“Jia, I have a question for you!” Jia turned to find Lee waving excitedly from his apartment. She began to wonder, “Can I really answer his questions? I’ve only been a Christian a short time myself. What if he causes me to begin doubting my new faith?”
But Jia believed that Christians are to be “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”[1] So, she smiled and said, “What is your question, Lee?”
“Last week, you explained to me about the difference between Mark and John. I admit that your answer was pretty good! I never knew about the difference in counting time. But, how can you prove that the story of Jesus is true at all? Maybe the whole thing is made up! I am a modern man. I look for scientific proof before I believe anything. Prove scientifically that Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the grave and I might become a believer!”
In this lesson, we will study four common misconceptions concerning Christianity that are shared by many people. Many non-Christians, and even some Christians, agree with the four statements we will discuss. But these statements are false and may hinder a non-Christian who is trying to understand the gospel. We need to answer these questions if they hinder someone from becoming a Christian.
Misconception 1: Christianity Must Be Proven with the Scientific Method
Some unbelievers say, “I can accept Christianity only if you can prove it with the scientific method.”
To understand the problem with this statement, you must understand the definition of the “scientific method.” The scientific method proves something by repeating an experiment again and again in a controlled environment while recording the results. The scientific method requires repeatable experiments.
Can we prove by the scientific method that gravity exists? Yes! We can drop a rock twenty times and record, “Twenty times out of twenty, the rock fell to the ground.” Gravity exists.
Can we prove by the scientific method that Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the grave? No! This is an historical event which cannot be repeated. We cannot kill Jesus twenty times, bury him, and wait for another resurrection!
Agnostics who insist that historical events must be proven with the scientific method are confusing two very different types of proof. To prove historical events, we cannot use the scientific method, because we cannot repeat the events. To prove historical events, we must use the legal-historical method of proof.
The legal-historical method of proof looks for precise evidence for an event. It looks at:
Written testimony
Oral testimony
Physical evidence
Imagine that we try to determine, “Was Chairman Mao Tse-tung alive in 1972?” This is not a scientific question; this is an historical question. To prove the existence of Chairman Mao, we will use the legal-historical method. We will look for:
Written testimony:
Can we find written documents from 1972 that refer to Chairman Mao?
Do biographies written by people who knew Mao tell stories from 1972?
Oral testimony:
Can we find anyone who says, “I met Mao Tse-tung in 1972”?
Can we find speeches that were made in 1972 by Chairman Mao?
Physical evidence:
Are there pictures from 1972 of Chairman Mao?
► Before reading the next paragraph, discuss the kinds of legal-historical proof you would seek for the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
Let’s put Jesus of Nazareth to the test we used for Chairman Mao.
Written testimony:
Can we find written documents that refer to Jesus?
Josephus, a Jewish historian, referred to Jesus in his Antiquities, a history written in the first century
Are there biographies written by people who knew him?
Each of the four gospels is a historical biography. Matthew and John were written by his close followers. Mark records the memories of Simon Peter. Luke was a careful scholar who investigated each of the stories in his gospel.[1]
Oral testimony:
A Roman centurion testified, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”[2]
The gospels contain detailed records of Jesus’ own words. Some of these, such as the Sermon on the Mount, are long. This oral testimony became written testimony in the Gospels.
Physical evidence:
Thomas, a man who would not accept the testimony of the other disciples, touched Jesus’ hands and exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”[3]
Jesus’ brother James, who did not believe Jesus’ words during his earthly ministry, became a believer when he saw the risen Lord.[4]
Christianity is unique among world religions. There is little evidence from the life of Mohammad or Buddha. These religions cannot be proven true or false using the legal-historical method. Christianity can be proven true with the same type of evidence we use to prove the life of any other historical figure.
Is science useful for Christian apologetics? Yes. Scientific facts support the truth of the Bible. Scientific facts are helpful in supporting the truth of the Bible; but the life, death and resurrection of Jesus must be examined using the legal-historical method.
