What is a Christian?
The word "Christian" literally means "Christ-follower". And since "Christ" means "Messiah" or "Chosen One" or "Saviour" or "Deliverer" or "Rescuer", then to be a Christian is really to be someone who follows Jesus because they acknowledge that he is their Saviour. Jesus said it himself in John 14:6, when he bluntly declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." So, on the one hand a Christian is someone who goes to church because they have a genuine relationship with Jesus as their Saviour and they want to be encouraged in their faith. But on the other hand, just going to church without a relationship with Christ won't make someone a true Christian anymore than walking in the woods makes you a tree, or standing in a parking lot makes you a car. It's not just a matter of where you go, but who you know that makes you a Christian, a Christ-follower.
How do I become a Christ-follower?
Well, to become a "Christian" you need to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is begun by coming to him and acknowledging our failure and asking for his forgiveness. Obviously we have something we need to be "saved" from if Jesus came to be our "Saviour", right? Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." Are you ready to admit your failure to live up to God's ideal? He is ready to forgive you and cleanse you from all your guilt. Next comes our whole-hearted commitment to following him, which simply means to do whatever he would want us to do. Of course, if we're going to learn about what his will is for our lives, this will mean that we become students of the Bible and study it for ourselves, as well as learn what we can at church. So becoming and being a Christian is not really about being "Catholic" or "Protestant" or "Baptist" or "Pentecostal.”
Joining one church or another is not the issue, but committing to Christ is. In fact, it seems quite possible that there are all kinds of people who call themselves "Christians", both Catholics and Protestants, who may think they are Christians because they go to church and do other good things, but who don't really know Jesus. That seems to be the message Jesus gives in Matthew 7:21-23. He says, "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord', but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus goes on in those verses to describe that it is not enough to talk the talk, but what's important is our relationship with him displayed in obedience to his teachings that makes the difference. The Bible uses a word for that -- "faith" -- which simply means "active trust", believing in someone or something enough to act upon that belief. Are you ready to commit your life to following Jesus as his disciple? He's ready to lead you into new and deeper life (John 10:10).
Where did God come from?
God by definition is the "uncreated One". If he "came" from anywhere, if he had a beginning, whoever or whatever created him would be considered the real God. Then one would have to ask who created THAT God, etc.
At some point we have to end at an eternal being that did not have a beginning and that is who we call God. Note: If people have a problem believing that someone or something could always exist without having a beginning, then God makes even MORE sense...because if you don't believe that HE existed forever, then you are left having to believe that the material, physical universe just existed forever and had no beginning.
I know people will point to the "big bang", but then we still have to ask who or what started that. And who or what created the giant mass of stuff that went "bang" in the first place? God? If not God, then you have to believe that material matter has God-like ability to exist forever and/or self-generate. Seems more reasonable to just believe in God at that point.
Is there any proof that God exists?
Yup...but we prefer to call it "evidence" rather than "proof". Evidence is the objective truth or reason -- proof is what it becomes inside a person. What is "proof" for one person may not be for another, but we can all agree that there is a ton of evidence for God's existence. It's like the evidence used in a court trial -- it points in one direction or another, but it's up to the jury to decide if a case has been "proven" to them well enough or not.
The nice thing is that neither you nor I nor anyone has to "prove" God exists or not. All we have to do is honestly present the evidence and let everyone make their own decision. Jesus himself constantly takes that approach in his teaching - he says "look at the evidence and decide for yourselves". Jesus encourages all spiritual question askers "seekers" at our church to take an "evidentialist" approach to the big questions of life. That is, look at the evidence HONESTLY, without bias and bigotry, and then come to your own conclusion. For now, I'll just point out that for me, creatION implies a CreatOR, and design implies a Designer. If I find a beautiful painting, I believe it is reasonable to believe that an artist exists somewhere. I find it less reasonable to believe that is just "happened" to come into being.
Likewise, if I find on the beach one day a watch, it makes reasonable sense to me to believe that there is such a thing as a watchmaker. It is less rational for me to believe that is just happened one day as the result chance and time. Again, the very computer you are using to read this question should suggest that someone exists with intelligent powers of creation and design who built it. It makes less sense to believe that your computer came into being as a result of an explosion in a metal factory one day. You see my point? God is not for wishful thinkers...he just makes sense for the intelligent. There is MUCH more I could say about evidence for God's existence, but I'll move on for now.
