Questions Skeptics Ask About the Validity of Christianity. Written by Rusty Wright.
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Rusty Wright considers some common questions skeptics ask about our belief in Christianity. He shows us how to answer these questions from an informed biblical worldview. Questions of Faith. Picture the scene. You’re discussing your faith with a coworker or neighbor, perhaps over lunch or coffee.
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- Instead, mankind has made its own religion that is almost completely different from what Jesus Christ preached and practiced. And they call that religion “Christianity,” as if it were connected with Jesus Christ!
You explain your beliefs but your friend has questions: How could a loving God allow evil and suffering? The Bible is full of contradictions. What about people who’ve never heard of Jesus? How do you feel about these questions and objections? Combative? Sensitively and appropriately answering questions that skeptics ask you can be an important part of helping them to consider Jesus. Peter told us, “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”. Consider first a story. As the flight from Chicago to Dallas climbed in the sky, I became engrossed in conversation with the passenger to my left.
On learning I was a Christian communicator, she related that a professing Christian had signed a contract with her, attempted to lead her to Christ, then later deceitfully undercut her. Aimee asked question after question: “How can you believe the Bible?” “Why do Christians say there is only one way to God?” “How does one become a Christian?”I tried to answer her concerns tactfully and explained the message of grace as clearly as I could. Stories I told of personal pain seemed to open her up to consider God’s love for her. She did not come to Christ in that encounter, but she seemed to leave it with a new understanding.
Hurting people everywhere need God. Many are open to considering Him, but they often have questions they want answered before they are willing to accept Christ. As Christian communicators seek to blend grace with truth.
Jesus complimented the skeptical Nathanael for his pursuit of truth. Your listening ear speaks volumes. It may surprise you to learn that your attitude can be just as important as what you know. Dealing with Objections. How do you deal with questions and objections to faith that your friends may pose? When I was a skeptical student, my sometimes- relentless questions gave my Campus Crusade for Christ friends at Duke University plenty of practice! I wanted to know if Christianity was true.
After trusting Christ as Savior, I still had questions. Bob Prall, the local Campus Crusade director, took interest in me. At first his answers irritated me, but as I thought them through they began to make sense.
For two years I followed him around campus, watching him interact. Today, as I am privileged to encounter inquisitive people around the globe, much of my speech and manner derive from my mentor. Consider some guidelines. Pray for wisdom, for His love for inquirers.
If appropriate, briefly share the gospel first. The Holy Spirit may draw your friends to Christ. It may be best to answer their questions first. Some questions may be intellectual smokescreens. Once a Georgia Tech philosophy professor peppered me with questions, which I answered as best I could. Then I asked him, “If I could answer all your questions to your satisfaction, would you put your life in Jesus’ hands?” His reply: “. This first objection is one you might have heard: 1.
It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. I once gave a speech arguing for this proposition.
Later, I reconsidered. In the 1. 96. 0s, many women took the drug thalidomide seeking easier pregnancies.
Often they delivered deformed babies. Sincerely swallowing two white pills may cure your headache if the pills are aspirin. If they are roach poison, results may differ. After discussing this point, a widely respected psychologist told me, “I guess a person could be sincere in what he or she believed, but be sincerely wrong.” Ultimately faith is only as valid as its object. Jesus demonstrated by His life, death and resurrection that He is a worthy object for faith. Bob Prall taught me to say, “I don’t have answers to every question. But if my conclusion about Jesus is wrong, I have a bigger problem.
What do I do with the evidence for His resurrection, His deity and the prophecies He fulfilled? And what do I do with changed lives, including my own?”I don’t have complete answers to every concern you will encounter, but in what follows I’ll outline some short responses that might be useful. The second question is: 2. Why is there evil and suffering? Sigmund Freud called religion an illusion that humans invent to satisfy their security needs. To him, a benevolent, all- powerful God seemed incongruent with natural disasters and human evil.
God, though sovereign, gave us freedom to follow Him or to disobey Him. Lewis estimated that eighty percent of human suffering stems from human choice.