If a non-Christian says, “You have to prove Christianity with the scientific method,” show him that non-repeatable events such as a person’s birth and death are proven not by the scientific but by the legal-historical method. Show the legal-historical evidence for the life of Jesus Christ. This can remove one of the stumbling blocks on the path to the cross.
What are the key elements to the scientific method?
Instead of the scientific method, historical events should be proven by what method?
What are three types of evidence used for legal-historical proof?
Misconception 2: Christianity Must Be Proven with 100% Certainty
A second misconception about apologetics says, “I can’t accept Christianity unless there is enough evidence to prove with absolute certainty that it is true.”
►Before reading the next paragraph, how would you respond to this misconception? Does this statement sound reasonable?
In your discussion of this question, did anyone say, “You cannot prove any historical event with 100% certainty?” This is a good response. Because it happened in the past and we were not there, we cannot prove anything with 100% certainty.
Think of some examples from history:
In 49 B.C., Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon on his way to Rome. Is there any way to prove this with 100% certainty? No; we cannot visit that day in history to observe Caesar. But no historian denies this historical event. Historians believe that Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon because there is enough legal-historical evidence to support that event.
In 1789, George Washington became president of the United States. Is there any way to prove this with 100% certainty? No; we cannot visit that day in history to witness Washington’s inauguration. But no historian denies this historical event.
In 1917, Nicholas II left the throne as Czar of Russia. Is there any way to prove this with 100% certainty? No; we cannot visit that day in history to witness the abdication of Czar Nicholas II. But no historian denies this historical event.
We cannot prove historical events with 100% certainty. Instead, we collect data until we have enough evidence to make a decision about what has happened. Even in court, the prosecutor does not need to provide absolute proof. A jury simply needs to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime has been committed.
This is how we live every day. We make decisions based on sufficient evidence, not on absolute proof.
As Christian apologists, we do not need to “prove Christianity with 100% certainty.” Instead, we need to show that there is sufficient evidence for believing the truth of the Christian faith. The historical evidence for Christianity is not absolute, but it is sufficient.[1]
► Discuss: If we cannot prove with 100% certainty that Christianity is true, does that mean that we can never know for certain that it is true?
Do not think that this means we can never know that Christianity is true! There is a difference between knowing something absolutely and proving something absolutely.
Let me give you a simple illustration of this. Today is September 15, 2016. I know absolutely what I had for breakfast today. I ate some strawberries and a bowl of cereal, and I drank a cup of coffee. I know this, but I cannot prove it to you. You were not there; I did not take a photograph for evidence. I know it; I cannot prove it.
You can know with absolute certainty that Christianity is true. When you study the evidence for the truth of Christianity and take the step of faith necessary to accept Christ, the Holy Spirit will confirm in your heart that what you are believing is absolutely true. You will live and act as if you had absolute proof because you have sufficient reasons to commit to it 100%. This is called moral certainty. You can know with certainty that the Christian faith is true even though you cannot prove it with 100% proof.
[1]“There is enough evidence for the Christian faith to convince anyone who is not set against it. But there is not enough evidence to bring anyone into God’s kingdom who will not come.”
- Blaise Pascal, French philosopher and scientist
Misconception 3: All Truth Is Relative
Today, it is popular to say, “All truth is relative.” In other words, if you believe something, it is true for you – even if it is not true for anyone else.
Imagine that a glass of poison was sitting on the desk in this room. Imagine that you came into the room thirsty and took a drink, believing that the glass contained water. Even if you believed completely that the glass was full of water, you would become sick.
Believing something does not make it true. Truth is truth regardless of our belief. Believing that poison is water does not change the truth. Truth is not relative.
The statement “all truth is relative” is self-contradictory. This statement is absolute, but it claims that there are no absolute statements. If all truth is relative, the statement “all truth is relative” is not true!
Imagine this conversation between a Christian (Thomas) and an agnostic (Aldous).
