"From the cradle to the cross:
What the Child has done for those who receive His pardon…"
To find out more about Jesus, go here.
I (Chad G.) will return to blogging in the New Year!
Courage and Godspeed,
The Truthbomb Team
Monday, December 25, 2017
Merry Christmas from Truthbomb!
"From the cradle to the cross:
What the Child has done for those who receive His pardon…"
To find out more about Jesus, go here.
I (Chad G.) will return to blogging in the New Year!
Courage and Godspeed,
The Truthbomb Team
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
Church hosts joint ‘celebration’ of Muhammad’s birthday and Christ’s Advent — and diocese defends it
VIDEO: Fundamentalist Mormon Sect Caught Conducting $11 Million Food Stamp Fraud
Stephen Meyer Debunks the “God of the Gaps” Objection
Ohio passes Down syndrome abortion ban
Government Confirms Compulsory Sex Ed for Young Children Will Include Transgender Issues
CNN Promotes Children’s Book with Gay-Married Santa Claus
A Messianic Jew Reflects on Christmas
R.C. Sproul: Master Teacher, Theologian and Apologist
The New 'God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness' Movie Releases Teaser Trailer
The Sexual Crisis is a Crisis of Character
Remembering Charlie Gard, who died after a court battle to remove life support
Interview: Jim Caviezel Goes Back to the Bible in ‘Paul, Apostle of Christ’
Ohio becomes the third state to ban doctors from performing abortions based on whether the mom knows the child will have Down syndrome
As You Listen To Christmas Carols, Think of the Atheist Choirs — All Three of Them
Courage and Godspeed,
As You Listen To Christmas Carols, Think of the Atheist Choirs — All Three of Them
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
You can find last week's edition here.
Friday, December 22, 2017
What does it mean that God sent Jesus in the "fullness of time"? Why did God send Jesus when He did?
The article below was taken from GotQuestions.org:
Question: "What does it mean that God sent Jesus in the "fullness of time"? Why did God send Jesus when He did? Why not earlier? Why not later?"
Answer: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law” (Galatians 4:4). This verse declares that God the Father sent His Son when “the time had fully come.” There were many things occurring at the time of the first century that, at least by human reasoning, seem to make it ideal for Christ to come then.
1) There was a great anticipation among the Jews of that time that the Messiah would come. The Roman rule over Israel made the Jews hungry for the Messiah’s coming.
2) Rome had unified much of the world under its government, giving a sense of unity to the various lands. Also, because the empire was relatively peaceful, travel was possible, allowing the early Christians to spread the gospel. Such freedom to travel would have been impossible in other eras.
3) While Rome had conquered militarily, Greece had conquered culturally. A “common” form of the Greek language (different from classical Greek) was the trade language and was spoken throughout the empire, making it possible to communicate the gospel to many different people groups through one common language.
4) The fact that the many false idols had failed to give them victory over the Roman conquerors caused many to abandon the worship of those idols. At the same time, in the more “cultured” cities, the Greek philosophy and science of the time left others spiritually empty in the same way that the atheism of communist governments leaves a spiritual void today.
5) The mystery religions of the time emphasized a savior-god and required worshipers to offer bloody sacrifices, thus making the gospel of Christ which involved one ultimate sacrifice believable to them. The Greeks also believed in the immortality of the soul (but not of the body).
6) The Roman army recruited soldiers from among the provinces, introducing these men to Roman culture and to ideas (such as the gospel) that had not reached those outlying provinces yet. The earliest introduction of the gospel to Britain was the result of the efforts of Christian soldiers stationed there.
The above statements are based on men looking at that time and speculating about why that particular point in history was a good time for Christ to come. But we understand that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8), and these may or may not have been some reasons for why He chose that particular time to send His Son. From the context of Galatians 3 and 4, it is evident that God sought to lay a foundation through the Jewish Law that would prepare for the coming of the Messiah. The Law was meant to help people understand the depth of their sinfulness (in that they were incapable of keeping the Law) so that they might more readily accept the cure for that sin through Jesus the Messiah (Galatians 3:22-23; Romans 3:19-20). The Law was also “put in charge” (Galatians 3:24) to lead people to Jesus as the Messiah. It did this through its many prophecies concerning the Messiah which Jesus fulfilled. Add to this the sacrificial system that pointed to the need for a sacrifice for sin as well as its own inadequacy (with each sacrifice always requiring later additional ones). Old Testament history also painted pictures of the person and work of Christ through several events and religious feasts (such as the willingness of Abraham to offer up Isaac, or the details of the Passover during the exodus from Egypt, etc.).
