C.S. Lewis said: “I am not asking anyone to accept Christianity if his best reasoning tells him that the weight of evidence is against it.”
This has been my perspective for decades. If the Christian faith cannot withstand scrutiny, then it is unworthy to be believed.
Author Arthur W. Lindsley further underscores this sentiment, “If Christianity cannot face the toughest questions of our age, it will be the first time in two thousand years. Many believers today are not aware that the most brilliant minds of all history have been believers. Thinkers such as Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Edwards, and Lewis, have given answers to the classic objections.”
And yet, a greater number of people are jettisoning Christian values and even more so Christian precepts.
The natural question is why?
To be sure, the church has done its fair share of harm with its greater emphasis on consumerism and the continuing internal scandals. The family and community abdication of responsibility and religious reverence has brought home an unwelcome harvest. And detractors have gained the upper hand and left the faithful backpedaling and on their heels.
If the Christian faith is truly light in the darkness, then adherents and leadership do well to avoid acquiescence to culture and trends in favor of boldness and fidelity. Of course, these come at a cost.
As the God of the gaps decreases, namely the idea that science can continue to explain the nature of existence, people are prone to think these ancient stories are just that—ancient and based upon superstition.
And honestly, I get that. The earth is not flat but round. The bible, however, never said it was round; it only said that God created it.
So, while science chips away at past mysteries and the dogmatism that followed, it doesn’t seem God has yet to be disproven.
It is worrisome as a pastor to sense how little interest there is in theology in general and especially in the claims of the bible.
To illustrate this, I offer an analogy; most of us when we are sick want to have a diagnosis of our malady. Doctors and medical testing give us a clearer picture of what is happening in our bodies. WebMD offers additional resources to know our conditions better and so on.
It seems a parallel exists regarding the nature being. This is where theologians, ancient texts, and spiritual truths tell of our origins and eternal needs. And yet, unlike WebMD or doctor’s visits, for an unknown reason many seem less inclined to want to know.
If one thinks that science will one day be able to reveal the mysteries that remain, then, perhaps, theology is a waste of time.
However, it seems unlikely that such an outcome is possible.
At a minimum, the evidence in favor of God is worthy of our best efforts.
Put God on trial. See how it turns out.
Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church in Kingman, AZ.
