A Reasoning Faith
II Timothy 1:8-12
This morning our theme is “A Reasoning Faith” – know what you believe and why you believe.
Here are some comments made by children on various teachings of the Bible.
- Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree.
- Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark.
- Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night.
- Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients.
- The Egyptians were all drowned in the desert.
- Afterward Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Amendments.
- The First Commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.
- The Fifth Commandment is “Humor thy father and mother.”
- The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.
- Solomon, one of David’s sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
- When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.
- Jesus enunciated the Golden Rule, which is, “Do one to others before they do one to you.”
When we talk about a “Reasoning Faith,” we have two alternatives, God exists or God doesn’t exist.
Christian truth stands up to all criticisms from science, philosophy and religions. Either the Bible is the true inspired Word of God or the Bible is a book of fables and fairy tails.
C.S. Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity and other books was a modern day Apologist and Philosopher. Lewis grew up in the Church of Ireland but during his teen years he became a skeptic and agnostic. In his early 30’s through the influence of J.R. Toikien, author of Lord of the Rings, and others he put his faith in Jesus and became a defender of the Christian Faith.
In Mere Christianity he writes about the person of Jesus: “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg- of else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man 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 let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” Page 41
I. A Faith Worth Investigating
If the Word of God is true, then it will stand up to any critical investigation. Truth is either absolute or relative.
If all things were relative then you would have to say in mathematics that 2 + 2 equals 4 most of the time. In Chemistry H20 is water most of the time. In theology God exists, some of the time and God doesn’t exist, some of the time.
I believe truth is absolute and therefore can say with confidence, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
As a seeker after truth our goal is to see things the way God sees them.
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus is a case in point that Jesus wants us to have a reasoning faith. The two disciples of Jesus had been in Jerusalem and had expected Jesus to give leadership as their Messiah. As they were walking along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus they explained to the stranger what they were discussing before he joined them. They described Jesus, the stranger, who had become their traveling companion: “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before god and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body; they came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it as the women had said, but him they did not see.” (Luke 24:19-24)
Do you get the picture? The two disciples were describing the story to the very person they were talking about. Then the stranger made a 180- degree turn and started talking to them and explained to them the rest of the story. Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)
Why didn’t Jesus cut to the bottom line when he joined them on the road and say, “Greetings, you looking for me, here I am!” No, Jesus wanted to give them a reasoning faith. He gave them the context of His march to Calvary in a teaching that covered 1500 years.
Investigating the Christian Faith is all about seeing things God’s way.
The best defense of Christianity is explaining what Christianity actually is and not debating religious systems. Christianity is all about a person, Jesus Christ.
Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion says that Christian Faith is non -thinking. He believes religion was responsible for the 9/11 bombings. “Get rid of God and all religions and you will have peace on earth.”
Atheists buy into the thought that the natural sciences have displaced God.
Atheists would argue for the non-existence of God and that God’s non-existence is a fact. Believe in God is by faith. Christianity is about faith and atheism is about fact.
Here’s how a conversation might go between a believer and an atheist according to Alister McGrath, professor of theological history at Oxford University, in the book, Beyond Opinion, Living the Faith We Defend, by Ravi Zacharias, McGrath says the conversation might go like this:
Atheist: There is no God!
Christian: Are you sure about that? Can you prove that?
Atheist: I don’t need to! It’s obvious.
Christian: Well, humor me. Prove it!
Atheist: Well, I can’t prove it with total certainty. But it’s the best option.
Christian: I see. So what you are saying is that you can’t prove that there is no God --- but that you believe in the nonexistence of god is the most likely option.
Atheist: That’s right.
Christian: So atheism is a belief, then.
When your Christian Faith is challenged, and it will be, you need to know what you believe and why you belief?
Carollyn grew up in a Pastor’s home and attended Christian Colleges. We were married after her “junior” year at Greenville Collage a FM College and she moved with me to Wilmore, KY where I enrolled in Asbury Theological Seminary. She enrolled at a college in Lexington, KY, Transylvania College.
One of her teachers was committed to the belief in the non-existence of God. He ridiculed Christians and made fun of preachers and evangelists. It was a time of faith testing for her. Because of her foundation of faith she was able to stay true to her faith in the Lord.
