One myth about Christianity is that we're brainwashed from birth to believe in Jesus, and that we don't critically analyze our faith. I suppose that is true for some people, but most of my friends and I came from the opposite perspective: We rejected our parents' faith when we were kids, then came to be believers when God drew us to Him by addressing our doubts and fears, among other things. Christianity encourages critical thinking (Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.)
There are many misconceptions about Christianity. Even Christians believe a lot of myths about Christianity! This list is by no means exhaustive, but is merely an attempt to give some brief, mainstream Christian responses to common questions and myths about the essentials of the Christian faith.
Brief responses run the risk of providing fifty cent answers to million dollar questions. Whole books are written to address some of these individual questions, so keep searching if you find these answers inadequate.
Also see
10 Objections
to Christianity and How to Respond
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What about those who say Jesus wasn’t God, but that He was a good teacher? |
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If the bible was written thousands of years ago, how can it be relevant to us today? |
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Doesn’t evolution prove that God doesn’t exist or isn’t needed? |
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Isn't heaven going to be boring? Do we become angels in heaven? Are there animals in heaven? |
Q1 How does someone become a Christian? Return to top
A To be a Christian, you need to acknowledge that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus was God and rose from the dead after taking the punishment for your sins, and to commit to following Jesus. Basically, you accept Christ as your Savior (rescuer) and as Lord (boss) of your life.
There is no magic formula or set of words or deeds. Someone could say the right words but not believe it in their heart. Only God knows our hearts. Here are some key Bible verses:
John 3:16-17 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9 – That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Q2 Why are Christians always trying to convince others to become Christians? Aren't Christians too preachy? Return to top
A Christians are not on commission. They don’t say, “I told you so” once someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The primary reason Christians want to “convert” others is because Jesus told them to (Acts 1:8) and because they know what He has done in their lives. Keep in mind that Christians are not the ones doing the converting. The Holy Spirit, not people, changes hearts. Christians are just instructed to share their faith, in love.
Another reason is logical. Christians know the only way to experience true forgiveness and to find real peace and joy in this life and in heaven is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Isn’t it reasonable that they would want to share this Good News? Jesus summarized all of the Old Testament laws and teachings of the prophets as follows in Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” If you really love other people, wouldn’t that compel you to want to share what you have learned? Of course, Christians need to do this in an effective way (Also see Q26).
Regarding “preachiness,” when sharing the Christian message we must keep a balance between God’s justice and God’s love & grace. If we focus too much on God’s justice, people may be scared into believing because they want to avoid Hell, or they may decide God is unfair and ignore the message altogether. The hearers may not get the message of hope, forgiveness and love.
If we focus too much on love & grace, the message is also incomplete. Jesus doesn’t promise that life will be easy once you become a Christian. In fact, He promises that it won’t be easy. But He also promises to be with you forever, and to forgive you of all your sins. Without addressing justice (i.e., God’s laws or the 10 Commandments), people may not realize they need Jesus. Avoiding the message of God’s laws is almost like “bait and switch” advertising. People may be seduced into saying they are Christians (“Sure, I’d like to have peace, joy and love!”), but when troubles come they will fall away.
In the Gospels, when Jesus encountered people who knew they had violated God’s laws and needed forgiveness, He went straight to the Gospel message. When He encountered those who didn’t understand their need for Him, He pointed out the law to them first.
Q3 What do Christians believe? Return to top
A It is important for Christians to know what they believe and why they believe it. How else can they live out and share their faith?
See Doctrines for some basic Christian doctrines or Beliefs for some essential Christian beliefs.
Q4 What was Jesus’ basic message? Return to top
A Repent & believe.
Repent: turn away from your sins, and turn towards Jesus
Believe: that Jesus is Lord, that He loved you enough to die for your sins, and that you should put your faith and trust in Him and follow Him.
This is the Good News!
Q5 If God is good, why does He allow suffering? Return to top
A This is a common and difficult question for many people. Suffering is rampant in our world. Suffering can have different causes, such as:
Much of the discussion centers on the concept of free will. God did not create us as puppets. He wants to have relationships with us. He loves us and wants us to love Him. But He won’t make us love him. That would be violating our free will. God doesn’t step in and violate the free will of others when they are about to do something bad to us. As C.S. Lewis said, “Free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. The happiness God designs for his higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they must be free.”
Some people ask, “Why doesn’t God intervene to stop evil?” First, if he intervened every time someone was going to perform an evil act, we would have no free will to do good or evil. Second, keep in mind that God DID intervene by sending His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for all the evil deeds ever committed or to be committed. And Jesus will intervene again at some point and wipe out evil completely. Third, He still intervenes and performs miracles in His creation, but sometimes He lets evil things happen for a greater good to come out of them.
