On Wednesday night during class I asked the teens to respond as a group to a number of comments a critic of Christianity might make. The list of six comments were...
1. Christianity is for weak willed people and is only a crutch.
2. The bible is just a book written by humans and is only a fairytale.
3. Churches are full of hypocrites
4. People cannot be sure they are going to heaven
5. How can you say God is love when so many bad things happen in the world?
6. Christianity forces itself on others.
The class did a good job in responding to each of these six comments...except for number two and so I asked them to consider it over the upcoming week.
Often we believe something as an adult just because we were taught to believe it as a child. Why do we believe the bible to be more than just a nice collection of facts, with a little philosophy and some interesting stories? I believe this is a valid question to consider.
So, without being rude to those who do not hold the bible up as the Word of God what are some of your reasons for believing in it?
Please share your thoughts and in a couple of days I will share mine. Let's see what we come up with.
Roger, over and out!
8 comments:
I am happy to share my faith with you, Roger
1. All people being housed in a body made of flesh are weak but the spirit housed in that body can have dominion over the tent that is the body and having recognized that trespassing against it’s makers is a road to death can . . . 2. Have faith by listening to the word that became flesh and was recorded in the books of the bible before it walked among those who lived long ago, those who were pricked in there hearts and were forgiven. 3. We are all hypocritical are we not? 4. Open the door and let Christ into your heart (read what he says and you will know you can be with him clothed in his righteousness, have faith in what he has told us that is the only way to know him, have faith.) 5. Who knows when all suffering will end and every tear will be wiped away (from the eyes of His adopted children, those who believed without seeing will see Him at last and will have light everlasting) Many will fall away into that bottomless pit to be seen and see no more. God who searches the hearts of all will be the judge and he is a righteous judge. 6. So called “Christianity” has been forcing itself on others but that is not true Christianity, the inquisitions, the confiscation of property and imprisonment of land owners and witch hunts of Salem Virginia were all done in the name of Christianity and supported by those who did not dare question the over powering authorities that were over them, but that was not true Christianity (certainly not the Christian love spoken of by our only Spiritual Savior and Redeemer) it was not the gentle, kind, patient or longsuffering. Through out the ages there have been those who use Gods name in vain to force their will on others. We are all creature of free will and should choose life over death. Righteousness over sin and lead by example. Wear would you like to spent eternity? With the saints or with the backbiting sinners? It is your choice, no one can and no one should try to force you to make that choice. For me there is no other way but His way, the only way I will get there is by following the instructions written by Him through his chosen followers who and those who love Him will obey and meet in the air.
I believe the Bible because I see the evidence of it's truths in my own life and the lives of others. I believe the story of creation because seeing this world I can't believe it was formed by accident. I believe the story of Abraham because God has been ever faithful to me, even when I did not understand His ways. I believe the story of David because I know that I will always struggle with sin, even though I long to please the Lord. I believe in the story of Christ because the power of his sacrifice takes away my guilt and shame. I believe in the story of Peter because the Holy Spirit still opens doors and causes great things to happen from the feeble efforts of flawed believers like me.
Is it "being rude" to those who do not hold the bible up as the word of God, when we say, "It is the written word of God"?
There is more than one reason why I believe the Bible. The biggest reason is that there's no way this world could have been just an accident. If you look at how intricate everything God created in the world is, like the genetic code, the flora and fauna, and even the human body, it just seems impossible that it happened by chance.
When it comes to the teachings of Jesus, the reason I obey them is because they make sense. If you don't "love your enemies," and instead repay them for what they did to you, you probably aren't going to end up being friends with them, and, depending who your enemy is, you could end up seriously hurt or killed.
Plus, the Bible is not a bunch of fairy tales because there is historical evidence to support the events mentioned. (Roger, you probably remember Winterfest 2006 where Jeff Walling showed us some.) In fact, the Old Testament talks about "the circle of the Earth," and, at that time, many people thought the world was flat. If you don't believe me, look it up. Suffice it to say, I'll defend the Bible and its teachings until the day I die.
Go,rebel. . . yes that all makes very good logic. just don't give my enemies my address and they wouldn't know what to do with a code of any kind and would probably think the flora is somthing that only grows in a greenhouse and not in our lungs? Don't meen to enterupt just wanted to through my two cents worth in for what it is woth. Thaks for the evidents. keep up the good work.
I find that many historical documents other than the Bible confirm the accuracy of what is recorded in the Bible. I also find that there has not been any no scientific evidence that contradicts the Bible. It is true that man wrote the physical words in the Bible, and the many translations of the books have slightly different meanings of many passages. However; the message of the Bible is very clear. Its God’s message to us on how to live on earth and it points us to Jesus, the ultimate message of Salvation. It tells us that the only way to God is through Jesus. But more over, I find truth in the words by reading the Bible. The more I read it, the more God’s truth is evident in my heart. I believe that this would be true for anyone that reads the Bible with an open heart and a desire to know God. There is truth in God’s message even when man twists the “words” of the Bible for many personal reasons, and even when the specific words are mis-understood. The overall truth of God’s word remains evident. Unfortunately, some of us do not take reading our Bibles seriously. The stories are not fairy tales as they can be verified by other documents outside of the Bible. Those that wrote the Bible stories are actual witnesses and in many cases they are the ones that died as part of the stories they wrote as they proclaimed the Gospel message.
I don't think anyone can do any better than that. "We should take it more seriously when it comes to His instructions."
Yo Rogbro-
Going deep on us with this blog!
I agree with the other commenters (or commentees?) that I believe the Bible largely because of how I see it's teachings impact my life and other lives for the better.
Jesus The Great Debate by Grant Jeffery is an excellent resource that goes through all of the historical evidence (including what criteria we should use to evaluate historical evidence) to support the Bible's claims for anyone interested. Wouldn't recommend it as light bedtime reading though, it's definitely best when you're mentally alert!
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