Is there any proof outside of the Bible that Jesus existed?
Whoever asked this question is making it too easy for me. Yes, it is an established fact that Jesus of Nazareth existed as an actual historical figure. Josephus, Pliny the Younger, and other historians write of him. Open any encyclopedia and you can easily confirm this. What we know as an indisputable FACT is...He taught a radical message of love. He spoke of the importance of a spiritual kingdom in our hearts to setting up an earthly kingdom .
He claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. He was put to death by Roman capital punishment -- crucifixion. His tomb was empty just days later and no body was ever found. Now, what someone does with these facts is their own business. But these are the facts. For many people, these historical facts are enough to encourage them to read the writings of those who were eyewitnesses to Jesus life and teachings -- found in the Bible.
For others, they just dismiss them as coincidence...or a hoax. Your call.
Prove that God is looking down on us. Prove it!
You "prove" that He isn't. But how about we just look at the evidence instead. Rather than just create the world and then leave it to all its problems, the Bible teaches that the real God gave us rules and guidelines to help us have the healthiest life and planet possible. He also stands opposed to those who would break these rules and hurt other people, themselves, or the planet in the process. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all agree on this point.
But here's where the Christian message is specifically beautiful. The New Testament teaches that God loved us so much that, when he saw we couldn't live up to his high standards, he came down to earth, became one of his (amazing) creations, and died a death that would take all the punishment away from us "law-breakers". How beautiful -- CreatOR becomes creatION, and takes all our personal failures and hurts upon himself on the cross. Then he dies the death of a criminal, so we could be filled with new life -- minus all the dirt and grime .
Wow! The God of the Bible isn't a fat, contented man sitting in the lotus position with a grin on his face just watching us. No, he is the twisted, tortured figure left to die on a Roman cross because he loves us so much he was willing to become one of us.
That's the God the Bible tells us about...but you are free to take it or leave it.
Aren't religious people just a bunch of hypocrites?
I like this one... I like it a lot. Why? Because THAT is exactly what Jesus was most opposed to- hypocrisy. It was religious hypocrites that were Jesus' greatest enemies. Jesus was radically against the empty religious approach many people took to trying to know God. Instead he taught a way of integrity, starting on the inside and working out, rather than just making ourselves look good on the outside and leaving the inside unchanged. Jesus was constantly exposing religious hypocrites and also the subtle hypocrisy in his disciples. One of his favourite ways of responding to harsh questions from religious leaders was "You hypocrite!..." and then continue with an answer. No one hates hypocrisy more than the Jesus of the Bible and no one has taken a stronger stand against it. So, I like this question because it says two things to me... a) Whoever asked it must also hate hypocrisy.. and that makes them very similar to Jesus on this issue. b) They're misguided in their accusation.. and I'm happy to correct that. See, it's people- even followers of Jesus- who are the hypocrites, not God. There have always been hypocrites in the Church, but that is not the same as GOD being a hypocrite. There are always hypocrites in any organization where people exist- there are hypocritical and sincere Buddhists, politicians, Green Peace supporters, Police Officers, Lawyers, as well as hypocritical atheists. Christians don't hold the corner market on hypocrisy... but wherever it exists it is specifically the CHRISTIAN God who stands most against it.
That's what makes the Jesus of history so attractive to me -- he never came to start a new religion, but to show us how we can come directly to God through him. It's up to each individual to chose whether or not they want to follow this man . I know he died for me -- the least I can do is live for him.
This section was written by Bruxy Cavey of the Meeting House in Toronto, Canada.
The word "Christian" literally means "Christ-follower". And since "Christ" means "Messiah" or "Chosen One" or "Saviour" or "Deliverer" or "Rescuer", then to be a Christian is really to be someone who follows Jesus because they acknowledge that he is their Saviour. Jesus said it himself in John 14:6, when he bluntly declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." So, on the one hand a Christian is someone who goes to church because they have a genuine relationship with Jesus as their Saviour and they want to be encouraged in their faith. But on the other hand, just going to church without a relationship with Christ won't make someone a true Christian anymore than walking in the woods makes you a tree, or standing in a parking lot makes you a car. It's not just a matter of where you go, but who you know that makes you a Christian, a Christ-follower.
How do I become a Christ-follower?