Allowing suffering doesn’t mean that God isn’t perfectly good. Letting something happen is different than making it happen. God can reach us in our pain. As C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscious, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” My goal is to listen carefully so He doesn’t have to shout at me! :-)
Many people assume that God is indifferent to suffering. Yet God so loved the world that He gave his only Son to experience unimaginable suffering and to die as a victim of evil and cruelty. He endured this to overcome sin, so that we might be reconciled to God and eventually live a perfect life with him in heaven. Jesus endured all manner of unjust suffering, including being rejected by family members and others, mocked, abandoned by friends, beaten, given 40 lashes and crucified, so it is unfair to say that He is indifferent to pain. Also, read all the stories of how compassionate Jesus was when encountering suffering people. He was not aloof. He cared about and shared their pain, just like He cares about your pain and problems now.
The Case for Faith, by Lee Strobel, provides some solid answers to this question, as do many other books and web sites. An “admittedly imperfect but nevertheless helpful illustration” Mr. Strobel used in a Christian Research Journal article (“Handling Christianity’s Toughest Challenge”) also helps put suffering in perspective. Imagine having an absolutely horrible day on January 1 – you crash your new car, lose lots of money, have health problems, etc.- then having the remaining 364 days of the year filled with pure joy and success. How would you respond when someone asks how the year went? Most likely, you would say it was a great year. Our earthly lives might be like the first bad day, but heaven will be like the perfect, joyful 364 days, and beyond (provided we have accepted God’s free gift of grace).
Having said all this, keep in mind that there are no easy answers for people who are suffering. They generally need love and compassion instead of a lot of theories. So before answering, be careful to determine why someone is asking this question. Is it purely theoretical? Is it because they are suffering? Or is it a smokescreen because it makes a convenient excuse?
Q6 Some Christians don’t behave as Jesus taught them to. Why is it that Christians talk about love, but they are often portrayed as being hateful, judgmental and hypocritical? Return to top
A First, let’s just say that many groups don’t like to be defined by the words and behavior of their extreme members. Also, keep in mind that someone isn’t a Christian just because they claim to be. Only God knows each person's heart. The crucial issue isn’t whether or not all people who claim to be Christians are successful in following Jesus’ principles. It is whether or not the claims of Christianity are true.
If you don’t like hypocrisy, you’ll love reading the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (commonly referred to as the Gospels, or the Good News.) Jesus spoke out strongly against the hypocrites of His earthly time.
Also, keep in mind that Christians still sin. Even the Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, said, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19). Once we believe in Jesus, God begins to sanctify us – that is, to make us more and more like Christ. But we won’t be perfected until we get to heaven. That isn’t an excuse to keep sinning. It is just reality.
Christians must remember that how they witness to the world is crucial. It is not effective or accurate to come across as self-righteous, holier-than-thou, arrogant or superior. We need to remember that we are Christians only by God’s grace, and not because we deserve it. We shouldn’t stereotype non-Christians or assume that we know their motives. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t live out our faith and try to change the world, though. Christians are called to be salt and light to the world, but to do it with spirits and actions of love.
See The Church is Full of Hypocrites for more hypocrisy discussion.
Having
said that, there are countless acts of love, courage, generosity and kindness
shown by Christians each day, all because of their love of God. Many hospitals
and schools were started by Christians. The desire for all people to be able to
read the Bible was a major reason for public education of all children.
Christians feed, clothe, house and support millions of poor people around the
world. Christian charities minister to people's physical and spiritual
needs. Christian missionaries risk their lives and make great sacrifices to help
others and to teach them about Jesus. Many, many Christians are living their
lives as God wants them to.
Q7 Don’t all good people go to heaven? Isn’t it arrogant to claim Jesus is the only way to heaven, as Christians claim? Return to top
A It is very popular, even for Christians, to think that good people go to heaven. But there are problems with that concept. Who defines “good?” How good is good enough? How many people have you ever met that didn’t think they were good? Go to any prison and most of the inmates will tell you they are good. If being 51% good got us into heaven, how would we keep track of it all? Where is the chart that gives the weight of each individual sin? What about the sins we don’t realize we are committing? If we knew we couldn’t get to 51%, should we give up and be bad on purpose? How can we ever be assured of our eternal destiny?
Believing one has the truth is not arrogant (though we shouldn't convey it in an arrogant manner). Nearly everyone thinks they are speaking the truth. The question is what facts and logic are there to back up truth claims?
I'm not saying Jesus is the only way; Jesus said He was the only way. And that is a big difference, because his life, death and resurrection attest to the fact that He is God, and that we can trust what He says. Jesus also taught that no one is good enough on his or her own to get into heaven. Also, if there are other ways to heaven, why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Also see Jesus is the way.
All major world religions have exclusive elements, so it is unfair to say that Christianity is unique in claiming to be the one way to God. The question is how the truth claims of the religions stand up to scrutiny.
Christians can be assured of their salvation, because it is based on what Christ did for us instead of what we do. If salvation were based on works (that is, the good things we do), then we could never be certain if we were saved or not.
Many people are puzzled as to why Christians go to such lengths to share their faith. Think of it this way: If you were sure you knew the one true path to eternal life and to peace in this life, wouldn't you want to share it? Wouldn't it be unkind of you not to share it, especially if Jesus had specifically commanded his followers to spread the Good News?