Aldous: “The gospel may be true for you; it is not true for me.”
Thomas: “So all truth is relative?”
Aldous: “Yes! That is right.”
Thomas: “You are saying that nothing is absolute. There is nothing that is true in every situation?”
Aldous: “That’s right! Christianity may be true for you, but it is not true for me.”
Thomas: “That’s very interesting! You are telling me absolutely that nothing is absolute. If you are right, you must be wrong!”
Do you understand? This is self-contradiction. It cannot be true in all cases that nothing is true in all cases. The statement, “There are no absolutes” is presented as an absolute statement. This cannot be true.
Let’s have Aldous and Thomas continue their conversation. Thomas will guide Aldous to better conclusions about the nature of truth. You could save similar conversations by asking the same kind of questions Thomas does. Role play this dialogue ahead of time:
Thomas: “So, Aldous, how do you define truth?”
Aldous: “Truth is what you believe.”
Thomas: “Ok. Well, could you believe something that is false?”
Aldous: “Yes.”
Thomas: “Then truth isn’t what you believe then, is it?”
Aldous: “Guess not.”
Thomas: “If I were to tell you that it is raining outside this room right now, would that be a true claim or a false claim?” [It’s not actually raining outside where Thomas and Aldous are having this conversation.]
Aldous: “That would be a false claim.”
Thomas: “Why is it false?”
Aldous: “Because it’s not actually raining.”
Thomas: “That’s right. My claim does not match reality. For a claim or a statement to be true, it has to correspond to reality. A claim is false if it doesn’t correspond to reality. The best definition of truth is this: Truth is an idea or statement that corresponds to reality. If that is the case, is truth something we discover or is truth something we create?
Aldous: “Something we discover.”
Thomas: “That’s right. It’s something we discover, or is revealed to us. This means that truth exists outside ourselves; it is objective. It is not something we make up, but something we find. That being the case, we should become seekers of truth. There are real and objective answers to life’s great philosophical questions (like where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going), and it is in our best interest to discover those answers.
Section B Review
Why do we say, “You cannot prove any historical event with 100% certainty”?
If you cannot prove something with absolute certainty, but you have enough proof to have an inner conviction that it is true (and you are willing to live according to that conviction), you have ___________ __________________.
The idea that all truth is relative is ________________________. It cannot be true.
What does it mean for something to be true? What is truth?
Misconception 4: Sincerity Is More Important than Truth
This misconception is related to Misconception 3. It says, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere in your belief. It really doesn’t matter who or what you put your faith in. The important thing is that you believe something.”
►How can you respond to this misconception?
People who believe Misconception 3 (“All truth is relative”) often believe misconception 4. However, we have already seen that believing poison is water does not make it true. Believing something does not make it true. This is especially important in regards to salvation. Just believing that I am saved is not enough. It does not matter how sincere I am. It is important what we believe in. Whatwe believe in is called the object of our faith.
The object of our faith is important. Again, let us illustrate this with a real-life example. Imagine two people standing at the edge of a cliff. Thomas says, “I must find a strong bridge that I trust to carry me across the canyon.” Aldous says, “It doesn’t matter if the bridge is strong, as long as I believe sincerely.” Which one will get across the canyon safely?
There is only one person who can save us—Jesus Christ. We must put our faith in him. It will do us no good to put our faith in someone or something that cannot save us, no matter how sincere we are.
We are not saved by our faith; we are saved by Christ when we place our faith in him. We are saved by the grace of Christ through faith.[1] Only Christ can bring salvation.
It is not even the strength of our faith that saves us; it is the object of our faith. Imagine two people. Abdul is a Muslim with a strong faith in the teachings of Mohammad; Nabeel is a Christian who is still weak in his faith. Nabeel’s faith is real, but it is weak.
►Who is saved: Abdul with his strong faith in Mohammad or Nabeel with his weak (but real) faith in Christ?
The Christian is the only one saved, even though he has a weaker faith. Why? Because he has his faith in the right person.
