Apologetics: Part 2

CIRCULAR REASONING
So have you every dealt with a child that asked you question after question, seemingly to no end? "Why is the sky blue?". Because God made it blue. "Why did God make it blue?" uhh because I said so, now go eat your cookies.

Even a child understands that there are questions beyond what his or her parents can provide for them. For alot of lifes questions, it is the same way... for questions A, B, and C.. arguments D, E, and F are given. But of course G, H, and I have to be given to explain the validity of D, E, and F. We have figured out enormous amounts of answers in between but through human logic and knowledge, there is no finality to the deep questions of the soul. This is probably the biggest disconnect when arguing about the validity and existence of God. Atheist argue that Christians use this type of circular reasoning to debate the existence of God.. to debate the validity of Christ. Meaning, the arguments we make to defend the Bible, the Resurrection, Christ etc.. also have to be defended. For example, we'll say that we know Jesus was born of a virgin, just as it was prophecied in the Old Testament, therefore pointing to His divine nature. Well, who says Jesus was born of a virgin, and therefore of divine nature? Who even says that the Old Testament is accurate? Though Christians look towards the bible for confirmation to many of our questions, the atheist cannot accept the bible as valid and self-authenticating. Deeper and deeper you can go but at some point, we realize the finite nature of our knowledge both individually, and collectively as a human race.

To assume that we could know in our finite states the fullness of God, His absolute existence included, would diminish who God is... it would diminish His glory not yet fully revealed. To decide to follow God based on complete understanding and logic negates the need for faith, a necessary avenue as the book of Ephesians states. God has already set the terms, and we as a people cannot demand our own. We cannot make prerequisites and assume that God would accomodate us if He were real. Doing so would suggest a search for a God who is not really God.. someone who isn't the almighty, someone who isnt the Creator of this universe, and someone who isnt the alpha and omega... the One who truly stands alone. Either God is truly God, Holy, Almighty, Glorious, Merciful, and Gracious, having laid out a way to commune with Him for all eternity... Or we choose to believe in God if only He runs the universe as we see fit, as we see logical.. knowing fully that our own knowledge is miniscule relative to this universe. To me the greatest evidence for God is myself. I know my deepest darkest weaknesses, sins, and insecurites. I see plainly the evidence of how incomplete I am, and that shows me that I'am not the God of this life. And when arguing with a non-believer or an atheist, it doesnt take long to see the insecurities and the defensiveness/callousness that they too possess. They have decided that they are on their own in this universe and that there is no greater hope or purpose beyond what this world provides them. From a Christian prospective, it is the greatest form of arrogance and pride. Yet at the same time, from the atheists perspective, it is a decision of logic and ration.

A reformed, redeemed Christian should see plenty of fruits, and evidences throughout their life to confirm their faith and strengthen their beliefs. Their life is a living testimony of the Goodness and Faithfulness of a loving and living God. Or so it should be, through thick and thin. Are we a delusional group and unable to accept reality? Have Christians done more wrong than good in the name of Christ as many non-believers will say? Again, all of those questions have no absolute answers based on earthly evidence. We are still left with who we are, and God is still where He is as Sovereign King. And in the end, I know that even if I am wrong about my faith, I will have lost nothing. It will have filled my life with purpose and a sense of belonging.. and even if I become the dirt of the earth and nothing more, I will have gained nothing else by denying God. However, I also know that if God is who He says He is, and Jesus is to come again, I cannot even IMAGINE in the slightest, the Glorious kingdom that awaits me... and in the end I truly gain everything.

Apologetics: Part 1

Apologetics is quite simply, the defense of the Christian faith. Over the years many different arguments and even schools of thought have birthed from the quest to defend the Christian faith. It can be useful to the Christian believer because it can help solidify what they believe in, and when asked, be able to share on a more intellectual level, why it is that they believe what they do. It also forces them to examine the faith closer. However, I've always said, intellectual reason, evidence, and argument cannot and should not replace the gospel and the saving faith of salvation. As I've mentioned, and as the bible supports.. the mind will never believe anything, however rational and accurate, unless the heart allows it to do so. So as Christians, we are in the business of saving through the heart moreso than the mind, if that makes sense. Anyway, here are some popular arguments for Christianity. These are a bit more elementary, and obviously incomplete as these arguments can go on and on... but in the interest of time and space. So here are some to chew on and investigate.

SOME POPULAR ARGUMENTS FOR THE FAITH:
Morality: As humans, we all behave through a moral system. It goes beyond rules set and governed by society. In fact, alot of societal laws and rules are based on universal human morals. The evidence of absolute morals point to a moral law giver. The fact that there are universal morals point to the fact that there must be an absolute authority in which these right and wrongs were decided. This does not mean everyone abides by these laws, or even smaller societies as a whole, as we all have free will.. and in some cases, spiritual forces are at work. But as humans, these basic morals are written into our hearts. As an example: people have evolved through time, societies have evolved through time and even radically changed schools of thought. But throughout history, murder and shedding of innocent blood have consistently been viewed as wrong. Biggest argument against is moral relativism.

