It was Monday morning. Already pushing hot in Tucson … the forecast 104 without a possibility of rain.
Ernie and I slow walked to the bus stop to catch the ride that would take us to our downtown jobs. That’s when Ernie asked, Why are you a Christian?
I stumbled and then caught my balance. “Well, I’ve always been a Christian?” I mumbled.
“Any other reason?” Ernie pressed.
“Uh, I just believe it.” I said (annoyed).
“Is that all?”
“How about because God called me to believe?” I retorted (more annoyed).
Ernie didn’t acknowledge my annoyance and challenged me, “How about because it’s true?
I jumped on that. “Right because the Bible says so,” I said confidently.
“What if there wasn’t any Bible?” Ernie responded. “Would you have any reasonable evidence for the truth of Christianity?”
“Um, where are you going with this Ernie?”
Ernie replied, “OK, listen, a Buddhist can say ‘I’ve always been a Buddhist.’ Or ‘my parents we’re Buddhist so I’m a Buddhist.’ Or ‘I just believe, I don’t have to have a reason or any evidence.’ Wouldn’t this be blind faith or accidental faith or faith founded on experience?”
I was reluctant to consent to Ernie’s point. “Maybe.”
“Muslims could say the same things. Atheists could say the same things. Mormons could say the same things. Their belief is supported by experience without objective proof. Could these people verify, ‘Because it’s true,’ with a statement that offers reasonable evidence?”
“Uh, I don’t think so.”
“Well how about Christianity? Why is it true? Is there any reasonable proof Christianity is true?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“What would you offer as evidence you believe in Christ?”
“The Bible.”
“OK the Bible, that’s another topic, but what besides the Bible?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“What if it isn’t? What would you say?”
“I don’t know … I’d probably walk away.”
“And how would that be helpful to the person asking you why you are a Christian?”
“OK, OK, so what would you say?”
“Let me offer three choices. 1) Evidence of first cause. 2) Evidence of purpose or design. 3) Evidence of universal morality and ethics.”
“Huh?”
“Reasonable proof that God is the un-caused cause of all that is caused. Cause and effect. Or, the universe, the earth, and the human has a perfect design. A poem has a poet so to speak. Or everyone in whatever culture knows it’s wrong, i.e. not right, to hurt children.”
“Wow! Really?”
Before Ernie sat down on the bus bench he concluded, “There is ample and rational evidence for why I am a Christian. So, why are you a Christian?”
(Tons of Evidence HERE).
Music:
Plumb I Need You Now
