Grace Notes 2021-07-14
In a recent Touchstone Magazine article, the following words grabbed my attention. “American conservative Christians are not as biblical as we think we are. While we are clearly commanded always to be ready to make a defense to anyone who asks a reason for the hope that is within us (1 Pet. 3:15), vast swaths of us think it is somehow unspiritual to obey this biblical commandment.”
What the author, Donald T. Williams, is writing about in his article, “The Complete Apologist: Four Essentials Every Christian Is Called to Embrace”, is that we have wrongly been poisoned to think that argument, persuasion, and mounting a defense in favor of Christian truths has no place in our conversations with others.
Before I continue, it may be helpful to explain theologically what is meant by Apologetics, or offering an Apology. Here it is not meaning “I am sorry!” Instead, the theological use comes from the Greek word apologia. And specifically, this word means presenting evidence or reasoning to defend a claim. And yet, even with this understanding we might be hoodwinked into thinking that argument and clear reasoning have no place in witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please understand, I am using argument in the best sense of the term, namely, using good logic and reasoning to convince someone of something. It should not be thought of as getting angry and trying to outshout someone. In the best sense, having an argument with someone is not the same as having a fight with them!
We need to be careful not to overlook how the Apostles went about their witnessing and teaching of the faith. In their preaching we see plenty of examples of verbs being used such as “reasoned”, “argued”, and “persuaded”. In the Book of Acts the Apostle Paul began his public ministry by "proving" to the Jews in Damascus that Jesus was the Christ (9:22). He did this by "arguing" (9:29). In Thessalonica he "reasoned" and "gave evidence" (17:2–3).
Since You Asked…
What is the meaning of the “KYRIE” (kir-E-A)?
KYRIE is a Latin term which is in turn is a transliteration of a Greek word meaning “Lord.” In the Latin Mass the term KYRIE was combined with the term ELESION meaning “have mercy.” In addition, the Mass included a three-fold response: KYRIE ELEISON, CHRISTE ELEISON, KYRIE ELEISON, which translated is “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.” In our Lutheran Worship Service we utilize a prayer from the Latin Mass known as a Peace Litany. A Litany is a responsive prayer. This Litany is usually led by our Assisting Minister, and the congregation response is the KYRIE ELEISON. And so the Assisting Minister begins, “In peace let us pray to the Lord,” and the congregation responds to this and each succeeding petition with, “Lord, have mercy.” (with help from the Manual on the Liturgy a companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship, publ. by Augsburg).