With respect to who goes to heaven, the myth persists - even with some Christians - that everyone goes to heaven. Jesus warned us at length that there are eternal consequences of not following Him, but many don’t want to “offend” people with these warnings. God loves us unconditionally, yet He doesn’t accept us unconditionally . . . unless we accept Jesus as our savior. Then God sees Jesus’ perfection when He looks at us. Believing there is a God is different than placing your faith in Jesus (Satan knows there is a God, but Satan actively rebels against Him.)
Even one sin separates us from God. Picture a line that shows relative “goodness.” At the far left is pure evil (Satan). Move over a couple inches and you find Adolph Hitler. More over a couple inches more and you find Osama bin Laden. Move over a foot or so and you find yourself and most everyone else on the planet. Move over another foot and you find Mother Teresa. Then move over about a million miles (infinity, actually) and you’ll find God. We are so far from the goodness of God that we can’t even conceive of His perfection. Studying God's laws and understanding more of his nature help us understand that we need Jesus, because we can never be good enough on our own.
Here’s one way a Christian could picture getting into heaven. After you die, you meet St. Peter at the gates of heaven. He asks why He should let you in. You realize that there is no way for you to make a case for your being good enough on your own to get in. All you can do is to look at Jesus and say, “I’m with Him.” If you can truthfully say that, Jesus would say, “Yes, you are with me. Come, let me show you the mansion I’ve prepared for you.” Then you would spend eternity in the presence of the one true living God.
Q8 What about the people who haven’t heard of Jesus? Isn’t it unfair for them to be judged by God? Return to top
A The apostle Paul addresses his letter to the Romans, mainly in chapters 1-3. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) God has written his law on our hearts. If we accept His general revelation of his will, He will give us his more specific revelation (Jesus). Jesus may work through friends, or missionaries, or appear to people in dreams or visions. He has been doing this for two thousand years.
God is the perfect judge. No one will stand before him after they die and be able to say, “Wait! You didn’t consider everything! I need a lawyer!” We will all listen to God’s judgments and realize that they are perfectly fair.
Also consider the logical consequences if it were true that not hearing of Jesus automatically provided salvation. If that were the case, you wouldn’t want to tell anyone about Jesus, because you would be taking them from a “saved” state to a state where they may reject Jesus and be “unsaved.”
Christians believe we all make only one truly important decision in life. Do we
accept God’s free gift of salvation by accepting and following Christ, or do we
reject it?
Q9 Aren’t there a lot of mistakes and inconsistencies in the Bible? Even some Christians will admit that. What if I am skeptical about Christian beliefs? If I already believe, why do I need to be able to explain my faith? Return to top
A It is true that many Christians are surprisingly uneducated about the Bible. If Christians have doubts about the accuracy of the Bible, they should research the topic more thoroughly. If we claim that God didn’t inspire certain passages we don’t like or don’t fully understand, then how can we be sure that John 3:16 is God’s word? Don’t be afraid to examine the evidence. Thomas doubted that Jesus had been resurrected, so he asked to see the evidence. Jesus showed Thomas the evidence, and Thomas believed, exclaiming, "My Lord and my God!"
It is OK to be skeptical, provided that you keep honestly searching. It is better to be an open skeptic than a pretend believer.
These are common question skeptics will ask. One way to determine if they are seriously interested in learning the truth or if they are looking for excuses not to believe is to do the following: Show them a Bible and ask, “What are some of the inconsistencies you are referring to?” (Be sure do do this sincerely and lovingly). If they have some, then answer the questions (if you know the answer) or research the answers and get back to them. If they can’t think of any, ask them if they should read the Bible to learn more about it. There are solid, well reasoned answers to every alleged inconsistency that anyone can find. Also ask them, “If I proved to you that the Bible was the inerrant word of God, would you need to change anything about your life?” If the answer is no, then they probably aren’t seriously investigating the truth.
"It may surprise those unfamiliar with the facts that there is more documentary evidence for the reliability of the New Testament than any other book in the ancient world." (Dr. Norman Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics.)
Remember what 1 Peter 3:15 says: “Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” All Christians aren't called to be theologians, but they should be able to explain what they believe and why they believe it.
See tips on how to read the Bible for some guidelines on how to interpret the Bible.
The
Bible contains the best news anyone could ever hope to read. You owe it to
yourself to understand its meaning and why it is the reliable word of God. God
primarily speaks to us through His word, the Bible, and we primarily speak to
Him through prayer. If you aren’t doing both of these, then your relationship
with God probably isn’t growing. And Christianity is all about having a true,
meaningful, active relationship with your creator and Savior.
Q10 Can’t you make the Bible say whatever you want it to? Haven’t people used the Bible to justify evil things like slavery and the oppression of women? Return to top
A Many people - who may or may not be Christians – have often used the Bible to support their personal agendas. They may do this deliberately or by accident. Either way, this doesn't disprove or discount the Bible. Stalin, Lenin and Mao Tse-Tung killed over 100 million people without using the Bible at all. When Biblical principles are followed properly, lives are transformed and cultures are changed for the good.
