DO YOU REALLY

KNOW WHAT
YOU BELIEVE?
AND DO YOU KNOW WHY?
.

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS
AND RESOURCE GUIDE

HUGO SCHRAER
2015
doyouknowwhyyoubelieve@gmail.com
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WARNING!!
If you are a Christian student and planning to
go to college, statistics indicate that you have a
70% probability of abandoning your Christian
beliefs! And thats before you finish your freshmen
year!
If you are not planning on going to college, you
still have a 61% probability of abandoning your
Christian beliefs after high school.

DOES THIS CONCERN YOU?

Statistics show that of the Christian students
who go to college, 70% will abandon their Christian
beliefs before the end of their freshmen year. With
this high percentage, do you think that most youth
groups and churches are preparing their students
for the challenges to their students beliefs, which
they will face after high school?
If you are a Christian and you want to have a
greater probability of being part of the 30%, and be
prepared for many of the challenges of college,
keep reading.
If you are not a Christian and you wonder if
there really is evidence for Christianity, please
read on.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHY THIS RESOURCE GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1. SELF-CHECK - HOW GOOD ARE YOU? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2. WORLDVIEW AND PHILOSOPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
WORLDVIEWS AND COLLEGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3. CHALLENGING STATEMENTS FOR CHRISTIANS . . . . . . . . 45
THERE IS NO TRUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
CHRISTIANS NEED TO STOP BEING INTOLERANT . . . . . . . . . 52
ALL ROADS LEAD TO GOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
YOU SHOULDN'T JUDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
CHRISTIANS ARE HYPOCRITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
SCIENCE IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN KNOW REALITY . . . . . . 64
HAS ANYONE SEEN OR HEARD GOD? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD AND ISNT WORTHY OF WORSHIP . 66
CHRISTIANITY IS JUST A CRUTCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
BELIEFS ARE DUE TO CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . 69
IF I DON'T ACCEPT JESUS WILL I GO TO HELL? . . . . . . . . . . 71
If God Is All Powerful, Can He Make A Rock So Big . . . . . 72
JESUS IS A COPY CAT SAVIOR and CHRISTIANITY
IS A COPY CAT RELIGION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THE BIBLE IS DEROGATORY TO WOMEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THE BIBLE PROMOTES SLAVERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
REVISIONIST HISTORY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. APOLOGETICS (To Make A Defense For) . . . . . . . . . . . .
REASONS TO LEARN EVIDENCES FOR CHRISTIANITY . . . . . .

73
76
76
77

82
97
5. EVIDENCES FOR CHRISTIANITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
TRUTH ICE CREAM OR INSULIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
GOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
GOD, EVIL, AND PAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
CAN EVOLUTION EXPLAIN MORALS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
WHO CREATED GOD? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
THE BIBLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
PROPHETIC EVIDENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
WHAT ABOUT CLAIMED SCIENTIFIC ERRORS IN THE BIBLE? 149
A CHALLENGE TO THE BIBLE FROM WITHIN . . . . . . . . . . 150
JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
THE TRINITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
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6. HAS CHRISTIANITY BENEFITED THE WORLD? . . . . . . . . 170

WHAT ABOUT THE CRUSADES, WITCH TRIALS, INQUISITIONS? 174
7. SHARING THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
THE WAY OF THE MASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
TACTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
I CAN'T BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO WOULD CREATE ME
KNOWING I WOULD SIN, AND THEN HOLD ME GUILTY . . . . 194
WHAT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FROM OTHER RELIGIONS? . 201
MORMONISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
JEHOVAHS WITNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
ISLAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
WICCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

8. SALVATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
WHY IS SALVATION NECESSARY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
WHY CANT GOD JUST FORGIVE OUR SIN

WHY DOES THERE NEED TO BE A PRICE FOR SIN? . . . . . . . 246

IS SIN REALLY THAT BAD, AND WHY DOES GOD HATE IT? . . . . . . 247
DOES EVERYONE NEED SALVATION? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
WHY DID GOD CREATE US IF HE KNEW THAT OUR SIN
WOULD REQUIRE JESUS CHRISTS DEATH? . . . . . . . . . . . 248
DOES GOD WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAVED?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
HAS CHRIST PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY OF SALVATION
TO EVERYONE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
CAN WE BE GOOD ENOUGH THAT GOD THINKS US RIGHTEOUS? . 250
IF IM GUILTY OF SIN, WHAT PUNISHMENT DO I DESERVE? . . . . . 251
IF JESUS PAID FOR MY SIN AND MY GOOD WORKS DONT COUNT,
WHY DO I NEED TO BE GOOD AND DO GOOD WORKS? . . . . 252
CAN I REALLY KNOW IM SAVED, AND CAN I LOOSE MY
SALVATION IF I REALLY BLOW IT? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
DOESNT GOD WANT ME TO GET MY LIFE ON TRACK FIRST? . . . 254
IF JESUS PAID FOR MY SINS, ARENT I FORGIVEN
EVEN IF I DONT DECIDE TO ACCEPT HIS GIFT? . . . . . . . . 255

9. RESOURCES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
THE BIBLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
TEMPTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
TITHING AND GIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
THE TRIBULATION AND END TIMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
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MONEY AND FINANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273

Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
LEADING CHRISTIAN SPEAKERS AND THINKERS. . . . . . . . . . 276
TERMINOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
CHRISTIAN APOLOGETIC SITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
APOLOGETICS DEFENDING THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY . . . 281
Answers to Christianitys Critics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
FREE ONLINE APOLOGETICS TRAINING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
COMPREHENSIVE SITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
COUNTRY, CULTURE, AND CURRENT EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . 283
CULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
PROPHESY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
SITES WITH AUDIO & VIDEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
SHARING THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
SITES TO GET YOU THINKING DEEPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
TRUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
WORLDVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285

CULTURAL ISSUES CHALLENGING TO CHRISTIANS . . . . . 285

CURRENT GOVERNMENT ACTIONS POTENTIALLY

AFFECTING CHRISTIANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Abortion and Embryonic Stem Cell Research . . . . . . . . 286
Creation Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Economics and Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Homosexuality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Modesty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Dating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Pornography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Sex Outside of Marriage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304

DEFENDING AGAINST PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT . . . . . . 311

RECOMMENDED FULL LENGTH VIDEOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
RECOMMENDED PODCASTS/APPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
LIST OF RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR APOLOGETICS . . . . . . . . 313
SITES WITH BOOKS AVAILABLE TO READ ONLINE . . . . . . . . . . 313
ONLINE AUDIO BOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
APOLOGETIC STUDY BIBLE FOR STUDENTS QUESTIONS . . . . 314
APOLOGETIC STUDY BIBLE - QUESTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