Lewis called pain “God’s megaphone” that alerts us to our need for Him. When I see God, items on my long list of questions for Him will include a painful and unwanted divorce, betrayal by trusted coworkers, and all sorts of disappointing human behavior and natural disasters. Yet in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. What about those who never hear of Jesus? Moses said, “The secret things belong to the LORD.”.
God’s perfect love and justice far exceed our own. Whatever He decides will be loving and fair. One can make a case that God will make the necessary information available to someone who wants to know Him. An example: Cornelius, a devout military official. The New Testament records that God assigned Peter to tell him about Jesus. That statement angered me, but it also described me. Lewis in Mere Christianity wrote, “If you are worried about the people outside .
Many skeptics appreciate honesty. It’s dishonest and often detectable. What about all the contradictions in the Bible? Ask your questioner for specific examples of contradictions. Often people have none, but rely on hearsay. If there is a specific example, consider these guidelines as you respond. Omission does not necessarily create contradiction.
Luke, for example, writes of two angels at Jesus’ tomb after the Resurrection.? If Matthew stated that only one angel was present, the accounts would be dissonant. As it stands, they can be harmonized. Differing accounts aren’t necessarily contradictory. Matthew and Luke, for example, differ in their accounts of Jesus’ birth.
Luke records Joseph and Mary starting in Nazareth, traveling to Bethlehem (Jesus’ birthplace), and returning to Nazareth. Biographers must be selective. The accounts seem complementary, not contradictory.
Time precludes more complex examples here. But time and again, supposed biblical problems fade in light of logic, history, and archaeology. The Bible’s track record under scrutiny argues for its trustworthiness. Isn’t Christianity just a psychological crutch?
My mentor Bob Prall has often said, “If Christianity is a psychological crutch, then Jesus Christ came because there was an epidemic of broken legs.” Christianity claims to meet real human needs such as those for forgiveness, love, identity and self- acceptance. We might describe Jesus not as a crutch but an iron lung, essential for life itself. Christian faith and its benefits can be described in psychological terms but that does not negate its validity. Aim for certainty “beyond a reasonable doubt,” just as an attorney might in court.
Don’t quarrel. Lovingly and intelligently present evidence to willing listeners, not to win arguments but to share good news. How can Jesus be the only way to God?
When I was in secondary school, a recent alumnus visited, saying he had found Christ at Harvard. I respected his character and tact and listened intently. But I could not stomach Jesus’ claim that “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”. The logic that drew me (reluctantly) to his position involves three questions: ? To be open- minded, I had to admit this possibility.? His plan of rescuing humans .
These two kinds of systems were mutually exclusive. Both could be false or either could be true, but both could not be true.? Historical evidence for His resurrection, fulfilled prophecy. I could never take the blind leap of faith that believing in Christ requires. We exercise faith every day. Few of us comprehend everything about electricity or aerodynamics, but we have evidence of their validity.
Whenever we use electric lights or airplanes, we exercise faith . Christians act similarly. The evidence for Jesus is compelling, so one can trust Him on that basis. As you respond to inquirers, realize that many barriers to faith are emotional rather than merely intellectual. As a teenager, I nearly was expelled from secondary school for some problems I helped create.
In my pain and anger I wondered, “Why would God allow this to happen?” I was mad at God! In retrospect, I realize I was blaming Him for my own bad choices.
My personal anguish at the time kept me from seeing that. Your questioners may be turned off because Christians haven’t acted like Jesus. Maybe they’re angry at God because of personal illness, a broken relationship, a loved one’s death, or personal pain. Ask God for patience and love as you seek to blend grace with truth.
He may use you to help skeptics become seekers and seekers become His children. I hope He does. Notes 1. For useful discussions of evidences regarding Jesus, visit www. Who. Is. Jesus- Really. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: Macmillan, 1. The Problem of Pain was first published in 1.
