The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) is an evangelical Christian ministry dedicated to equipping believers with knowledge and resources to defend and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. CARM was founded in 1995 by Matt Slick and provides extensive online resources in Christian apologetics, theology, Bible study, and evangelism.
Overview of CARM
CARM stands for Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry and is located at www.carm.org. It was founded by Matt Slick, a former atheist who converted to Christianity. Slick felt called to start CARM as a way to defend Christianity and provide well-researched answers to common objections and questions about the faith. Some key facts about CARM:
- Non-profit Christian ministry based in Meridian, Idaho.
- Founded in 1995 by Matt Slick.
- Reaches millions annually through the website, radio, videos, podcasts, and speaking events.
- Known for theological defense of biblical Christianity.
- Extensive apologetics and theology articles, audio, and video resources.
- Forums for theological discussion and debates.
CARM aims to accomplish two main goals:
- To equip Christians with sound doctrine so they can accurately present and defend biblical Christianity.
- To reach non-believers by addressing common objections and questions about Christianity and providing well-reasoned answers and resources.
Key Areas of Ministry
CARM has a broad range of Christian apologetics and theology content across the following key areas:
1. Christian Apologetics
A major focus of CARM is providing articles, audio teachings, and videos related to Christian apologetics. This includes:
- Defending Christianity philosophically and theologically.
- Answering objections to Christianity such as the problem of evil, reliability of the Bible, etc.
- Comparative religion – analyzing Christianity versus other faiths.
- Refuting cults and false doctrines such as Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.
Some examples of apologetics offerings on CARM:
- “Is there evidence for God?”
- “Did Jesus really exist?”
- Defense of biblical inerrancy.
- Analysis of Evolution from a Christian perspective.
2. Theology and Bible Study
In addition to apologetics, CARM provides extensive theology and Bible study resources including:
- Hundreds of pages defining theological terms and concepts.
- Articles examining biblical teachings and interpretation of key verses.
- Overviews and definitions related to denominations.
- Bible study tools such as lexicons and concordances.
Some examples of CARM’s theology and Bible study content:
- Definitions of spiritual gifts.
- Commentary on Bible passages about salvation.
- Overview of Calvinism vs. Arminianism.
- Examination of baptism according to Scripture.
3. Evangelism Resources
As an evangelical ministry, CARM offers many articles and tools focused on effective evangelism and outreach, such as:
- Tips for witnessing and sharing the gospel.
- Gospel tracts and visual illustrations.
- Ways to evangelize to different cultures and worldviews.
- Topics and questions to avoid when witnessing.
4. Discussion Forums
CARM offers discussion boards where Christians can engage in theological dialogue and ask apologetics questions. There are forums on:
- General apologetics and theology.
- World religions and cults.
- Creationism and evolution.
- Roman Catholicism.
- CARM’s articles and resources.
The forums are moderated and require registration to prevent abuse.
History of CARM
CARM was founded in 1995 by Matt Slick, a former atheist who converted to Christianity. Prior to his conversion, Slick had been involved in Zen Buddhism and New Age spirituality. After becoming a Christian, he pursued pastoral training at a Bible college in California.
As he began studying Christian theology and apologetics, Slick felt drawn to teach in this area. He went on to earn a Masters in Divinity and started a focused study of denominations, religions, philosophies and cults from an evangelical perspective.
While working as a pastor in Idaho, Slick taught classes at the church on apologetics and comparative religions. He later had the vision for an extensive apologetics and evangelism ministry delivered through a website – this soon led to the founding of CARM in 1995. The ministry quickly grew, with Slick devoting his fulltime to developing CARM and its online resources.
Over 25 years, CARM has expanded to become one of the most far-reaching online Christian apologetics and theology resources. Under Slick’s continued leadership, it offers tools and information to millions annually through its website, radio show, videos, books and more.
CARM’s Statement of Faith
CARM has a Statement of Faith consistent with evangelical theology, affirming:
- The Bible as God’s inspired, inerrant Word, the supreme authority for doctrine and practice.
- God existing eternally as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, who died for the sins of the world and rose bodily from the dead.
- Salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ, not by human effort or works.
The statement also affirms core doctrines like the resurrection of the dead, the return of Christ, divine healing, water baptism, and the eternal punishment of the lost. CARM’s statement identifies the ministry as Protestant, evangelical, orthodox, and non-denominational.
CARM’s Views and Approach
As an evangelical Protestant ministry, CARM adheres to biblical inerrancy and salvation through faith in Christ alone. Its approach involves:
- Presuppositional apologetics – Defending Christianity as rationally defensible based on the authority and truthfulness of Scripture.
- Polemics – Directly engaging and refuting opposing beliefs as biblically false or erroneous.
- Exegetical theology – Careful interpretation and explanation of biblical texts.
CARM affirms basic orthodox theology shared by Protestants while taking a polemic stance against teachings considered heretical or cultic. Some of these groups critiqued by CARM include:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Mormonism
- Roman Catholicism
- Islam
- Hinduism
Within Christianity, CARM defends the key doctrines of evangelicalism while critiquing some positions of:
- Eastern Orthodoxy
- Liberal theology
- Charismatic movement
CARM’s polemic approach draws criticism from some as being too harsh or divisive. But the ministry believes directly refuting doctrinal error is an essential part of contending for the true faith.
