Posted on 01/02/2005 9:06:26 PM PST by freedom44
Recently someone approached me with the following problem: "Nobody can talk me out of being a Christian, but I can't talk anyone else into it. Can you help me?"
Perhaps she thought she was the only one struggling with this, but I've been asked this question hundreds of times. You see, I was once an atheist who set out to prove Christianity was untrue. But during my investigation, I discovered overwhelming evidence that demonstrates the validity of Christianity. And because of a dedicated Christian who was prepared to answer my questions, my heart was reached.
Are you prepared to answer the spiritual seekers in your world? Are you wondering if Christianity's really true? Here's a look at ten objections skeptics pose toward Christianity—and how to respond.
1. Christians are hypocrites.
A hypocrite is an actor, a person who pretends to be something she isn't. Jesus' harshest words were reserved for hypocrites.
The reality is, there always have been and always will be some hypocrites in the Church. But Jesus doesn't ask us to follow others; he asks us to follow him.
Although Christians can represent Jesus either poorly or well, the real question isn't whether there are hypocrites in the Church, but whether Jesus is a hypocrite. If someone can prove that Jesus was a hypocrite, then the whole structure of Christianity falls into ruin. The Bible, God's Word, presents Jesus as nothing less than perfect. Jesus' disciples testified that Jesus was without sin (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). Even Jesus himself challenged others to prove that he'd ever sinned (John 8:46).
2. What about the atrocities Christians have committed?
Some blame Christianity for religious wars, the Crusades, burning witches, the Inquisition, slavery, even the Holocaust.
The issue of atrocities is simply an extension of the question of hypocrites. So-called believers who didn't practice true Christianity have perpetrated evil. In reality, these people were Christian in name only.
Focusing on their atrocities is a smoke screen to avoid the real issue. Christianity has far more positive achievements than negative influences. It's been instrumental in the formation of countless hospitals, schools, colleges, orphanages, relief agencies, and charity agencies. No other religion in history can compare.
3. Christianity is a crutch.
Karl Marx, author of The Communist Manifesto, said, "Religion is the opiate of the masses." Critics such as Marx have charged that religion is an invention designed for people incapable of coping with life's pressures. Some critics respond that they don't need this type of emotional comfort, as though that fact falsifies Christianity. Such individuals often claim to be "stronger" because they're brave enough to face life without a "crutch." To imply non-religious people don't need a crutch is misleading. Dependence on drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, money, power, other people, and material possessions demonstrates some people's need for a crutch. Atheism—the belief that there is no God—can become a crutch for those addicted to a lifestyle contrary to God's standards of morality.
Rather than being weak, Christians are strong—not because they depend on themselves, but because they depend on Jesus.
Everyone needs assistance. The question is, what will you lean on? Christianity provides what atheism or other religions never can: spiritual fulfillment, peace, and forgiveness.
4. It's narrow-minded to think Jesus is the only way to God.
Jesus claimed he was the only way to God (John 14:6). Such a claim is either totally true or totally false. Some people claim to be Christians, yet ignore Jesus' claim to be the only Savior. Critics argue this view is exclusory.
But if Christianity is true, then we must accept Jesus' own teachings. If one believes Jesus' assertions to be true, then the issue is settled.
5. Being a good person is all that really matters.
Some argue that even if a person's religion is false, what really matters is that she's sincere about being a good person. This notion is based on the mistaken belief that God is pleased by "religion."
Sincerity doesn't determine truth, however. One can be sincerely convinced of the truth—and be sincerely wrong. For example, many evil men such as Hitler were very sincere in their beliefs. God judges people based on truth, not opinions—and that truth is Jesus Christ.
6. What about those who've never heard about Jesus?
Such a question implies that God lacks compassion because he's imposed his plan of salvation on us. Often such inquirers seem to imply that they're more compassionate than God!
An important biblical principle to understand is that no one has ever remained lost who wanted to be found. Just as God sent the apostle Philip to the seeking Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-39), Jesus promises all who seek will find (Matthew 7:7-8).
7. The Bible is filled with errors.
Because the Bible is God's Word and God cannot lie (Isaiah 55:10-11; John 17:17; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 4:12), it's totally trustworthy, free from any error. God's Word is described as "the word of truth" (2 Corinthians 6:7; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18). Inerrancy isn't a theory about the Bible; it's the teaching of the Bible itself.
What most people claim as errors in the Bible aren't errors but difficulties. People think they've stumbled upon apparent inconsistencies when they haven't taken the time to find out all the facts, or made an in-depth study of the passage. Many Bible questions have been answered as new discoveries have been made in fields such as language, history, archeology, and other sciences.
Regardless of the kind of difficulty found, not a single irreconcilable error can be found in the Bible's pages.
8. If God is so good, why is there evil?
The thrust of this charge is that evil's presence disproves God's power. But is the presence of evil consistent with the God of the Bible? Consider:
God didn't create evil. Sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience (Genesis 3).
Evil is necessary for a free world. Freedom, or free will, gives humans the opportunity to make wrong choices.
God hesitates to stop evil for an important reason. Just as parents often allow their children to make mistakes and suffer the consequences, God acts in a parental fashion with his creation.
God has the solution for evil. Jesus accomplished the ultimate defeat of evil on the cross. But just as we don't yet have eternal bodies, evil has yet to be removed from the world.