WHY THIS RESOURCE GUIDE

This guide was created to provide evidences for the truths
of Christianity, and to provide resources so that you can further
study the subjects presented. It is my hope that both Christians and
non-Christians will benefit from the information contained within this
guide.
If you are a Christian, this is a resource which will enable
you to learn many of the verifiable evidences for the truths of
Christianity, as well as learn answers to many of the common
questions and challenges to those truths. The earlier warning
confirms that most Christian students know few if any of the actual
evidences for Christianity.
If you are a non-Christian and you are willing to honestly
consider the evidences for Christianity, this is a resource which will
provide answers to many of the questions you might have. It also
provides solid answers to the challenges raised against Christianity,
and shows the problems with the challenges.
As a resource guide, it is not necessary to read it through
from start to finish as you might read a novel. It would be impossible
to take in all the information it contains by only reading through it
once. The saying that comes to mind is, It would be like trying
to take a drink of water from a fire hose. You can go to any
section you would like to learn (more) about. My purpose in placing
the sections in the order they are is that there is a logical
progression to the subjects. And similar to learning Math, having a
knowledge of earlier sections give greater insight into later sections.
For this reason, if you dont initially read through the
subjects in the order they are listed, I recommend that at some point
you do go through all of the sections in order. This is particularly
true if you are new to studying about the truths of Christianity. As
most students are typically new to a study of these evidences, I
highly recommend that your first time reading the information is to
go through the sections in the order they are presented. I believe
you will get the most out of this guide using this method. Again,
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dont hesitate to go to any section that looks interesting to you, or

that you are looking for answers in that subject area.
When I first thought to create this a few years back, my
desire was to provide a resource for high school students at the
church my family attends. I wanted to put together kind of an ALLIN-ONE resource guide for students. Working with high school
students for the last 20+ years, I came to realize that time and
schedule obligations students are under really impact their ability to
attend topic instruction extending over 2 or more weeks. This guide
will allow students to more fully investigate the topics included here
as their schedules allow, and also keep them from feeling that they
missed important information due to their schedules.
I have included a number of links throughout this guide, and
a large categorized section of links in the back. This will provide
you with additional sites for greater depth of study of the topics in
this guide. This way you will be able to learn more about the
subjects, as well as become more familiar with the persons and
organizations providing information on these subjects.
This resource guide originally started out the size of a
business card with websites on categories of Truth, God, The Bible,
and Jesus, so that anyone would be able to research information
about these subjects. I realized that I needed to put the subjects
into greater context rather than just listing them on a card, so it grew
into a small foldout. After a number of additional revisions to add
content and clarify sections, it has now grown to its present size.
When I first learned of the many different pieces of
information and evidences in this guide I was impressed at how
effectively they answered many of the questions and challenges
presented against Christianity. I came to the realization that others
could benefit from this information too. This way, more Christians
would be able to answer the questions and challenges raised
against Christianity, and non-Christians would have valid reasons
to consider the truths of Christianity.
The information is in various articles, audio, and video. I
have included links to many of these pieces of information, so that
you can access them with a simple mouse click. I highly
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recommend reading, listening to, and viewing as much of the

material at these links as you can, because many of the links
contain information covering more information than just the subject
they are included in. As well, these authors are much more
effective at presenting their information.
I am sure there are more websites Ive not discovered
providing evidences for Christianity than the ones included in this
guide. If you know of others which you feel would be valuable,
please email me at the address on the cover.
While my original intent was to create a resource for
Christian high school students, I realized that students of other
ages, as well as non-Christian students and Christian and nonChristian adults might find the information valuable. It is my goal
that if you are a Christian, you will find the information useful for
gaining confidence in Christian truths and the sharing of those
truths. If you are not a Christian, it is my goal that you will find the
information useful for honestly considering the evidences for the
truths of Christianity. And if those evidences prove Christianity true
beyond a reasonable doubt, the implications of that truth to you, and
options to consider.
I believe these evidences provide significant confirmation to
the truths of Christianity. And since OBJECTIVE TRUTHS apply
everywhere, these truths apply not only to Christians, but to
everyone. And since these truths have implications, these
implications apply to everyone as well. It is because of my concern
about these implications and what they mean for each persons
eternity, that I feel so strongly about sharing this information with
others.
If you are planning on attending college the initial 70%
WARNING should be a wake-up call. Of course, whether or not you
attend college, your beliefs will be challenged. The challenges to
our beliefs are subtle before high school, not so subtle during the
high school years, and sometimes quite confrontational after high
school, especially in college. If you are a Christian student, I believe
these resources will answer questions you may have and eventually
will have, and provide answers to challenges you might be faced
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with. I wish I had known this information when I was a student.

Unfortunately, the extensive resources available now werent
available when I was in high school.
If you are not a Christian, thank you for your time in reading
this and being willing to consider the information. If this information
is true, which I believe can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,
there are eternal implications to consider. Ignoring these
implications will not make them go away.
The many websites listed within this guide will provide you
with the resources to investigate each topic in greater depth. They
were all active at the time of this writing. If you find a link down,
please use the email address on the title page to let me know so
that I can update the guide. If you do find a link down, you may be
able to locate the resource by performing a search on that site, a
web search using key-words, or web search using the title from that
link or article. The content may have been moved to a new location
on that site. As well, the content may also be available on one or
more other sites.
Ultimately, any belief system, Christianity included, should
be believed or not believed because of the evidence. It shouldnt
be believed because someone wants it to be true, (or not believed
because someone wants it to be false for that matter either). If
Christianity was put on trial, what would the evidence prove
beyond a reasonable doubt? That is what we will consider
here.
I am indebted to the teachers and philosophers listed
throughout this guide, who have made many of their resources
available for free on their site and the sites of others, and are also
listed throughout this guide. Their resources have provided a
tremendous self-education opportunity in all of these topics, for
myself and so many others. I hope you take advantage of them.
If you find the resources of these ministries to be a benefit
to you, I encourage you to contribute to these ministries. They have
made an eternal impact on many, and are enabling others to make
an eternal impact as well. This resource guide would not have been
9