Taking verses out of context – deliberately or not – can lead to wrong conclusions. Here is a simple example: You could truthfully say that the Bible says in Psalm 53 that, “there is no God.” However, the full reading of Psalm 53 verse 1 says, “The fool says in his heart, there is no God.”
Some
point to the violence in the Bible as a critique of Christianity, implying or
stating that this is proof that the faith isn't valid or that all religions are
equal. There are some key distinctions about violence in the Bible. The Bible is
a thoroughly honest book, conveying what really happened in the history of
Israel and the early church. Failings such as King David's adultery, lying and
murder are not glossed over. The consequences of violence and sin are always
shown. The cases of justified violence, namely the clearing out of the Promised
Land, are unique. The Canaanites were a thoroughly evil people, and God gave
them over 400 years to repent. Anyone willing to repent was always permitted to,
such as the prostitute Rahab and her family from the town of Jericho. When the
Israelites won, it was always clear that God delivered the victory. Examples
include the battle of Jericho and the experiences of Gideon. When the Israelites
tried to take things into their own hands, they were routed.
The key is to properly interpret the Bible. Click here for tips on how to read the Bible
With respect to the examples noted above, the verses that some people used to support slavery in the U.S. were taken out of context. The Bible teaches that all human beings have an inherent dignity and worth because they were made in God’s image. Slavery in the Bible was usually due to economic circumstances, and was not an enslavement of members of a single race of people by a different race. Slavery, oppression and prejudice are completely un-Christian concepts. To abuse people in this way is to disrespect the God who created them. In the Christian worldview, racial discrimination is a sin, because it mocks the God who created us all.
Regarding the treatment of women, the Bible was and is radical, especially when viewed in a worldwide context. The apostle Paul is ironically considered a chauvinist by some today, yet his teachings were equally radical in the first century – but for the opposite reason. Women were generally treated as property at that time, yet Paul treated them as equals in Christ. As Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Jesus’ treatment of women was radical as well. For example, in John 4, talking with the woman at the well in the middle of the day was unheard of. Finally, Mary Magdalene was the first one to see Jesus after the resurrection. If Jesus’ followers were trying to be politically correct for their day, or if they were trying to make up the resurrection, they never would have said that a woman was the first to see Jesus. Women weren’t allowed to be witnesses in court in that culture.
According to Mike Singletary, former Chicago Bears linebacker, “If a man exercised his authority in the way it is outlined in the Bible, a woman would not resent it. She would find herself served. She would find her needs met. She would have her say, be able to exercise her gifts, not be pushed back and ignored and treated like a second-class citizen. God’s design for marriage is for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and for wives to respect their husbands. Christ loved the church enough to die for it, and that kind of love is worthy of respect.”
Q11 Aren’t all religions pretty much the same? It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere in your beliefs, right? What is unique about Christianity? Return to top
A A lot of faith in the wrong thing is worthless, while a little faith in the right thing can be invaluable. You may sincerely believe that the ice on the pond is thick enough to stand on, but if the ice is thin you will fall through. Yet if the ice is thick, any amount of faith is enough.
Claiming that all religions are pretty much the same is a feel good answer that avoids controversy. But it isn’t intellectually honest. The truth is that all religions have mutually exclusive differences, which means more than one can’t be right. Either they are all wrong, or just one is right. Obviously, most people feel they have selected the "right" religion, or that they are correct in denying there is a God. Therefore, it is vital for seekers to investigate the truth claims of each religion. Christianity is a religion that encourages its followers to use their minds. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, said, "It is a fundamental principle with us that to renounce reason is to renounce religion, that religion and reason go hand in hand, that all irrational religion is false religion."
Christians are sometimes accused of being close-minded. This is an unfair argument, but some groups use it effectively to silence the opposition. It is one of many "ad hominem" arguments, where one side tries to attack the character of the other side, such that anything she says is ignored, mocked or distorted. Also, anyone with a firm position on either side of an issue should be considered close-minded if the label is to be applied consistently. z`
Religious pluralists contend it is arrogant to claim one religion is superior to another because this would require a full knowledge of God. Ironically, though, to say that all religions only see part of the truth is itself an arrogant claim, as it implies having spiritual knowledge they say no one else has. Would an all-powerful God of the universe not have one true religion, or would He establish multiple religions which conflicting truth claims? Consider the logical extension of a "truth is relative" culture: Whoever held power (or the majority, in a democracy) would get to determine what is "true." But truth is still the truth regardless of how few believe it, and a lie is a lie regardless of how many believe it. Christianity supports the classical view of tolerance, which is that we should be tolerant of people we disagree with, but we should not be tolerant of their ideas if they violate Christian principles. Of course, the way we express our disagreement should be done with gentleness and respect. Sadly, this culture often reverses the classical view of intolerance, namely, by being tolerant of ideas and intolerant of the people expressing those ideas. Worse yet, this new definition of "tolerance" of ideas means you must agree with the ideas. And of course, you can only tolerate something you disagree with. If you agree with the idea, there is nothing to tolerate!
