Bible Connection Podcast: Truth for Today—Apologetics and Gen Z
What is apologetics? Who is it for? Is it actually important in today’s culture? Sean McDowell, Associate Professor in Christian Apologetics at Biola University, author of several books, and son of celebrated apologist Josh McDowell, talks about his personal journey into the field of apologetics. Sean explains why apologetics is so important and necessary when we look to engage the next generation in what is true, good, and beautiful.
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Sean McDowell
Sean McDowell has a long history with the theological discipline of apologetics. His father, Josh McDowell, has authored or co-authored over 150 books, including Evidence That Demands a Verdict, A Ready Defense, and More Than a Carpenter. Following in his father’s footsteps, Sean McDowell is an Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, the author of several books on Christian apologetics, intelligent design, and youth ministry.
In this episode of Bible Connection, Sean shares his invaluable perspective on apologetics. He explains what it is and why it is so important for each Christian to be prepared to defend the faith they have. As he says, every Christian is an apologist. Sean makes the case that apologetics is not just for unbelievers, but is also useful for strengthening the faith of believers.
Engaging and reaching the next generation is a theme that runs through Sean’s life and ministry. From his time as the head of the Bible department at at Christian high school to his most recent book on Generation Z, Sean longs to see the next generation know and love Jesus as Savior. During this conversation, Seam shares how vital apologetics is in engaging the culture of today. He shows the recurring themes in the questions he hears every day and the cultural shift from seeking truth to seeking what is good.
Finally, Sean explains how apologetics is so much more than explaining the truth. It involves showing what is good and what is beautiful about the truth.
Excerpts from This Podcast
2:54 — “It essentially means to give an answer for what we believe and why. And its a branch of Christianity that all of us are called to be ready to do, not just pastors or Bible teachers. Essentially, we’re all apologists.”
4:42 — “Really, I view apologetics as just a ministry of clearing away the objections that people have so they can see Jesus for who he is and understand the gospel. It’s not arguing people into the kingdom. You can’t forcefully love anyone into the kingdom, you can’t forcefully argue anybody into the kingdom. We’re called to love people and we’re called to speak truth and that’s what apologetics does in support of evangelism.”
8:55 — “So people do have a variety of ways that God will draw them into the kingdom and having an answer is one component for many people on their journey.”
12:03 — “So we have to answer the questions people are asking. We also have to communicate in a medium that’s fitting to the gospel and the times. That takes a lot of thoughtfulness that some people are not willing to do.”
16:09 — “If you’re not a part of Gen Z, you have more in common with this generation than you do differences.”
16:59 — “How we see this generation is going to shape how we relate to them. Are we going to be the older generation that’s like ‘get off my lawn; here’s all the problems,’ or the generation that looks back and sees the positives.”
18:23 — “As a whole, that digital component is the core of Gen Z. And I think it shapes why we’re seeing loneliness spike. It shapes why we’re seeing anxiety spike. I think it’s tied to this post-truth generation and a cynicism and a questioning of truth. It affects every component. It’s almost like the funnel. That digital component is at the heart of understanding Gen Z.”
20:10 — “I found that with students if you have the ability to ask good questions and guide them and set aside those distractions, they really do want to enter into meaningful, spiritual conversations.”
20:55 — “It’d be a lot easier to give my kid a phone and say ‘have it in your room, use it when you want to, I don’t want to fight those battle.’ Its because we’re lazy. And this generation deserves better.”
21:55 — “I love Hebrews 10:39 because it’s all about the boldness we have, the confidence that we have. And finding our identity in who we are and that God has saved us gives us boldness to go engage a world that thinks, frankly, the cross is foolishness.”
29:39 — “I’d say to younger people if you don’t have it figured out when you’re 16 or 20 or 22 or 23, welcome to the club. Some of these things take a while and just trust God during the process. Ultimately, follow your heart in the sense of the wiring and gifting that God has given to you. Work hard and those opportunities will come.”
33:11 — “At the heart of it, the questions people are asking is less ‘is Christianity true?’, more so ‘is Christianity good?’ And if it’s not good, people don’t even care whether it’s true or not.”
37:36 — “I even pointed to movies like Infinity War and Endgame where you actually see in film this idea that the greatest love is to lay down your life and sacrifice for another. That’s a true hero, that’s what real love is. Well, Avengers is fiction. In the Christian story, it’s true. So I ended by saying: ‘I believe this is true, but even if I didn’t I would want it to be true, because it’s a beautiful story, because it’s good. But it’s also true.’”
Featured Scripture
Hebrews 10:39
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
1 Peter 3:15-16
But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.
Episode Links
Sean McDowell website
Josh McDowell Ministries website
So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World (David C Cook, 2019) – Sean’s book with J. Warner Wallace about Gen Z
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