possible without the information they and others have generously

provided for free, through their websites and the websites of others.
Considering this guide to a great degree is a compilation of
information from these ministries, and that these ministries have
provided so much information freely, there will never be a charge
for this guide. This guide is my compilation of the information; but
it is their information. You have full permission to share this guide.
Ive created it in PDF format so that it is in a very common format,
and also can be easily emailed to others.
If you have any suggestions of additional content and/or
suggestions to better clarify the information and make it more
helpful, please email your suggestions to the email address on the
title page. Please also let me know if you have any questions which
are not answered by the current content, and if this guide has been
helpful to you in your quest for the truth.
Thank you!
Hugo Schraer
Again, this guide is in PDF format. This will allow you to
read it on your computer, tablet, and smartphone. If you
enable the table of contents/bookmarks feature on your PDF
reader, you will be able to quickly access the different sections
of the guide. All the links can be clicked to go to the linked
webpage if reading on a computer. If reading on your phone
or tablet, you will need to manually enter the links into the
address bar in your browser.
My apologies for any grammar or punctuation mistakes
you find. Ive read and re-read through this guide, but as I am
not degreed in English or Literature Im sure that Ive missed a
number of them. My primary desires have been to provide the
information enclosed so that it will strengthen the foundation of
Christians, correct many of the common errors believed by
non-Christians about Christianity, and bring non-Christians
actual evidences showing that Christianity is worth giving
serious consideration to. Thank you for looking past any
grammar and punctuation errors you find and focusing on the
content. Thankfully, the validity of the information isnt proved
nor disproved due to grammar errors I havent caught.
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Introduction
Have you ever really thought about what will happen to you
after this life? Have you really thought about why you believe what
you do about what happens after this life? Many people have
beliefs theyve accepted without ever really checking to see if there
are evidences for those beliefs.
I remember when I was in high school I didnt give much
thought to the reasons for the beliefs I had, including the beliefs that
had to do with what happens after we die. At that time I believed
that God would weigh my good works against my bad, and if my
good outweighed my bad, I would get to go to heaven. Kind of like
GRADING ON THE CURVE. I accepted many of the beliefs I held
because I was raised with them. While in high school, I started to
think about what I believed, and also the reasons I had to justify
what I believed. I wanted the reasons for my beliefs to be more
than just because I was raised with them.
Since high school, Ive found evidences which have
changed some of my beliefs, especially my belief about going to
heaven and my good outweighing my bad. Ive also found
evidences which have reinforced other beliefs. Maybe you have
started to think about what you believe, and why. If you havent yet
started to think about the reasons you believe what you do, I hope
the information in this guide will motivate you to consider the
importance of what you believe, and to really consider the
evidences you have to believe what you believe.
If you were already wondering, Why is what we believe
important? That is a great question! The reason it is important is
because most of us live consistent with what we really believe.
Beliefs, (or ideas), have consequences, and the consequences of
some beliefs can last for all eternity.
If the teachings of Christianity about what happens after this
life are true, then all of us will spend eternity in one of two places.
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If there is even the slightest possibility that all of us will go to one of

two eternal destinations, isnt it important to consider the evidence?
The major difference between now and back when I was in
high school is the Internet. The Internet didnt exist until about 15
years after I graduated from high school. During my high school
years the only place I could go for information was the local library,
and that was five miles away. How much more information is
available now through the Internet? Imagine not having the Internet
till 15 years from now. Where would you go to do research, to find
answers to the questions you might have?
There are vast numbers of resources available through the
Internet, so you dont have the limitation of only having access to
one library, as I had. With the information and links in this guide,
you dont need to go to the library, leave your house, or even your
tablet or smart phone. You can access so much more information
than was available to me when I was in high school! And more
information than I thought would ever be available and so easily
accessible. The Internet truly is amazing! With access to so much
information though, I see two potential problems.
The first is that with this amazing access to so much
information it can sometimes be difficult to find specific answers to
specific questions. There is a saying that really illustrates this:
Its like trying to take a drink of water from a fire hydrant
This is equally true whether the questions are important or not so
important. If youve not thought about some of the important
questions of life or are not quite sure what they are, here are a few
examples:

WHY AM I HERE? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?

WHERE DID I COME FROM? WHERE AM I GOING WHEN I DIE?
IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH?
IS THERE A GOD?
Have you ever thought about any of these questions? Most
people spend more time thinking about a vacation destination than
they spend thinking about their eternal destination.
Check www.questionsoflife.com
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The second problem is, how do we know that the

information we find is accurate? How can we be sure the
information is true? Many people still believe that simply finding
information on a website is proof that the information is true. This
is confirmed by what some had heard was a new feature of the new
iPhone 6, allowing it to be QUICK CHARGED in a microwave in just 90
seconds. A number of new owners didnt realize the claim was a
hoax because the website where they found the claim looked so
professional. These owners placed their phones in a microwave to
charge the phones. Instead, they ended up destroying their
phones. The following is one article bringing attention to this hoax:
www.loadthegame.com/2014/09/22/hoaxers-claim-iphone-6-microwavecharging-feature
These are some of the reasons why I created this guide. I
want to show why its important to consider these important
questions of life, present answers to these questions, and provide
verifiable evidences for the truths of the answers presented.
Answers which go BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.
I want to show evidences for the existence of God, the
accuracy and reliability of the Bible, and the significance of the
central person of the Bible, Jesus Christ. It is my intention that if
you already believe that Christianity is true, the evidences in this
guide will provide you with greater confidence in your beliefs and in
the truths of Christianity.
If you dont currently believe that Christianity is true, I hope
the evidences in this guide will answer some of the questions or
challenges you may have had, and give you reasons to seriously
consider the truths of Christianity and the implications of these
truths. When Greg Koukl of STAND TO REASONwww.str.org speaks
to a non-Christian audience, he tells them that he is not there to try
to convert them. He tells them that he wants to Put a stone in
their shoe, by giving them something to think about. I hope this
guide gives you something to think about too. Im confident that
after youve read through the information, you will find that
Christianity is really worth considering.

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There is a lot of incorrect information about Christianity, and

there are many who believe it. I can understand how non-Christians
would hold incorrect beliefs and why they would continue to do so,
but I was surprised when I found that many Christians believe
incorrect information as well. With the information in this guide I
hope to correct any misinformation you have come to believe as
truth, and also save you from needing to spend long hours
researching answers to some of the important questions of life as I
once did. I encourage you to verify the Biblical passages and the
information Ive included here, so that you are confident I have
included everything accurately and in context.
This first section is a SELF-TEST to see how good you are.
Most of us typically see ourselves as GOOD, because we compare
ourselves to the world around us. But are we really as good as we
think we are? This SELF-TEST will show us how good we really are
when using a standard almost everyone is familiar with, but which
most dont normally use or think about.
The second section examines the concept of WORLDVIEWS.
Worldviews are the framework into which we put the evidences we
find to validate the beliefs we hold. A persons beliefs are frequently
based more on their worldview than on the evidences. When a
person continues to believe a worldview that isnt supported by
evidence, it is primarily because they really want the worldview to
be true, and they view the evidences in such a way that they support
their belief. The misinformation believed about Christianity often
supports their beliefs, and they arent motivated to correct the
misinformation they believe.
If youve not heard the term
WORLDVIEW before, this section will describe it and show why it is
such an important part of what we believe is true.
The third section contains a number of the major claims and
statements which challenge the truths of Christianity. An example
of one of these claims is, There is no Truth. This means that we
cant really know with any confidence that anything is true. The
statement infers that if you cant know anything is true, you cant
know Christianity is true. This statement and others can seem very
challenging to the claims of Christianity, if we dont know how to
respond. As you will see though, there are problems with these
14

statements which become obvious once the statements are

examined. The statements actually work against themselves rather
than Christianity. This section answers many of these challenging
statements and claims.
The fourth section is called APOLOGETICS. Apologetics
means TO PROVIDE A DEFENSE OF OR FOR. When we have a belief,
apologetics is the reason BEHIND THE BELIEF, the WHY behind the
WHAT. This section shows why it is important to not only know that
evidences exist for what we believe, but to know some of the actual
evidences as well.
The fifth section contains many of the actual evidences for
the claims of Christianity. There are some who say that Christianity
is built on BLIND FAITH. Essentially, they mean that those who
believe the claims of Christianity believe them only because they
want to believe them, not because there is any real evidence. This
section shows actual evidences supporting the major claims of
Christianity. They will also say that CHRISTIANITY CONTRADICTS
SCIENCE. This fifth section shows how Christianity is actually
verified extremely well by science, and is very compatible.
I should clarify the usages of the word FAITH in this guide.
Many people have come to believe that having faith is the same as
HAVING A HOPE IN WHAT WE KNOW ISNT TRUE. They believe that to
have faith means to have no evidence, and that the person who has
faith is exercising wishful thinking. This isnt the Biblical definition
of the word faith.

