Interesting fact to think about

BibleBeliever1611 · May 6, 2020

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10

Think about this. If Jesus is the savior of all men, do you think that it's a coincidence that every nation on this planet has heard about Jesus? Is it a coincidence that the Bible is the most famous book on the planet and the story of Jesus' death on the cross is the most famous story in human history?

Atheists often scoff at Christianity and say that it's just one random religion among thousands of religions. But's clearly that's not true at all.

Ethalee · May 6, 2020

The way I navigate my belief is that I feel like the bible lines up perfectly with the reality. Everything the bible is against are things scientifically proven to cause psychological damage and the things it advocates for are more accurate in that retrospect than other religions, in my opinion.

Unofficial Reverand Alex · May 6, 2020

I like your point. I also find it useful to point to the Resurrection as a historically verifiable event; what other explanation would there be? A group of (at the very least) 12 guys all go in different directions, proclaiming a story about a God-Man rising from the dead, for what reward? Torture. Death. Rejection of all kinds.

For further reading, the book Cold Case Christianity goes into much more detail on this & many other points; it's also written by a former atheist, who analyzed Christianity critically (as he does professionally as a homicide detective), and found that it takes more faith to believe that the Resurrection didn't happen, rather than looking at the facts & circumstances to see that it was a true event!

Peace, and all good things,
Alex

ViaCrucis · May 6, 2020

BibleBeliever1611 said:
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10

Think about this. If Jesus is the savior of all men, do you think that it's a coincidence that every nation on this planet has heard about Jesus? Is it a coincidence that the Bible is the most famous book on the planet and the story of Jesus' death on the cross is the most famous story in human history?

Atheists often scoff at Christianity and say that it's just one random religion among thousands of religions. But's clearly that's not true at all.

Considering two thousand years of missionary activity going back to the Apostles themselves utilizing the ancient network of roads throughout the Roman Empire, and even further by using the trade networks along the Silk Road, not surprising.

Considering European colonialism and imperialism, and at times the effective forced conversions of indigenous populations, again, not surprising.

As a Christian and as a student of history I think it's important to remind myself that the spread of the Gospel, in history, has not always been what it should have been. And it's very hard to call the Gospel Gospel when it's at the end of a gun. And yet, yes, I believe in the saving power of the Gospel. I believe that the preaching of the Gospel, even by wicked men, is still God's word.

But, further, it's hard to try to make an argument that Christianity must be true simply because it has become the most popular religion on earth. It's not a good argument. Especially when many of the ways in which that happened were really, really, really bad.

-CryptoLutheran

awitch · May 6, 2020

BibleBeliever1611 said:
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10

Think about this. If Jesus is the savior of all men, do you think that it's a coincidence that every nation on this planet has heard about Jesus? Is it a coincidence that the Bible is the most famous book on the planet and the story of Jesus' death on the cross is the most famous story in human history?

Atheists often scoff at Christianity and say that it's just one random religion among thousands of religions. But's clearly that's not true at all.

If you want the true religion to be determined by popularity, then maybe you should consider that only 29% of the world is Christian.

BibleBeliever1611 · May 6, 2020

awitch said:
If you want the true religion to be determined by popularity, then maybe you should consider that only 29% of the world is Christian.

The point is that the whole world has heard about Jesus. Even in places like Africa everybody knows about Jesus. If you go to hell, you can't blame God and say that you never heard about the name by which you could have been saved. Yes you did hear about it.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. - Acts 4:12

Robban · May 7, 2020

BibleBeliever1611 said:
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10

Think about this. If Jesus is the savior of all men, do you think that it's a coincidence that every nation on this planet has heard about Jesus? Is it a coincidence that the Bible is the most famous book on the planet and the story of Jesus' death on the cross is the most famous story in human history?

I remember when I was 8 or 9 the teacher asked which book was most read.

My hand shot up like a rocket,
"Cruel sea" I answered.

Haha, o'boy o'boy.

Well, most all have heard of ww2.

Atheists often scoff at Christianity and say that it's just one random religion among thousands of religions. But's clearly that's not true at all.

awitch · May 7, 2020

BibleBeliever1611 said:
The point is that the whole world has heard about Jesus.Even in places like Africa everybody knows about Jesus.

So what? If start a global campaign to tell the few people who might not have heard about Donald Duck yet, it wouldn't make him real (no matter how much I wish, which is a lot).

If you go to hell, you can't blame God and say that you never heard about the name by which you could have been saved. Yes you did hear about it.

I don't acknowledge the existence of hell or the nature of your god as described in scripture, so I'm not worried, but I'll note your passive aggressive threat. Would I not go to hell if I didn't hear about Jesus? If that's the case then it's Christians who are to blame for spreading the word so unconvincingly.

Have you ever heard of the Tuatha Dé Danann? Well, you all have now, so don't blame them when I see you in Tír na nÓg. That wasn't very convincing, was it? Too bad, because Tír na nÓg is a nice place.

