They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” John 20:25 NLT
Some things I’m challenged to believe even when they fail every apparent test.
I have certain tests I use to determine validity. Quite naturally, they involve my senses. How do I know my wife is real? This may seem like an absurd question, but the tests I employ to test her reality are the same ones I use for more complicated issues. I see a body lying beside mine every morning, and I know I’ve seen this person before. I smell her odors…but in a pleasant way. With my ears, I hear her speak to me and others, and I recognize the voice. I can touch her. She feels like the same person I’ve touched for the last ten years. Touch lets me know she’s not an apparition. And if I’m really bold, I can nibble on her neck. When I’ve employed all these tests, I conclude, “She is real.”
Doubting Thomas—as he is unfortunately known, had trouble conceiving Jesus was the Messiah..much less that he had risen from the grave. The reports troubled him.
When determining God’s reality, I can’t employ the standard tests I use with everything else. I can’t see, touch, hear, smell, or taste him. But other tests are available. I can glare at circumstances over the course of my lifetime and that of others. Circumstances that couldn’t have materialized the way they did without intervention from a higher power. I can hear someone speaking to my inner spirit even though I never hear an audible voice. I can observe changes in people…changes that can’t be explained by a simple decision to turn over a new leaf.
Yet in the end, the only way I can convince myself God is real is by a leap of faith. There’s no concrete proof…only overwhelming evidence. And everyone must decide whether that evidence is sufficient for them. Is it for you?
Prayer: God of all creation, make Your presence real to us that we might follow You faithfully.
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WHY DO MEN REJECT CHRISTIANITY? BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteWhy do people not believe that Christianity comes from God? Why do many who are raised in the church leave the faith?
Why do many reject the terms for pardon under the New Covenant?
Some believe the reason men reject the truth of Jesus and the facts of Bible is that church leaders have not proved that the Bible is true. They contend that if only church leaders would use the historical works found outside of Scripture, then men would believe the truth of Christianity.
WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (NKJV)
Faith cannot be proven by studying extra-Biblical historical records about God, the Bible, and Christianity. Faith proven is not faith.
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith." (NKJV)
The gospel of Christ is the power to salvation. Extra-Biblical historical writings to not prove the gospel is true. You cannot prove faith.
1 Corinthians 1:18-21 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.......21 it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (NKJV)
God saves men through preaching the gospel. God did not use extra-Biblical historical writings to prove that the gospel was true.
Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved...(NKJV)
Jesus did not tell the disciples to gather evidence outside of Scripture to prove that the gospel was true and then convince people of the gospel truth.
Do people reject the truth of God, Christianity, and the Bible because church leaders fail to convince them by using the apologetics of extra-Biblical sources? No, they do not. You cannot prove faith nor force anyone to have faith.
If men reject Jesus it is because they have not heard the gospel preached.
If believers leaved the church it could be because of lack of Biblical preaching. Not the lack of extra-Biblical evidence.
If men reject Jesus, God, and the truth found in Scripture it could be because they are not honestly seeking God.
THE TRUTH IS OFFENSIVE TO THOSE WHO DO HAVE FAITH IN JESUS.
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