FAITH, as a verb in the Bible and in this guide, is having

confidence in what you have good reason to believe. If you have
faith in what you expect a good friend to do, it is because theyve
proven themselves FAITHFUL in the past. Similarly, a Christians
FAITH in the future is based upon GODS FAITHFULNESS in the past.
The following quotes illustrate this Biblical meaning. Lee Strobel
states, "Faith is a step in the direction the evidence already
points." J.P. Moreland states, Faith is trust in what we have
reason to believe. The other meaning for the usage of faith is as
a noun, to indicate a persons religious belief, as in when we say,
They are of the ______ faith.
15

There is a saying that goes, "The heart cannot accept for

long what the mind rejects." Evidences give confidence to the
mind, and ultimately to the heart. The challenges made against
Christianity can be answered effectively. Many of the evidences in
this fifth section will be evidences youve possibly not seen before.
If you are a Christian, once you have read through these first
five sections, you should have a solid foundation for the truths of
Christianity. If you dont currently accept Christianity as true, I hope
my presentation of the evidences show Christianity as being worthy
of serious consideration. Whatever beliefs you hold, you should
have solid evidences for believing them. As to the significance of
evidences, whether you are Christian or not, do you really want to
believe something not supported by the evidence? And especially
concerning the beliefs of what happens after this life, do you really
want to base your eternal destination on a belief which is not
supported, and possibly proved wrong by the evidence?
The sixth section looks into whether Christianity has
benefitted the world or not. Can an argument be made for a positive
influence of Christianity on the world? And if Christianity has been
beneficial to the world, would this enough of a reason for to consider
its possible truth?
The seventh section will give you a few ideas to motivate
others to seriously think about the ideas of how good they are, and
where they could spend eternity. Many Christians avoid bringing
up the subject of life after death with others. This is usually because
they feel they will make the person they are talking with feel
uncomfortable, or they think that they themselves will come off
looking foolish. The seventh section shows very effective ways to
bring up the subject of what comes after this life; with family, friends,
and others. And these methods shouldnt make either of you or the
person youre talking with feel awkward. You will see in this section
tools to give you confidence in motivating those you share with to
start seriously thinking about life after death, and the consequences
of ignoring it. And if those you share with raise challenges, section
seven also shows how to respond to many of the typical challenges
you are likely to encounter.
16

These sections together provide many evidences for

Christianity as well as answers to the main challenges made
against Christianity and methods to discuss these subjects with
others.
The eighth section provides a detailed look at the subject of

SALVATION. Ive arranged this section in a QUESTION AND ANSWER

form, with many of the questions being ones Ive heard from others
and originally thought myself. I then use verses from the Bible to
answer the questions from the Bibles perspective, and include
additional clarifications. This way, you will have as full an
understanding of the subject of Salvation as I can think of.
The ninth and last section provides numerous websites,
covering all of the subjects presented here and many more. There
is also a list of leading Christian speakers, authors, and
philosophers, as well as their websites, and a list of many terms
common to the teachings of Christianity. The information in this
section will enable you to research the topics covered in this guide
in much greater depth, as well as some of the additional topics
found on the different websites and not included in detail here.
Considering terminology, when you think about the different
areas of knowledge; whether a school subject, a particular sport, or
an industry or process, knowing the definitions of the different terms
used gives you a greater understanding of that subject area. In
Mathematics, there are the QUADRILATERAL EQUATION, BISECTED
ANGLE, and PARALLELOGRAM.
In Football, there are the
CONVERSION,
INTERCEPTION,
FALSE
START,
TOUCHBACK,
TOUCHDOWN, etc. If you are not familiar with the terminology for a
subject you are at a disadvantage in being able to have as complete
an understanding of the subject as you do when you have a
knowledge of the terminology. As well, dont you typically enjoy
learning about a subject more when you understand the terms
specific to that subject?
Some of the terms specific to Christianity and evidences
are; RELATIVISM, POST MODERNISM, and ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT.
Ive provided a listing of many of them, and definitions for some.
17

Having this knowledge and the links in this guide will give you the
ability to search for and learn more about the specific terms.
While knowing this terminology is important. It is equally
important to realize that many of these terms are likely to confuse a
person you are talking with if they dont know the terms. I touch a
little more on this, and some of the concerns in the section, SHARING
THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY.
Two specific terms you will see used more than a few times
throughout this guide, are ARGUMENT and PROOF. The way
ARGUMENT is used here is not as a quarrel or heated disagreement.
In this guide these terms are used in the LEGAL sense, similar to a
courtroom. In a courtroom, the attorneys present ARGUMENTS about
the guilt or innocence of the defendant. They then provide evidence
or PROOFS to support their argument. Greg Koukl of www.str.org
found this very humorous illustration of this EVIDENCE / PROOF type
of argument.
Argument Clinic - John Cleese and Michael Palin - Monty Python
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUIA40uLlKw
Here are additional sites on evidences and logic:
Logical Fallacies www.logicalfallacies.info
Fallacy Files
www.fallacyfiles.org/taxonomy.html
Fallacy Detective http://christianlogic.com
Straight Thinking
www.reasons.org/explore/type/straight-thinking
I think the most accurate way to view this guide, is to view it
as a TOOLBOX and the different materials and methods as TOOLS.
My desire is not only that you know that tools exist, but also that
you are able to gain a proficiency with the various tools. This way
you can be encouraged in what you believe as a Christian, be able
to share these truths effectively with others and also be able to
defend against challenges to what you believe.
Think about taking tests in school. When was the last time
you enjoyed taking a pop-quiz or looked forward to a test or a final?
If you werent confident in your knowledge of the subject, you
probably werent very excited. But what if you had studied well and
18

