Monthly Archives: May 2020

What do you know for sure?

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When someone asks you what do you know for sure, what do you say?

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Some Possibilities

You may say:

  1. I’m breathing.

  2. I’m male (or female).

  3. I’m not perfect.

Obviously there are other possibilities you could come up with.

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Other Possibilities

Such as:

  1. Evolution requires faith.

  2. Elvis is actually dead.

  3. The sun is shinning somewhere.

But perhaps when someone asks what do you know for sure they’re hoping for more than playfulness.

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Sorting the Possibilities

The question what do you know for sure is sometimes asked to stimulate a discussion of truth. What do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is the truth?

What is your answer?

We like to sound intelligent, don’t we?

Sure. Well, here’s a little help.

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What is Sure

The next time someone says, “What do you know for sure?”

Answer this way, “God loves me.”

Their comeback could be, “How do you know that for sure?”

Your answer? “Because God sent Jesus.”

“So what?”

“So I’m telling you what I know for sure … God loves me because God sent Jesus.”

Bonus Music:

Chris Tomlin Jesus Loves Me

Getting Unstuck: 7 Steps to Freedom

Reason to Follow Jesus: Event Evidence

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Another Monday morning. Already pushing hot in Tucson. The forecast? Afternoon high 104 with no possibility of rain.

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Not wanting to work up a sweat Ernie and I slowly walked to the bus stop to catch the ride which would take us to our downtown jobs. That’s when Ernie asked, Why are you a Christian?

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I stumbled, caught my balance, and said. “Well, I guess because I’ve always been a Christian?”

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Ernie glanced at me. “Yeah, but is there any other reason?”

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I glanced back at him. I felt a little exposed and annoyed as I said, “Uh, another reason? What other reason do I need? No, I just believe it.”

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“Okay, so you’re a Christian because you’ve always been a Christian is that it?”

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“Yep, my grandma is a Christian. My mom and dad are Christians. Therefore, I’m a Christian.”

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“Fine so you’re saying you’re a Christian because they are?”

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“Well, how about I’m a Christian because God called me to believe?” I said this although I didn’t want to admit I really hadn’t spent time reflecting on why I’m a Christian.

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Ernie knew I was offended but he challenged me with, “How about you’re a Christian because it’s true?

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I jumped on that. “Right, I’m a Christian because of the Bible.”

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“I said because it’s true. I didn’t say anything about the Bible. What if there was no Bible?” “Would you have any well-founded evidence for the truth of Christianity without the Bible?”

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Totally miffed I said, “Where are you going with this Ernie?”

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We stood beside the bus stop bench. Ernie turned to me and said, “OK, listen, a Buddhist can say ‘I’ve always been a Buddhist because my family is Buddhist therefore I’m a Buddhist.’ Or, a Buddhist could claim ‘I just believe! I don’t have to have any other reason.’ Wouldn’t this amount to blind faith or accidental faith or faith founded on someone else’s experience?”

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I was reluctant to agree. “I guess, maybe.”

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“Muslims could say the same things. Atheists could say the same things. Any religion could say the same things. Their proof is based on what? Could any of these substantiate, ‘Because it’s true,’ with reasonable evidence?”

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“Uh, I don’t know. What do you think?”

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“Well, how about Christianity?” Ernie said. “Why is it true? Is there any solid proof Christianity is true?”

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My face flushed. “Yes, I believe so.”

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 “What would you offer as evidence? Why do you believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life?”

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I felt set up. I said, “The Bible tells me so.”

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“OK the Bible, that’s another discussion, but what besides the Bible?”

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“Wait a second that’s twice you dissed the Bible. Isn’t the Bible admissible?”

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“What if it isn’t? What would you say?”

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“I don’t know … I’d probably walk away.”

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“And how would that be helpful to the person asking you why you are a Christian?”

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Losing it I said, “OK, OK, what would you say?”