Finally, Christ came when He did in fulfillment of specific prophecy. Daniel 9:24-27 speaks of the “seventy weeks” or the seventy “sevens.” From the context, these “weeks” or “sevens” refer to groups of seven years, not seven days. We can examine history and line up the details of the first sixty-nine weeks (the seventieth week will take place at a future point). The countdown of the seventy weeks begins with “the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem” (verse 25). This command was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus in 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:5). After seven “sevens” plus 62 “sevens,” or 69 x 7 years, the prophecy states, “the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary” and that the “end will come like a flood” (meaning major destruction) (v. 26). Here we have an unmistakable reference to the Savior’s death on the cross. A century ago in his book The Coming Prince, Sir Robert Anderson gave detailed calculations of the sixty-nine weeks, using ‘prophetic years,’ allowing for leap years, errors in the calendar, the change from B.C. to A.D., etc., and figured that the sixty-nine weeks ended on the very day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, five days before His death. Whether one uses this timetable or not, the point is that the timing of Christ’s incarnation ties in with this detailed prophecy recorded by Daniel over five hundred years beforehand.
The timing of Christ’s incarnation was such that the people of that time were prepared for His coming. The people of every century since then have more than sufficient evidence that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah through His fulfillment of the Scriptures that pictured and prophesied His coming in great detail.
Answer: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law” (Galatians 4:4). This verse declares that God the Father sent His Son when “the time had fully come.” There were many things occurring at the time of the first century that, at least by human reasoning, seem to make it ideal for Christ to come then.
1) There was a great anticipation among the Jews of that time that the Messiah would come. The Roman rule over Israel made the Jews hungry for the Messiah’s coming.
2) Rome had unified much of the world under its government, giving a sense of unity to the various lands. Also, because the empire was relatively peaceful, travel was possible, allowing the early Christians to spread the gospel. Such freedom to travel would have been impossible in other eras.
3) While Rome had conquered militarily, Greece had conquered culturally. A “common” form of the Greek language (different from classical Greek) was the trade language and was spoken throughout the empire, making it possible to communicate the gospel to many different people groups through one common language.
4) The fact that the many false idols had failed to give them victory over the Roman conquerors caused many to abandon the worship of those idols. At the same time, in the more “cultured” cities, the Greek philosophy and science of the time left others spiritually empty in the same way that the atheism of communist governments leaves a spiritual void today.
5) The mystery religions of the time emphasized a savior-god and required worshipers to offer bloody sacrifices, thus making the gospel of Christ which involved one ultimate sacrifice believable to them. The Greeks also believed in the immortality of the soul (but not of the body).
6) The Roman army recruited soldiers from among the provinces, introducing these men to Roman culture and to ideas (such as the gospel) that had not reached those outlying provinces yet. The earliest introduction of the gospel to Britain was the result of the efforts of Christian soldiers stationed there.
The above statements are based on men looking at that time and speculating about why that particular point in history was a good time for Christ to come. But we understand that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8), and these may or may not have been some reasons for why He chose that particular time to send His Son. From the context of Galatians 3 and 4, it is evident that God sought to lay a foundation through the Jewish Law that would prepare for the coming of the Messiah. The Law was meant to help people understand the depth of their sinfulness (in that they were incapable of keeping the Law) so that they might more readily accept the cure for that sin through Jesus the Messiah (Galatians 3:22-23; Romans 3:19-20). The Law was also “put in charge” (Galatians 3:24) to lead people to Jesus as the Messiah. It did this through its many prophecies concerning the Messiah which Jesus fulfilled. Add to this the sacrificial system that pointed to the need for a sacrifice for sin as well as its own inadequacy (with each sacrifice always requiring later additional ones). Old Testament history also painted pictures of the person and work of Christ through several events and religious feasts (such as the willingness of Abraham to offer up Isaac, or the details of the Passover during the exodus from Egypt, etc.).