had confidence in your knowledge, you might have actually looked

forward to taking the quiz. Knowledge gives us confidence! When
you are prepared, you do well. The same is true with questions
about and challenges to Christianity. When you are prepared to
respond to questions and challenges raised against Christianity,
you can effectively respond to those challenges, and respond in a
way that is respectful of the other person and not insulting to them.
There is a great military quote in this regard: The more you sweat
in training, the less you bleed in battle.
William Lane Craig indicates that being prepared allows you
to never worry about getting upset when challenged. What he has
found is that when you know the answer, you can remain calm in a
discussion. As an example, if someone claimed that 2+2=5, you
wouldnt get upset because you know the truth. Greg Koukl says,
When talking with someone, if either of you get upset, you
lose. If they get upset, you lose. If you get upset, you lose.
While this guide has many tools and links to tools, you will
need to invest time if you want to learn to use them and become
proficient with them. Hopefully you will become excited once you
see their effectiveness, and be motivated to learn them. As with
learning anything, once you start to use these tools you will become
much more comfortable in their usage and confident in presenting
them effectively.
Please realize that it has taken more than a few years to
discover these TOOLS so dont feel discouraged that you would
need to learn them in a short period of time. If I can encourage you,
I still feel I have a much better knowledge of these tools than I have
a proficiency in their usage. Whatever our ability, we can all strive
to become more proficient in everything we do. With greater usage
of these tools comes greater proficiency.
Even the speakers Ive reference in this guide continue to
pursue learning, even though many of them have Masters and
Doctorate degrees. In different speakers recordings, I periodically
hear the speaker reference something they are studying or learning.
If you are a Christian, learning should be a lifestyle and not just a
short term goal. One professor I reference throughout this guide is
19

Jay Wegter. In his audio recordings he describes initiating

conversations with others so that he can motivate them to think
about eternal matters and answer challenges they might have. His
accounts dont give the impression that he is hesitant when
approaching others. It is natural for us to have feelings of hesitation
when thinking of talking with others about these subjects. However,
with specific knowledge and practice, the prospect of talking with
someone about these subjects becomes far less intimidating. It
certainly sounds this way for Jay Wegter.
I believe the thought that motivates Jay above all others,
and is what excites him about speaking with others, is that he
realizes that God has placed him there at that moment in that
encounter with this other person. Jay knows that he might be the
last person God uses to bring this person to the point of thinking
about where they might spend eternity.
One of the things you can do to improve your knowledge
and confidence, is to read and re-read sections in this guide. As
this guide is more a reference guide and not a novel you read
through once, you will find value in reviewing sections youve not
yet become proficient in. Hopefully, with the table of contents and
the web links being clickable, you will be able to quickly go to any
section and/or access any web content linked.
When you think about a vehicle technician, they have tools
which allow them to perform different services. Depending on the
service, they will use specific tools. No one service requires the
usage of all the tools, however, the more tools they have and are
able to use effectively, the greater their ability to perform a wider
range of services. Similarly, each conversation we have with
someone will typically only require knowledge of a few of the tools.
Each situation is different though and the more proficiency you gain
with the tools in this guide, the greater the number of situations you
will be confident and capable in.
Whatever your passion, (playing a particular sport or
instrument, a game console, drawing, cooking or another), didnt it
take determination and a time investment to become proficient at
that ability? Just as an investment of time is required to improve
20

any ability we have, to learn and become proficient in the usage of

the tools in this guide will require determination and a time
investment. There is no getting around the fact that some effort is
required to become better in anything we do. In the end though,
isnt the investment of time learning these tools worth it, when you
realize that you might make a difference in someones life and their
eternal destination?
Even becoming proficient with the tools in this guide, you
will still encounter scenarios where you are presented with a
question or challenge with which you havent yet learned how to
respond. This does happen as it is difficult to think of all possible
questions, objections, and ways they will be presented.
As Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason (www.str.org) says, Its
OK not to know the answer to a question you havent been
asked before. However, its NOT OK to not know the answer the

second time you are asked. Gregs encouragement is that you

learn the answer so that you are prepared to effectively respond the
next time you are asked that question. Check out the TACTICS
section for some great information on this.
I hope your desire is to be involved in an effort which has an
eternal impact and results in eternal rewards, and I hope this
TOOLBOX becomes an aide to your efforts. I believe the following
quote effectively illustrates this point concerning what we decide is
worthy of our efforts,
"Only one life, twill soon be past.
Only what's done for Christ will last."CTStudd.

21

1. SELF-CHECK - How Good Are You?

The true test of a mans character is what he does when
no one is watching.
- John Wooden
Be more concerned with your character than your
reputation, because your character is what you really
are, while your reputation is merely what others think
you are.
- John Wooden
How would you respond to the following?
How good are you?
How would you feel if your most secret thoughts
became public knowledge?
What will people remember about you after this life?
_______________________
Ive placed this SELF-CHECK section at the beginning of the
guide because I believe that going through this section will put the
information in the following sections into proper context.
Most people think they are pretty good. You do, dont you?
I know I used to. Dont we feel this way because we compare
ourselves to others who we view as worse than we are? If we look
at history or even just the evening news we can see numerous
examples of people who are worse than we are. Doesnt comparing
our lives to them makes us feel much better about ourselves and
give us confidence that we really are pretty GOOD?
But what if the standard for GOOD is not just being better
than those we consider worse than we are? What if the standard
for GOOD is to live a perfect life? How GOOD would we be then? If
your standard isnt PERFECTION, then how good do you think we
really need to be? What is your standard for GOOD, and have you
actually been able to keep your own standard, which you have
determined?
22

Think about the possibility of Heaven. If there is a Heaven

would we be considered good enough to enter? If you are not a
Christian, you may not believe Heaven exists. But lets for a
moment consider the possibility that Heaven might actually exist.
Since most people are familiar with the Ten Commandments, lets
use them as the standard of good. Would we meet the standard?
Ask yourself, Have I obeyed all of the Ten
Commandments? When asked, most people say, Well, Ive
broken one or two, but nothing too serious, like murder, etc.
That is how I used to answer the question. So lets go through a
few of the Commandments and see how we do.
Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor. To Bear false witness is the legal terminology for
telling a lie about someone. Have you ever told a lie about
someone, even a small one? Have you ever lied to someone when
talking about yourself, your abilities, what you promised to do, etc.?
How many murders does one have to commit to be a murderer?
Just one, right? So telling one lie makes one guilty of lying. The
Bible warns that all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire
(Revelation 21:8). If youve told even one lie, what does that make
you? That makes you a liar, right? Guess what? Me too.
Exodus 20:15 "You shall not steal" Have you ever stolen
anything, even if it was very small? The value of the thing stolen
doesn't matter, does it? Petty theft is still theft. Have you ever taken
something that belonged to someone else; taken from work, from
school, from your parents, etc.? Have you ever download music,
movies, or software without paying for them? If you have ever
stolen anything, what does that make you? That makes you a thief,
right? Guess what? Im guilty of that one also.
Exodus 20:12 "You shall not commit adultery" Jesus
warned, "You have heard... 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I

say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart." The Bible mentions both
adulterers and fornicators, (those who have had sex before
marriage), as being in the same dilemma. Have you ever looked at
23

