Apologetics: The Indispensable Heart of Student Ministry
“That’s the one question I dreaded.”
A couple years ago, a friend who was a students pastor at the time told me his students had been asking questions about God, Jesus, and the Bible. He started taking time to answer their questions at their weekly meetings and found it helpful to hear what was on their minds and what might be causing them to question their faith. While primarily a positive experience for the students, he found himself unprepared for some questions. For instance, one experience occurred when a student asked how we could know God exists. She had heard an atheist on TikTok describe God as an “imaginary father figure made up by people afraid of the dark.”
“So, I used a common argument for God’s existence,” he said. “I explained that if things exist, something, or someone, must have brought them into existence and that someone was God. God created everything that exists. Things don’t pop into being by themselves.”
That’s when the dreaded question was asked: “But if God exists, who created God?”
There was some stirring and giggling among the students. “I tried to explain that God is the uncreated Creator; He is Aristotle’s unmoved Mover, but I could tell most of the students were either confused, distracted, or unimpressed by my answer.”
“But didn’t you say if something exists, it must have a creator?” they asked. “So, if God exists. . .’”
“Then I tried to explain to them that God is different from everything else that exists, but by then, I’d lost them, and I honestly didn’t know how to answer the question.”
Defending the Faith, Explaining Our Hope
In his first letter, the Apostle Peter addressed the apologetic challenge to all Christians: “Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Peter’s instructions were given to Christians that were experiencing unjust persecution and suffering. Their “hope” was on display, and they needed to be ready to explain why they embraced it, even amid violent opposition and brutal consequences. Despite the animosity against them, Peter told them: “Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear” (v 16).
Today, we often think that apologetics is uniquely intended for nonbelievers who attack Christianity when, in fact, it is also meant to fortify the growing faith of Christians.
When it comes to students, thoughtful apologetics in the right spirit invigorates their nascent faith and sets them on a positive trajectory toward maturity.
Asking the Questions, Questioning the Answers
Your students have many questions about God, Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity (if they don’t have questions, they should!). Some questions require an explanation of biblical teaching. In contrast, others reflect attacks on the reliability and authority of the Bible, while others cross into philosophy and logic. Here are a few questions I have been asked. . .
. . . about God
Why do scientists say that science proves God doesn’t need to exist?
If God does exist, why does He not make His presence more real?
Why does God let bad things happen, like children getting abused by adults dying of cancer or a natural disaster?
. . . about the Bible
How can you have a book from God that people wrote?
Why do we trust the Bible and not the Quran or other “holy” books?
. . . about Christians
Why are many Christians so close-minded and mean-spirited?
Why do churches spend so much money on their nice buildings while so many people suffer from poverty and disease?
. . . about the world
If Christianity is true, then why are there so many other religions that think they are right, and Christians are wrong?
If Christianity is true, why haven’t most people in the world had an opportunity to hear about it?
Comparable questions challenge students when social media provides a regular stream of antichristian challenges and rants (many of them coming from “Christian” sites). Questions about LGBTQ+ issues (“My best friend says she is transitioning, what do I say?”), meaning in life (“Why am I here? Is there a purpose for my life?”), and difficult Bible passages (“Why did God tell the Israelites to kill the women and young boys in Midian (Numbers 31))?” add even more fuel to the fiery arrows to fuel heated discussions.
How are we to mentor and equip our students?
Do We Really Need to Apologize?
Almost all Christian ministry can be regarded as apologetics (an accurate but unfortunate transliteration of the Greek apologia, “speaking in defense of an opinion, position or action”). As an apologist, we explain the Christian Worldview when we teach, preach, counsel, or evangelize. In student ministry, we have a dual privilege to help them understand God’s teachings and apply them to their daily lives. Helping them ask and answer hard questions about their faith can clear the clutter and sharpen their minds for action, growth, and resilience.
Creating an Environment of Openness to Questions
Even the most mature young Christians have questions they want resolved, but most will never verbalize them unless they feel comfortable asking.
Unanswered questions can erode the confidence of faith in a student, but so can unquestioned answers – answers that are flippant and don’t substantively deal with the issue at hand, like, “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve” or “Because He’s God and He does what He wants.”