While there are similarities between religions (e.g., “be kind to others”), religions vary in how they address crucial issues such as the nature of God, ultimate reality, the nature of humanity, humanity’s problem, salvation, right and wrong, etc. All religions have exclusive elements, so their followers would also claim to have the one true religion. Always investigate the evidence for the truth claims. Christianity as a whole and most Christian denominations welcome serious inquiry. People should be wary of any group discouraging a thorough examination of its beliefs.
One unique aspect of Christianity is that no amount of good works can reconcile us to God, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Christians do good works in response to the grace given them by God, not to try to earn their way into heaven. When Jesus was on the cross, He said, “it is finished” (John 19:30). Another interpretation is “it is paid in full,” meaning our debt to God was paid in full if we accept what Jesus did for us. Christianity says that any doctrine is wrong if it says that to achieve salvation you don’t need Jesus, or that you need faith in Jesus plus anything else, like good deeds.
Christianity is unique in many other ways, most of which made it a most unlikely religion to grow, thrive and have such a dramatic impact on the world. Here are a few of the other unique aspects: It is rather bold to claim that your Savior was both God and man, and that He died and rose again. Christians are asked to forgive their loved ones and their enemies, and to love their enemies. Considering all people to be of equal value was an especially radical concept in Jesus' time, and is still not accepted in many places in the world today. Not only are Christians expected to obey the 10 Commandments, they aren't even supposed to think about breaking them. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) described Jesus' followers doing and saying foolish things and not understanding His mission until after His death. Religion is when man reaches up to God, but Christianity is when God reached down to man, in the form of Jesus Christ. Christianity expects all followers (not just the leaders) to be spiritual and have a direct relationship with God. Becoming a Christian, especially in the first century, meant leaving family and friends and facing serious persecution and possible death. Martyrs over the centuries have willingly died (without killing anyone else in the process) rather than deny what they believed to be true. An interesting website offering more of these thoughts is called The Impossible Faith - Or, How Not to Start an Ancient Religion.
Q12 Christians don’t seem to agree on everything . . . or anything! Why are there so many denominations? Which one is right? Return to top
A This is somewhat true. John Wesley said the following:
In essentials, unity
In non-essentials, liberty
In all things, charity
This means to be a Christian one needs to accept the core truths of historical Christianity (i.e., we are all sinners, Jesus was God, He died for our sins, etc.). Other issues may be important, but they are open to debate in a spirit of love and charity. We don’t agree on everything (weekly communion or monthly, what type of music is used in service, etc.). A good rule of thumb is to ensure your church supports the core Christian beliefs, and then have healthy discussions on the other issues.
A similar guideline is “debate, don’t divide” (i.e., vigorously debate the non-essential beliefs in a Christian manner, but don’t divide over them). Keep in mind that our differences of opinion on the non-essentials probably bother us a lot more than they bother God.
It is
important for Christians to understand the essential truths about their
religion. Hundreds of thousands, or perhaps millions, of Christian martyrs died
proclaiming their belief in the essentials of Christianity. To water down the
gospel to be politically correct is wrong for a lot of reasons, one of which is
that it makes a mockery of what these martyrs died for.
Q13 I have done a lot of bad things. Can God forgive me? Return to top
A Many people fear God and want to avoid him for because they have done bad things (sort of like wanting to avoid the police if you have broken the law). But God’s grace is bigger than any of our sins. There is nothing you can do that will make him love you more or less. Our sins separate us from God, but God wants us to be reconciled. That is why Jesus came to earth. Jesus was God and man, and He lived the perfect life in our place. If we repent of our sins and put our trust in him, we will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
God is a perfect judge, so sin must be punished. But God, being perfectly smart, came up with the perfect plan: He would send his Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for the rest of us. That way, God’s demand for justice and his desire for mercy could be fulfilled.
Forgiveness is a crucial part of Christianity. God wants to forgive us, and He wants us to forgive others - even our enemies.
There is only one unforgivable sin, and that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10). Don't worry if you don't fully understand what that means. A common interpretation of this passage is that only a deliberate, ongoing rejection of God will ultimately be unforgivable. But if you are worried that you have committed this sin, it means you probably haven't, as you are still interested in a relationship with God and are concerned about what He thinks. The main point is that every other sin you have committed can be forgiven.
Think about the following heroes of the Bible. If God offered them salvation in spite of their sins, He will do the same for you.
King David was an adulterer and murderer, among other things, yet God called David, “A man after my own heart,” because of David's passionate love of God. David repented and was forgiven, though he and his family suffered the consequences of his sins.
Paul (formerly known as Saul) persecuted Christians, even witnessing their executions. Yet when confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus, he became a Christian. He wrote roughly half of the New Testament, and is widely considered to be the greatest evangelist ever. Paul endured incredible hardships on behalf of his faith – including being beaten many times, imprisoned on several occasions and receiving 39 lashes five times (one set of these lashes has been known to kill people). If Paul had such a remarkable transformation, imagine what God can do for you!
Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times, even after seeing Jesus’ many miracles and after Jesus told Peter that he would deny Jesus. However, Peter was repentant and sought and received forgiveness. He then became a leader in the early church and a major catalyst in the spread of Christianity. He is believed to have died as a martyr, being crucified upside down at his request because he didn’t feel worthy to die as Jesus did.
Q14 Why did God come to earth in the form of Jesus? Return to top
A Jesus, who is God, came to earth to:
Remember that Jesus willingly suffered and died for us. He was God in human flesh. He could have conquered the Romans and Pharisees if He wanted to, and could have gotten off the cross at any time. But He didn't want to. He wanted to take our punishment so we could be reconciled to Him. That is true love.
Q15 How can I get to know God better?
A If you want to develop a relationship with someone, you must spend time with him and learn more about him. The same applies for our relationship with God. He does want a relationship with us! Here are some ideas:
Read the Bible
Pray
Find a Bible-believing church and get involved
Read some quality Christian books and/or magazines
Listen to Christian music or Christian radio stations
Q16 Some religious leaders seem phony, including the ones on TV. Do they represent what Christians believe? Return to top
A Just because the salesman is bad doesn’t mean the product is bad. Many have abused scripture for their own benefits – cults, televangelists, the Crusades. They aren’t necessarily Christians. The question is always, “What did Jesus teach, and what would Jesus have them do?” Jesus is probably more upset with these behaviors than we are!
Knowing the Bible will help you determine if leaders are truly Christian. Some may claim to be prophets, but as Hank Hannegraaf says, a real prophet is 100% accurate 100% of the time. And a real prophet will always be aligned with what the Bible says. Discernment is important in the life of a Christian. Christians should study the Bible so well that they will be able to spot errors when they see them.
Charlotte Allen put this in perspective in her Wall Street Journal book review of Christianity on Trial, by Vincent Carroll and David Shiflett. She said, “There is an anti-Christian mythology that equates faith in Jesus with intolerance, capitalist exploitation, hostility to science, desecration of the environment, oppression of women, sponsorship of slavery and the slaughter of entire peoples. Even though 85% of Americans identify themselves a Christians, most seem unwilling or unable to defend themselves against such diatribes.” This is one reason why it is important for Christians to understand their faith and defend their beliefs.
Q17 What about those who say Jesus wasn’t God, but that He was a prophet or a good teacher? Return to top
A C.S. Lewis said it best: “You must make your choice. Either this man [Jesus] was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman: or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But don’t come to Him with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He hasn’t left that open to you. He didn’t intend to.”
Some people like to say Jesus was just a prophet, or a good teacher, etc., to avoid the real argument. If He wasn’t God, He definitely wasn’t a good man or a prophet. He clearly claimed to be God, which would be blasphemy if He wasn't really God.
Also see http://www.carm.org/40_objections/40-3.htm#_1_30.
Q18 What if I don’t have anything to offer God? Return to top
A God gave you all the abilities you need. He has a plan for your life, and you are the only person on the planet with that plan. Someone once said, “God doesn’t want our ability, He wants our availability.” He gave us free will. The best use of that free will to ask Him to direct our lives, in essence acknowledging to God that when we follow His will instead of our own, things always go much better for us! If you ask God to lead you to what He wants you to do, get ready for some exciting opportunities! God will change you and use you in ways you never imagined.
Q19 If the Bible was written thousands of years ago, how can it be relevant to us today? Return to top
A It is the truth of the one true, timeless God. It tells us of God’s plan for salvation, and for rescuing people from bondage. It addresses every human emotion. It is our guidebook for how to live more fulfilling, meaningful lives. It is the primary way God speaks to us.
The Bible, when put into practice as written, has dramatically transformed people and cultures for the good.
There are many good books and websites supporting the validity of scripture, but here’s a simple way to look at it. Since God created the universe in all of its incredible complexity, I think He is capable of inspiring the writers of the Bible to record what He wanted them to.
Q20 Don’t religious people just need something to believe? Return to top
A Keep in mind that atheists and agnostics need reasons not to believe. Otherwise, they would have to change their lives. Also, if you investigate different worldviews which are supposedly not religions, they have many of the elements of religions.
There is a saying that grace is free; all it costs you is your life. Grace is truly a free gift from God, but to accept it you have to want to turn your will over to God. Christianity is a religion that does not ask you to believe things despite the evidence against them. It is a worldview which is in perfect harmony with the physical and moral world, and which offers logical, reasonable answers to all the key question in life. The book of Romans, chapters 2-3, says that God wrote the moral laws on our hearts. Our conscience tells us what is right or wrong, if we don't override it.
Q21 What are the differences between justice, mercy and grace? Return to top
A Justice = getting what you deserve (punishment)
Mercy = not getting what you deserve (avoiding punishment)
Grace = getting what you don’t deserve (getting a fabulous gift . . . like spending eternity with the one true God, who loved you enough to die for you.)
