Featured How to make Christianity relevant today?

[AgnosticBoy]

God is not a genie in a bottle who will pop out to grant wishes to offer evidence of His existence. God has already provided plenty of evidence. If people refuse to accept the clear evidence God has provided, why would they ask for more? Jesus called Lazarus from the dead after being buried four days. Numerous people saw Him do that, but not all of them believed He was the Christ. Many left to tell the religious leaders what Jesus had done. The truth is, the religious leaders plotted to kill Lazarus to silence him. So again, people who do not want to believe, never will regardless of the evidence presented.

That's a very good point and I can see that scenario playing out. I'd like to think that your scenario would not apply in all cases or to everyone. I believe there are non-believers, like me, that would've accepted Lazarus coming back from the dead.

Here's another scenario that I see being relevant today (how much, i don't know). Let's say we have people today that have probably witnessed little to no encounters of Jesus or anything supernatural. They genuinely want to believe but want clear-cut solid evidence as opposed to being offered vague evidence that can mean different things, assuming it means anything at all (there are natural explanations that can account for the information or at most it's too vague or weak to draw any conclusions either way). I think we need to give these types a chance. These types can be atheist or agnostic.

 

[Scooter]

They genuinely want to believe but want clear-cut solid evidence as opposed to being offered vague evidence that can mean different things, assuming it means anything at all

My advice to those who truly want to believe, need to go straight to God and ask Him, not for evidence, but for confirmation. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

I have found that the evidence for God is more clearly seen by those who trust in Him already.

 

[Pancho144]

While there is ample evidence for Biblical authority, Christianity is faith based and not evidence based. Believers walk by faith and not by sight. No where are believers instructed to prove Christianity through evidence. We are simply to present the gospel and let people decide for themselves. If they demand specific evidence to satisfy their curiosity they will never believe. However once a person does believe they will see all the evidence as plain as day.

[emphasis added]

The part I emphasized is a big part of our difference in views. The way I view it is that getting into the evidence can serve as a stepping stone for non-believers to eventually come to accept God's existence or at least see some part of the Bible as valid. Personally, that is why I never looked at religion as being completely useless or wrong even when I left Christianity. I always maintained that there are some good and useful aspects of religion that non-religious systems appear not to be able to satisfy. One system helps to keep things in check while the other helps to keep things from becoming unreasonable restrictive.

Most of us have a need for a believe system, a Totem of sorts for an avenue of coping which has been integrated in every civilization discovered thus far. All primitives believe in Gods.

 

[Pancho144]

Thanks for your view. As for me, it does not really matter because I do not believe that bull hockey....

You are free to believe or disbelieve anything you wish. But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

It's okay by me if you want to keep fooling yourself in your house of self-deception.

 

[Scooter]

It's okay by me if you want to keep fooling yourself in your house of self-deception.

Hahaha…you really don’t know me well enough to claim I’m fooling myself. You have no idea how rich and full my life is. I have a peace that is beyond understanding and a joy that floods my soul. You may have been duped by religion but that does not mean I have been.

 

[Scooter]

Most of us have a need for a believe system, a Totem of sorts for an avenue of coping which has been integrated in every civilization discovered thus far. All primitives believe in Gods

I believe the fact that all cultures have worshipped some type of God gives evidence that mankind was created to worship God. When people don’t worship the true God, they invent one that satisfies their perceived needs. This is solid evidence imo.

 

[Pancho144]

Most of us have a need for a believe system, a Totem of sorts for an avenue of coping which has been integrated in every civilization discovered thus far. All primitives believe in Gods

I believe the fact that all cultures have worshipped some type of God gives evidence that mankind was created to worship God. When people don’t worship the true God, they invent one that satisfies their perceived needs. This is solid evidence imo.

Who and where is the "True GOD?"

 

[Scooter]

Who and where is the "True GOD?"

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is the true God. God is everywhere. He lives in my heart. I recommend you let Him in your heart.