Prophetic Fulfilment: The bible is full of prophecies. The book of Isaiah is sometimes called the mini bible, because it mimics the bible as a whole in alot of ways, and prophecied on the many things to come. One of the most famous being the foretelling of Jesus's crucifixion. The book of Isaiah in particular was written 700 years before Christ, obviously well before Christ was crucified. While someone could possibly have faked a crucifixion for the sake of fulfilling a prophecy, things like, when or how one is born cant be faked (also prophecised)

Validity of the Resurrection: For a Christian, the validity of the resurrection is critical to the faith. One popular argument is that a resurrection cant be a hoax if the people who would do such would pay such a dear price. Obviously Jesus paid with His life, the diciples, as witnesses, were all tortured and martyred for their beliefs yet they never denied the resurrection of Christ. Skeptics have said that there is no written proof of eye witness testimonies except the bible.

Intelligent Design: This one can go on and on, and is a bit more vague. But alot of things point to intelligent design. Apologists say that it takes more faith to believe that the current universe with all its expansiveness yet intracacies, are a result of time and chance, than to believe in a supreme being that created it all. The question of origin must go all the way back to some starting point, yet the question will always be, "where did that come from?". Nothing x chance x a long time will always equal nothing. Because the zero in the equation will make the other variables meaningless. On the other hand, one of Gods very characteristics is that he is infinate, the alpha and omega as declared in the bible. We could suppose that the universe and all the necessary things needed to create life are also infinite, and have no beginning and end. In that equation, I suppose the universe would be our creator.

Who Am I?

When we are young, we are told who we are by our parents. The comfort and security of our family become our starting point in our search for who we are. For some without the luxury of family, our starting point becomes a bit more skewed and confusing... and our initial identity is a bit more blurred.

As a child we are told we are students and our occupation is laid out for us. Without the acute awareness and ability for self-evaluation, we are told who we are by our parents, our friends, and society. You are tall, you are short... you are athletic and you are smart... you are well behaved, you are a troublemaker... you are cool you are not. It is a fertile and impressionable time and the foundation and starting point as we mount our case for who we truly are. As we hit high school, we are no longer satisfied with who our parents tell us we are. We are ready to climb out of our cacoon and explore who we want to be... and thus begins our "rebellious teenage years". In college, the question hits us a bit more in the face as we are asked, "are you an engineer? a mathmatician? a businessman? or a politician? we are forced in some degree to decide who we are and who we want to be. We eventually learn to juggle and prioritize our numerous identites and alot of times, cling to the ones that give us the most meaning and fulfillment.

Point is, our search for identity dominates our life and remains a strong undercurrent in how we act, what we do, and how we view life. The search for identity IS the serach for purpose.. for meaning.. for belonging. All the things that we naturally desire from deep within. Now, it is well known that when we find God, we find our true identity in Him. The bible tells us that we are children of the most high, a chosen people, a royal preisthood, a holy nation. We were once objects of wrath but now recipients of mercy and grace. We recieve new citizenship and become heirs to God himself. Our spiritual identity is no longer that of an orphan who is fatherless, but of a child adopted into His kingdom. And on and on... The bible is chalk full of promises and revelations of our reformed identity in Him. And as we are made in His image, it is natural that the more we understand who God is, the more we understand who we are.

The understanding AND prioritizing of our identity in Christ is so central to our faith that I believe it has also become the biggest spiritual battlegrounds for the devil as well. I believe that our understanding of our identity in Christ can determine whether we are Christians that stand in the front lines or Christians who remain ineffective in our walks. The hurts and pains, the scars and memories that go unattended will remain as walls and blocks that blind us from deeply understanding and embracing our identity in Christ. Women who feel undesirable and without value, men who feel like they dont measure up and cannot make something of themselves. All whispers of the enemy that cripple and handicap Christians from embracing their new identity in Christ and become soliders for His kingdom work.

The paradox in the redemption process is that first we must not only humble our selves, but truly see ourselves in our most raw and naked from. As I've talked about, to see ourselves as depraved and sinful, empty and truly in need. That trying to measure up, to find value through self attainment... through societies standards will either leave us wounded and crippled... or arrogant and disillusioned. As we repent and bring before the cross our sins.. including our broken identities and pains, we can then embrace the new identity that Christ has called us to. And as a soldier at war must constantly remind himself of his identity, so as Christians we should constantly preach to ourselves, the identity we share in Christ.

Lastly, we should strive to prioritize our Identity in Christ as the focal point of our lives. It should shape who we are more than any other label given to us. Should we ever be stripped of our temporary identities as father or mother, as son or daughter, or as husband or wife... our identity as Children of God should always stand.