The most difficult part of this entire project will be picking what to enter and what to exclude when it comes to essays, thoughts, and lessons. This project - "Defense Against The Dark Arts" is exactly what it sounds like when you think of going against the Enemy and forces of chaos in our fallen world today and how to combat them with truth and Scripture. Yes, it is of course a play on the Harry Potter concept and class taken at Hogwarts. If you follow my work you know that Harry Potter plays a fantastic part in not only my faith but also in how I've written articles for the last several years but let's make something clear Harry Potter is only a tangible ideology of faith and theology and is not meant to replace Scripture in any way shape or form. Before I began this project I thought this introduction would be filled highly with disclaimers of why I'm choosing to use Harry Potter as a staple idea for my projects but I realized that if you're questioning that you've not only missed the point but this book may not be for you.
Our understanding both external and internal is vital to how we live our lives and our lives are reflections of Christ...at least they are meant to be reflections. The Christian is told to be diligent with God's word, the word diligent may not be strong enough here, but let me paint a picture for you. The Christian is called to know God's word as it was given, in the time it was given, in the language, it was given, the people it was given to and the authorial intent of the Scripture itself. You cannot do this simply by reading the New International Version of the Bible.
You may be wondering if I deem it essential to faith or salvation to have a higher knowledge of Scripture. For that, I say no, Scripture is clear how salvation occurs. I will say this though, if one wishes to be sanctified, refined in the fire, holy, and grow as a believer, I deem these essential.
Diligence Defined
In Joshua, we read, "This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it."
This concept in Hebrew of it not leaving the lips is one that may not seem completely familiar to the western ear. The Hebrews, along with other ancient cultures, practiced reading something out loud repeatedly for an entire day in order to memorize the passages. We do this, but I would say, not in the same diligence. The call to memorize Scripture is key.
Fast forward to 2 Timothy, "Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately."
Make every effort.
This, right here, is why a high school dropout has now pursued multiple degrees, P.hD., And all. They deem reading the English translations is enough, and that may be the case for salvation, but I argue from the text that to "teach the message of truth accurately," you must make every effort possible to understand the fullness of Scripture.
Every effort includes Proper hermeneutic training, proper language training, appropriate exegetical methods, proper theological training, proper discipleship training, an appropriate grasp of every view in scholarship, adequate understanding of varying views, proper knowledge of Scripture's purpose, content, authorial intent, language, people and culture; all this is defined as diligence and making every single effort possible to present yourself as truth.
This letter, written by Paul, from Timothy, is also interesting when working backward. Paul, before going to Jerusalem, went to Arabia to study the Word of God with his newfound salvation in Christ. He went back, the man who knew the Old Testament upon His lips, and studied all He knew in light of Christ (Galatians 1:11-2:10). The recorder of Paul's ministry eludes to 14 years of preparation for deep ministry. He then continues to deal with the next decade of ministry, further pointing backward, that Paul spent nearly 14 years training, reading, studying, and preparing to share the Gospel with everyone he encountered. These people would include Jews, Greek Philosophers, commoners, and more.
Examples of Why Diligence Matters
Below is an example of why going deeper into the defense of Scripture is vital. This is a surface-level one that has little repercussion when it comes to translation and we will explore much more daunting texts but let us give an easy example.
In John chapter 21, we see Peter and Jesus having a conversation about love. Jesus asks him several times if he, Peter, loves Him. However, upon looking closer, we see that Jesus uses two uses of the word "love." First, Jesus uses the word "φιλέω" which means "mutual interest, affectionate love." The second time Jesus asks the question, He uses the word "ἀγαπάω" which is agapao, meaning "expresses personal will and affection, rather than just emotional love." On the last asks of Jesus, He switches back to phileo or "φιλέω." This is not something that we grasp in the English translations, it's difficult to encompass these types of translations, so it is understandable. However, allowing yourself to take a more viable look at Scripture reveals the truth. We see Jesus asking Peter three times, which some speculate is a redemption method since Peter denies Jesus three times.
Simple diligence of studying the text further than presented in English gives more weight and deeper meaning to what we first may have thought about the verse.
You may think that the task of 'making every effort' is daunting. I would implore you, however, that it will make a lifetime of difference in your walk with Christ. My story is one of testimony to this very fact, that going more in-depth, drives you closer to the truth.
My story, in short, was that I was raised in a Christian home. I was raised on building fun pictures of Noah's ark, without everyone dying underneath, while I was told that "Jesus loves me, this, I know." It turns out, that's all I knew. As I grew up, I was swayed, by the age of 15 I had nearly abandoned the faith in the placement of drugs, sex, and alcohol to find my inner peace and dealings with this dark world. It wasn't until the night of my overdose that Jesus saved me, honestly, and called me into a life that I never thought I would ever enter.
In the coming decade, I would engage with God's word on a new level, a deeper level, finding that the Bible contains much more than meets the eyes. The Bible is full of theological truth that pertains to our very inner beings. The Bible was given to a people and a place on purpose, God makes no mistakes, therefore, in pure Assassins Creed form, we must enter the animus and return to those times to better understand the truth of God's word in its fullest picture and form.
You'll find yourself on a journey, learning a new language, maybe two, discovering new insights about Israel, bloodguilt, foretellings of our savior, revelation, and the picture full scope of Scripture. The list goes on and on, from Textual Criticism to New Testament Greek back to Ancient Hebrew and back again to Hermeneutics. You will find a fullness as you have never found before, a closeness to God never like before, and embark on an adventure with the Creator through His word and His time.
Be encouraged; make every effort.
What to expect?
Apologetics is something that works in tandem will the personal study of Scripture. Apologetics or the Defense of Faith is something that builds one up but also extends into the world outwardly to perfect one's ability to share Christ and sustain one's faith. By the end of this book, you will have a better grasp of how to defend against the attacks that atheists or non-believers hurl at Scripture and Christianity.
You will be equipped to address homosexuality, abortion, science, and God, the creation of the universe, the historical person of Jesus, philosophical arguments, moral arguments, textual arguments, and much more that will equip you when the Dark Arts come knocking on your door throughout life.
Let's dive into the realm of apologetics but keeping in mind that we see the world from a different lens. Just like in Harry Potter, the muggles cannot fathom the Wizarding World and some are even in pure denial that exists even though it is right in front of them. This is identical to our world as we are ambassadors of Christ through faith. We are not of this world anymore but of His world. We are citizens of heaven and we must convince the muggle world of magic.
We are tasked by God, are you up for the task?