After so much objection and rejection of Christianity throughout the ages, one might think there is something to discuss: What is the truth behind this Jesus, for so much hate, acrimony, sacrifice, humility, and transformation to follow? We don’t hear so much resistance about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, or other religions. We don’t hear people rejecting names like Muhammad or Allah, or debating their historicity. No one else claimed to be God, was crucified, died, and rose from the dead after making such a claim. No one else fulfilled as many prophesies in one lifetime as Jesus did during His.

MAN-MADE?

How is it then, that there is so much shunning of Christianity, so much commotion over its veracity? If the Bible is so unreal, so shoddy, conjured from imaginary minds, why fight so arduously over it? Why invest so much time, energy, and debate over something supposedly easily laid to rest?

Truly, how much credence and grandeur is sufficient that we would argue the Bible was “made up” by a human mind or minds? Are we so stubborn in our denial of the truth of the Bible and Jesus, to believe human intellect and wisdom, two-thousand years ago and earlier, was so indubitably incorrigible, that a team of people ingeniously invented 66 books over 1,500 years, collectively piecing together a redemption story for humanity? How much smarter and wiser are we now then, all this time later, to still be debating the outcome of that grandeur?

How has it become such an excessive burden to put an end to what is brushed off as a sham?

HALFWITTED OR FEARFUL

Furthermore, what does vying to disprove the Bible’s legitimacy say about us as a species? Is it pride, that we resist acquiescence and push against belief that a story from two millennium ago could be relevant for those alive today? Is it that we would believe ourselves halfwitted to accept the merits of an ancient Holy Book; most urgently that faith in Christ is our only way to Heaven? Does this reveal wisdom about humans—a sense of caution to inspect a warning from so many generations ago? Or does it reveal our obdurateness; an irrefutable inner fear of the truth?

DISMANTLING INACCURACY & IMPERTINENCE

Reason would rebuke the argument for the Bible’s relevance and veracity by countering that something so old and passed down is unreliable anyways. But evidence points to just the opposite: so many manuscripts over the ages help more clearly corroborate the consistency of the Word of God, promising inerrancy due to the thousands of copies to compare to. With more copies comes more opportunity to find error, and more promise when no errors are discovered.

For the argument that something so old shouldn’t have influence after so many generations, I beg to differ by quoting directly from Scripture: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

BLESSED WITH FAITH

If we are wrested from our minds by faith in the esoteric promise of the Word of God, we should consider ourselves blessed. Nothing more prominent, crucial, or life-changing could occur in a human lifespan, than to realize God has given us what we do not deserve (mercy), that Jesus did what He did not have to do out of love (sacrifice), and that our future is forever changed because of His grace.

There is no hope without Jesus Christ. There is no life without God. There is no transformation without genuine faith; there is no faith without grace. I would like to encourage us today to seek the presence of God, remember His goodness, and praise Him for His glory.