Creating a spirit of openness to questions is essential in this cultural moment. Your students should embrace the truth, “Christians have nothing to hide; ask us anything.” Cultivating that openness with grace and compassion requires commitment from the student pastor and other leaders.
Students will understand that asking questions, even expressing doubts, is part of being a Christian in fellowship with others.
To help cultivate this environment, letting students ask questions as a part of your weekly meeting usually works well. However, some in the group may feel shy about asking in front of others. Many churches and Christian schools have made a box for students to place questions anonymously. The same can be accomplished online.
Let students think about questions. Have them take the week and come up with questions to ask or submit. Promise them you will answer as many of their questions as possible at the next meeting.
Look over the questions at home and select the ones you want to discuss. Choose those you think would be the most helpful for the students. You may be able to combine questions that challenge the same topic.
As a Student Pastor or Teacher, you do not need to become an apologetics guru or have a ready answer for every challenging question. However, you must commit to acclimating yourself to Christian Apologetics.
The Student Pastor and Teacher
I encourage you to involve yourself in apologetics content regularly. I read and watch apologetic books and videos every day. Just a few minutes a day compounds significantly overtime. It has become a habit, even though my primary ministry is not specifically apologetics. C. S. Lewis, Rebecca McLaughlin, John Lennox, William Lane Craig, Alisa Childers, Thaddeus Williams, and others have provided hundreds of hours of reading and watching. Make it a priority to take one issue each day and read a cogent response from a reliable Christian apologist. Or watch video discussions and debates from the many YouTube sites hosted by apologists and organizations by Sean McDowell, John Lennox, William Lane Craig, Tom Holland, and many others.
Check out the apologetics books in Lifeway or the fascinating “What Would You Say?” short videos free on The Colson Center’s YouTube channel. You could show one to your student group and have them discuss it.
You will find more suggested resources and links at the end of this article. All of this helps you to develop an apologetic mindset with a response that is thoughtful and positive in tone. Learn from them. You will not remember everything, but you will know where to go to get the answers to specific questions and issues.
Invest some time in more current topics raised among Gen Z’ers. Issues related to sex, sexuality, gender, and gender identity are high on the minds of Christian students. Do not wait for them to bring it up. If you address these issues, they will be surprised (shocked!), but you will demonstrate how Christians are aware and conversant with the issues that matter to their generation.
This leads us to the importance of tone. Remember, Peter told Christians to defend their hope “with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear” (1 Peter 3:16). Paul instructs similarly: “Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person” (Colossian 4:2-6).
It is not only what we say but how we say it that makes an impact. Everyone we engage with is created in the image of God. We show respect and compassion regardless of who they are and their beliefs.
The same is true when we talk about the views of others. Your students must see how we love even those who consider themselves enemies of the Gospel. It is our privilege and responsibility to see them not as enemies but as victims of the Enemy.
Mentoring for the Future
Over the past few years, I have spoken with many Christian School leaders and faculty who grieve that numerous graduates have jettisoned their faith in Christ during their first semester in college. Almost all of them admit their programs did little to prepare their students for the spiritual challenges of college. They concluded that frequent and healthy interactions in apologetics were lacking. This is where you can provide life-changing and faith-saving mentoring for the students God has entrusted to you.
Key Points as Summary
“Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15)
Your students have many questions about God, Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity (if they don’t have questions, they should!).
Almost all Christian ministry can be regarded as apologetics.
Helping them ask and answer hard questions about their faith can clear the clutter and sharpen their minds for action, growth, and resilience.
Unanswered questions can erode a student’s confidence in faith, but so can unquestioned answers.
Cultivating openness with grace and compassion requires commitment from the Students Pastor and other leaders.
The students will understand that asking questions, even expressing doubts, is part of being a Christian in fellowship with others.
It is not only what we say but how we say it that makes an impact. Everyone we engage is created in the image of God.
RESOURCES
Below are resources that might help you answer specific questions and sharpen your focus on apologetics thinking and responding.
These sites provide answers to general questions asked about Christianity. I do not endorse all answers, so evaluate the responses biblically and thoughtfully. They can be a catalyst for putting together answers to questions raised.
Here are three sites that you will find helpful:
Here are three sites giving answers to many of the most asked questions:
Other helpful authors and resources to check out: