I once had a
discussion with a fine young lady about her faith. “What really do you believe about God and hereafter?” I wanted to
know. She was a bit hesitant at first and then told me frankly she would not
exactly fit into a particular mould of faith. She said something like this: “I just find bits of faith that
resonate with me and I identify with it. I have travelled around many parts of
the world and have met people of diverse faiths. They are all essentially good
people sincerely working on moral living. It would be unjust to believe or
declare them wrong simply because I was not born where they are. Let’s face it
if I were not born in this part of the world I would not be a Christian!” My friend
was willing to regard herself as a Christian in terms of population statistics,
but was not persuaded the Christian belief is the only, ultimate truth. Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is
the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone. We must be
saved through him! Act 4:12(ERV)
I am sure a
lot of people struggle with such matters. They wrestle with thoughts like “You are not even in the clear
majority; other faiths have graphic and real experiences of the supernatural.
How can you claim to be exclusively correct? This Christian thing may be your
own truth, your own expression, but surely not THE truth, ONLY truth to the
exclusion of all others.” My answer to that is this: if the Christian
faith is without distinct proof then you should put it on similar pedestal as
other faiths. However listen when Paul addresses people from other faiths: So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that
the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by
humans using their own imagination and skill.
Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone
everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the
world with justice through a man whom he has appointed. He has given proof of
this to everyone by raising him from the dead Act
17:29-31(ISV). In essence
the Christian faith is not a fantasy. It is reasonable. Secondly and
importantly: the Christian faith is evidence based. The proof is the
resurrection of Jesus. Does any other faith have a saviour who died, rose from
the grave and still lives bodily? Mark you the resurrection is no empty claim: After his death Jesus showed the apostles a lot of
convincing evidence that he was alive. For 40 days he appeared to them and
talked with them about the kingdom of God Act 1:3(GW). I challenge you: examine the proofs of
Jesus’ resurrection and doubt to more. Reason and proof are incontestable, not
so?
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