Well, to become a "Christian" you need to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is begun by coming to him and acknowledging our failure and asking for his forgiveness. Obviously we have something we need to be "saved" from if Jesus came to be our "Saviour", right? Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." Are you ready to admit your failure to live up to God's ideal? He is ready to forgive you and cleanse you from all your guilt. Next comes our whole-hearted commitment to following him, which simply means to do whatever he would want us to do. Of course, if we're going to learn about what his will is for our lives, this will mean that we become students of the Bible and study it for ourselves, as well as learn what we can at church. So becoming and being a Christian is not really about being "Catholic" or "Protestant" or "Baptist" or "Pentecostal.”
Joining one church or another is not the issue, but committing to Christ is. In fact, it seems quite possible that there are all kinds of people who call themselves "Christians", both Catholics and Protestants, who may think they are Christians because they go to church and do other good things, but who don't really know Jesus. That seems to be the message Jesus gives in Matthew 7:21-23. He says, "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord', but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus goes on in those verses to describe that it is not enough to talk the talk, but what's important is our relationship with him displayed in obedience to his teachings that makes the difference. The Bible uses a word for that -- "faith" -- which simply means "active trust", believing in someone or something enough to act upon that belief. Are you ready to commit your life to following Jesus as his disciple? He's ready to lead you into new and deeper life (John 10:10).
Where did God come from?
God by definition is the "uncreated One". If he "came" from anywhere, if he had a beginning, whoever or whatever created him would be considered the real God. Then one would have to ask who created THAT God, etc.
At some point we have to end at an eternal being that did not have a beginning and that is who we call God. Note: If people have a problem believing that someone or something could always exist without having a beginning, then God makes even MORE sense...because if you don't believe that HE existed forever, then you are left having to believe that the material, physical universe just existed forever and had no beginning.
I know people will point to the "big bang", but then we still have to ask who or what started that. And who or what created the giant mass of stuff that went "bang" in the first place? God? If not God, then you have to believe that material matter has God-like ability to exist forever and/or self-generate. Seems more reasonable to just believe in God at that point.
Is there any proof that God exists?
Yup...but we prefer to call it "evidence" rather than "proof". Evidence is the objective truth or reason -- proof is what it becomes inside a person. What is "proof" for one person may not be for another, but we can all agree that there is a ton of evidence for God's existence. It's like the evidence used in a court trial -- it points in one direction or another, but it's up to the jury to decide if a case has been "proven" to them well enough or not.
The nice thing is that neither you nor I nor anyone has to "prove" God exists or not. All we have to do is honestly present the evidence and let everyone make their own decision. Jesus himself constantly takes that approach in his teaching - he says "look at the evidence and decide for yourselves". Jesus encourages all spiritual question askers "seekers" at our church to take an "evidentialist" approach to the big questions of life. That is, look at the evidence HONESTLY, without bias and bigotry, and then come to your own conclusion. For now, I'll just point out that for me, creatION implies a CreatOR, and design implies a Designer. If I find a beautiful painting, I believe it is reasonable to believe that an artist exists somewhere. I find it less reasonable to believe that is just "happened" to come into being.
Likewise, if I find on the beach one day a watch, it makes reasonable sense to me to believe that there is such a thing as a watchmaker. It is less rational for me to believe that is just happened one day as the result chance and time. Again, the very computer you are using to read this question should suggest that someone exists with intelligent powers of creation and design who built it. It makes less sense to believe that your computer came into being as a result of an explosion in a metal factory one day. You see my point? God is not for wishful thinkers...he just makes sense for the intelligent. There is MUCH more I could say about evidence for God's existence, but I'll move on for now.
Is there any proof outside of the Bible that Jesus existed?
Whoever asked this question is making it too easy for me. Yes, it is an established fact that Jesus of Nazareth existed as an actual historical figure. Josephus, Pliny the Younger, and other historians write of him. Open any encyclopedia and you can easily confirm this. What we know as an indisputable FACT is...He taught a radical message of love. He spoke of the importance of a spiritual kingdom in our hearts to setting up an earthly kingdom .
He claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. He was put to death by Roman capital punishment -- crucifixion. His tomb was empty just days later and no body was ever found. Now, what someone does with these facts is their own business. But these are the facts. For many people, these historical facts are enough to encourage them to read the writings of those who were eyewitnesses to Jesus life and teachings -- found in the Bible.