CARM’s Resources and Offerings
CARM provides a vast library of free Christian apologetics and theology resources through multiple channels:
Website
The CARM website at www.carm.org contains thousands of articles, definitions, and pieces of multimedia content defending and explaining the Christian faith. This includes:
- Over 6,000 articles on apologetics topics, theological terms and concepts, Bible studies, evangelism, news and commentary, and more.
- Hundreds of downloadable ebooks, tracts, and study guides.
- Videos and YouTube channel with apologetics, evangelism and theology content.
- Audio podcasts, lectures, and sermons.
- Interactive online forums for theological discussion.
- Social media links and updates.
Speaking and Conferences
Matt Slick regularly teaches at apologetics conferences and events around the country, including churches, universities, and seminars. He addresses topics related to theology, Christian living, evangelism, ethical issues, and comparative religions.
Radio Show
“Faith and Reason Radio” is a live, call-in radio show hosted by Matt Slick on CARM’s Christian radio channel. During the program he takes Bible questions, discusses apologetics and current events from a Christian perspective.
Podcast
The CARM Podcast features Matt Slick presenting lectures, sermons, and discussions related to Christian apologetics, theology, evangelism, and world religions.
Mobile App
CARM offers a free mobile app for Android and Apple with easy access to thousands of articles, audio teachings, videos, and more. Users can also take notes, bookmark content, share via social media, and donate.
Online Store
CARM’s online store sells books, ebooks, and DVDs by Matt Slick and others on apologetics, theology, evangelism, and related topics. Many free resources can also be downloaded.
Social Media
Content and updates from CARM are shared through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and an email newsletter.
CARM’s Teachings and Beliefs
As an evangelical Christian apologetics ministry, CARM adheres to orthodox Protestant theology. Some key doctrines include:
The Bible
CARM teaches the Bible as the inerrant, divinely inspired Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts. Scripture alone has supreme authority for doctrine and living before any church councils or traditions. CARM uses exegetical analysis to interpret biblical texts according to context, genre, grammar, and historical setting.
God
There is only one true God, who exists eternally in three co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is self-existent, all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere. He created the universe ex nihilo and sustains all things.
Jesus Christ
Jesus is the virgin born eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay for sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended to heaven where He intercedes for believers.
Salvation
Salvation is by God’s grace alone, received through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone – not based on human works or merit. Those who repent and believe in Christ are forgiven, born again by the Spirit, and saved from eternal condemnation.
Last Things
CARM teaches the bodily return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection and final judgment, eternal life for believers, and eternal punishment for unbelievers in hell.
Spiritual Gifts
All the spiritual gifts in the New Testament are still active today, including speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing. However CARM is cessationist regarding the office and authority of apostles and rejects any claims of new revelation.
Church and Worship
The church consists of all true believers in Jesus and is tasked with worship, discipleship, evangelism and social concern. CARM has an evangelical view of worship focused on exalting God through prayer, preaching, sacraments and music.
Social Issues
CARM takes conservative evangelical stances on issues such as abortion, LGBT relations, gender identity, and euthanasia. It advocates for the sanctity of life, biblical sexuality, and traditional marriage while opposing liberal social agendas.
Critiques and Controversies
As a polemic ministry, CARM engages in regular critiques of religions, doctrines, and public issues. This has led to some controversies and criticisms over the years.
Against Other Religions
CARM staunchly criticizes non-Christian religions like Islam, Hinduism, and Mormonism as false, dangerous, and leading people astray. CARM’s strong stance has garnered criticism from interfaith proponents as intolerant.
Against Liberal Theology
Matt Slick and CARM take a hardline stance against liberal and progressive trends in theology that compromise the Bible’s authority. Arguments defending biblical inerrancy and literal interpretations draw opposition from some.
Over Charismatic Movement
While affirming spiritual gifts, CARM is critical of the Charismatic movement’s claims of new revelation, faith healing, and prosperity theology. This has garnered charges of being divisive and quenching the Spirit.
Against Catholicism
CARM argues forcefully against Catholic doctrines like transubstantiation, praying to Mary/saints, purgatory, and papal authority. CARM’s anti-Catholic materials have been condemned by Catholic groups.
Style and Tone
Some believe CARM and Matt Slick come across as arrogant, dismissive and overly argumentative in critiquing those they disagree with. But they defend their style as necessary to counter false teachings.
Conclusion
In summary, CARM is a major Christian apologetics and theology ministry seeking to defend biblical truth against doctrinal error and equip believers. Through its extensive online resources, radio show, conferences, and publications, CARM aims to proclaim the gospel while taking a polemic stance against religions and teachings it deems false or unbiblical.
While controversial at times, CARM has impacted millions with its defense of evangelical Christianity and continues to provide extensive materials for Christian discipleship, apologetics, and outreach. Under Matt Slick’s ongoing leadership, CARM stands out as an influential voice in online Christian theology and apologetics today.