Finally, Christ came when He did in fulfillment of specific prophecy. Daniel 9:24-27 speaks of the “seventy weeks” or the seventy “sevens.” From the context, these “weeks” or “sevens” refer to groups of seven years, not seven days. We can examine history and line up the details of the first sixty-nine weeks (the seventieth week will take place at a future point). The countdown of the seventy weeks begins with “the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem” (verse 25). This command was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus in 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:5). After seven “sevens” plus 62 “sevens,” or 69 x 7 years, the prophecy states, “the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary” and that the “end will come like a flood” (meaning major destruction) (v. 26). Here we have an unmistakable reference to the Savior’s death on the cross. A century ago in his book The Coming Prince, Sir Robert Anderson gave detailed calculations of the sixty-nine weeks, using ‘prophetic years,’ allowing for leap years, errors in the calendar, the change from B.C. to A.D., etc., and figured that the sixty-nine weeks ended on the very day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, five days before His death. Whether one uses this timetable or not, the point is that the timing of Christ’s incarnation ties in with this detailed prophecy recorded by Daniel over five hundred years beforehand.
The timing of Christ’s incarnation was such that the people of that time were prepared for His coming. The people of every century since then have more than sufficient evidence that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah through His fulfillment of the Scriptures that pictured and prophesied His coming in great detail.
God Bless,
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Ten Basic Facts About the NT Canon that Every Christian Should Memorize by Michael Kruger
"...I have been working through a new series on the NT canon designed to help Christians understand ten basic facts about its origins. This series is designed for a lay-level audience and hopefully could prove helpful in a conversation one might have with a skeptical friend."
They are as follows:
#1- “The New Testament Books are the Earliest Christian Writings We Possess”
#2- “Apocryphal Writings are All Written in the Second Century or Later”
#3- “The New Testament Books Are Unique Because They Are Apostolic Books”
#4- “Some NT Writers Quote Other NT Writers as Scripture”
#5- “The Four Gospels are Well Established by the End of the Second Century”
#6- “At the End of the Second Century, the Muratorian Fragment lists 22 of our 27 NT books”
#7- “Early Christians Often Used Non-Canonical Writings.”
#8- “The NT Canon Was Not Decided at Nicea—Nor Any Other Church Council.”
#9- “Christians Did Disagree about the Canonicity of Some NT Books”
#2- “Apocryphal Writings are All Written in the Second Century or Later”
#3- “The New Testament Books Are Unique Because They Are Apostolic Books”
#4- “Some NT Writers Quote Other NT Writers as Scripture”
#5- “The Four Gospels are Well Established by the End of the Second Century”
#6- “At the End of the Second Century, the Muratorian Fragment lists 22 of our 27 NT books”
#7- “Early Christians Often Used Non-Canonical Writings.”
#8- “The NT Canon Was Not Decided at Nicea—Nor Any Other Church Council.”
#9- “Christians Did Disagree about the Canonicity of Some NT Books”
To learn more about Michael Kruger and his excellent work, go here.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Does "Jesus" Actually Mean, "Hail, Zeus?"
First off, it should be obvious that Acts 4:12 is not talking about the specific word by which we identify Jesus, but about the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
Second, as Michael Houdmann of Compelling Truth explains:
"Within this camp of false teachers, there are some that say 'Jesus' actually means 'Hail Zeus.' It's not hard to hear the similarities between the sound of 'Jesus' and a quick mashup of 'Hail Zeus,' but that's not even the bizarre argument these few teachers make. They say that Roman Church officials changed the Messiah's name from YAHSHUA (which they say means "YAH is Salvation") to a hybrid Greek/Latin word, lésous, which supposedly means 'Hail Zeus.' They claim this change was made to make their religion more acceptable to the pagan culture. Zeus was chief of the Greco-Roman pantheon of gods, so, according to this theory, the supposed new demigod was easily accepted and Christianity was melded with paganism. One brief thing to mention is that YAHSHUA is not even correct, as the Hebrew name for the Savior is Yeshua.