For others, they just dismiss them as coincidence...or a hoax. Your call.
Prove that God is looking down on us. Prove it!
You "prove" that He isn't. But how about we just look at the evidence instead. Rather than just create the world and then leave it to all its problems, the Bible teaches that the real God gave us rules and guidelines to help us have the healthiest life and planet possible. He also stands opposed to those who would break these rules and hurt other people, themselves, or the planet in the process. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all agree on this point.
But here's where the Christian message is specifically beautiful. The New Testament teaches that God loved us so much that, when he saw we couldn't live up to his high standards, he came down to earth, became one of his (amazing) creations, and died a death that would take all the punishment away from us "law-breakers". How beautiful -- CreatOR becomes creatION, and takes all our personal failures and hurts upon himself on the cross. Then he dies the death of a criminal, so we could be filled with new life -- minus all the dirt and grime .
Wow! The God of the Bible isn't a fat, contented man sitting in the lotus position with a grin on his face just watching us. No, he is the twisted, tortured figure left to die on a Roman cross because he loves us so much he was willing to become one of us.
That's the God the Bible tells us about...but you are free to take it or leave it.
Aren't religious people just a bunch of hypocrites?
I like this one... I like it a lot. Why? Because THAT is exactly what Jesus was most opposed to- hypocrisy. It was religious hypocrites that were Jesus' greatest enemies. Jesus was radically against the empty religious approach many people took to trying to know God. Instead he taught a way of integrity, starting on the inside and working out, rather than just making ourselves look good on the outside and leaving the inside unchanged. Jesus was constantly exposing religious hypocrites and also the subtle hypocrisy in his disciples. One of his favourite ways of responding to harsh questions from religious leaders was "You hypocrite!..." and then continue with an answer. No one hates hypocrisy more than the Jesus of the Bible and no one has taken a stronger stand against it. So, I like this question because it says two things to me... a) Whoever asked it must also hate hypocrisy.. and that makes them very similar to Jesus on this issue. b) They're misguided in their accusation.. and I'm happy to correct that. See, it's people- even followers of Jesus- who are the hypocrites, not God. There have always been hypocrites in the Church, but that is not the same as GOD being a hypocrite. There are always hypocrites in any organization where people exist- there are hypocritical and sincere Buddhists, politicians, Green Peace supporters, Police Officers, Lawyers, as well as hypocritical atheists. Christians don't hold the corner market on hypocrisy... but wherever it exists it is specifically the CHRISTIAN God who stands most against it.
That's what makes the Jesus of history so attractive to me -- he never came to start a new religion, but to show us how we can come directly to God through him. It's up to each individual to chose whether or not they want to follow this man . I know he died for me -- the least I can do is live for him.
This section was written by Bruxy Cavey of the Meeting House in Toronto, Canada.
Here's some more useful resources to answer your questions...
Please Convince Me
An LAPD Cold-Case detective was a hardened atheist until in his thirties he applied his investigation skills to the Gospels to see if they would measure up to scrutiny. These are his findings.
Lee Strobel
A lawyer and journalist in Chicago, Lee was an atheist and convinced he was right. That was until his wife became a christian. He decided he would research her new faith and disprove it once and for all to win her back. Ironically, as a result of his findings, Lee became a follower of Christ and is one of the best defenders and explainers of what we believe.
Christian Apologetics Research Ministry
An excellent resource to untangle apparent Bible contradictions and to compare different religions and belief sets to what is revealed in the Scriptures.
How to Explain the Trinity- Q&A Resource
This resource was put together by Nick Cotter for Banff Park Church Young Adults Group.
An LAPD Cold-Case detective was a hardened atheist until in his thirties he applied his investigation skills to the Gospels to see if they would measure up to scrutiny. These are his findings.
Lee Strobel
A lawyer and journalist in Chicago, Lee was an atheist and convinced he was right. That was until his wife became a christian. He decided he would research her new faith and disprove it once and for all to win her back. Ironically, as a result of his findings, Lee became a follower of Christ and is one of the best defenders and explainers of what we believe.
Christian Apologetics Research Ministry
An excellent resource to untangle apparent Bible contradictions and to compare different religions and belief sets to what is revealed in the Scriptures.
How to Explain the Trinity- Q&A Resource
This resource was put together by Nick Cotter for Banff Park Church Young Adults Group.
Trinity Discussion Question Cards.pdf | |
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