My natural conviction of the Resurrection, aside from Faith, is that how could you convince anyone, much less the world, that someone rose frome the dead if in fact he didn't?
The thing that becomes more profound to me the older I get is the "personal" relationship with Christ. Twenty-five or 30 years ago, what this writer says about Christians believing "in a living Christ" would have sailed over my head, but as I've experienced more of life, the more I realize how personal that relationship is and must be in order to work. It is why Christianity (what I really mean is Judeo-Christianity because I believe Jews and Christians are like segregated warrior crew, marines and sailors, if you will, on the same ship) is ONLY suited for non-theocratic government, and why Western Civilization (a Judeo-Christian phenomenon) has thrived like no other before it in terms of freedom and morality. As that same civilization slowly lets God's laws go by the wayside, it becomes more and more immoral.
Psalms doesn't say that God's word is "a lamp unto our feet," it says "MY feet." God and Jesus don't work collectively and collectivism goes against Them and what they teach. Individual, personal responsibilities and relationships and comings-to are how God and His Son bless us all.
I'm not clear on your position (sorry) regarding the resurrection of Christ, perhaps you could elucidate a little? TIA.
As far as convicing anyone about the veracity of Christ's resurrection goes, you cannot - and that is not our job as Christians. We tell the stories, sow the seeds, and 'Feed My sheep' and silently LIVE the Gospel. The Laws of God are already written on the heart of every man - but not every man wants to listen. For some it is a matter of pride and for others it is simply a matter of time.
In keeping with the saying 'When the student is ready the teacher will appear,' God works in very much the same way with us - as fledgling Christians and throughout our Earthly journey with Him.
When a person is hungry for the Word, YAHWEH *will* send him a teacher. It might be you, or even me, and then when the student is ready, YAHWEH, through Christ and The Holy Spirit, will convince the man Himself, for 'All revelation comes from God' and God alone.
The use of the term 'revelation' comes from the Greek term 'ajpokavluyi' (apokalupsis - from which root we also get the word apocalypse) and it means to uncover, disclose, reveal or 'make known' (Rom 16:25; Rev 1:1) Therefore, in terms of Divine revelation, it is YAHWEH making himself known to the objects of that revelation, e.g., angels and people. There is belief and then there is knowing, and once you have been given the Grace to know, nothing can take it from you. Some believers never progress to this stage and remain 'babes' in the Word, and are what we call 'Milk Christians' because they never progress to the 'Meat' of the Word... or the knowing. Some people reach a level of comfort and are blindly content to remain there throughout their lives, never realizing that Christ demands *absolute* surrender and trust.
'Do you not know that you do not belong to yourselves, for you have been bought with a price... the blood of Christ.'(1 Corinthians 6:19)
'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of YAHWEH, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice daily, holy, and acceptable to YAHWEH, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of YAHWEH.(Romans 12 1-2)
A Bible student of mine once asked me what she would have to do to *really* follow Jesus, as He Himself would want her to. She asked what it would *cost* her to follow Jesus. I had never been asked that question before and yet I didn't hesitate for a moment, I knew, and I told her it would cost her everything. Christ gave everything for us and 'A disciple is not greater than his Master,'(Matthew 10:24) is he?
We will never 'Convince the world,' GonzoII. A few 'ecclesia' (called out ones - members of the Body of Christ will be sufficiently hungry to not simply be called Christians, but to be Christians. After all, our ultimate destiny is to be 'Transformed into the Image of Christ.')(2 Corinthians 3:18) But we will not convince the world, for 'The world is passing away, and so it its desire, but he who does the Will of God remains forever.'(1 John 2:17)
Shalom Aleichem,
Yours, surrendered to, and trusting in Jesus - Beth.