9. Why is there suffering?
Many hold that pain is evidence against God's concern for humankind. However, pain can be used for good and bad purposes. Not all pain is bad. Pain is an essential mechanism for survival. Without pain, the body is stripped of vital protection. Pain is an important signal to warn of even greater danger.
Suffering is a signal. It also can be a spiritual signal that reminds us of the fragile balance of life and our mortality. In The Problem of Pain, Christian apologist C.S. Lewis writes, "God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pain; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
Some suffering actually helps to bring greater good. This is best seen in Jesus' own suffering. Jesus traveled down the road of pain, loneliness, and death—a road that led to the cross. Jesus isn't just a Savior, he's our suffering Savior. The cross is the ultimate example of innocent suffering.
At the heart of this issue is the underlying challenge that God isn't fair. The problem is, society holds pleasure as its chief goal in life. This philosophy is known as hedonism, and those who live by this philosophy find any form of suffering offensive. To say God isn't fair is an extremely dangerous charge.
If God gave us what we deserve, we'd be in trouble. It would be foolish to ask God for justice; what we need is mercy. God's mercy and grace are so taken for granted that suffering and pain shock us.
10. If there's a hell, why would a loving God send people there?
God hates evil, and one day, evil will cease. While evil and suffering and pain are very real, they are also very temporary.
The day God deals with evil, he will deal with all evil. In the meantime, God strives for as many people as possible to accept Jesus' death and resurrection as payment for their sins, so they can live eternally with him. The sad fact is, many will make the decision not to be a part of God's heaven. God won't send them to hell; they'll send themselves.
For God to force people to go to heaven against their wishes wouldn't be heaven—it would be hell. Atheist author Jean-Paul Sarte noted that the gates of hell are locked from the inside by the free choice of men and women.
Hardly a convincing argument; even one stripe is a clear injustice.
Yet it is God who puts souls into babies that He knows will grow up to be Buddhists,Hindus, or whatever. If these other religions were unacceptable to Him, then why do that?
C'mon, you can't expect someone who was told all their life that Buddhism is true and other religions are false to be converted that easily. After all, God did arrange it for them to be born Buddhist.
Freewill, we are allowed to choose our own path even if it is the wrong one.
Why should we should we have to offer proof? It only gets us mired in the mud with you. Why don,t you show us that Jesus did not exist? Where is your proof?
Acceptable . . .
interesting word in this context.
I suppose . . . in the sense that it is acceptable that you drink a cup of hydrochloric acid.
I can get over it and go on living. I can accept it in that sense.
But it's not at all important--in most respects--whether I accept it or not.
THE FATHER said--THIS IS MY SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.
THE FATHER will have something to say at some point about one's acceptance or rejection of HIS 'only begotten' SON whom HE SENT to die for you--and whome HE RAISED again to prove it.
So what is your quibble with Isaiah 53?
Being ONE WITH THE FATHER doesn't make Him an intermediary.
Besides, IF THE FATHER DECLARES this is the way THE FATHER set it up, then one's quarrel would be with THE FATHER.
DITTO.
Methinks your research on the issue is very inadequate and lopsided.
Other than the adequate historical and Biblical proofs . . . many of us Christians have had demonstrable, miraculous proofs of God/Christ/Spirit actively being involved in our lives in redemptive ways.
BTW, what do you make of:
"In the beginning, God said, let US make man in OUR image?
It's that way in the original, too.
That's not really true. There are many inconsistencies in the Bible - the usual explanation is something like what was written later corrects an earlier mistake. Or require convuluted explanations that defy logic. Or if there is conflict with science, the conflict is ignored or science is wrong. And the old standby is that the Bible is right because the Bible says so.
Don't get me wrong, I worship God and take great comfort in the Bible. I believe that parts are divinely inspired but not always accurate. Man is incapable of fully comprehending the Divine.
Interesting how you can be right on the first part and so absolutely wrong on the last part.
"I'm religious. I'm also very content with myself and my place in the universe. I have a mission to fulfill and I am doing it. I don't believe in the divinity of the carpenter from Nazareth. Is that acceptable to you ?"
There are many mansions in My Father's Kingdom.
Logically, there are also many doorways.
God Bless
There is the little issue of the Jewish RELIGIOUS leaders of the day saying:
LET HIS BLOOD BE UPON US AND UPON OUR DESCENDENTS.
It has long been fascinating how their descendents are not so willing to bear that . . . uhhh . . . cross.
The more profound truth is that the sins of each of us across time nailed Him to that cross.
And, HIS LOVE, THE FATHER'S LOVE nailed Him to that cross.
Really sounds like you are all cocked, primed and ready to believe in the Biblically predicted false messiah.
Tragic, that.
Very tragic.
I am still waiting on Dead Sea Swimmer to answer my question about what prophecy from the Old Testament that Jesus Did not fulfill.
As the saying goes it was not the nails that held him to the cross, it was his love for us.
Was a bit reluctant to believe that but the evidence seems conclusive at this point.
Which would explain why he's all primed and ready to accept the false messiah
the Anti-Christ.
He won't be alone. Most of Israel will believe the AC until he sets up his image in the Holy of Holies of the rebuilt temple. Then the AC will turn and begin to slaughter them by the 100's of thousands and millions.
Scripture is rather clear about that.
But have you studied Genesis so much that you are aware that the frequencies and patterns of the letters in Genesis are
awesomely special compared to any other Hebrew text?
This--just on a raw statistical, simple statistical basis.
It would be absolutely mystifying . . . except for another discovery.
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