another person with lust? Then what does that make you? You are
an adulterer, right? And yes, Im guilty of this one also.
If we are honest we have to admit that we have broken all
three of these commandments. In breaking just these three, by
definition WE ARE LYING THIEVING ADULTERERS AT HEART. If God
were to judge us, would he find us innocent or guilty? I know I would
be found guilty. What if we looked at how successful weve been in
obeying the other seven commandments? Would this help us? If
youre like me, then no. Most of us have broken almost all of them
too, because the Bible indicates that we are not only guilty because
of our actions, but also guilty because of our motivations.
You may not use the Ten Commandments as your standard
for GOOD. If not, thats fine. What is your standard then? How do
you want others to treat you? Dont steal, dont lie, dont murder,
etc.? Hmmm, those standards are pretty similar to the Ten
Commandments, arent they?
Jay Wegter proposes a scenario to think about. He asks,
Could you claim to love and care for one of your friends, and
at the same time hate them in your heart, slander them, steal
from them, lie to them, treat them as a sex object, and plan
their murder?
Of course you cant. You know that its impossible to claim
that you love and care for your friend, and do the other things to
them too. Right?
Now think about this. Do you know you cant do this
because someone told you, or do you know it instinctively? You
dont need to be told, do you? Jay Wegter points out that the big
surprise about this question is that if you look at it closer, you will
see that six of the Ten Commandments are referenced in it.
Surprised? When you really think about this, you know these things
instinctively. Deep down dont you want others to live by these
commandments, at least in how they treat you? When you consider
the above scenario wouldnt it be fair to conclude that even if you
are not a Christian, you really do consider the Ten Commandments
a beneficial standard which we could all benefit from following?
24

Something else to think about, if you have determined your

own standard of good for your life. Have you ever truly lived up to
that standard, 100%, every single day? You see, whichever the
standard for good, even when it is a standard we create for
ourselves, we cant live up to it 100%. As much as we want to, we
cant be good enough. Is that surprising? Its not surprising to God.
The Bible indicates that God knows that we cant be good
enough. Romans 3:20 states, No one can be found innocent by

obeying the law. The law was given to show us how sinful we are.
Many believe that the closer they live up to the standards in the
Bible, the closer they are to going to heaven. According to the Bible,
this verse shows that our efforts will never make us good enough.
The second part of Romans 3:20 actually shows the purpose of the
law: The law was given to show us how sinful we are. Many
people mistakenly treat the Bible as a standard to try to live up to,
to establish how good they are.
So, one of the purposes of the Bible is not to show us how
good we need to be but actually to show us how bad we already
are. If you think of a mirror, when you look into it, are you looking
to see how perfect your appearance is or are you looking to see
what in your appearance needs improvement? What needs
improvement, right? The law is similar to the mirror in that it shows
us our true sinful condition. The difference is that unlike our
appearance in the mirror, we cant change our sinful condition.
A quote I heard some years ago shows the reality of sin and
how appealing it can seem,
Sin will take you farther than you want to go,
keep you longer than you want to stay,
and cost you more than you want to pay.
Consider Romans 3:23, "All have sinned and fall short of
the Glory of God". Romans 6:23 states, The wages of sin is
death. These two verses show how widespread sin is, ALL HAVE
SINNED, and also what we earn for our sin, DEATH.
What do you think of when you hear the word WAGES?
Arent wages what we earn for what we do? DEATH is separation
25

from God forever. So, being guilty of sin, the WAGES we have all
EARNED is eternal separation from God forever. Since God is
everywhere but hell, HELL is the only place we can go to be
separated from him. We have a big problem, dont we? If hell is
what we deserve then what hope do we have?
The second part of Romans 6:23 actually shows us, . but
the gift of God, is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Think about the phrase, The gift of God. Can we earn a
gift? No. A gift is something that can only be given or received.
We cant earn it, only accept it. Think about the last person you
gave a gift to. If while you were giving it to them they tried to pay
you for it, would you consider their attempt to pay you a compliment
or an insult? An insult, right? I know I would consider it an insult.
John 3:16 states For God so loved the world, that he GAVE HIS

SON, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish but have
eternal life. To believe in Jesus means; to believe Jesus is God,
ONLY

believe what He said about our sinfulness, believe how He said we

need to live, and to accept THE GIFT of His payment for our sin by
His dying on the cross. If we try to earn this gift offered by God, we
insult God.
Jesus paid the penalty we deserve, and if we Believe on
Him (accept His gift of paying for our sin by dying on the cross,
which we cant earn, and then turn away from our sin), we will be
saved from that separation! When we try to EARN our salvation, we
are essentially telling God that Jesus death on the cross wasnt
enough, and that we need to do something to EARN it. Essentially,
this is like us trying to PAY God for his gift, and also telling him the
gift He provided is not quite enough. Were telling him that we need
to do something more. Can you see how insulting this is to God?
When youve given a gift to someone, if they responded with, Oh,
I was really hoping for something more, would you feel
complimented or insulted?
Again, some believe that the commands in the Bible are a
list of the standards we need to meet to go to heaven. And again,
Romans 3:20 states: Therefore no one will be declared righteous

in Gods sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we
26

become conscious of our sin. The

is not something to
achieve, it is the mirror we hold up to our lives which shows us our
true condition according to Gods standard.
LAW

God has indicated that none of us are good enough, nor can
we be, because we are not qualified to pay the sin debt we owe.
He is the only one qualified to pay our debt. His payment is based
solely on our acceptance of it. It is not dependent on how good we
are, how intelligent, how capable, how much money we have, how
much power, etc. His gift is freely available to all, regardless of what
we have to offer, so that everyone can freely choose to receive it.
This is because Jesus is God, and He is qualified to pay our debt.
He did it all.
So, the question we must answer is, Is this true? Are the
claims of Christianity true? If they are not true, then none of this
matters at all. You may be reading this truly believing that it isnt
true. Is there any possibility that you could you be wrong? If there
is even the slightest chance that Heaven and hell exist and that
Christianity is true, and that Jesus actually died to pay the penalty
for the sin we commit, isnt it worth investing a little time to consider
the evidences and their implications?
You might be asking the same question of me. Is it possible
that I could be wrong? I would certainly answer Yes. I fully admit
that there is the possibility I could be wrong. You may wonder then,
Why would I try to persuade others about a belief which could
be wrong? That would be a very fair question, and one Ive asked
myself over time. The answer I keep coming back to is that the
evidences confirming the truths of Christianity, God, Jesus, and the
Bible are so overwhelming compared to any evidences proposed
against them. If there was a belief other than Christianity which
better fit the available evidences, I certainly would change to that
belief. It is because of my focus on what the evidences prove that
I accept Christianity.
So the question is, Can a case be made in support of
Christianitys claims, and are you willing to invest some time
to consider such a case? Rather than make a decision based
on what people hope is true, lets consider evidences which can be
27

verified. Before we do, I want to clarify some misunderstandings

many have, and illustrate a reality of BELIEF and TRUTH.
Some BELIEVE there is nothing after this life, some BELIEVE
in reincarnation, and still others BELIEVE everyone will go to either
heaven or hell when they die. Obviously, the TRUTH is that only one
of these beliefs can be TRUE. Think about it, if there is nothing after
this life, then there cant be a heaven or hell. Right? If reincarnation
is true then there is something after this life, but it isnt heaven or
hell. And if heaven and hell actually exist as indicated in the Bible,
then the other two options are false. If false, then the years spent
here are only a brief moment compared to an existence lasting all
of eternity.
Again, if the existence of heaven and hell are a possibility,
shouldnt we spend just a little time considering the evidences for
this possibility? And, if the evidences are convincing, shouldnt we
then consider what determines each destination, and then, which
destination we are likely to go?
On the TV game show DEAL OR NO DEAL, people would
jump up and down, scream and strain, seemingly convinced their
EFFORT would result in a particular dollar amount in the case.
Ultimately, did it really matter how much the contestant jumped or
screamed to try to change the amount that was in a case? Their
efforts made for good TV, but had no effect on the contents of the
cases. What was in each case WAS what was in each case.
In the same way, whichever belief about the afterlife is true,
it is TRUE regardless of how strongly we believe it or how popular or
not that belief is. Also, any belief other than what is TRUE is
automatically false. If there is nothing after this life, than there is no
eternity in heaven or hell. However, if there is a heaven or hell, it
doesnt matter how much one might want to believe that there isnt.
Some state, There is no truth. But think about the
statement. The person making the statement it is essentially stating
the TRUTH that THERE IS NO TRUTH. The statement contradicts itself,
and therefore cant possibly be true. As such this contradiction
proves that truth does in fact exist, and since Truth exists we can
discover whether some things are true, and others false.

28

If we think about our lives, there are many truths we deal

with every single day; that I did or didnt study enough the test more,
the actual time we woke up, that it is day or night, etc. Since truth
exists, we can evaluate ideas and beliefs as to whether they are
true or not. We can evaluate the truthfulness of the different beliefs
that people hold. It is good to remember that two or more
contradictory beliefs cannot all be true. Of two or more contradictory
beliefs, only one can be true.
Whether you are a Christian or not, I encourage you to read
and consider the 44 questions at the following link. They will start
to give you a little insight into the evidences in support of
Christianity, and if you dont currently accept Christianity as true,
possibly some things you may not have considered. Greg Koukl of
STAND TO REASON www.str.org mentions that the evidences
supporting Christianity are the reasons he believes it, not that he
likes everything about Christianity. He says that if he were to
choose a belief based upon what he liked he would choose
something different, because Christianity is inconvenient at times.
Greg adds thought that he doesnt get to change what is true
just because he doesnt like some things about that truth. Greg said
that if the evidence proves Christianity to be true, he has no choice
but to accept it. After examining the evidences for Christianity in
this guide, I believe you will see the great truthfulness of Christianity
as compared to any other belief system.
44 Questions for the Not-Yet-a-Believer
http://christiananswers.net/q-aiia/questions-forskeptics.html

29

2. WORLDVIEW and PHYLOSOPHY

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates
Most critics are not well-equipped to defend their own
faith. They have rarely thought through what they
believe and have relied more on generalizations and
slogans than on careful reflection. Francis J. Beckwith
How would you respond to the following?

WHY AM I HERE?
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?
WHERE DID I COME FROM? WHERE AM I GOING WHEN I DIE?
IS THERE A GOD?
IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH?
____________________
If you are not familiar with the term WORLDVIEW, it is simply
the way a person VIEWS THE WORLD. A worldview the collection of
ideas which frame how a person considers what is true about the
world. It is not always based upon good evidences.
www.thefreedictionary.com gives the following definition:
WORLDVIEW: A collection of beliefs about life and the universe
held by an individual or a group.
Ive included this section so that you can gain an
understanding as to why people usually accept the beliefs and
ideas that they do. Considering the reasons why people believe
what they believe, and that a persons worldview is such an
influence to their beliefs and ideas, I believe this is one of the most
important sections in this guide. You might find it surprising that the
beliefs many people have are as much determined by how they
view the world as they are determined by the evidence.
Another word having similar meaning to WORLDVIEW is
PHILOSOPHY, or way of thinking. www.thefreedictionary.com gives
two of the definitions for philosophy as:

A personal outlook or viewpoint.

Any system of beliefs, values, or tenets.
30

A good phrase to become familiar with is, Ideas have

consequences. Ideas throughout history have caused great
good or great harm to persons affected by those ideas. Two belief
systems which clearly show this are Nazism and true Christianity.
One of the ideas of Nazism was the elimination of inferior peoples
and the creation of a super race. A few of the ideas of Christianity
are to Love your neighbor as yourself and Do unto others
as you would have them do unto you. One has killed 12 million
people, and the other has transformed the world for the last 2
thousand years.
Can you see how ideas are important and why some ideas
should be argued against, and others promoted? This could be why
the Bible emphasizes that we be careful as to what ideas we decide
to adopt.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by

philosophy and empty deceit, according to human

tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world,
and not according to Christ.
Everyone has a worldview, even if they dont realize that
they have one. Yes, that goes for you and me as well. What may
surprise you is that every movie, every TV program, every
commercial, every book, and every song promote a worldview. The
goal is to determine which worldview is being promoted and what
that worldview indicates as valuable.
A Lexus commercial aired some years back showed a
Lexus pulling into a driveway. Toward the end of the commercial,
there was a voice which made the statement, On the road to
success, let your neighbors know that youve arrived ahead of
schedule. In this commercial, the worldview presented was that
success is shown by owning a particular car.
There is a song titled ITS ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS (a
reference to $100 bills). The worldview presented is that success is
shown by how much money you have. How many messages like
these can you find in what you watch and hear? Then think about
how these messages compare to the idea of success indicated by
the Bible.
31

