WHO WERE THE CHURCH APOLOGISTS AND WHAT WAS THEIR PURPOSE?

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

WHO WERE THE CHURCH APOLOGISTS AND
WHAT WAS THEIR PURPOSE?

Apologetics is a field of study concerned with the systematic defence
of Christianity. The term "apologetic" is derived from the Greek word
apologia (απολογία), which means IN DEFENSE OF (also means "REPLY"
oe "ANSWER).

The word "apologetics" is used eight times in the New Testament. The word most commonly associated as the basis of this: "But "sanctify the Lord" God in your hearts, and BE READY TO GIVE A DEFENSE TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU A REASON CONCERNING THE HOPE IN YOU, WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR, HAVING A GOOD CONSCIENCE, THAT WHILE THEY MAY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVILDOERS, THOSE WHO SPEAK DISPARAGINGLY OF YOUR GOOD MANNER OF LIFE IN CHRIST MIGHT BE PUT TO SHAME" [1 Peter 4:15-16].

In Orthodox theology, the term Apologetics is used in regards TO DEFENDING THE TRUE FAITH against atheists, heretics, pagans, Jews and others. This defense, however, is done in a manner that is loving , gentle, and in order to bear good fruits. It should not be polemical or obsessive in manner, which in many cases is considered detrimental to the Apostolic Faith.

The earliest Apologists were the Church Fathers. Their apologies cover a range of topics including the Divine origin of the Church, Christ’s Natures, Holy Scripture, the Theotokos (Mother of God), miracles, Christian social interaction and the function of Doctrine. There were SEVEN ECUMENICAL SYNODS THAT WERE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WHOLE CHURCH AND FORM THE KEY "APOLOGETICS" FOR THE ORTHODOX FAITH.

The most severe Christian persecutions were conducted the first three hundred years, and millions of our Christian brethren were tortured and summarily executed. This did not discourage the holy Apostles and early Christians from preaching Christ Crucified and Resurrected as a veritable fact, and were unafraid, ready and willing to die for the Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. They were willing to openly and boldly defend their faith in Christ while remembering His Divine words: "Therefore settle it for yourselves in your hearts not to premeditate to make a defense: "FOR I WILL GIVE YOU A MOUTH AND WISDOM, WHICH ALL THOSE WHO OPPOSE YOU SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTRADICT NOR WITHSTAND" (Luke 21:14).

Throughout the twenty-one centuries, there have been evil forces that have attempted to silence the Christians and the Gospel of the Lord, but have always failed to do so. In Orthodox Christian history, there were Moslims that had conquered and enslaved Orthodox Christians and lands for five centuries. Later, the Holy Church was persecuted by the Communists and atheists for seventy four years, during which millions of Orthodox Christians were slaughtered, tortured, imprisoned, exiled and executed. The Faith, however, grew and prospered and the Church became even stronger and greater than before.

Orthodox Christian Saints, men and women, who witnessed to the faith and suffered tortures and other atrocities, such as imprisonment or labor in the mines, exile; but not to the point of death, and thus distinguished from a martyr became known as Confessors. With the decrease in persecution of Christians in the 5th century, this designation was also given to those Christians who lived a holy life. Our Holy Orthodox Church was blessed and enriched by the countless men and women who were convicted in the faith and who without any fear or any trepidation for their own lives witnessed their Christian faith boldly and loudly before nonbelievers.

The Holy Confessors continue to spread the Holy Gospel message throughout the world. They refuse to be silenced by any civil authority or hostile government. They faithfully adhere to Our Lord’s admonition to, "Go into ALL the world and preach the gospel TO EVERY creature" [Mark 16:15]. Our Lord Jesus Christ desires ALL TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH. ALL NATIONS are to be His disciples and to bear witness to His Holy Resurrection. "EVERY CREATURE," means the entire cosmos (world), is affected by it. "He who believes and IS BAPTIZED will be saved; but he who DOES NOT BELIEVE will be condemned" [Mark 16:16]. Every Christian, as were the holy Apostles, are commissioned to teach, preserve, defend and spread the word of God to all of the earth. We are all apostles of Christ with a common mission to bring the Good News to all of mankind.