God is perfectly just, so He demands punishment for sin. Yet He is perfectly merciful, so He came to earth and took the punishment for us, if only we will accept his free gift of grace. As humans, we often want justice for others and mercy and grace for ourselves.
Q22 God loves me unconditionally, right? So why do I need to follow Jesus and all this “church stuff?” Return to top
A God loves us unconditionally, but He doesn’t accept us unconditionally. For that, we need to have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. And if we have done that, we will follow Jesus.
Unfortunately, some churches teach a watered-down, politically correct “gospel,” which claims Jesus isn’t the only way, and/or implies that God will accept us regardless of what we do. They imply that everyone ends up in heaven, because God is so nice, or because “good” people go to heaven. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (a famous theologian who was martyred in Nazi Germany), called this “cheap grace,” saying, “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without Church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without contrition. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the Cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
Going to church is not required to get into heaven, but most followers of Christ attend church for worship, fellowship, education, service and evangelism. Many people have been wounded by religion due to bad experiences at church. If you are in an unhealthy church, keep looking until you find one that is well balanced and vibrant. If you left the church, for whatever reason, consider coming back. We have an opening for you!
There are many verses showing how we should meet together and support and encourage one other, such as Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Q23 Don’t Christians think they are better than everyone else, and that they don’t sin? Isn’t it hard to be a Christian? It seems like you have to be perfect. Return to top
A While some Christians may project a “holier than thou” attitude, the truth is that to be a Christian means admitting that you are a sinner in need of savior. We can’t live properly on our own, so we need Jesus. Of course, Christians should sin less than we used to, and set high standards for ourselves. But we shouldn’t pretend that we aren’t sinners. At the risk of sounding like a bumper sticker, Christians aren’t perfect – just forgiven.
Part of being a Christian is acknowledging that we will never be perfect in this life (Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God), but knowing that God will improve us and eventually perfect us in heaven.
It can be difficult to be a Christian, because you want to be perfect and to please God. As Jesus taught, it isn’t enough just to follow the Ten Commandments; you need to think the right thoughts as well (e.g., just wanting to kill someone or to commit adultery are sins, even though they don’t carry the same consequences as completing the acts). You will also encounter opposition due to being a Christian, though it varies by person.
However, many things are easier as a Christian. Less sin = less problems in life! You realize that God made you with a special plan for your life. Part of the joy and adventure in life is discovering what that plan is. You realize you can stop trying to win God’s approval, as He has already forgiven you, and that you can trust in His promise of eternal life. You realize that all things work out for the good of those who love God, so no matter what happens, God can make the best of the situation.
Q24 Some Bible stories sound so made up (e.g., Jonah & the great fish). Why does anyone believe them? Return to top
A The Bible uses many forms of literature. There is some healthy debate on whether some stories are allegories or literal descriptions. A good rule of thumb is that scriptures that sound allegorical probably are. If it sounds like a true story, it probably is. Based on the way Jesus referred to Jonah, Jesus seemed to consider him to be real. The same goes for Adam & Eve, Noah and others. The Bible usually introduces parables by saying something like, "He told them this parable . . ."
Also remember that if God created the universe in all its complexity, then miracles like Jonah and the great fish, the resurrection, healing the sick, etc. are pretty simple by comparison.
Also, don’t try to understand every Bible difficulty at once. Start at the gospels of Jesus – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. If Jesus was resurrected, that means He validated that He was God. And since He validated the Old Testament, then that can be trusted as well.
Q25 How do Christians feel about Jewish people? There has been so much hostility towards them over the centuries. Return to top
A Throughout history, some unthinking Christians have blamed the Jewish people for killing Jesus. If anyone blames “the Jews” for killing Jesus, they should consider the following:
Q26 How can I share my faith with others in an effective way? Return to top
A Sharing one's faith is a personal topic requiring prayer and discernment.
Sharing your faith with others can be very challenging. You want to be effective as a representative of Jesus, but you don’t want to turn people away from God or disrupt business. Here are a few things to consider when witnessing anywhere.
Remember that it is God that saves people through His grace. We aren’t the ones doing the saving, though we are blessed to have God work through us at times. That should some of take the pressure off.
Remember to truly love, care about and learn about each person.
Remember that you can’t make people believe. Jesus came to earth and saw people face to face and performed many miracles. Yet many still didn’t believe! If Jesus didn’t force them to believe, we certainly can’t. God loves us enough not to override our free will.
Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel wherever you can, and use words if necessary.” Our actions should show we are Christians and that we truly care about others. (Though we shouldn’t use this as an excuse not to use words.)
Click here for a good list of witnessing do's and don'ts.
You can read books on how to witness effectively. How To Talk About Jesus Without Freaking Out, by Jim & Karen Covell and Victorya Michaels Rogers, is a book that provides a thorough, practical plan to be more comfortable and effective as a witness for Christ. The book includes:
· Lots of tips and tools to use in effective witnessing, including witnessing without words
· Addressing fears and myths people have in talking about their faith in Jesus
· Pray for God to put people in your path who He wants you to reach
· Distinguishing between who really “saves” people (it is God’s job, not ours, so we shouldn’t feel so much pressure)
· How to prepare a 3 minute story of your life before and after you became a Christian, to use when witnessing to people.
