Apologetics
In 1519, a young monarch was furious with the German theologian, Martin Luther. He specifically felt it was his duty as a head of state to stand up to what he believed were the heresies of Luther's 95 Theses. He wrote a treatise in rebuttal of this work, entitled Assertio Septem Sacramentorum, or "Defense of the Seven Sacraments." To reward him for his diligence in defending the Holy Roman Catholic Church, the Pope awarded him with the title, "Defender of the Faith," a title which all subsequent successors to his throne enjoy to this day.
The monarch was King Henry VIII of Great Britain, who himself would break away from the Catholic Church and start the Church of England, with himself as the head, in order to marry whom he wanted to marry.
Apologetics is this discipline that King Henry was exercising. Apologetics is the "branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity." In my opinion, it is one of the lowest forms of theology because I do not believe God nor Christianity need any defending.
Which brings us to the Eighth Doctrine of the Salvation Army:
We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
Surprise!
I have virtually no issues with this doctrine.
My chief complaint would be the archaic language and the use of the King James Version.
This is perhaps my favorite doctrine. Basically, for me it seems that I do not have to defend myself as a Christian. I am "justified." In this sense, justification means being made righteous by God.
What's even better, this justification is found within us. This doctrine uses the King James translation of 1 John 5:10, which states in the Common English Bible: "The one who believe's in God's Son has the testimony within."
Unfortunately, many people tend to make themselves God's Gatekeepers and "Defenders of the Faith," as if God needed to defend herself.
No True Scotsman . . .
There is an old adage that begins, "No true Scotsman puts sugar on his porridge." It is used to justify many things. People tend to misquote Scripture and say that they are simply "discerning the fruits." They aren't trying to do that. They are more concerned with whether or not you belong to their tribe. So they use this false logic:
No true Christian would pray to Mary.
No true Christian would work on Sunday.
No true Christian would have an abortion.
No true Christian would support a "gay lifestyle" (whatever that means!).
Yet this wonderful doctrine states that I do not have to prove to you that I am a Christian. Many people try to figure out if someone is a Christian. They will try to use discerning questions, such as: "If you were to die tonight, do you know that you would go to Heaven?" They will try to use a litmus test on you to discern whether or not you are a "member of their tribe."
"Are you saved?"
"What Church do you go to?"
"If you were to stand before God tonight and he asked you why he should let you into heaven, what would you tell him?"
This last question assumes the wrong things. First of all, it assumes that our lives as Christians is to make it into Heaven. Heaven is never my goal. When Jesus was ministering on Earth, he proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven here and now. He did not say, "do this and you will get into Heaven." The Kingdom of Heaven was a matter of serving the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and welcoming the stranger. The Kingdom of Heaven is a matter of loving God by showing that love to others.
There is an old song by Andrae Crouch. It states:
But if Heaven never was promised to me
Neither God's promise to live eternally
It's been worth just having the Lord in my life.
Living in a world of darkness
You came and brought me the life.
What now?
I want to live my life as if there is no Heaven and it's my responsibility to build it here on this planet. It is my duty to live in such a way that God's love is brought to everyone. I want to live in such a way that it is my duty to bring love and life into this world and to make Heaven a Place on Earth. (There you go, Belinda Carlisle fans.)
If I were to rework this Doctrine, I would say:
I believe my identity is found in God and I do not need to prove this to anyone. My life is my witness.
