Gen-X Apologetics
Journal Article Review on Gen-X Apologetics by David Neff
In his essay, “Gen-X Apologetics,” David Neff presents three different apologias from three different books. Adolescents of this generation, influenced by rapid social change, the global village concept, and various cultures and customs, have undervalued the meaning and purpose of life. Contemporary cohorts and cultures shape children in their youth more than their families do. And they have lost their hope and faith in God, whom their parents believe in and have taught them to believe in too. The main point of the essay is to be equipped to reason through the bombarded queries of seekers regarding Christian faith and social issues in the postmodern world.
To demonstrate his apologia, Neff shows the case of the elder Michael Novak and his daughter Jana Novak. Her 14 religious questions to her father on faith, science, other religions, and social issues give us the feel for young adults of this generation’s concerns. Novak writes to his daughter how Evangelicals place more stress on a personal relationship with Jesus than Catholics do. Additionally, he also supports his ideology by emphasizing the nature of God and the Logos. Neff says that he “needs more than tenderness” (1). In response to his daughter’s question, “Why Christianity”, Neff talks about incarnation as evidence that God is alive. He challenges people to receive Jesus for the complete transformation of the spirit and mind. He claims the objective truth of loving God as the origin of all truths. Furthermore, Novak is aware that his daughter rejects the truth he believes no matter how well he develops his logical arguments. So, he hopes his daughter finds the real truth.
Secondly, Neff introduces Douglas John Hall, a respected Canadian theologian, to show us how he defends his faith. People are anxious about their lives because they feel they lack purpose or significance. Rather, life seems superfluous to them. In this context, Hall encourages his younger listeners to know who Jesus is. Defending his argument for who Jesus is and why Christianity works, Hall also makes the case for the incarnation of man in Christ Jesus. Further, Hall states that God does not want to save us alone, but he wants to save his entire creation. And he adds, “faith is relational, a response to God’s faithfulness and not a mere conclusion of the mind” (3). The Apostle Paul also writes that all of creation is anticipating its freedom from the agonizing pangs imposed upon it since the day of the Fall.
Finally, Neff demonstrates how Stanley Grenz, an evangelical Baptist theologian, presents his apologia—what Christians really believe and why—to today’s youth. Grenz addresses Gen-X, who are more influenced by their musical cultures and fewer seekers of objective truth. To the Gen-X, he writes that sin is rebellion against God, but he forgives our sins and saves us through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross. He invites people to receive hope that comes from transcendent God.
These are questions seekers ask, which cannot be avoided. Grenz, Hall, and Novak are presenting their logical arguments and explaining the real truth. Neff says that apologists should explain where the truth comes from to defend their arguments and why they are reliable. These three writers convey to these young seekers that their search holds significance, as God is either present on the path they choose or already at the end of the road.
I strongly agree with the author’s main points and conclusion. The examples are very contextual in the postmodern world. We cannot guarantee that our children will inherit the same faith we have. In their spiritual journey, they may encounter many questions. They want answers to every question, because there are many factors that influence believers and nonbelievers. We also come to face many challenging questions that contradict our faith. Jana Novak writes to her father to explain her reasons.
Apologetics, the branch of theology that explains the reliable truth and defends the faith, has enormous scope in ministry. There are too many questions that need to be answered to new believers and seekers. Every religion teaches humankind to be virtuous In this situation, how we present Christianity as utterly different than any other religion depends on our logically developed arguments. People need a convincing reason to believe. Novak, Hall, and Grenz have revealed what people want to know.
From my own personal experience throughout my ministry in the mission field, people from other faiths want satisfactory answers as to why we believe in Jesus. Why does a man of another faith leave his group until he finds convincingly believable facts? Unless I have a persuasive reason, I cannot present the historical and living Jesus. When we share the gospel with intellectuals, they demand evidence. To invite them to Christianity without providing evidence of living Jesus is like asking people to leave their house and come to live with us. Four years ago, I met a student of microbiology who was an atheist in the mission field. Before I handed him a copy of the New Testament, I had to give persuasive reasons for my faith. He did not become Christian right after he got the Bible, but later he made Jesus his personal God and savior because of the Bible.
Therefore, we should be ready to respond to the queries of people when they ask us. God has put us on the earth to be witnesses of His hope. Our reason alone cannot stand by itself if there is no faith. Faith precedes reason, and reason should be presented in gentleness, reflecting God’s image from our lives. So, our life and our reason may be parallel to each other.
