Everyone knows about the Ravi Zacharias scandal so I won’t repeat what everyone knows. A lesser but still somewhat well known apologist Sye Ten Bruggencate has announce his departure from apologetics. He’s probably best known for his debate against atheist polemicist Matt Dillahunty. He cited moral failure as the reason that he’s quitting. He didn’t really elaborate on what these moral failings were but I don’t think it matters.
I want everyone reading this to reflect on these two examples. Bruggencate did what Ravi should have done years ago. Again, I don’t know the severity of the sins of Bruggencate so who knows how well this analogy will hold up. Still, good on Bruggencate. I hope that he fixes the sin in his life.
I just want to say, that if you don’t live a moral life and are struggling with major sins, this isn’t for you. Before I started this blog in 2015 I emailed a well known Catholic apologist asking for advice. He said that this venture involves a deep prayer life. It’s just not reading a bunch of books and rehashing them on the screen trying to act all intelligent.
I know several Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox apologists who should stop doing apologetics. I know for a fact through sources that they have severe moral failings that need to be remedied. If you’re an apologist and suffer from severe moral failings please take this into account. Here are three reasons you should quit.
The first one is that in this day and age with social media and mass communication there is a good chance that you’ll be exposed sooner or later. I didn’t know about Sye’s problems but he probably saw the writing on the wall.
The second reason is the collateral damage you will do when this is uncovered. You’ll be uncovered and anyone who you may have had a positive effect on will now be questioning things.
The third is that it’s not about your glory. Being an elite apologist doesn’t get you into heaven. If you don’t fix your personal problems and disgrace God, you will go to hell. This is a simple fact.
Let’s look at the example of St. Paul. After his conversion to the one true faith St. Paul not only became a great apologist for the faith, he became one of the holiest people whoever lived. If you’re not trying your hardest to be like St. Paul then you shouldn’t be doing apologetics. Fix your moral life then do apologetics. If you try to do it the other way it won’t work. Maybe try reading the book of Acts to see if its right for you.
Well said my friend, well said.