As further 'proof' for this conspiracy theory, proponents say that when people say Jesus in Spanish it is obvious they are actually saying 'Hey, Zeus.' They also mention sculptures of Zeus with a beard and images of Jesus with a beard.
Looking seriously at the linguistics, the Hebrew name Yeshua is translated into Iésous in Greek, the same name Gabriel, the angel, told Mary to name her child (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is Greek for Joshua, a Jewish name that means 'he will save his people from their sins.' The Gospel writers wrote in Greek. Yeshua, Jesu, Joshua, and Jesus are the same name in different languages. Names can and do translate in different languages. For example, John is Jean in France, Juan in Spain, and Johan in Germany. His name may sound different, but he himself is the same person. When we are talking about Jesus Christ, we are referring to the child born to Mary in Bethlehem who grew up, gathered followers, taught for three years, died on a cross, then rose from the dead. In English, we call Him Jesus. This person is decidedly not Zeus."1
Further, as Dr. Craig A. Dunning of Watchmen Fellowship contends, some attempts to connect the English word Jesus to Zeus are dependent upon the work Traina, a pioneer in the Sacred Name Movement. 2 However, Dunning convincing demonstrates why this attempt fails miserably:
"Among the other conspiracies in his [Traina] The Origin of Christianity, he says, 'They had worshipped Zeus, or Jupiter, as the supreme deity, so now they were told the new name was Theos, or Dios, or God. There [sic] savior was Zeus, so now they were to accept Jesus (lesous).' Thus, the suggestion that 'the meaning of Jesus is Yah=Zeus.' However; Traina’s assertion offers: no historical evidence; and an examination of the Septuagint (c. 2nd Century BC), the earliest translation of the OT into Greek, demonstrates that Jesus is an acceptable translation. Since Yeshua is the shortened form of Joshua, one only needs to see what the translators used for Joshua. They used Ἰησοῦς (lesous) to translate the Hebrew name Joshua into Greek from which came the Latin and subsequently the English form 'Jesus.' There is no indication the translators intended to connect Joshua to Zeus or to draw pagan Greeks to follow Joshua by using Ἰησοῦς (lesous)."3
Simply put, the name Jesus means “The Lord Saves” or “The Lord Is Salvation.” Whether it is spelled Jesus, Jesu, Joshua or Yeshua, the meaning of the name is the same, and we can be sure it has nothing to do with Zeus.
Dunning summarizes as follows:
"Utilizing Hebrew cultural forms can provide a beautiful worship experience. However, suggesting that the Bible can be properly understood only through these forms or that worship is properly done only in the cultural forms of the first century denies the cross-cultural applicability of the Scriptures. More importantly, there is no hint in the New Testament (NT) that Hebrew forms are necessary for understanding or maturing in the faith."4
For more on the claim that "Jesus" means "Hail, Zeus," see here.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnotes:
Video: The Hebrew Roots Movement by James Walker
Common Objection #34- "Jesus never claimed to be God!"
Evidence for the Historical Jesus Infographic by Stephan J. Bedard
Footnotes:
1. Michael Houdmann, "Does 'Jesus' really mean 'Hail, Zeus'?," 2011-2017.
2. Dr. Craig A. Dunning, Watchmen Fellowship Profile: Hebrew Roots Movement, 2014.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
Related Posts
Evidence for the Historical Jesus Infographic by Stephan J. Bedard
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Scholars and Apologists Weigh in on the First Christmas
Here is a collection of Research Materials for Christmas:
Articles
Star-Studded Wise Men: Rethinking the Christmas Story by Ben Witherington
The First Christmas: Myths and Reality by Paul Copan
On the Miracle of Christmas by Chad A. Gross
Five Reasons You Can Trust the Story of Christmas Is True by J. Warner Wallace
Why Didn't Paul Mention the Virgin Conception? by J. Warner Wallace
What Do We Mean When We Use the Word "Virgin Conception?" by J. Warner Wallace
Christmas Resources from Apologetics315
Is There Proof that Jesus was Born of a Virgin? by Sean McDowell
Christmas Resources 2016 by Triablogue
How to Reach Your Non-Christian Relatives This Christmas by Frank Turek
The Virgin Birth and the Constraints of History by N.T. Wright
The Virgin Birth- Did the Church Make Up Jesus' Virgin Birth? by Mikel Del Rosario
The Virgin Birth: A Defense by J.P. Holding
Is the Virgin Birth Scientifically Impossible? by Rich Deem
Was Jesus Born of a Virgin? by Josh McDowell
The Star of Bethlehem by Peter May
Angels, Wise men, and a Baby by various authors
Why the Virgin Birth Matters by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Alexander Stewart
The Virgin Birth by Norman Geisler
God Came to Us – The Miracle of Christmas by John Weldon
Luke, Quirinius, and the Census by Dave Miller
The Birth of God by William Lane Craig
5 Popular Misconceptions About the Christmas Story by Michael J. Kruger
Audio/Video
A Christian Apologist Examines the Meaning of Christmas by Lee Strobel
Christmas for Doubters by John Lennox
Is the Virgin Conception of Jesus Necessary and Reasonable by J. Warner Wallace
Was the Virgin Conception of Jesus Borrowed from Prior Mythologies? by J. Warner Wallace
Why the Virgin Birth Matters by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Alexander Stewart
The Virgin Birth by Norman Geisler
God Came to Us – The Miracle of Christmas by John Weldon
Luke, Quirinius, and the Census by Dave Miller
The Birth of God by William Lane Craig
5 Popular Misconceptions About the Christmas Story by Michael J. Kruger
Audio/Video
A Christian Apologist Examines the Meaning of Christmas by Lee Strobel
Christmas for Doubters by John Lennox
Is the Virgin Conception of Jesus Necessary and Reasonable by J. Warner Wallace
Was the Virgin Conception of Jesus Borrowed from Prior Mythologies? by J. Warner Wallace
Witness Materials
Christmas Card Captions by Greg Koukl
Six Ways Satan is Stealing Christmas by John MacArthur
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
HT: Apologetics315
Related Posts
Everyone Believes in a Virgin Birth
Christmas- Pagan or Not?
Theologian R.C. Sproul on Christmas
Monday, December 18, 2017
12 Days of Apologetics by Southern Evangelical Seminary
Above is Southern Evangelical Seminary's Day 7 video in their annual 12 Days of Apologetics series. You can view all of the videos in this series here.
Stand firm in Christ,
Chase
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
I’m a Pediatrician. Here’s What I Did When a Little Boy Patient Said He Was a Girl.
New Religion Seeks To Welcome The 'AI Messiah'
Robot World Domination? Darwinism as Reductio ad Absurdum
Are Women Nothing More Than Sexual Objects?
What a Stupid Bumper Sticker Can Tell Us About American Christianity
Movie Review: Darkest Hour
Wikipedia Co-Founder Blasts “Appallingly Biased” Wikipedia Entry on Intelligent Design
Jerry Fodor’s Enduring Critique of Neo-Darwinism
Pope Francis, The Lord’s Prayer, and Bible Translation
Dr. R.C. Sproul, Called Home to the Lord
Calvin College grad $595K school gift supports intellectual discovery
‘I Reject Your Warning’: Pro-Life Pastor is Having NONE of This Officer’s Unlawful Attempts to Silence Abortion Street Ministry
Movie Review: Star Wars- The Last Jedi
Mysterious dinosaur-like creature discovered with flesh still on its bones leaves scientists baffled
Australian Report Urges Vatican to Reject Celibacy, Rethink Secret Confessions
Exodus: Jews Flee Paris Suburbs over Rising Tide of Anti-Semitism
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Last week's edition is here.
Friday, December 15, 2017
In Loving Memory of R.C. Sproul
You can learn more of the details here.
Please take time to visit Justin Taylor's lovely write up about Sproul here.
Finally, checkout this link featuring 40 quotes from the man himself.
Sproul said it well- "There are only two ways of dying. We can die in faith or we can die in our sins.” I am grateful that we can be confident R.C. chose to die in faith!
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Thursday, December 14, 2017
How to Reach Your Non-Christian Relatives This Christmas by Frank Turek
In this post from CrossExamined.org, Dr. Frank Turek offers 10 ways believers can move people closer to the gospel this holiday season or any time!
They are as follows:
- Pray: Start praying now for opportunities and for hearts to be open. Then volunteer to pray before the meal (No one will interrupt or critique a prayer!). Keep the prayer short and thank God for:
- Your family members and guests by name
- The food
- Coming to earth that first Christmas in the person of Jesus to pay for our sins and to offer forgiveness and salvation for free to anyone who trusts in Christ
- Serve: Get off the couch and serve people as if you were a real Christian!
- Ask: Seriously ask people how they’ve been doing this year. Then ask them, “Is there anything I can pray for you about?”
- Testify: If they ask you how you’ve been doing, fold in a story of how God is working.
- Agree & Affirm whatever they get right. It will make points of disagreement more acceptable.
- Use Tactical Questions When They Get Something Wrong: When people make truth claims, it’s not your job to refute them—it is their job to support them. So before responding to their statements, ask these questions.
- What do you mean by that?
- How did you come to that conclusion? (Or what evidence do you have for that?)
- Have you ever considered…? (Fill in the blank with the evidence you would like the person to consider).
- Use the Quick Answers section of the CrossExamined App to respond to specific objections.
- Show them what makes your walk easier: Glo Bible, You Version Bible, CrossExamined App (people love gadgets and apps).
- Seed the conversation: Depending on how the conversation goes, some of these statements may get people thinking and even get them to ask you questions. They include:
- If I were perfect, I wouldn’t need a Savior.
- God won’t force people into Heaven against their will.
- I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.
- The greatest miracle in the Bible is the first verse.
- What motive did the Jewish New Testament writers have to make up a new religion?
- If Christianity were true, would you become a Christian?
10. Write them afterwards: Following up on a conversation later via email can be very effective. That’s because you can present your ideas more clearly and completely while the other person can actually consider what you are saying without feeling the pressure of having to respond immediately. You can also include links to articles or websites for those that want to go deeper.
What about you? What tactics or approaches do you find effective in reaching others with the gospel around the holidays? Please feel free to share in the comments below!
Courage and Godspeed,
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Video: The Hebrew Roots Movement by James Walker
You can also find Watchmen Fellowship's Free Profile on the Hebrew Roots Movement here.
Enjoy!
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Video: Seven Keys to Conversing with Cultists by Ron Rhodes
Walter Martin on the Rise of Cults
What are the Best Questions for Spiritual Conversation?
Monday, December 11, 2017
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Saturday, December 09, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
Christian baker vs. the state of Colorado: Most anticipated Supreme Court case begins oral arguments
Ravi Zacharias Responds to Sexting Allegations, Credentials Critique 1 Ravi's statement is here.
Introducing Theistic Evolution
Erdogan: Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is ‘red line’ for Muslims
In a Radio Debate on Theistic Evolution, Stephen Meyer Meets Deborah Haarsma of BioLogos
Planned Parenthood under investigation by Justice Department over sale of fetal tissue
Responding to the Raw Hatred of the Gay ‘Nativity’
Erdogan: Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is ‘red line’ for Muslims
In a Radio Debate on Theistic Evolution, Stephen Meyer Meets Deborah Haarsma of BioLogos
Planned Parenthood under investigation by Justice Department over sale of fetal tissue
‘Hercules’ actor Kevin Sorbo is unashamedly pro-life: ‘Never forget the babies slaughtered’ by abortion
Pope Francis calls for Lord's Prayer to be altered as current wording suggests God is capable of leading people 'into temptation'
Why evangelicals are 'ecstatic' about Trump's Jerusalem move
Forthcoming Book: The Case for Miracles by Lee Strobel
Ken Ham's Apologetics Conference Critique 'Unfair,' 'Unhelpful,' Seminary Head Says
Pope Francis calls for Lord's Prayer to be altered as current wording suggests God is capable of leading people 'into temptation'
Why evangelicals are 'ecstatic' about Trump's Jerusalem move
Forthcoming Book: The Case for Miracles by Lee Strobel
Ken Ham's Apologetics Conference Critique 'Unfair,' 'Unhelpful,' Seminary Head Says
Prominent Retraction Vindicates Stephen Meyer and Signature in the Cell
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Last week's edition is here.
Footnote:
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Last week's edition is here.
Footnote:
1. I decided to include this story because it will be discussed and I believe people should be aware of it. Please pray for all those involved.
Friday, December 08, 2017
East Meets West - Mark Mittelberg
Recently, I read Mark Mittelberg's "expert contribution" from Nabeel Qureshi's best selling book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. It reinforces Qureshi's assessment that generally speaking, Eastern Islamic cultures assess truth through lines of authority as opposed to individual reasoning. I think this is a very important point to consider when discussing one's faith with someone coming from this background.
You can also find the contribution on the RZIM website.
Mark Mittelberg is bestselling
author and primary creator of the course Becoming a Contagious Christian, which
has trained 1.5 million people worldwide and has been translated into more than
twenty languages. He served as evangelism director with the Willow Creek
Association for more than a decade.
“It is important for you to know
that Allah is the one and only God, and that Muhammad, peace be upon him, was
his true prophet. God is not divided, and He does not have a son. And Jesus,
peace be upon him, was not the Son of God. He was a true prophet, like
Muhammad, and we are to honor him, but we must never worship him. We worship
Allah and Allah alone.” These bold words, spoken by the imam—a man dressed in
white who stood in front of our group and was clearly in charge of the mosque
that day—were communicated in a manner that delivered more than just
theological content. They were conveyed with an authority that made clear that
the message was something we were expected to accept, rather than test. It was
not that the imam wasn’t willing to entertain a few questions. Rather, he
apparently saw this as a chance to challenge the thinking of an entire group of
Christians at one time. So after a short period of teaching, he opened the
floor to whatever issues we wanted to raise. But even then, he responded with
an emphatic tone, one that relayed his belief that he had the truth and we were
there to learn it.
This assuredness was borne out when
I finally raised my own question. I asked the imam why he and other Muslims
denied that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died on the cross, and that He
rose from the dead three days later. As politely as I knew how, I explained
that I, and the others from my church who were visiting the mosque that day,
believed these things on the basis of the testimonies of Jesus’ own disciples.
They were the ones who walked and talked with Him for three years and who heard
Him make repeated claims to be the Son of God. They saw Him die on the cross
and met, talked with, and even ate with Him after His resurrection. And they
were the ones who made sure it was all written down in the New Testament
gospels. “What I’m curious about,” I said, concluding my question, “is whether
you have any historical or logical reasons why we should accept your Muslim
point of view over and against what we understand to be the actual historical
record?”
The imam looked at me intently and
then declared resolutely, “I choose to believe the prophet!” With that, our
time for questions was over. East meets West, indeed! I walked away that day
with a fresh awareness that we do not all approach questions about truth in the
same way. In fact, years later, I wrote about what I believe is a
characteristically Eastern versus a characteristically Western approach to
gaining knowledge.3
In the East, and for Islam in
particular, what is accepted as true is generally what the authorities tell
you—and you are expected to embrace what they teach. That is why I call this
approach the Authoritarian Faith Path. In fact, the original meaning of the
Arabic word Islam “submission.” It seems fair to say that the prevailing tenor
of the Muslim faith is one of submitting to—not questioning—what the religion
teaches.
This squares with my friend Nabeel
Qureshi’s assessment in this part 2 of his book “People from Eastern Islamic
cultures generally assess truth through lines of authority, not individual
reasoning. Of course, individuals do engage in critical reasoning in the East,
but on average it is relatively less valued and far less prevalent than in the
West. Leaders have done the critical reasoning, and leaders know best.” As
Nabeel indicates, this contrasts sharply with the more typical approach in the
West, which I refer to as the Evidential Faith Path. This approach decides what
should be accepted as true based not on the word of authorities but rather on
logic and experience, including experiences recorded in trustworthy historical
records like the ones I cited in my interactions with the imam. Of course, both
sides can have their pitfalls. Westerners in the evidential mindset often need
to be reminded to be lovers of truth (2 Thess. 2:10) who are willing to
rigorously apply reason and the study of evidence, and then follow them
wherever they lead. Too often, people in Western culture fall into an approach
that limits possible causes to naturalistic ones, and they won’t even consider
supernatural causes. This prejudices the outcome and, in fact, makes scientific
and historical inquiry atheistic by definition. But if we can help people
reopen their minds to the full gamut of possible explanations, then I’m
confident that logic and evidence (along with the inner workings of the Holy
Spirit) will lead them back not only to a belief in God but also to the
Christian faith.
