Is Christianity true? Series Introduction
“I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers. It isn’t just that I don’t believe in God and, naturally, hope that I’m right in my belief. It’s that I hope there is no God! I don’t want there to be a God; I don’t want the universe to be like that.”
Is Christianity true? This question underpins a field of study known as Christian apologetics. And no, it’s not about apologizing! The term is based upon the Greek word apologia (ἀπολογία) and refers to a defense of the Christian faith. It is grounded in the apostle Peter’s encouragement to the church, “you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15 (NLT-SE)).
For the next several weeks, I will address the truth of Christianity by dealing with some common objections. This series is not a comprehensive study; rather, it covers some of the most frequent complaints discussed in Part 3 of “More Than Your Business Card.” Before addressing these objections, a few observations on the subject of truth are in order.
First, not everyone believes absolute truth exists - except the absolute truth that there is no absolute truth! Of course, being self-refuting, this assertion crumbles under its own weight. Notwithstanding, many today believe that there are no absolutes and this conviction manifests in language like “my truth” and “your truth.”
In this view, truth is subjective, not objective. However, no one actually lives by the belief there is no such thing as absolute truth. Who among us is prepared to act on the assumption gravity doesn’t exist? Exactly! Notwithstanding arguments of this nature, this series will proceed on the assumption that not only is there such a thing as truth but also that it can be known.
For many, the idea they may be held accountable for their life choices by an ultimate authority (aka God) is unthinkable.
Second, there are many who believe truth exists except when it runs counter to their feelings and preferences. In the opening quote from his book “The Last Word,” Professor Nagel transparently articulates this perspective. Note he affirms the intelligence of religious believers he knows and confesses he doesn’t want God to exist. For many, the idea they may be held accountable for their life choices by an ultimate authority (aka God) is unthinkable. Do they really think that by not wanting Christianity to be true, it isn’t. Wake-up call: truth is that which aligns with reality, not our preferences!
Finally, some mask their antipathy toward God behind intellectual arguments against Christianity. For example, members of a church pray fervently for the healing of a young boy but he dies. As a result, members of his family become angry with God but, to cover their very real and understandable pain, they raise unrelated reasons for not believing in God. In these cases, we should be sensitive to and empathize with their pain before making any intellectual arguments supporting the truth of Christianity.
Bearing in mind the foregoing realities, let’s dive into objections next week. We’ll start with some common concerns about the Bible’s trustworthiness.
Photo by Federico Tasin on Unsplash
