Allister McGirth in his book Mere Apologetics makes this observation: “The heart of apologetics is not about mastering and memorizing a set of techniques designed to manipulate arguments to get the desired conclusion. It is about being mastered by the Christian faith so that its ideas, themes, and values are deeply imprinted on our minds and in our hearts.” I would add that these ideas, themes, and values are not only deeply imprinted on our minds and hearts, but are reflected in our actions.

Especially in a time when religious truth is private and relative, we need an apologetic that “can be seen and not just heard, felt and not just argued”. It is not enough for people to hear the message of Jesus; they must also feel His touch.

Jesus sent his disciples to teach and preach, but he knew that words would not be enough. In the Sermon on the Mount, he said to his disciples and by extension to his church: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

At the International Wholistic Missions Conference, IWMC, the goal was to be mastered by Christ so that His ideas, themes, values, and actions are reflected in what we say and how we serve. We deliberately let our light shine by doing good deeds that lead people to give praise to our Father in heaven.
Terry Dalrymple