Graduation Season is upon us. I remember well the ceremonies for my High School, College, and M.Div graduations well. Many graduates of high school wi
ll go through great emotional rollercoasters during the month of May and the ensuing summer. No longer are they bond to the task of completing school. They have freedom to choose to advance their education or begin working toward their careers right away. It's during this time that many students who have been exposed to Christianity begin to doubt, or question, or leave the faith they have been raised in.
ll go through great emotional rollercoasters during the month of May and the ensuing summer. No longer are they bond to the task of completing school. They have freedom to choose to advance their education or begin working toward their careers right away. It's during this time that many students who have been exposed to Christianity begin to doubt, or question, or leave the faith they have been raised in.
The world is waiting and looking for converts. They will ask questions, push doubts, twist truths, and ultimately present options for how one can abandon Christianity. To that end
Andreas J. Köstenberger, Darrell L. Bock, Dr. Josh Chatraw have provided an accessible and helpful book in Truth Matters: Confident Faith in a Confusing World.
Andreas J. Köstenberger, Darrell L. Bock, Dr. Josh Chatraw have provided an accessible and helpful book in Truth Matters: Confident Faith in a Confusing World.
The book is not an exhaustive defense but it is an excellent introductory book for students
to read concerning the matters of common objections to Christianity. The skeptics speak your language, know you have not done adequate research, they confirm an air of disbelief, and they reinforce the view that faith and reason are at odds with each other.
to read concerning the matters of common objections to Christianity. The skeptics speak your language, know you have not done adequate research, they confirm an air of disbelief, and they reinforce the view that faith and reason are at odds with each other.
The authors address the skeptics and then answer important questions. Chapter 2 is all about the question of evil (the go to for agnostics and atheists). Next, chapters 3-5 deal with issues relating to the Bible: it's composition, data, and origins. Chapter 6 deals with the beginnings of Christianity and Chapter 7 deals with the resurrection of Jesus. The book is not long and yet is a sufficient introductory to the issues addressed. A follow-up book also has been published that goes a little deeper.
Truth Matters is an excellent resource for students of both high school and college, but it should not be limited to this audience alone I would recommend it for every Christian. Every Christian should be versed in these issues concerning the bible, the resurrection, and the problem of evil. I found chapter 2 about the problem of evil to be the most helpful. Most non-believers (and unfortunately many so called "Christians) approach God as if he is a genie in a bottle who can be manipulated and forced to do what we want. Therefore, when things go wrong and we see evil in the world our first thoughts are "it's God's fault" or "there cannot be a god." The authors address this (on page 23) when they state "to claim that God isn't treating us right is to say God is wrong...which implies we know right from wrong...which means we posses a working conscience...and a moral conscience must come from somewhere (Creator)...so it actually all testifies to a God who is real and who has a standard of morality. "
Many who try to deny God's existence or the Bible's reality push this issue of evil but "to come away believing there is no God since God does not appear good (as we define good) assumes an absolute moral framework which, if God were absent, would not be there at all." Therefore, to use such an argument against God is self-contradicting and self-defeating (25). The Bible presents the realities of God and our world. Creation and mankind were spoken into existence in Genesis 1-2 and in Genesis 3 man rebelled against the Lord. Genesis 4-Revelation 22 reveal the effect of sin on mankind and the world. The world is groaning (Romans 8:22) because of sin and from Genesis 4 we see evilness that comes from a sinful mankind.
The Bible presents God as the sovereign creator. He is free (I AM WHO I AM Exodus 3:14) and cannot be manipulated (I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy Exodus 33:17). God is not bound, even by sinful humanity. He is free to save and to overcome our sin and He is glorified in doing so. God permits evil, and yet He restrains evil. He sent his Son, Jesus into our dark and sinful world and though Jesus did not sin, and fully obeyed his Father, he died for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). Why would God put his Son through the greatest evil known to mankind? So that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Humanity deserves Genesis 6-9 or Genesis 19...but God is gracious, full of mercy, slow to anger (Exodus 34) and He is glorified in salvation through judgment.
I received this book free from B&H Publishing through the B&H Bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
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