A short summary of Resurrection evidences is at Rusty Wright and Linda Raney Wright, “Who’s Got the Body?” 1. Romans 8: 2. 8 NASB. For more complete treatment of this subject, see Rick Rood, “The Problem of Evil,” 1. Dr. Ray Bohlin, “Where Was God on September 1. Deuteronomy 2. 9: 2. NASB. 1. 0. Lewis, “The Case for Christianity,” reprinted from Mere Christianity; in The Best of C. S. Lewis (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1.
Christianity - Wikipedia. Christianity. It is the world's largest religion. These professions of faith state that Jesus suffered, died, was buried, descended into hell, and rose from the dead, in order to grant eternal life to those who believe in him and trust in him for the remission of their sins. The creeds further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven, where he reigns with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and that he will return to judge the living and the dead and grant eternal life to his followers.
His incarnation, earthly ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection are often referred to as . Worldwide, the three largest branches of Christianity are the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the various denominations of Protestantism.
The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches broke communion with each other in the East- West Schism of 1. Protestantism came into existence in the Reformation of the 1. Catholic Church. They began as baptismal formulae and were later expanded during the Christological controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries to become statements of faith. Many evangelical Protestants reject creeds as definitive statements of faith, even while agreeing with some or all of the substance of the creeds. The Baptists have been non- creedal . It is used by a number of Christian denominations for both liturgical and catechetical purposes, most visibly by liturgical churches of Western Christian tradition, including the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Western Rite Orthodoxy. It is also used by Presbyterians, Methodists, and Congregationalists.
This particular creed was developed between the 2nd and 9th centuries. Its central doctrines are those of the Trinity and God the Creator.
Each of the doctrines found in this creed can be traced to statements current in the apostolic period. The creed was apparently used as a summary of Christian doctrine for baptismal candidates in the churches of Rome. Christians believe that Jesus, as the Messiah, was anointed by God as savior of humanity, and hold that Jesus' coming was the fulfillment of messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. The Christian concept of the Messiah differs significantly from the contemporary Jewish concept. The core Christian belief is that through belief in and acceptance of the death and resurrection of Jesus, sinful humans can be reconciled to God and thereby are offered salvation and the promise of eternal life. Jesus, having become fully human, suffered the pains and temptations of a mortal man, but did not sin. As fully God, he rose to life again.
According to the New Testament, he rose from the dead. Little of Jesus' childhood is recorded in the canonical gospels, although infancy gospels were popular in antiquity. In comparison, his adulthood, especially the week before his death, is well documented in the gospels contained within the New Testament, because that part of his life is believed to be most important. The biblical accounts of Jesus' ministry include: his baptism, miracles, preaching, teaching, and deeds.
Death and resurrection. Christians consider the resurrection of Jesus to be the cornerstone of their faith (see 1 Corinthians 1. Jesus' death and resurrection are commemorated by Christians in all worship services, with special emphasis during Holy Week which includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The death and resurrection of Jesus are usually considered the most important events in Christian theology, partly because they demonstrate that Jesus has power over life and death and therefore has the authority and power to give people eternal life. Arguments over death and resurrection claims occur at many religious debates and interfaith dialogues. According to both Catholic and Protestant doctrine, salvation comes by Jesus' substitutionary death and resurrection. The Catholic Church teaches that salvation does not occur without faithfulness on the part of Christians; converts must live in accordance with principles of love and ordinarily must be baptized.
Reformed theology places distinctive emphasis on grace by teaching that individuals are completely incapable of self- redemption, but that sanctifying grace is irresistible. Together, these three persons are sometimes called the Godhead. Though distinct, the three persons cannot be divided from one another in being or in operation. From earlier than the times of the Nicene Creed, 3.
Christianity advocated. Olson and Christopher Hall, through prayer, meditation, study and practice, the Christian community concluded . The distinction lies in their relations, the Father being unbegotten; the Son being begotten of the Father; and the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and (in Western Christian theology) from the Son.
