A brief look at how the plague of Online Discernment Ministries began...
by Richard Abanes
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The word “apologist” comes from the Greek word apologia, translated as “defense” or “answer” in 1 Pet. 3:15: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
According to this passage, all of us should be apologists as we make our way through life. We are to fulfill the role of an apologist—i.e., one who defends the faith—whenever we are asked such questions as:
"Why are you a Christian?,”
“How can you believe in Jesus when we all know he never existed?,” or
“Where does it say in the Bible that Jesus was God?”
No Christian should avoid their responsibility to give a reasonable defense/answer for their faith— i.e., each Christian should be able to lovingly share WHY they believe WHAT they believe.
We are also supposed to be discerning when we hear others preach/teach. Scripture commands us to "test all things and hold fast to that which is good' (1 Thess. 5:21). Moreover, the Bible constantly reminds of of false teachers that will abound in the last days (2 Pet. 2:1-3 ) and that we are to reject false doctrines by studying scripture (2 Tim. 2:15).
For many years, both discernment and apologetics was ignored by far too many Christians. But several decades ago, starting with Walter Martin, apologetics (or the study, method, practice of defending the faith) began being lifted up as a niche ministry — i.e., a legitimate area of ministry organized by persons specifically called to, and trained in, defending the faith and giving answers to those who had questions about Christian doctrine, other religions, cults, and related matters.
Apologetics/Discernment Ministries Begin
The movement of apologetics/discernment started by Walter Martin included people and organizations committed not just to defending the faith (the positive side of apologetics), but also correcting error in other groups/people claiming to be Christian (the negative side). Walter Martin essentially opened up an entirely new field of ministry for professional apologists, as well as lay apologists.
These organizations, and the people connected to them, often served as checks and balances for each other. As professionals in the field of apologetics/discernment, they often worked together in an "iron sharpens iron" capacity with interaction taking place not only amongst themselves, but also between various scholars in the same field: e.g., John Warwick Montgomery, Norman Geisler, James Bjornstad.