Many university students have their faith attacked from day one on a college or university campus.
I attended a Christian College all four years of my college life. The greatest challenge to me was so called professing classmates that knew the language of being a Christian but their life didn’t back it up. Their life was no different than non - professing Christians. I came to a place where I decided that I wasn’t responsible for the hypocrisy of others; I was only responsible for my personal walk with the Lord.
The Challenge of Islam
You need to know what you believe because the fastest growing religion is the world, Islam, serves as a future challenge to your Christian faith.
Jesus warned about false prophets. Toward the end of his earthly ministry Jesus taught his disciples about the coming end of the age: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Christ.’ And will deceive many.’” Matthew 24:4-5
“For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect (Christ followers) – if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.” Matthew 24:24-25
The very word “Islam” means “submission or surrender.” All non-Muslims are Allah’s enemies because all non-Muslims are profane and need to be killed.
Islam teaches that Jesus only came to earth to announce the coming of a greater one- Mohammad. According to Islam all Biblical prophets were Muslim. In the beginning all people were created Muslim. When a non-Muslim converts to Islam they use the term “revision” because they are just reverting back to what they were born to be.
In Islam, the highest sacrifice is not that of self-denial for the good of others, but of self-sacrifice for the sake of Allah in killing his enemies.
The Challenge of Eastern Religions
In San Jose we have the challenge of Eastern Religions. The teachings of New Age take bits and pieces from Hinduism and Buddhism, and use these teachings as the way to truth. There is not one God; there are many gods. Pick the god that best meets your needs and worship that one.
If life is not going well for you, just wait until you die and in reincarnation you’ll return as a new person, or an animal, or vegetable or mineral depending upon your good works (Karma) you lived on earth so far.
Salvation is by attaining knowledge. Salvation is gained by devotion. Salvation is earned by doing good works. Your human self is the Devine Self.
The scripture instructs us in I John 4:1-3 --- “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God; every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus, is not from God. This is the spirit of the anti-Christ, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”
We have a faith worth investigating. We also have…..
II. A Faith Worth Believing
The Christian Faith is worth believing. “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day (the day Jesus returns).” II Timothy 1:12
What is faith? Asked a Sunday school teacher. A young boy answered: “Believing something you know isn’t true?”
A Christian has a reasoning faith. Our faith is not a step into nothingness. Our faith has a firm foundation. Paul Little in his book, Know Why Your Believe, says, “Believing something doesn’t make it true. A thing is true or not regardless of whether anyone believes it.”
If you ask people on the street the questions: “Does God exist?” You’ll get many answers. Most will say, “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure” or “sometimes.”
If you ask people on the street, who is Jesus Christ you may get different answers. “I haven’t thought much about that.” “I don’t know.” “He was a good man.” “Christ is a myth.” “I don’t really care.” “He was a hip cat.”
As a Christ follower you can become a defender of the faith. As a defender of the Christian Faith you would join great men of faith who have gone before you.
Saint Ignatius was born around 50 AD. He was believed to have known some of the apostles. Ignatius held to the teachings of the apostles and taught the virgin birth of Jesus, Christ’s death and resurrection. He was a martyr for his faith around 107 AD because he refused to worship the pagan gods of the Emperor of Rome.
Polycarp was a student of the apostle John. Polycarp lived between 70 and 155 AD. Polycarp was arrested for his Christian Faith. The Roman officers urged Polycarp to proclaim “Caesar is Lord”, he would escape torture and death. Polycarp responded: “Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Polycarp was burned alive at the stake for his unwavering faith.
Christians in the early church, sometime between the time of 200 and 300 AD, developed the Apostles Creed as a statement of faith. This statement summarized the basic beliefs of the early church community.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son,
Our Lord, who was conceived
By the Holy Spirit, born of the
Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.
He descended into hell, the third day
He rose from the dead, he ascended
Into heaven, and is seated on the
Right hand of God, the Father
Almighty, whence He shall come to
Judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy
Christian Church, the communion of
Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
Resurrection of the body, and the life
Everlasting.