Many people say that a person in any religion will be saved as long as they are sincere. As long as they believe the road they are on is right, they will be O.K. Let’s see how that works.
► Look at this map of Iowa.[2] Which road goes from Des Moines to Davenport?
The answer is Interstate 80. If I drove on Interstate 35 from Des Moines and believed sincerely that it goes to Davenport, would it take me to Davenport? No!
Believing that a particular road will get me somewhere does not mean it will get me there. I must be on the right road. Likewise, believing that I am on my way to heaven does not mean that that way will get me there. I need to actually be on the right path. The writer of Proverbs warned, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”[3] Jesus said, "I am the way…No one comes to the Father but through me" (John 14:6). Any other way than through Jesus will not get us to Heaven.
[2] Image: Iowa Counties and Major Highways, author Bill Whittaker, retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Iowa_overview.jpg#/media/File:Iowa_overview.jpg April 18, 2020, CC BY-SA 3.0
[4]"Iowa" was created by SGC with open data from NED and Wiki Commons, available from https://www.flickr.com/photos/sgc-library/52344115203, public domain (CC0).
Section C Review
It is not enough to believe. We must put our faith in the right _______________.
List the four misconceptions about apologetics studied in this lesson. Give a brief response to each misconception.
Apologetics in Action - The Conversion of Josh McDowell
As a teenager growing up in Michigan, Josh McDowell (1939- )[1] sought answers to three big questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?
Josh looked for answers to these questions in church, but he did not find answers in the church he attended. Josh looked for answers in education, but he found that his teachers and fellow students did not have answers to these big questions. Josh thought the answers to his questions might be found in parties, but he found that the thrill of the parties soon ended – and he remained confused about his purpose in life and his destiny.
The people around McDowell thought he was happy, but inside he was empty. During this time, he saw a group of students and teachers who were happy and seemed to have an inner peace.
One day, Josh sat down to talk with these students. When they mentioned their faith in God, McDowell mocked them, “Christianity is for weak people, not for intellectuals.” However, he was so impressed by these people that he asked one of the students, “Why are you so different from all the other students and faculty on this campus? What changed your life?” Her answer shocked McDowell; she said, “Jesus Christ.”
When Josh McDowell argued that he could not believe in Jesus, his friend challenged him to make a careful study of the claims of Jesus Christ: that he is God’s Son; that he lived as a real human on earth; that he died on the cross for the sins of humanity; that he was buried and was resurrected three days later; and that he is still alive and can change a person’s life today.
McDowell accepted this challenge in order to prove that the Christian story was untrue. As a prelaw student, Josh knew how to examine evidence. He started by studying the Bible. He wanted to find evidence that the Bible is unreliable.
For months, Josh studied the evidence for the Bible. What he found changed his life. He discovered that the Old and New Testaments were some of the most reliable documents in the ancient world. This forced him to a difficult question, “Was Jesus more than a carpenter? Was he truly the Son of God?” McDowell came to the conclusion that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.
Once our mind finds the truth of the gospel, we are then ready to face the question of our heart. After recognizing the truth of the Bible, McDowell was still unwilling to accept Christ as his Lord. There were two reasons for his reluctance: pleasure and pride.
McDowell knew that becoming a Christian would stop his sinful pleasures and require him to give up control of his life. McDowell says, “I was a walking battlefield. My mind was telling me that Christianity was true, but my will was resisting it with all the energy it could muster.”
He also struggled with his pride. If the gospel was true, all his previous beliefs were wrong. McDowell faced the same struggles that C.S. Lewis had faced. However, after months of struggle, Josh McDowell became a Christian.
From that moment, McDowell’s life was changed. Apologetics broke down the intellectual barriers to belief. Then, the Holy Spirit brought him to a place of belief. As Christians we can use apologetics to bring unbelievers to a place where they are open to hearing God’s voice.