Regardless of this apparent difference, the three . Other Christian religions including Unitarian Universalism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism and others do not share those views on the Trinity. The Latin word trias, from which trinity is derived, is first seen in the works of Theophilus of Antioch. Afterwards it appears in Tertullian. It is found in many passages of Origen. Almost all Christian denominations and churches hold Trinitarian beliefs. Since that time, Christian theologians have been careful to emphasize that Trinity does not imply that there are three gods (the antitrinitarian heresy of hritism), nor that each hypostasis of the Trinity is one- third of an infinite God (partialism), nor that the Son and the Holy Spirit are beings created by and subordinate to the Father (Arianism).
Rather, the Trinity is defined as one God in three Persons. Various nontrinitarian views, such as adoptionism or modalism, existed in early Christianity, leading to the disputes about Christology. Christianity regards the biblical canon, the Old Testament and the New Testament, as the inspired word of God. The traditional view of inspiration is that God worked through human authors so that what they produced was what God wished to communicate. The Greek word referring to inspiration in 2 Timothy 3: 1.
Others claim inerrancy for the Bible in its original manuscripts, although none of those are extant. Still others maintain that only a particular translation is inerrant, such as the King James Version. These variations are a reflection of the range of traditions, and of the councils that have convened on the subject. Every version of the Old Testament always includes the books of the Tanakh, the canon of the Hebrew Bible.
The Catholic and Orthodox canons, in addition to the Tanakh, also include the Deuterocanonical Books as part of the Old Testament. These books appear in the Septuagint, but are regarded by Protestants to be apocryphal. However, they are considered to be important historical documents which help to inform the understanding of words, grammar and syntax used in the historical period of their conception. Some versions of the Bible include a separate Apocrypha section between the Old Testament and the New Testament. While the Authorized King James Version is held to by many because of its striking English prose, in fact it was translated from the Erasmus Greek Bible which in turn . Another issue is that several books are considered to be forgeries. The injunction that women .
Other Gospels have now been recovered, such as those found near Nag Hammadi in 1. Christians have been used to, it should be understood that some of this newly recovered Gospel material is quite possibly contemporaneous with, or even earlier than, the New Testament Gospels. The core of the Gospel of Thomas, in particular, may date from as early as AD 5. Gospels, texts that are mentioned in Luke 1: 1. The Gospel of Thomas contains much that is familiar from the canonical Gospels.
Scholarship, then, is currently exploring the relationship in the Early Church between mystical speculation and experience on the one hand and the search for church order on the other, by analyzing new- found texts, by subjecting canonical texts to further scrutiny, and by an examination of the passage of New Testament texts to canonical status. Catholic interpretation.
In antiquity, two schools of exegesis developed in Alexandria and Antioch. Alexandrine interpretation, exemplified by Origen, tended to read Scripture allegorically, while Antiochene interpretation adhered to the literal sense, holding that other meanings (called theoria) could only be accepted if based on the literal meaning.
The spiritual sense is further subdivided into: Regarding exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation, Catholic theology holds: the injunction that all other senses of sacred scripture are based on the literal. This concept is known as sola scriptura. Martin Luther believed that without God's help Scripture would be . The significance of the text includes the ensuing use of the text or application.
The original passage is seen as having only a single meaning or sense. The moment we neglect this principle we drift out upon a sea of uncertainty and conjecture. Taken together, both define the term (Biblical) hermeneutics. The major issues in Christian eschatology are the Tribulation, death and the afterlife, the Rapture, the Second Coming of Jesus, Resurrection of the Dead, Heaven and Hell, Millennialism, the Last Judgment, the end of the world, and the New Heavens and New Earth. Christians believe that the second coming of Christ will occur at the end of time after a period of severe persecution (the Great Tribulation). All who have died will be resurrected bodily from the dead for the Last Judgment. Jesus will fully establish the Kingdom of God in fulfillment of scriptural prophecies.
This includes the general judgement at the resurrection of the dead as well as the belief (held by Roman Catholics. These Christians also hold to Annihilationism, the belief that subsequent to the final judgement, the wicked will cease to exist rather than suffer everlasting torment. Jehovah's Witnesses hold to a similar view.