Battle Cry Series: Defending your Christian Beliefs

I’ve spent days (weeks?) trying to sit down and write. Sometimes, the Lord doesn’t speak into any topic I’ve already brainstormed; the scripture isn’t speaking, the notes don’t make sense, and I can’t recall what triggered those thoughts in the first place. I don’t mind these moments so much, because it forces me to sit down and listen. There is not much quiet in my life these days, and the still small voice is hard to hear.

Normally, my inspiration comes directly from whatever I’m dealing with in my own life. Some conviction or sin that I’ve had to sit down with God about, and he’s walking me through what is still broken inside. I can sustain a whole blog on this method because plenty is broken. But today I’m having a hard time focusing on anything other than the events that have transpired over the last few days.

I got myself sucked in to the social media vortex. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Christian faith is under attack unlike any generation before us. Where our parents grew up in a country that based its values on Christian principles, society is rebelling against anything that even hints of Jesus. And in case you haven’t engaged with someone on the other side – they usually aren’t nice, and they generally don’t play fair. The truth is, it’s only going to get worse for my daughter and she’ll be wholly unprepared if I don’t learn how to help her. So, I’ve started an adventure in taking apologetics more seriously; it’s one thing to have done the research for myself a decade ago and have come to my current conclusion – but it’s another thing entirely to be able to clearly defend my Christian beliefs now.

Here is the type of questions I want to tackle over the next several blogs…

• Is the Bible reliable? Is the Bible “true”?

• Was Jesus a real person? Did he fulfill Old Testament Prophecy? And did he do what they said he did?

• How was the early church so effective at growing? Why is that evidence for the truth of Jesus?

• Is God active in the supernatural today? Why does he save some and not others?

• Your church and religion is broken, so why should I follow along?

I don’t claim to be a scholar; there are thousands of resources from more qualified people than myself available to do your own digging, and I’ll link some for you as we go along. Many of these questions I have asked myself, but I couldn’t articulate back the exact answers now. That needs to change. I want to understand how the enemy is twisting words and scripture to create a hostile environment for Christians, and how to respond in a way that shares the love of Jesus – from a place of fact and not emotion. 

I will probably miss things, or maybe even get it wrong – by all means, challenge me. I didn’t sign up with Jesus to sit on the sidelines and fear conflict; I want to know why I believe what I believe, even if you don’t agree with the explanation.

I can hear you now: “Why did you write an entire blog to tell me that you’re going to write more blogs?” Accountability. This is a big topic. It’s a scary topic. I’m struggling to prioritize the right things anyway – but if I tell you I’m going to do it, I’m far more likely to do it. 

Hold me accountable. Send me your own questions.

First up: Is the Bible true?

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. – 1 Peter 3:15

But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively… “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passion.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit…have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire… – Jude 1:10,18-19,22-23a