· Providing advice on how to deal with different types of people, such as: Those hostile or intolerant to Christianity, those who have been hurt in the name of the Lord, the insecure, atheists, the apathetic, the well-to-do, Generation X-ers, unsaved church members, family members
· A crash course in apologetics (defending your faith in a reasoned, logical manner)
Q27 What is the difference between the “vengeful” Old Testament God and the “kinder, gentler” New Testament God? Return to top
A There is just one God of the Bible. The truth is that Jesus talks about eternal torment (i.e., Hell) more often than He talks about heaven, and He mentions it much more than was done in the Old Testament. There were dozens and dozens of prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament, and the New Testament records the fulfillment of those prophecies. The Old and New Testaments fit together well, but it takes some study to understand how.
Also, the Old Testament clearly shows a God who is very patient with his chosen people. While they turn away from Him again and again, He always preserves a remnant and ultimately sends his Son to bridge the gap between man and God once and for all.
Q28 Doesn’t Christianity just focus on guilt? Return to top
A Some guilt is good, as it can lead to repentance and forgiveness. But some churches have focused too much on guilt, and ignored that we are all sinners in need of a savior. Unfortunately, this has caused many people to leave the church.
The Good News is that though we are all guilty, we can have true forgiveness from God by having faith in Jesus!
Christianity isn't the cause of guilt, it is the cure.
Q29 How can a good, loving God send people to Hell, just for not believing in Jesus? Return to top
A Hell has become very unpopular these days :-). Some churches ignore the topic completely or teach that it isn't real. Based on Jesus teachings, it is clear that Hell is a place of eternal torment and won't be a big party of unrepentant sinners.
You don't go to Hell for not believing in Jesus. You go to Hell for being a sinner. "But isn’t God merciful?," you might ask. Yes, He is. That is where Jesus comes in. You can try to stand before your God with your righteousness, or with Jesus’ righteousness.
God doesn’t want anyone to go to Hell. That is why Jesus warned so strongly and lovingly that people should avoid it. And that is why the creator of the universe came to earth in human form, lived a selfless, poor life and suffered and died the most unjust death ever – so anyone who wanted to could avoid Hell. The descriptions of Hell may be somewhat symbolic, but keep in mind that the real thing is often worse than the symbols. Deep regret over something we wish we would or wouldn't have done can be much more painful and longer lasting than physical pain.
God had to create Hell to accommodate the free will of people who reject his offer of reconciliation. He won’t make them go to heaven. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, “Each person will say ‘Thy will be done’ and accept God, or God will say ‘Thy will be done’ and let them go to Hell as they have chosen.”
Some
people say, "My God is a loving God who would never send people to Hell." We
must exercise caution if we are to say, "My God would/wouldn't ________" (fill
in the blank). We may be accurate in our statement. Then again, we may be
violating the second commandment and forming God in our own image of what we
want Him to be. God created us; we didn't create Him. So while we can earnestly
seek to understand Him through what He has revealed to us, we don't get to
define or limit Him.
Also see A God of Love Wouldn't Send Me to Hell as well as The Case for Faith, by Lee Strobel.
Q30 Aren’t churches just after money? Return to top
A Some churches seem to fall into one of two extremes. They either focus on money all the time (warning: this is a clue that the church may not be well-balanced) or they don’t focus on it at all, to avoid offending people.
Only one thing can end up in first place. By donating money to the church or other appropriate organizations, we are showing God – and ourselves! - that we are putting Him first in our lives. The Bible does promise blessings for those who tithe (give 10% of their income), and I know many stories of people who were blessed financially once they tithed. But we should not “give to get.” We should give for the right reasons, and with a generous heart. We should give because everything we have came from God – our faith, money, talent, family, intelligence, etc. - and we want to be obedient and show our gratitude.
Jesus talked a lot about money, not because he needed it, but because he knows it can be a barrier between every single human being and God. Martin Luther said there are two conversions of a person the heart and the wallet.
There are certain emotions that can only be felt by doing certain things. And giving freely and joyfully is one of those things. Giving freely shows that we trust God to provide for us. It does more for us than it does for God.
Q31 The book of Revelation is difficult to understand. What do the “rapture” and “end times” mean? What is the point of the Left Behind series of books? Return to top
A The book of Revelation is indeed challenging to read, even for those well versed in the Bible.
The main thing to keep in mind while studying Revelation is that Jesus came for everyone (Revelation 3:20) and God wins in the end. And second place isn’t even close!
There are several different views of the book of Revelation that are considered orthodox (i.e., in line with essential Christian teachings). The book of Revelation can be difficult to read because it contains so much symbolism. But it isn’t full of riddles. Most of the symbolism refers to the Old Testament, so it is important to have a study guide when reading this book.
“Rapture” means Christ coming back to bring all believers to Him. One view of Revelation is that Jesus will take all Christ