The dark powers in the world will once again attempt to prevent the Christian message from reaching those who have not heard the Divine Gospel message, but we must not be deterred by their threats. We, ALL CHRISTIANS TOGETHER AND UNITED, must go forward with His Cross as our banner and fulfill the will of God. The Christian of faith believes, "For with God nothing will be impossible" [Luke 1:37]. Christians work always in cooperation with God Himself Who said, "FOR WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING" [John 15:5], that is, nothing which is properly motivated and gives glory to God.

Tragically, there are those brothers and sisters who have apostatized from the Faith and some may be scandalized by their betrayal of Christ. However, it is our duty to continue loving them and praying for them, hoping that our Merciful Lord and Savior will be forgiving and compassionate with them. Weak Christians are nothing new. Over the centuries, we have seen those who initially were very excited and elated to be Christian, but when persecutions began, abandoned the Faith and Christ. Others betrayed Him by introducing to the Church heretical concepts and teachings that created schisms, unrest, and confusion among the faithful. Still, others in higher offices within the Church sought total power and wrongly thought that they could usurp even the power of the Head of the Church, Christ Himself. There have also been thieves who became wealthy at the expense of the people of God. Indeed, we have witnessed many grave sins committed by hierarchs, clergy and monastics over the centuries, but the Church of Christ remains whole, holy and chaste.

Today’s Christian believer is confronted with different spiritual warfare and threats. Evil secular governments have indirectly and suddenly declared the Christian Faith as their opponent and enemy to their insane ideological agenda. It is Christ and His Church and followers that stand as an obstacle to destroying the human race. We are witnessing a deliberate attack on the human being, who God created in His image and likeness with His own Divine hands. "Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…So God made man; in the image of God He made him; MALE AND FEMALE He made them. Then God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; FILL THE EARTH AND SUBDUE IT, AND HAVE DOMINION OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA, OVER THE BIRDS OF HEAVEN, AND OVER EVERY LIVING THING THAT MOVES ON THE EARTH" [Genesis 1:26-28].

The insane and evil powers that govern the various countries of the world seek to destroy what God has created. They wish to distort, to deface, to corrupt human nature and to destroy that which is natural and normal. To destroy the IMAGE OF GOD IN THE PERSON. This is how much they hate God and His perfect creation. "Then God saw everything He had made, and indeed, IT WAS VERY GOOD" [Genesis 1:31]. Their intent is not only to destroy the person, but to ERASE GOD AND REJECT HIS DIVINE ENERGY AND POWER TO CREATE. They desire to REPLACE GOD with themselves. In other words, they OPENLY DECLARED THEMSELVES TO BE the "new god." This is a deliberate REBELLION AGAINST GOD and it is THE GREATEST SINISTER BLASPHEMY AGAINST GOD. This is the world that Christians dwell in currently.

Be strong and prayerful, for we live in EVIL DAYS. The Adversary is using deranged humans to do his dirty work for him. It is the evil one who hates humanity and God alike. He now has allies to undermine what the Almighty God created and bring chaos into the world. It is a sign of the Antichrist, whom the Church has anticipated over the centuries. In the Holy Bible, 1 John 2:18 we read: "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard THAT THE ANTICHRIST IS COMING, EVEN NOW MANY ANTICHRISTS HAVE COME." "Many Antichrists are THE HERETICS, THROUGH WHOM THE ANTICHRIST OF THE END TIME IS DOING HIS SPADEWORK. The holy Apostle John defines who is antichrist by saying, "Every spirit that DOES NOT CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH IS NOT OF GOD. AND THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD WAS COMING, AND IS NOW ALREADY IN THE WORLD" [1 John 4:3]. In his Second Letter he writes: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who DO NOT CONFESS JESUS CHRIST as coming in the flesh, THIS IS A DECEIVER AND AN ANTICHRIST" [2 John 7].

Christian must not be complacent and unwilling to see what is happening around us. Everyone must be prepared for what is happening now and of things to come in the near future. Every Christian must strengthen his relationship with our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ and be willing to face persecution when it comes. Our weapons are our faith in our God the Creator and our Savior Jesus Christ Who is the Savior of the world. Be prayerful, worship in Church and receive Holy Communion as frequently as possible. Whether Christians will face the Antichrist now or in the future is unknown. However, the Holy Church and the Holy Scripture state that he is coming. Don’t be afraid and always believe THAT GOD IS WITH US!

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George