I admit, I like being a Christian. I like going to church, I like the stuff we do at church, I like meeting other Christians, I like Christiany things, I like to read the Bible and pray and all of that.
I used to avoid issues that would make me question the claims of Christianity – “How can a loving God allow suffering?” “Why does Christianity have to be exclusive? Why can’t all roads lead to God?” “There is no proof that the Bible is true.” I was afraid that if I can’t find good answers to those challenges to the Christian faith, I would have to give up church, and I wouldn’t want to do that.
But I can’t bury my head in the sand. I have to be intellectually honest with myself. Are there good reasons to be a Christian?
I went to seminary because I wanted to satisfy myself. I studied the Bible, textual criticism, historical context, and what Christianity is all about. But I still had doubts. Not doubts in my belief, but doubts that there are good rational answers to those difficult questions. I read Josh McDowell’s Evidence That Demanded a Verdict but it didn’t answer all the questions. I read C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity, and Miracles, but they were too lofty for me.
Then I came across Greg Koukl on a radio show on Sunday afternoon. It was the first time I heard someone address those tough issues head on in clear layman’s language. He didn’t quote Bible passages. His premise was that Christianity is a defensible worldview that can compete in the marketplace of ideas. That means Christianity is not just a “religious” thing, but a valid view and belief that can be explained rationally even in a secular world.
Over the years of listening to Greg Koukl, and the guests that he’s had on the show (JP Moreland, Craig Hazen, Lee Strobel, and other smart people), I am very confident that the Christian worldview makes sense. There are very good answers to those tough questions that people pose. In fact, the Christian view is the only one that can answer all those questions in a reasonable way. Atheism, humanism, and other religions do not satisfactorily answer the problem of suffering, and make sense of life.
Even after all these years of being a Christian and learning from smart people, I cannot articulate the answers to those questions. I am not very smart. If someone questioned me about why a loving God would allow suffering, I would be at a lost to answer them in my own words in a clear way. But in my own mind, I have no more doubts.
Currently I am reading Reasons for God by Tim Keller. Again, I am reaffirmed of good reasons to put my faith, and my life, on Jesus of the Bible. If you have questions, I would direct you to this book, and to Greg Koukl at Stand To Reason who can answer your questions in a clear rational way.
As Greg Koukl says, don’t be afraid to question. Truth is on our side. He would want to know if there are good reasons to not believe in Jesus. He wouldn’t want to waste his life. But even after all his debates with atheists (Michael Shermer most recently), he hasn’t found any.