Amen
The Christian Faith is worth investigating,
The Christian Faith is worth believing,
III. The Christian Faith is Worth Sharing
Romans 1:16, The Apostle Paul declared: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, it is the power of God unto Salvation to all who will believe.”
Paul stated the good news of the Gospel in one sentence: “For what I received I passed on to you as one first importance: THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE, THAT HE WAS BURIED, THAT HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, AND THAT HE APPEARED TO PETER, AND THEN TO THE TWELVE.” I Corinthians 15:3-5
The Apostle Paul was ready to debate and teach truth to Philosophers on Mars Hill in Athens Greece. The intellectual philosophers in Athens had hundreds of idols representing different gods they worshiped. Paul noticed that one inscription on their pagan altar was TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Paul said that he would tell them about their unknown God. Paul called their attention to the creator God was the unknown God they were looking for. He used philosophy and literature in explaining God of creation. Then Paul preached to them the good news of Jesus and his resurrection.
In sharing the good news about Jesus you don’t have to prove your faith. You do have to live your faith. Accepting Jesus is not dependent upon a person’s intellect; it is dependent upon a person’s heart. You cannot prove or disprove God’s existence by the scientific method. The best surveys suggest that more than 40% of active scientists believe in God according to Rava Zacharias in his book, Beyond Opinion, Living the Faith We Defend.
We talk about sharing our Christian Faith, because it is just that, “Faith.” With the Apostle Peter you can testify: “Whom having not seen, we love, in whom though now we see him not, we believe, we rejoice with joy, unspeakable, and full of glory.” I Peter 1:8
It’s the love of Christ that motivates us to share the good news about Jesus. Peter tells us how we are to share our faith, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” I Peter 3:15 - How do you share you faith, “With gentleness and respect.”
The first place to share your faith is where you live. Remember we must back up our words with our life. Our goal in life is to live a life that reflects Jesus Christ. Fathers are to lead the way as the spiritual leader in the family.
Paul Vitz, a social scientist, in his book Faith of Our Fatherless, did study of the world’s most influential atheists (including Fredrich Nietzsche, David Hume, Bertrand Russell, John-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and H.G. Wells); all had one thing in common. They had defective relationships with their fathers.
When Vitz studies the lives of influential leaders of the same time in history such as: Blaise Pascal, Edmund Burke, Moses Mendelssohn, Soren Kierkegaard, G.K. Chesterton, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he found they enjoyed a strong, loving relationship with their father.
Ms. Alison Thomas, who received her Master’s degree in classical apologetics, speaks to youth and women groups around the country defending the Christian Faith. She combines Theology with Philosophy in sharing her faith in Jesus and her Biblical worldview.
She says that Biblical Christians agree with basic beliefs of the Bible: “God is all – knowing, all – powerful Creator who still rules the universe; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life; Satan is real, living entity; salvation is a free gift, not something we can earn; every Christian has a personal responsibility to evangelize; and the Bible is totally accurate in all that it teaches.”
Ravi Zacharias tells about meeting a lady who gave him a haircut. Halfway through his haircut she asked, “Are you a Christian?” Ravi asked her why she asked. She told him she grew up a Muslim from Iran. A couple years earlier she had a customer who asked her out of the blued, “You look like a very troubled and unhappy person today. Are you all right?” That’s all she needed to hear and her tears began to flow. She told the gentleman that she had just gone through a divorce and the final papers had come that very day. She said her heart was breaking. The gentleman went to his car and brought hr a CD and said, “You do not know me and you will probably not see me again. I am a missionary in Europe, and my family and I are leaving today for our field of service. I want you to listen to this CD today, and here is an address of an Iranian pastor not far from your shop. If you want to get some answers, phone him.” With that he left.
On her way home that evening she put the CD in her car CD payer. The hymns started to play and then Amazing Grace came on. She told Ravi that God spoke to her heart and with tears running down her face she sat in her driveway listening to the entire CD. She contacted the Iranian pastor and became a follower of Jesus.
A reasoning faith is open to study and examination, but following Jesus is mostly about the heart. Today won’t you consider becoming His follower if you have not made that commitment?
