I was asked by an atheist to give a logical reason for my faith in Christ. Here's my response [after rereading it, I made a few edits, but the main point is the same]:
I can try, honesty, I've not studied Apologetics thoroughly so, I'm not certain my arguments will be convincing.
To begin with, my doctrinal view of faith (which is in the minority of Christianity these days) is that faith in God isn't a choice...it's God's work. Humans are presented with the Gospel and they are converted to belief (not always instantly) by the Holy Spirit or they reject it.
Also, we admit that much of what we believe is not logical...it's our faith that clings to it...but I will give it my best shot.
The thing that probably meets the logical argument for faith, more than anything, is the nature of man. I fail to see how anyone can claim that humans are "evolving" from a morality standpoint. Folks want to point to our technological advancements and claim that it's evolution...but the nature of man hasn't changed. Even our technological advancements, from the stone age, were driven by our desire for power and authority over other groups of people...basically...military conquest. Almost every technological advancement was a result of an egomaniac wanting to conquer a neighboring people...or...an ego maniac trying to prevent himself from being conquered. THAT desire to rule and, basically, be a type of god is the very thing that original sin in Genesis addresses.
It's not in human nature to be submissive, we either want to rule or align ourselves with a group we think can rule more effectively...so regardless of whether we want to admit it, we have faith...we simply place it in ourselves or another person or group of people. Now, I do admit that some people are more suited to "rule" because of simple desire, education, intelligence or aptitude...but they are no different from a morality standpoint...they are driven by the same good/evil desires and personal lusts that drive the rest of us.
So, at the end of the day....I look at where my faith is directed...and it simply seems foolish to place it in my own abilities to somehow bend my reality and defeat my "character flaws" to evolve into a better person....or....direct my faith in our worldly leaders to "drag me" and my flawed self to a more "evolved" state of existence. Especially when it's painfully obvious they are not different from me except they have a different skill set.
Conversely, I really can't accept that I am somehow a "stepping stone" in human evolution that will benefit later generations...especially when I look through history and see the same basic human story repeating itself with no real advancement in character or morals. Maybe it's ego...but I don't like thinking of myself as the air breathing "mud fish" in the process of growing legs so a later generation can crawl out of the muck onto dry land. In essence, that's what Darwinist tells us we are.
So, I am left completely faithless and in despair, because that's really a spiritually lifeless existence in which the only thing left is blind accumulation of as many possessions as possible before I die and become "worm food"... (Honestly, I'm not a greedy person and a large horde of "stuff" doesn't appeal to me)...or...I place my faith in something outside humanity.
In my thinking, as I have looked through civilization...the one constant in humanity is the understanding of the spiritual. The essence of life within us. Science really hasn't been able to explain it...which isn't surprising...science doesn't know what gravity IS. They can measure it and see it's affects...but they don't know WHAT it is. So, even atheists, who cling to science as their excuse for unbelief...actually have faith in gravity, because their entire scientific worldview is centered around it. If gravity fails, their worldview will come apart.
So, if humanity has always had an undercurrent "sense" of the spiritual (as is evidenced by the enormous number of religions throughout history), then that evidence alone leads me to believe that there is some credence to the body/soul dynamic of human existence. There must be a God...something perfect, outside of myself and humanity, in which to place my faith.
Combine that with my experiential evidence of man's depravity and potential for evil...I must believe that potential lies somewhere within me. I prefer to not be overcome by it due to the hopelessness and despair a faithless existence society would offer.
So, in the realm of religions we have to choose from...I prefer one that is uplifting, sustaining and promises to transform me into a better person...and as a "kicker" into eternity. I do not want to live in a worldview where I am a "slave" to a god. Christianity is the ONLY religion that offers a God that serves, forgives and sacrifices Himself for His believers. He acts and we respond. EVERY other religion in the world says..."do these things", "behave specifically this way", "change yourself" and there might be blessings. Humans act to please the god and the god responds accordingly...assuming you don't have a "fickle" god.
Jesus says simply..."believe", "I came here to save you from yourself", "I am your intercessor before the Father", "when you fail, it's OK...simply repent and I forgive you", "be Baptized and know you are saved", "take and eat, take and drink...this is a gift to sustain your faith in me", "I have paid the penalty for all of your sins/evil acts/wrongdoings...there is no condemnation for you", "God is pleased with you because of me", " I will transform your mind". Those things comfort me...they give me hope...they make me want to live a moral life and love my neighbor.
In my opinion, it's really of no consequence to believe in an eternity. If I am right and Jesus brings me into the new creation, restored and truly alive after this life ends...that will be glorious. If I am wrong, my end is the same as it would be if God doesn't exist...and I won't know anyway.
Understand that my Christian faith isn't based on that logic, but that logic has been formed by my life of faith in Christ. I view my faith as a gift from God...and not one I deserve. There are alot of spiritual aspects in which we believe. The world knows what those are and that's where we get criticized. It becomes difficult to defend from a logic standpoint because faith clings to it and it's what we are taught from the Scriptures. So, we simply trust in them.
Maybe that makes sense.
No comments:
Post a Comment