Statement: I don’t believe, and never will, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
Never will? If I could provide him with convincing proof, would you still say that? The Bible is absolutely clear on this, so your questions hinges on the reliability of the Bible. Are you willing to do the homework to discover the reasons why we know it to be reliable? I can point you in any number of directions to learn this on your own if this is your major stumbling block. A careful study of all the facts will give you confidence in its reliability. There is a historically verifiable path you can follow – real places, real people, witnesses and evidence.
Statement: I’ve read a lot about other religions, and they claim to have answers, too.
I like to summarize comparative religion in a nutshell like this…All religions in the world basically establish the format, regulations, and requirements, whereby mankind can earn his way back to God, heaven, Nirvana, etc. Christianity is different, because, right from the outset it admits that this is impossible to accomplish. Further it states that God in his love for us came down to us (since we couldn’t make it to up him), took our place. Christianity is a relationship with the One who saves me from my own rebellious, selfish, harmful actions and even our well-intentioned, but weak efforts at altruistic behavior.
The distinction that I like to make regarding other religions is that of revelation (in other words, God reveals it). Man has always sought to understand the nature of God. Unless man rejects God all together, he is left to wonder and to try to come to conclusions about what God must be like, which accounts for the many varieties of religion in the world. Man also seeks to understand how to be made right, knowing that he has failed some kind of moral code that he senses in his own heart. But God did not leave us to figure out for ourselves. He came and lived as a man so that we would know. He did not leave us to repay or make up for every sin we have committed. He died for our sins in order that they would be settled in the eternal account of grace and mercy that God provides. And He left a witness not only in the Bible, but importantly, in the Holy Spirit who speaks into the heart of all who seek Him earnestly. The questions that other religions leave unanswered are answered completely in Jesus Christ.
Question: What about Heaven and Hell? How can someone who has never heard of Jesus be condemned to hell? Hell must be filling up pretty fast if every person who has ever lived without hearing about Jesus is in hell.
This is the uneasy reality of the honor God has bestowed on man’s free will. We are not forced to go to heaven. God says that there is enough witness in nature itself for men to acknowledge Him. In our day and age, such an acknowledgement will lead to openness to the Gospel, which answers the very question in man’s heart – “if you are out here God, do I matter and will you speak to me?” The resounding answer is yes and yes. The fact is that men’s hearts are inclined inward and we reject God, until He does something to replace our “heart of stone” with a “heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). He doesn’t condemn us for not hearing about Jesus. We are condemned already, by our own actions and inactions. Hell doesn’t sit well with God either and he determined to do something about it. He sent Jesus to make it possible for us to be set free from the penalty and power of our sin, at the horrible cost of his own life. He took our penalty upon himself because he loved us.
By the way, we make a leap when we assume that God is not able to meet people in ways that we do not understand – regardless of whether a Christian trudged into the village with a message. As Abraham asked God, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” He is a superb communicator. Hell’s doors are locked from the inside. The sad reality is that even when people are provided with compelling evidence of God, some still would say, “No, I will be my own god over my life.” God honors that response.
Question: How do you know your religion is right?”
First, we do not believe in something that is not reliable – the historical witness of the Bible is something that can be verified (see the first statement). It is not too difficult for people to understand – it is told in plain language. But more importantly, we know because the Holy Spirit lives within us and God is able to reveal it to us personally. We who know Him could no more deny His presence than deny our own existence. We have seen the difference He has made in our own lives and the lives of others. Encounters with God are always one-on-one. Our prayer is that you will have such and encounter and will be able to rely on the witness that God gives you in a direct revelation.
Answered by Pastors Mark and Greg
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2 comments:
I would really like to see the evidence supporting the bible's validity. Seeing as skeptics mainly base their belief on scientific findings, if the bible is true as you claim, there would be no argument on the matter.
Hello, Kyla. You say that skeptics base their findings on scientific findings. Ok, what are those? What scientific evidence is presented that refutes the biblical claims? Frequently this "evidence" is refutation of miracles. But that is a prior assumption, not a piece of evidence. Since science is generally constrained to repeatable, observable validation, a miracle can not have scientific basis (and in fact, that is the point). God has intervened in human history and Jesus has revealed the Father.
I believe that it comes down to whether or not you have dismissed the possibility of the supernatural. Even an honest skeptic would admit that their position begins by dismissing such a notion - or at least trying to put it aside as irrelevant. If you would conceded that miracles have not only taken place, but that witnesses were careful to write of them, then the evidences you say you would like to see are there.
I can think of a number of evidences, Kyla. But there will be none so powerful as the testimony of those who know Jesus Christ. We don't simply entertain a quaint notion - we know the living person of Christ. I travel all over this world and meet believers from every nation, culture and tongue. How is it that even though we have such different backgrounds and perspectives, that when we speak of Jesus, we are speaking of the same person? There are no cultural nuance that changes who He is. And our experience with him is always the same, though through the manifold realities of our own lives.
This Jesus, who is revealed in the Bible, has awakened something in us that we all share. This Jesus affirmed the Old Testament. So a good starting point, if you want to examine evidence, is to determine the validity of the biblical accounts regarding Him. They were recorded by witnesses. If you are willing to do some heavy lifting (examine evidence), I would point you to a book called "Jesus and the Eyewitnesses," by Richard Bauckham. In that book you will see a number of evidences regarding the historicity of the New Testament accounts of Jesus, who affirmed the Old Testament. That would be a good starting point if you need to overcome an obstacle. However, even that will not bring you into an encounter with the living Jesus. For that, you have to start with an honest prayer and ask the Him to reveal Himself. If you seek Him, you will find Him.
So my question for you, Kyla, is whether or not you are willing to leave room for the supernatural and to consider the evidence? Are you a sincere seeker?
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