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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

Ultimate Reward

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I’d like to forget my day at work. Yet, I was replaying my painful day in my head as Ernie and I stood by one of the downtown Tucson bus benches waiting for our route carrier to come by and begin moving us toward our northwest homes.

Adding to my mental misery the spring afternoon sun was way too warm for this time of year. Sweating I closed my eyes trying to pretend I could shut out the world and be alone and feel sorry for myself. That’s when Ernie said, “What would you say is the absolute ultimate reward?”

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Not paying attention but hearing Ernie anyway while mauling through my crummy day I said, “To have the chance to live this day over again and make it better.”

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Ernie played along. “OK, why would living the day over again be your ultimate reward?”

Without hesitating, I said, “I could change things that were embarrassing, uncalled for, and insensitive.”

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“Hmm, so, living the workday over again would be your ultimate reward?”

Reasoning it out I said, “Well, maybe not my ultimate reward.”

“Good to hear you say that because that’s my point.”

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Lost I thought ‘point, what point? What did you mean?’ “I’m sorry, what’s your point?”

I could see Ernie was annoyed with me. But showing calm he said, “Naturally, of course, there are many rewards in this life, aren’t there?”

“I guess so.”

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“For instance, your new puppy welcomes you home when no one else does. Or from the Family room, you smell, drifting in from the kitchen oven, your favorite peach cobbler pie. Or you’re thrilled because you finally have free-time to research something on the internet that is important to you.”

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Following his point now I said, “OK, I get it.”

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“However, what do these possible rewards have in common?”

‘What?’ “Nothing.”

“Wrong answer. All of those things are temporary rewards. None of them is your ultimate reward.”

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Irritated, my jaw tightened. “Fine, what’s my ultimate reward?”

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“Heaven.”

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Sighing I said, “OK … that’s a point”

“A lot of us don’t consider heaven the ultimate reward because we’re lost in the details of our daily life and cannot comprehend this ultimate reward … it’s too big for us … it’s too grand … it’s too overwhelming,” Ernie concluded.

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“Um, I need to consider that. It may change my day.”

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SONG

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Amazon books

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An Interview with God

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I thought I might have more difficulty than I did getting an interview with God.

In the middle of the restaurant, sitting across the table from God, on a gloomy beginning of the year morning, I plunged right in with my questions:

ME: Just so I get this right, how do you spell your name?

GOD: Upper case G,-small case o,-small case d. God.

ME: And how old are you?

GOD: I’m ageless. I have no beginning and no end.

ME: OK, and where do you live?

GOD: Anywhere and everywhere I choose to.

ME: Right. So, how did you get started on this Rescue the People Project?

GOD: Actually, it was before the beginning of people. But I would say it happened when someone messed up my relationship with people.

ME: Do you recall where that was specifically?

GOD: Yes. Many call it the Garden of Eden?

ME: What happened in the Garden of Eden?

GOD: People believed a lie and it caused trouble.

ME: What kind of trouble?

GOD: The kind of trouble that couldn’t be fixed by saying ‘I’m sorry’ or by not doing anything else disastrous.

ME: I see. Uh, if it’s alright let me skip ahead a bit and ask directly how did the relationship with you and people get fixed?

GOD: Jesus.

ME: Jesus?

GOD: Yes, I made a promise in the Garden of Eden. I made a promise to two people to make everything right again. I would come for them and give them a choice to fix the broken relationship between us.

ME: You’re suggesting Jesus did this? When? How?

GOD: It’s the good news story, many call it the Christmas and Easter story.

ME: The Christmas and Easter story?

GOD: Yes. I came to reignite the relationship with people by being born as a baby in Bethlehem.

ME: You mean baby Jesus?

GOD: Of course. But of course, Jesus isn’t a baby anymore.

Jesus grew up. Jesus showed everyone who would pay attention who I Am. Jesus was misunderstood. Jesus was ridiculed. Jesus was persecuted. Jesus died on a Roman cross.

But the foundation of restoring my relationship with all people is that Jesus didn’t stay dead. Jesus came back to life. Jesus, now, is alive and active.

ME: And this means?

GOD: Well, John 3:16,17, right?

3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

ME: Thus your meaning, Christmas and Easter.

Listen, thanks for your time. If there are other questions I think of how can you be reached?

GOD: Through prayer.

ME: Hmm, yes. Anything else?

GOD: How about Merry Christmas and Happy New Year?

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