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“Let me offer this, Jesus predicted his death and resurrection and it happened. Lots of people saw Jesus alive after his death and burial. That makes Christianity true. Jesus was dead and then alive.”

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“That’s it?”

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“That’s more than enough because it’s legitimate proof backed by eyewitnesses who were there when it happened.

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“Wow! Really?”

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“This is ample intelligent evidence for why I am a Christian. Someone can easily fact check me if they have questions or doubts. This event didn’t take place in secret.”

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I began to see Ernie’s point. “Yeah, Okay.”

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I was sweating as our downtown bus stopped for us. The driver scanned our passes. We sat down. The A/C felt good. We were on our way to work.

 

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Music:

Plumb Need You Now

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Resurrection Evidence

Ernie On the Power Bar of Faith

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I parked my car in the shade of a sycamore tree and powered down the windows to hopefully attract a breeze. The Tucson day was bright blue heading for a record afternoon temperature somewhere north of one hundred.

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Ernie and I sat in the front seat of my small compact unwrapping our lunch after ordering take out —me, a hamburger, french fries, and sweetened iced tea and my friend a BLT, kettle potato chips, but with unsweetened tea. This is when my lunch companion said:

Ernie: “I’ve been thinking about my relationship with God.”

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Me: I slightly choked on my first bite of hamburger but recovered and swallowed before mumbling, “Good for you.”

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Ernie: “Yeah, I’m thinking the problem is my relationship suffers because religion gets in the way.”

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Me: “Hmm.” Not totally comprehending or paying attention, I reached for my sweetened tea then said, “Religion gets in the way?”

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Ernie: “Actually, I think I’m doing more religious things rather than relationship things.”

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Me: I noticed Ernie hadn’t yet touched his meal. “Uh-huh. Well, I’m not sure I’m tracking what you’re talking about.”

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Ernie: “I guess I’m meaning to say my relationship with God needs more intimacy and a lot less religious activity.”

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Me: “Oh, OK. I think I follow you.”

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Ernie: “Yeah I’m thinking something purposeful like one version says it in Matthew 6:33, ‘But more than anything else put God’s work first and do what he wants …’”

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Me: “Sounds right. You’re saying your current relationship with God is more religion and less relationship, right?”

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Ernie: “Yes. I need less religious activity and more relationship activity.” He took a sip of his iced tea.

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Me: “You mean faith with more follow through?” I wished I had some salt for my french fries.

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Ernie: “Um sure, if faith is relationship follow through and not religious follow through.”

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Me: “Can you give me a for instance?” I took another big bite of my hamburger.

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Ernie: “Don’t you feel sometimes you’re just going through the motions? That what you’re doing is just working to keep from breaking a rule, like going to church because it’s Sunday or saying ‘now I lay me down to sleep’ because it’s bedtime. Religion swapped for relationships. Do you ever feel like that?”

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Me: “Um … I suppose so.”

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Ernie: “Religion doesn’t supply me long term satisfaction. I keep doing religion for what? To feel closer to God? Religion promises fulfillment but religion is an empty cup when I’m thirsty.”

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Me: So okay, how do you please God?” I took my final bite of burger and another sip of tea.

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Ernie: “Put God first and do what God wants. And love everyone the way Jesus loves you and me without conditions.”

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Me: “Wow! Easier said than done.”

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Ernie: “Truthfully it cannot be done apart from an intimate relationship with God, that’s what I’m thinking.”

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Me: “Hmm.”

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Ernie: “I’ve concluded I want to quit religion and full up my relationship with God.” Ernie crumpled up his empty lunch sack with his napkin and empty iced teacup inside and threw it all in the trash.

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Me: “Yeah that makes sense. I’m with you.” I started the car, cranked up the A/C and the windows, and backed out of the shade and headed to our essential job.

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Ernie: “Christianity isn’t a religion. Christianity is a relationship. An intimate relationship with God is the power-bar of Christianity.”

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Me: “I’ll have to try that.”

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