God Bless,
Thursday, December 07, 2017
Book Preview: Lies Pastors Believe by Dayton Hartman
Dayton Hartman is lead pastor at Redeemer Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He has a PhD in church and dogma history from North-West University (South Africa), and serves as an adjunct professor at both Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Columbia International University. He is the author of Church History for Modern Ministry: Why Our Past Matters for Everything We Do (Our review is here).
You can learn more about Pastor Hartman and his ministry here.
About the Book
All of us are tempted to believe lies about ourselves.
For many pastors, the lies we’re tempted to believe have to do with our identity: that God has called us to lead a movement, that we must sacrifice our home life for our ministry life, or that our image as holy is more important than our actual pursuit of holiness.
In Lies Pastors Believe, pastor and professor Dayton Hartman takes aim at these and other lies he has faced in his own ministry and seen other pastors struggle with. With a winsome and engaging style, Hartman shows current and future pastors why these lies are so tempting, the damage they can do, and how they can be resisted by believing and applying the truth of the gospel.
About the Book
All of us are tempted to believe lies about ourselves.
For many pastors, the lies we’re tempted to believe have to do with our identity: that God has called us to lead a movement, that we must sacrifice our home life for our ministry life, or that our image as holy is more important than our actual pursuit of holiness.
In Lies Pastors Believe, pastor and professor Dayton Hartman takes aim at these and other lies he has faced in his own ministry and seen other pastors struggle with. With a winsome and engaging style, Hartman shows current and future pastors why these lies are so tempting, the damage they can do, and how they can be resisted by believing and applying the truth of the gospel.
You can get your copy here.
Our review of this work is forthcoming!
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Dayton Hartman on Pastors and Apologetics
Article: Why Pastors Ought to Be Apologists by J. Warner Wallace
Monday, December 04, 2017
How You Can Reveal the Glory of Christ to Others (and Why You Need To)
You can read the full post here.
Stand firm in Christ,
Chase
Sunday, December 03, 2017
Saturday, December 02, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
Malibu church 'pressured to end meals for the homeless' because it 'lures the needy'
Bishop Robert Barron and William Lane Craig event
A true trail blazer! Woman, 22, makes history as the first person with Down syndrome to compete in a Miss USA state pageant
Another Atheist Comes to Christ Because of Science
Stephen Hawking: 'I fear AI may replace humans altogether'
Planned Parenthood Is in Deep Trouble With the Law. This Could Be a Turning Point
Church of Sweden Castrates God: No Saying 'He' Or 'Lord'
Astrology, Witchcraft, Community: What Millennials Trade Religion For
SURVEY: CHRISTIANS ARE NOT SPREADING THE GOSPEL
What Blaise Pascal Saw In A November Night Of Fire That Inaugurated A Year Of Grace
Courage and Godspeed,
Friday, December 01, 2017
Free E-Book: C.S. Lewis- A Profile in Faith
- His Life and Faith
- His Thought and Teaching
- His Family and Friends
- His Influences
The book includes chapters by C.S. Lewis Scholars:
Dr. James M. Houston - Founder of Regent College, Co-founder of C.S. Lewis Institute
Dr. Art Lindsley - Vice President of Theological Initiatives at Institute for Faith, Work and Economics
Marjorie Lamp Mead - Associate Director of the Wade Center at Wheaton College
The late Dr. Christopher W. Mitchell - Professor of Christian Thought, Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University
Dr. Earl F. Palmer - Founder of Earl Palmer Ministries
Dr. Philip G. Ryken - President of Wheaton College
This book has been added to our Free Apologetics E-book Library.
Enjoy!
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Notable Christian Apologist: C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis on Rationality and Materialism
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