Please read
This post is specifically directed toward pastors and youth pastors. Its purpose is to inform them what apologetics are, why it is important that teenagers are supplied with apologetics, and enable the church to do so.
Please read the "Letter to youth pastors and pastors." It is only 2 pages long, with a third page of citations and notes. Then please see the list of resources, because it tells you what youth need to learn.
I hope and pray to Jesus that if your church has a need or at least could benefit from what this offers, they do. And the same for you, as the individual reader. Please share this with anyone/church you think might need it.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please feel welcome to post them. Of course, please see if the essay deals with it before commenting. Thank you so very much for reading!
For more information
"Apologetics: the missing doctrine in America's church" is an at least somewhat comprehensive essay about the many reasons for apologetics. It can answer many questions on the subject.
Linked is a brief and orderly synopsis of all the points the paper makes, to use as a reference. Also please feel free to use your web browser's search bar (press crtl and f at the same time) and skim through it yourself.
Before reading anything, please pay attention to its first paragraph:
"Please note that this is not an attempt to condemn or shame anyone. God knows you and your relationship with Him and sees all the good things that you do. Still, because all truth is His truth and truth can be uncomfortable, I'm asking you to examine your own beliefs about apologetics and see if there is somewhere in your life where you need to take action."
If someone is interested, there is a highly recommended plan that allows for as little reading as possible. It captures all the main points in the above-cited letter and resources:
- First, on page three, read the first three paragraphs under the heading "Apologetics and evangelism: what is 'apologetics'. This explains what apologetics are.
- Then read pages 10-12, starting at the heading "Is there a significant effect of youth caused by lack of apologetics?" This presents the "great apostasy" of youth dismissing Christianity.
- Second to last, go to page 22 and read from the first full paragraph that says "Furthermore, like it was above..." Read until you reach the heading "'But it isn't debatable that we need to trust God...'" on page 23. This shows part of what a young Christian should have and why.
- Finally, read the four paragraphs that start at the top of page 44. It tells you the rest of what a young Christian should be taught, important tips on how to do so, and that they should learn the ability to perform independent research.
Without the postscripts, citations/notes, and list of resources, it is about 24-and-a-half pages in length. The postscripts are about 10-and-a-half pages long. The list of resources is the same as linked above. The entire paper is 46 pages.
Why all this is so clearly presented
The cover page says it is "written for pastors, youth pastors, and anyone else interested in the church's evangelical success." Being a massive essay, a casual observer can tell it's not nearly condensed enough for many to read, at least/especially since ministers are busy. Even if they do like reading, the pastor may not choose to take the time.
Moreso, the man who reviewed this said it's somewhere in the ballpark of a master's thesis. The level of reading is definitely higher than that of a lay person. Even someone who went through seminary and then stopped engaging their mind as they dealt with lay Christians, could find that reading it takes significantly more mental effort than usual. Therefore, grasping the urgency of this subject must be made easier.
Wellllllll - after all that serious stuff, I get to express myself. IT'S FINALLY DONE! This is my most thorough and exhaustive defense about why I do what I do. Thank you so much for reading this post, or the letter, or the resources list, or the essay, or the synopsis, all the above, part of the above, or even just part of one single writing mentioned above.
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Please don't use my birth name, if somehow you can comment. I regret to say that comments have to be turned off. I encourage everyone to use this blogs resources in constructive, thoughtful discussion and research.