Why Christianity?
I was once a dinner guest of a family composed of Christian believers and skeptical unbelievers. The food and drink was enjoyable, and the company was even better. Our conversation flowed freely as we discussed sports, local politics, and history. The evening wore on and the more we talked the more jovial and deeper the conversation became.
At one point the question was very directly, boldly, and pointedly asked by the father of the home who was not a believer: “So why Christianity? Why not some other belief? Why not Buddhism, or Islam? Why did you decide ‘this must be true for me’?”
Why did you decide this must be true for me?
I gave a three-part answer about absolutes, foundations, and history.
Absolutes
I first referenced the concept of absolutes. Any belief regarding the divine must have sufficient answers about the divine throughout time and geography. For a religious belief that forms an imperative for humanity to be true, it must be true, not just from the perspective of the individual (based on their subjective experience), but also for all humanity. Any religious belief that is only true for a limited time, limited place, or limited people will result in a belief of a very limited diety. When one belief claims to be absolutely true (across time, space, and geography), that must be tested against other absolute competing claims. The absolute claims of Christianity when tested against other competing religious claims, have the best case regarding their appeal to absolutes across time, geography, and human experience (2 Peter 1:20-21). Religious claims, if true, cannot be only true for the individual, they must also have been true before the individual was conceived, and after the individual has died. I ended the first part of my answer by summarily stating that for Christianity to be true at all, it must not be true just for me, but it must be true in all its claims.
Foundations
I then referenced foundational questions. Every religious conviction, belief, system, or claim usually has 1-2 assertions that form the fulcrum of belief. The whole validity of the religion may be shown based on the truth, or untruth of the assertions made. Like the emperor who was exposed with no clothes, every belief is fully unmasked, unveiled, and proved either trustworthy or foolhardy when the foundational propositions of the religion are put to the test. The foundational assertion of Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus. The whole of the claims of Christianity rides on the foundational claim that Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead. (Mark 16:1-8)
History
The last part of my response was to bring up the historical aspect of belief. Nearly every religious belief, from remote tribal religions to those most popular worldwide, makes claims about the past. Those claims about events of the past form the basis for present belief. While many claims have a long-standing history behind them, the most historically accurate, and historically testified events of any religion in the history of the world are those events relating to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The father of the household appreciated my response and responded by saying “Wow, sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought and effort into your beliefs”. I encouraged and challenged him “I hope you’ve done the same. Would you share why you aren't a Christian?” The conversation then moved from the deep into a more joking tone “Maybe I am now” he laughed “You’ve made a great case”.
How would you answer?
The evening continued with more conversations, laughter, deep conversation, and excellent dessert. At the end of the evening, the Father committed to come with his family to a worship service in the future and he would begin to think more deeply about his own beliefs.
As we celebrate and rejoice in the realities of our risen savior, I want to encourage you today to consider how you would answer the question if a friend, family member, co-worker, or new acquaintance asked you “Why Christianity? Why not some other belief?”. There are a great many ways to answer that question, but I hope in all our various ways of answering, we always point back to the joyful hope that we have in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
Be ever prepared to give a reason for the hope that you have in Christ. Take some time today and think about how you’ll respond the next time you are asked “Why are you a Christian”?
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