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“Why should I believe what you believe?”
Have you ever had someone ask you this before? I have, and if you don’t have a firm foundation for your beliefs, this challenge can shake your faith to its core. How does one respond to such a question?
I have a close friend who is very skeptical of Christianity. Back in our high school days, I invited him to a youth group service at my local congregation. The pastor talked about Christianity, how Christians are to live, and how the Bible relates to our everyday lives. He did a great job of connecting our beliefs with how we live, how it plays out in our moment-to-moment living. As we drove home that night, I asked my friend what he thought of the service. His answer amounted to this: “Christianity sounds nice, and the Bible certainly has plenty of relevant things to say about our lives. But how do you know it’s true?”
At that point, I had no real idea of how to respond. My response basically reverted back to an explanation of what it means to follow Christ, and how He can transform your life. My friend is very polite, and so he didn’t point out that I didn’t really address his question at all. But the question remains: How does one respond to this type of challenge? It seems to me that before we can answer this question for someone else, we must answer it for ourselves. How do we know that Christianity is true? And why does it matter?
Here are a few reasons why it matters:
The Bible commands it. The verse that is usually cited is 1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” In future entries, we will examine this verse in more depth and consider the implications it holds for the life of a believer. But for now, suffice to say that being able to articulate and defend our faith is not optional as a follower of Christ.
It can strengthen our faith. Have you ever had doubts about Christianity, about the existence of God, or the reliability of the Bible? I certainly have, and I know how agonizing that struggle can be. Scripture tells us that the man who doubts is like a wave tossed to and fro, always unsteady in his faith (James 1:6) If we don’t believe that the Bible is trustworthy, that makes it pretty hard to trust in it. It’s much more difficult to follow Jesus if you’re not sure he was ever a real person, or love God if you doubt He exists. Knowing why you believe what you believe can be a tremendous benefit for your spiritual growth.
It can help us reach the lost. I’ve noticed that when someone asks about our faith, it’s much easier to talk about the benefits of Christianity rather than the truth of Christianity. This is the route that I took with my friend, and in hindsight, that was not the explanation that he needed at all. From many people’s point of view, telling them that Jesus died for them is meaningless if they believe that Jesus is a manufactured myth of the ancient world. Being able to give reasons for our faith can give us a massive confidence boost when discussing our faith with others, and may help to remove intellectual barriers that are keeping them from coming to Christ.
What this means for the Christian…
How does all of this apply to our everyday lives as Christians? We are to take the charge found in 1 Peter seriously. Reflect on how you can “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'” (Matthew 22:37) Think about how learning the reasons for your faith can aid your spiritual growth, and enable you to more effectively share your convictions with others.
If you'd like some helpful resources for further research, please see the information section of my profile, and keep an eye out for the next blog entry. Thanks for reading!
“Why should I believe what you believe?”
Have you ever had someone ask you this before? I have, and if you don’t have a firm foundation for your beliefs, this challenge can shake your faith to its core. How does one respond to such a question?
I have a close friend who is very skeptical of Christianity. Back in our high school days, I invited him to a youth group service at my local congregation. The pastor talked about Christianity, how Christians are to live, and how the Bible relates to our everyday lives. He did a great job of connecting our beliefs with how we live, how it plays out in our moment-to-moment living. As we drove home that night, I asked my friend what he thought of the service. His answer amounted to this: “Christianity sounds nice, and the Bible certainly has plenty of relevant things to say about our lives. But how do you know it’s true?”
At that point, I had no real idea of how to respond. My response basically reverted back to an explanation of what it means to follow Christ, and how He can transform your life. My friend is very polite, and so he didn’t point out that I didn’t really address his question at all. But the question remains: How does one respond to this type of challenge? It seems to me that before we can answer this question for someone else, we must answer it for ourselves. How do we know that Christianity is true? And why does it matter?
Here are a few reasons why it matters:
The Bible commands it. The verse that is usually cited is 1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” In future entries, we will examine this verse in more depth and consider the implications it holds for the life of a believer. But for now, suffice to say that being able to articulate and defend our faith is not optional as a follower of Christ.
It can strengthen our faith. Have you ever had doubts about Christianity, about the existence of God, or the reliability of the Bible? I certainly have, and I know how agonizing that struggle can be. Scripture tells us that the man who doubts is like a wave tossed to and fro, always unsteady in his faith (James 1:6) If we don’t believe that the Bible is trustworthy, that makes it pretty hard to trust in it. It’s much more difficult to follow Jesus if you’re not sure he was ever a real person, or love God if you doubt He exists. Knowing why you believe what you believe can be a tremendous benefit for your spiritual growth.
It can help us reach the lost. I’ve noticed that when someone asks about our faith, it’s much easier to talk about the benefits of Christianity rather than the truth of Christianity. This is the route that I took with my friend, and in hindsight, that was not the explanation that he needed at all. From many people’s point of view, telling them that Jesus died for them is meaningless if they believe that Jesus is a manufactured myth of the ancient world. Being able to give reasons for our faith can give us a massive confidence boost when discussing our faith with others, and may help to remove intellectual barriers that are keeping them from coming to Christ.
What this means for the Christian…
How does all of this apply to our everyday lives as Christians? We are to take the charge found in 1 Peter seriously. Reflect on how you can “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'” (Matthew 22:37) Think about how learning the reasons for your faith can aid your spiritual growth, and enable you to more effectively share your convictions with others.
If you'd like some helpful resources for further research, please see the information section of my profile, and keep an eye out for the next blog entry. Thanks for reading!