Noxot · May 9, 2020

Christian truth is real but it's Universal and deep, it is not like the kingdoms of this world is. it describes the Everlasting Kingdom. For instance berdyaev in "freedom and the spirit" said:

Christianity appeared in the world primarily as the religion of the Salvation of man and this very fact shows it's concern for the human soul and personality. It never looks upon man as an instrument or means to any other end whatever, or as a fleeting moment in the cosmic or social process. This attitude towards man is inherit in it. The Christian consciousness has as its foundation the recognition of the Eternal value of that which is unique and cannot be repeated. It is only in Christianity that the Eternal value of the individual is revealed. The unique and inimitable countenance of each human being only exist because of the unique and inimitable countenance of Christ the god-man. In Christ and through Christ the eternal countenance of every man and woman is revealed.

awitch · May 9, 2020

Noxot said:
Christian truth is real but it's Universal and deep, it is not like the kingdoms of this world is. it describes the Everlasting Kingdom. For instance berdyaev in "freedom and the spirit" said:

Christianity appeared in the world primarily as the religion of the Salvation of man and this very fact shows it's concern for the human soul and personality. It never looks upon man as an instrument or means to any other end whatever, or as a fleeting moment in the cosmic or social process. This attitude towards man is inherit in it. The Christian consciousness has as its foundation the recognition of the Eternal value of that which is unique and cannot be repeated. It is only in Christianity that the Eternal value of the individual is revealed. The unique and inimitable countenance of each human being only exist because of the unique and inimitable countenance of Christ the god-man. In Christ and through Christ the eternal countenance of every man and woman is revealed.

I find this laughable.
Christianity (and not just Christianity, but other religions, too), has a long history of subjugation, racism, misogyny, and political pander to control the culture landscape. It teaches that man is broken, and those who do not conform are evil and expendable.

At least, that's what I see and what I'm told by self-proclaimed Christians.

dlamberth · May 9, 2020

awitch said:
If you want the true religion to be determined by popularity, then maybe you should consider that only 29% of the world is Christian.

And it's really only in the past 250 years or so that Jesus has become known world wide.

Noxot · May 9, 2020

awitch said:
It teaches that man is broken

Well that would make sense of the other stuff you said.

ThievingMagpie · May 10, 2020

BibleBeliever1611 said:
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10

Think about this. If Jesus is the savior of all men, do you think that it's a coincidence that every nation on this planet has heard about Jesus? Is it a coincidence that the Bible is the most famous book on the planet and the story of Jesus' death on the cross is the most famous story in human history?

Atheists often scoff at Christianity and say that it's just one random religion among thousands of religions. But's clearly that's not true at all.

There are plenty of indigenous communities who have not had any interaction with the bible - in fact very recently a US missionary was killed when trying to interact with one. What of their souls? They don't speak a language the bible is printed in - do they get a free pass?

Noxot · May 10, 2020

God wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. this also is the manner in which all nations are reached. the Angels long ago and constantly have preached the gospel far more than human beings are capable of. They are not restricted by location such as this fleshly suit is. such and such angels are set near to specific humans or groups of them. they are their closest Kindred and can speak the language needed in order to truly help in accepting or rejecting God. further God has no problem with ordering realities as much as he needs to in order to properly see that everyone gets a chance, because he is Justice itself.

But there are some advantages of both coexisting in the same material universe, otherwise Jesus would have never came as a human and many of those good Angels incarnate as humans too. I mean why else would some people appear to be so favored, such as Paul the Apostle?

So don't worry, the Church of Christ is a little bit more all-encompassing and complex than most realize.

ThievingMagpie · May 11, 2020

Noxot said:
God wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. this also is the manner in which all nations are reached. the Angels long ago and constantly have preached the gospel far more than human beings are capable of. They are not restricted by location such as this fleshly suit is. such and such angels are set near to specific humans or groups of them. they are their closest Kindred and can speak the language needed in order to truly help in accepting or rejecting God. further God has no problem with ordering realities as much as he needs to in order to properly see that everyone gets a chance, because he is Justice itself.

But there are some advantages of both coexisting in the same material universe, otherwise Jesus would have never came as a human and many of those good Angels incarnate as humans too. I mean why else would some people appear to be so favored, such as Paul the Apostle?

So don't worry, the Church of Christ is a little bit more all-encompassing and complex than most realize.

Why even encourage evangelism then? Humans can mix messages, add, take away, exploit and get themselves killed. Seems more straightforward to let Angels do it.

Noxot · May 11, 2020

ThievingMagpie said:
Why even encourage evangelism then? Humans can mix messages, add, take away, exploit and get themselves killed. Seems more straightforward to let Angels do it.

Humans and Angels work together. both provide something that the other cannot. Evangelizing is probably something that is overdone a lot of the time. You got to start somewhere I guess.

That humans are broken and that humans are not broken are two truths that are true. Some parts of us may be broken and other parts of us may not be broken. Nevertheless we must still act in the world, for good or for evil.

Zoness · May 11, 2020

BibleBeliever1611 said:
The point is that the whole world has heard about Jesus. Even in places like Africa everybody knows about Jesus. If you go to hell, you can't blame God and say that you never heard about the name by which you could have been saved. Yes you did hear about it.

The whole world has heard of Coca-Cola too. Gods bless almighty capitalism, I suppose.

Zoness · May 11, 2020

I think @ViaCrucis clearly explained why none of this is particularly surprising.

Jane_the_Bane · May 16, 2020

BibleBeliever1611 said:
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10

Think about this. If Jesus is the savior of all men, do you think that it's a coincidence that every nation on this planet has heard about Jesus? Is it a coincidence that the Bible is the most famous book on the planet and the story of Jesus' death on the cross is the most famous story in human history?

Atheists often scoff at Christianity and say that it's just one random religion among thousands of religions. But's clearly that's not true at all.

Did you just unwittingly blame colonialism, imperialism and genocide (cultural and actual) on your deity? Because that's the reason why European exclusivist religion has spread everywhere with its pronounced sense of mission.
The West did not convince the rest of the world with the strength of its ideas. It conquered it with arms and the power of greed, ruthlessness, and racism. And the rest of the world hasn't forgotten.

AV1611VET · Oct 24, 2020

ViaCrucis said:
And it's very hard to call the Gospel Gospel when it's at the end of a gun.

That's like saying it's hard to call crime "crime," when it's at the end of a gun.

Interesting fact to think about

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