Seven Honest Questions Regarding Christianity: A Challenge

Question Three:

How is it (Christianity) any different than the myths before?

Question raised by Chris H.

That is an excellent question. Before I became a Christian, especially during my upbringing as a rebellious Catholic I argued with my priest at the time making this very case. How is Christianity any different than ancient Greek gods? How is it any different than ancient Norse religions or native american beliefs? Why shouldn't we simply reject Christianity as a bygone mythos?

Well I would say that Christianity is fundamentally different than Greek myths, pagan gods, or other ancient myths. Why? For three reasons: The Bible is a historically reliable book. Meaning, the Bible matches with historical records. The Bible says there was a nation called Babylon, historians discovered that was true. The Bible says the Roman empire controlled Israel during the time of Jesus, and that's also true. The Bible talks about philistines, Greece, Macedonia, Persia, Media, Asia minor, and all these regions and civilizations that historians have discovered did exist. In addition, the Bible has constantly been supported by archaeological discoveries. Just to name a few examples, Pontius Pilate the Bible says was in charge of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, archaeologists found evidence of this. The emperor at that time, Augustus, mentioned in the Bible, archaeologists found a bust of him in the sea. I have a book at home called Lost Treasures of the Bible that cites hundreds of archaeological finds that correlate to the biblical narrative. In addition, we know that Jesus Christ certainly existed. He was no myth. People argue whether he was God, but he certainly existed. In fact the Encyclopedia Britannica 15th edition devotes 20,000 words to the life and works of Jesus Christ and never once suggests that he didn't exist.

Past myths have died out because they were just that, myths. The Bible and Christian faith are fundamentally different, which is why they endure to this day, and the Bible is the single top selling book in human history, and secondly, the Pilgrim's Progress a book about living the Christian life. I firmly believe all this skepticism is thrown up at the Bible because it challenges us as humans to live radically differently from how we desire. Yet the Bible has stood the test of time and logical inquiry. I hope that helps!

Question Four:

Every Christian must accept Jesus' sacrifice on the cross in order to go to heaven. What about those people who have never heard of Jesus?

Question raised by Denise H.

This is a very, very good question. In fact it's one I've pondered about a great deal. I know of two responses given by two sides of a theological debate (Arminian-leaning and Calvinist) The Calvinist would say that if someone never hears of Jesus, the fundamental issue is still sin. They aren't judged because they never of Jesus, but because of their sin. But they would also probably add, that if there are people out there in tribes in the wilderness, who would be able to believe in Jesus, then somehow a missionary, or a Bible would find their way into that persons hands and heart. Essentially, if there are people out there who can believe in Jesus, and would choose to, then God would find a way to reach them. More Arminian leaning theologians would probably say that everyone will at some point have an opportunity to know Christ and will choose to either accept or reject Christ. According to some near death experience accounts, individuals will sometimes have an opportunity to receive Christ after they die, though that's speculative at best, and not reflected in the scriptures explicitly.