions.” Examples of first place doctrines would be the divinity and humanity of Jesus and salvation by grace through faith. These essential doctrines, along with those prioritized by Craig would help Christians “keep the main thing the main thing” in their discussions with unbelievers.

Scripture: “³ Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3)