[1] This material is adapted from Josh McDowell’s testimony, retrieved from https://www.cru.org/us/en/how-toknow-god/my-story-a-life-changed/my-story-josh-mcdowell.html April 18, 2020.
Conclusion
Jia listened politely to Lee’s question, “Can you prove Jesus’ death and resurrection using the scientific method?” She remembered that, “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”[1] She quickly prayed that God would give her the ability to communicate with divine power.
Jia responded, “Lee, let me ask you a question. You know Chinese history very well. If you answer my question, I will be ready to answer your question. Is that fair?” Lee was sure he could answer Jia’s question; so he responded confidently, “Of course!”
Jia said, “I have been having some doubts about Sun Yat-sen. Our history books tell us that he founded the Republic of China. He is even called the ‘Father of the Nation.’ But can you prove scientifically and with 100% certainty that Sun Yat-sen lived?”
Lee laughed. “What a silly question! Of course, Sun Yat-sen lived! That is easy to prove. Let me find a newspaper from 1925. It will show when President Sun died.”
Jia interrupted with a smile, “No, no, no! Remember you asked for scientific proof. That means you must ‘repeat an event many times while recording the results.’ I’ll wait here while you manage to have Sun Yat-sen reborn!”
“That’s not fair,” Lee sputtered. “It is impossible to reproduce Sun Yat-sen’s life, but we know that he lived! We have written testimony from authors during his lifetime; we have speeches that were written down by people who heard him speak; we even have photographs of President Sun. You can’t ignore this legal-historical proof, can you?”
“You’re right,” Jia said. “I believe Sun Yat-sen lived. I cannot be proven scientifically with 100% certainty, but there is good evidence for his life. That is the same reason I believe that Jesus lived, died, and was raised from the dead. The gospels were written by people who knew him well; Matthew wrote down Jesus’ sermons; some of the greatest doubters became believers when they saw the physical evidence of the resurrection.
“The gospel came to China through India. It was brought to India by an apostle named Thomas. Lee, you remind me of Thomas. They called him ‘Doubting Thomas’ because he said, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails…, I will never believe.’[2] Lee, 2000 years ago, Thomas had the same doubts you have. But he opened his mind to the evidence – and his life was changed forever. The same thing can happen for you. The evidence is recorded in the gospels. Read them, let God speak, and you will find good reason to believe.”
(1) Apologetics and the Head: You will begin the next class with a test over the review questions from Lesson 2. Study these questions carefully in preparation for the test.
(2) Apologetics and the Heart: Pray for the unbeliever that you talked with last week. Pray that God will open his eyes to the truth. Pray that God will give you answers as you talk to them in the future. Thank God for the opportunity to be a witness to this person.
(3) Apologetics and the Hands: Talk to someone who believes at least one of the four misconceptions in this lesson. To determine whether someone has these misconceptions, ask questions such as:
“How would Christianity have to be proven if it could be proven?”
“How much proof would you need to believe in Christianity?”
"What is truth?"
“Is truth relative?”
“How important is it that you believe in the right thing or person?”
Ask the unbeliever for his reasons for believing like he does. Ask if he will allow you to share your notes from this lesson. If he gives permission, share the illustrations and examples from this lesson. Do not be argumentative, but give simple and clear answers to the misconceptions the unbeliever may have. Take notes about your conversation to share at your next class meeting.
Lesson 2 Test
(1) What are the key elements to the scientific method?
(2) Instead of the scientific method, historical events should be proven by what method?
(3) What are three types of evidence used for legal-historical proof?
(4) Why do we say, “You cannot prove any historical event with 100% certainty”?
(5) If you cannot prove something with absolute certainty, but you have enough proof to have an inner conviction that it is true (and you are willing to live according to that conviction), you have ___________ __________________.
(6) The idea that all truth is relative is ________________________. It cannot be true.
(7) What is truth?
(8) It is not enough to believe. We must put our faith in the right _______________.
(9) List the four misconceptions about apologetics studied in this lesson. Give a brief response to each misconception.
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