Apologetics and the Reformed Church, Part 2: Apologetics.com

Way back in February, I wrote a post on the topic of Apologetics and the Reformed Church. I have heard many times that the Reformed Church talks about apologetics and apologetic methods, but never gets around to actually doing apologetics. I do not believe this to be true, and wrote that first post as a small rebuttal, pointing out the work of James White and Alpha and Omega Ministries.

Today, I want to bring to your attention another Apologetic Ministry: Apologetics.com. Apologetics.com is more than just a website; the staff also hosts a weekly radio show (heard in the Los Angeles area on KKLA 99.5 FM--see the website for details), and have one of the most popular apologetics podcasts in the country (available through iTunes). These men and women engage the culture every week (and more frequently on their website through the discussion board and various blogs) on relevant topics ranging from movie reviews to blog posts on "Science and the Christian Life." Recent radio show/podcast topics include: "The War Over Art," "Are You Trying to Manipulate Me?" "Sacrifice and the Christian Life," and "Quantum Physics and Christology." In other words, these reformed men and women are doing apologetics, not just talking about it.

The next time someone tells you Reformed Christians only talk about apologetics and apologetic method, but never get into the work of apologetics, point out the work of the team at Apologetics.com to them.

[Do you have a favorite reformed apologetic ministry? Feel free to post it in the comments and I may highlight it in a future post in my "Apologetics and the Reformed Church" series.]

Apologetics and the Reformed Church

Last night, I had the privileged of being in the audience of a live broadcast of The White Horse Inn, which took place at Biola University. Truth be told, I had never listened to The White Horse Inn before. The topic for the night was "The Importance of Contending Earnestly for the Gospel of Jesus Christ." To put it mildly, it was excellent. The hosts correctly emphasized the necessity of preaching the Gospel--that is, focusing on Christ, and not on ourselves.

There was one statement, however, that I did not agree with. The hosts said (I believe it was Horton and Riddlebarger) that the Reformed are really good at talking about apologetics and apologetic methods, but never actually get around to doing the work of apologetics. We never get around to engaging non-Christians. Quite frankly, this is false. And it isn't the first time I've heard this critique. (Interestingly, the other time I heard it was from another Reformed scholar.) So, in light of this apparently widespread opinion of Reformed Apologists, I hope to regularly highlight Reformed theologians who are actively engaged in the work of apologetics.

I can't think of a better place to start, than with James White. His Alpha and Omega Ministries is actively engaged in debating atheists, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. No, I don't agree with him on every point (for one, he's a Baptist and I'm a Presbyterian), but his name was the first to pop into my head when Horton made his statement last night.

So, the next time someone accuses the Reformed of being all talk and no action when it comes to apologetics, point them to James White.