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In the book “Boiling Point” by Gorge Barna and Mark Hatch, many individuals who call themselves Christians were having difficulty answering the following questions: Did Jesus ever sinned? Was Jesus truly resurrected? Do all religions teach the same basic ideas about God and spirituality?
These authors made a survey among professing believers; the survey focused on answering the three (3) questions mentioned earlier. The results are quite alarming. One-fourth said Jesus committed sins, one-third said He did not rise from the dead, and another one-third said all religions are basically the same.
The above results are a bit scary for it reflect a serious lack of biblical understanding since the answers to these questions are clearly available in the Scriptures as listed below:
- Jesus didn’t sin: 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 1:19; 2:22
- Jesus was resurrected: John 20-21; 1 Cor. 15: 1-20
- Jesus is the only way to God: John 14:6; Acts 4:12
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According to Dave Branon, a respected Christian writer, in order for us to be “established in the faith”, we must:
- dedicate ourselves to read and study the Bible
- seek the help of godly teachers and dependable resources
- ask God to lead us to the truth and to keep us away from error.
Truth is not determined by how many people who believe in it, but it solely depends on how they live by the truth.
From the words of Dave Branon, “As God’s people, we must love the truth, look for the truth, and live by the truth”.
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This is a very timely message about something that many fail to understand. You have expressed it well, thanks.
Thanks for the lesson on basic Christianity.
I enjoyed this. You say fact, and if one looks they Will see. I always love to learn about GOD!
How right you are! Truth is truth no matter what one believes. Faith needs to be in someone reliable.
Although I belong to no faith,I embrace many and take from each that which helps me to help others as well as myself. I found this to be a very well written article. Write on my friend as I wish to view more of your great works! Aho=Amen
The misericordis of God is above human postulate
Misericordis spelling to mercy.
It’s sometimes shocking to find out what popular misinterpretations of the Christian faith are held by those who profess to be Christians. You are so right – the truth would still be true even if only one person could recognise it as such.
a holy lesson learned.. thanks
I saw your article listed in “Friends News” and decided I’d take the time to look at it. I’m glad I did.
Part of what you’re talking about here is the result of biblical illiteracy. But part of it is due to an imposition (willy-nilly) of a naturalistic worldview on the Bible. What that means is Jesus is assumed to be a natural human being who was not above sin, who died and stayed dead just like everyone else, and who had no more or less insight into the human condition than any other human being. And if that conclusion isn’t simply based on ignorance, then it’s based on faith — a faith oh-so-cleverly disguised as healthy skepticism, quite often.
There are many people who call themselves “Christian” but mean they live by more or less Christian ethics, not by Christian faith. And then there are many like The Quail (above) who claim they belong to no faith but in fact most emphatically DO belong to a faith: a faith of their own invention, of which they are the entire clergy and membership. A faith of one is as much of a faith as a faith of one and a half billion; there is no such thing as metaphysical neutrality. Not to decide, IS to decide.
Under such conditions it’s not enough to say “Thy word is truth” — not to the world. You have to show that the Bible is defensible as the foundation of human knowledge. That’s what apologetics is all about. What you write about is what believers should do — which is good. But it takes something different to approach those who do not believe.
a short devotion but full of truthful facts, as it is written the word of God will not go without bearing fruits.
Wonderful article with a message to make people of and without faith stop and think!
Basic Christianity lessons! Thanks for this wonderfully written reminder of faith.
a powerful and uplifting piece!
Nice post… Well written and very inspirational!
Not surprising. Unfamiliarity with one’s own mythologies is actually quite common.
very powerful
Full of truth! Thanks for the reminder. I needed the wake up call.