Fraud, Hoax or Word of God
…you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation (2 Peter 3:4)
Can the Bible be trusted or is it just an ingenious hoax? Is the Bible no more than a book of unbelievable stories? Was it compiled by men with mental shortcomings and way too much time on their hands? Or by con-men whose motives may have been criminal? Perhaps the Bible was written as part of an elaborate plan orchestrated and devised by altruistic gents who thought this clever little ruse would lead the world to peace.
Certain men chronicled the life of Jesus through the four Gospels. Then through letters to various churches they proceeded to establish doctrine that defines Christian character.
The teaching these men present clearly defend them as men of truth. These men hold the fear of God close to their breast. These men recognize the eternal consequences that hinge on the message of Jesus, the message they fearfully document and proclaim.
The Christian apologist C.S. Lewis expressed it well. Jesus, he said, was either a liar, a lunatic or was indeed who he claimed to be, the Christ, the Son of God.
The same could be said about the Gospel penmen, these men were either liars, lunatics or who they claimed to be, servants of the Most High God.
Consider the outlandish claims and miracles these men record. Jesus turned water into wine, caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the mute to speak. Jesus fed thousands with the contents of a child’s lunchbox. He raised the dead.
Once, just for kicks I guess, Jesus walked on the water and told His friend Peter “Join me.” In another playful mood Jesus told Peter, “Cast your line in the lake, the first fish you catch will have a coin in its mouth. Take the coin and pay my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:27)
A coin from the mouth of a fish, give me break. Do the Apostles really expect us to believe this outlandish story? Do I expect you to believe it? More importantly, does God?
The people Jesus fed hungered again. Those He healed later met their demise in some fashion. Turning water into wine, walking on water. What’s the point?
The point is this. In the final analysis the miracles Jesus performed had a two prong purpose. First and foremost He presented His credentials through the miracles he performed, “I am who I claim to be, the Son of God.” Secondly, to strengthen the faith of first century believers and in turn strengthen ours.
If the New Testament is hard for the modern, educated, intelligent and reasoning mind to grasp, the Old Testament will surely seem like a collection of fairy tails. Noah’s Ark, Jonah and the Whale, the Ten Plagues of Egypt. Without the prompting of the Holy Spirit no one but a child or a fool would believe such stories.
The Apostle Peter, knowing our faith would falter at times was inspired to write, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. (2Peter 1:16)
The beloved Apostle John echoed Peter’s sentiments when he wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. (1 John 1:1)
Some people will continue to rebel and doubt unless they hear the voice of God speak from the clouds and they hear Him say, “This is my Son, whom I love, listen to Him.” But of course God has already done exactly that. (Mark 9:7)
Educated and scholarly men from Archeologist to Zoologists and every field of study in between have painstakingly researched the reliability of Scripture. By all means shore up your faith with their findings.
However, I find it boils down to a choice. I believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God because I choose to believe it. Not in spite of evidence to the contrary, it just seems like something God would do.
I serve an awesome God!
Can the Bible be trusted or is it just an ingenious hoax? Is the Bible no more than a book of unbelievable stories? Was it compiled by men with mental shortcomings and way too much time on their hands? Or by con-men whose motives may have been criminal? Perhaps the Bible was written as part of an elaborate plan orchestrated and devised by altruistic gents who thought this clever little ruse would lead the world to peace.
Certain men chronicled the life of Jesus through the four Gospels. Then through letters to various churches they proceeded to establish doctrine that defines Christian character.
The teaching these men present clearly defend them as men of truth. These men hold the fear of God close to their breast. These men recognize the eternal consequences that hinge on the message of Jesus, the message they fearfully document and proclaim.
The Christian apologist C.S. Lewis expressed it well. Jesus, he said, was either a liar, a lunatic or was indeed who he claimed to be, the Christ, the Son of God.
The same could be said about the Gospel penmen, these men were either liars, lunatics or who they claimed to be, servants of the Most High God.
Consider the outlandish claims and miracles these men record. Jesus turned water into wine, caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the mute to speak. Jesus fed thousands with the contents of a child’s lunchbox. He raised the dead.
Once, just for kicks I guess, Jesus walked on the water and told His friend Peter “Join me.” In another playful mood Jesus told Peter, “Cast your line in the lake, the first fish you catch will have a coin in its mouth. Take the coin and pay my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:27)
A coin from the mouth of a fish, give me break. Do the Apostles really expect us to believe this outlandish story? Do I expect you to believe it? More importantly, does God?
The people Jesus fed hungered again. Those He healed later met their demise in some fashion. Turning water into wine, walking on water. What’s the point?
The point is this. In the final analysis the miracles Jesus performed had a two prong purpose. First and foremost He presented His credentials through the miracles he performed, “I am who I claim to be, the Son of God.” Secondly, to strengthen the faith of first century believers and in turn strengthen ours.
If the New Testament is hard for the modern, educated, intelligent and reasoning mind to grasp, the Old Testament will surely seem like a collection of fairy tails. Noah’s Ark, Jonah and the Whale, the Ten Plagues of Egypt. Without the prompting of the Holy Spirit no one but a child or a fool would believe such stories.
The Apostle Peter, knowing our faith would falter at times was inspired to write, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. (2Peter 1:16)
The beloved Apostle John echoed Peter’s sentiments when he wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. (1 John 1:1)
Some people will continue to rebel and doubt unless they hear the voice of God speak from the clouds and they hear Him say, “This is my Son, whom I love, listen to Him.” But of course God has already done exactly that. (Mark 9:7)
Educated and scholarly men from Archeologist to Zoologists and every field of study in between have painstakingly researched the reliability of Scripture. By all means shore up your faith with their findings.
However, I find it boils down to a choice. I believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God because I choose to believe it. Not in spite of evidence to the contrary, it just seems like something God would do.
I serve an awesome God!
posted by Donny G | 10:07 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home