Worldview 101: Why It Matters

www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-keXVCla1M
Answering Four Questions
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2olRR3zu4TY
Each persons worldview is one of the most significant
factors in the major decisions they make and how they live their
lives. To illustrate this, think about just two different worldviews.
Atheism and Christianity. Atheism is the belief that there is no God,
and Christianity is the belief that there is a God; a God who has
communicated an absolute standard for right and wrong, who
knows everything we do or think, and we are accountable to this
God for our thoughts and actions. Can you think of the logical
consequences of these two worldviews?
With Christianity; there is a God and an eternal destination
after this life and there is an ultimate judgment or reward after this
life. The logical result is that this belief that this God of the Bible
exists makes a difference as to how we live our lives as Christians.
If you are a Christian, does your belief in the existence of God make
a difference in your life? If it doesnt, you are calling yourself a
Christian, but not living as a Christian according to a Christian
worldview.
With Atheism, there is no God and nothing after this life.
Since there is no God there is no absolute standard for what is
RIGHT or WRONG, no ultimate judgment or reward. The logical
consequence is that it really doesnt matter how we live our lives.
Doing good or bad, also called MORALITY, makes no ultimate
difference, because there is no ultimate purpose for our lives
anyway.
Now, I didnt say that all Atheists live this way. In fact, most
Atheists live very moral lives. It could be argued that many Atheists
live more moral lives than many Christians. However, without God
there can be no absolute standard for good or evil, right or wrong.
Without an absolute standard, nothing can be considered good or
evil. Without an absolute standard, what is the basis for good and
evil in Atheism? There has to be a standard of heat before we can
32

say what cold is, a standard of light before we can say what dark is,
and a standard of good before we can say what evil is.
This LOGICAL CONCLUSION of Atheism has existed for many
years as a challenge to evolution and Atheism, because there is no
explanation of the existence of morality. When you think about it,
we know that there are RIGHT and WRONG or GOOD and BAD
motivations, and we know without being taught. The existence of
right and wrong is evidenced by most Atheists living consistent with
a moral standard they have decided. The death of an attacker by
one protecting the one who is being attacked is a motivation to do
GOOD, while the death of someone through the pre-meditation by
another shows a motivation to do BAD. While the death of an
individual is the end result in both examples, it is the MOTIVATION
behind the action that is important. Motivations are very important.
Penalties in our legal system are based on a persons motivations.
Again, this RIGHT OR WRONG is called MORALITY.
Is There an Objective Moral Law? - Frank Turek
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOJeseNJneg
There is a recent challenge to the basis for morality being
evidence for God. The challenge is that morals can be explained
through evolution; that evolution can not only sufficiently explain
changes in biology but changes in morality as well. According to
Atheists, the evolution of morals eliminates the need for God. In the
CAN EVOLUTION EXPLAIN MORALITY? section, I go into additional
detail about this, and provide links to resources relating to this
recent Evolutionary argument. These resources will allow you to
gain a much better understanding of this recent development, as
well as the arguments against this evolutionary explanation for
morality.
Again, the Christian Worldview is one where there is a
perfect God, who can see everything we do, knows every thought
we think, knows our motivations, and we are accountable to this
God for our actions, thoughts, and motivations. This accountability
should cause us to be concerned about what we think and do,
because these motivations, thoughts, and actions have eternal
consequences. If we are representatives of Christ in this life, then
33

we have an obligation to be a good and true representative of Him.

Do you feel you are living as a good representative of Christ?
As mentioned above, some Atheists believe that to claim
God is the basis for morality is the same as claiming that Atheists
cant be moral since they dont believe in God. This is a
misunderstanding of the claim. Again, Atheists certainly can live
with good morals, and most do. The question is not whether an
Atheist can be moral, but what is the basis for their morality. The
issue here is that anyone who ascribes to the Atheistic worldview
that there is no God and then claim that certain things are wrong, is
using a THEISTIC WORLDVIEW of morality, not an ATHEISTIC
WORLDVIEW. They are not believing consistent with the Atheistic
worldview.
While everyone likes to believe that they live consistent with
a particular worldview, some will live according to one worldview
but not respond to events consistent with that world view. Often,
they will respond consistent with a worldview they say they deny,
and they usually do this without realizing it. One example is a
person who doesnt believe in God and say they dont believe in
Evil. If someone wrongs them or wrongs someone they know, or if
someone steals from or assaults them, they will say that the act of
the offender is wrong.
But why is the act WRONG? IF there is NO GOD, then there
is NO ABSOLUTE MORAL LAW. If there is no absolute moral law, there
is no right or wrong. Without an absolute moral law, there is
ultimately no difference between Mother Teresa and Hitler. Without
an absolute moral law, morality comes down to what we PREFER
and DECIDE it is. While some call this preferred or decided standard
a moral standard, if it is a standard which is PREFERRED or DECIDED
by one or more persons, it cant be an ABSOLUTE MORAL STANDARD.
A preferred or decided MORAL STANDARD can be changed based
upon preference or majority decision. Since it can be changed, it
cant be an absolute standard, applicable to all persons at all times.
At one time in our country, the majority decided that the
ownership of people was acceptable based on the color of their
skin. We look at that decision as wrong, even though the majority
at that time had decided that as the standard. The ABSOLUTE
34

STANDARD OF MORALITY isnt based upon what our preference is or

what the majority in a group decides. An Absolute Moral Law can

only exist if there is a Moral Law Giver. This is logical and is clearly
taught in the Bible.
Jeremiah 31:33 I will put my law within them,

and I will write it on their hearts.

A survey by the BARNA GROUP about college students is
equally as concerning as the 70% statistic at the start about college
students. It found that of those aged 18-23, only one half of one
percent hold to a Biblical Worldview! Only 1 in 200 in the 18-23 age
range!
Barna Survey Examines Changes in Worldview
Among Christians
www.barna.org/barna-update/article/21transformation/252-barna-survey-examineschanges-in-worldview-among-christians-over-thepast-13-years#.VFcwsCLF_E0
I was amazed when I heard this statistic! I thought the
person indicating it had misread the information, but I confirmed that
they indicated the details correctly. This statistic is another
confirmation to me of the necessity for young adults to know this
information, whether through this guide or another source.
If you are a Christian student reading this, do you know what
a Biblical Worldview is? According to this Barna survey, 199 out of
200 young adults do not. If you dont know what a Biblical
Worldview is, how can you have any confidence that you are living
consistent with a Biblical Worldview? And if you dont know what a
Biblical Worldview is to be able to live consistent with it, how do you
also know that you havent conformed to a non-Biblical Worldview?
As we have seen, ideas (or philosophies) have consequences.
Read again Colossians 2:8:
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by

philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,

according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not
according to Christ.
35

Think of your own life. If you are a Christian and you found
that to live a Biblical Worldview meant that you would need to live
differently than you do currently, would you be willing to change how
you live? Questions that effectively capture this idea are, Will we
make the Bible flexible to our human reasoning, or will we
make our hearts, lives, and motivations flexible to the Bible?
and Should a Biblical Worldview have an effect on my life; in
how I think and what I do?
You may be thinking, But if my lifestyle is the same as
the other Christians I know. Doesnt that mean that Im living
as a Christian? Think a little further, if only 1 in 200 of those age
18-23 even know what a worldview is, isnt it more probable that
you and your friends are part of the 199 and not the 1? If part of
the 199, how would you ever know you are living like a true Christian
consistent with a Biblical Worldview?
It is easy to forget that most of us live in a bubble, finding it
easy to live like our friends. If our friends claim to be Christian and
we live like them, we think of ourselves as Christian too. However,
living like your friends is not the same as living like a Christian. If
you are a Christian, have you ever questioned the lifestyle you
accept and live? Think about your non-Christian friends. How does
your lifestyle compare to theirs?

CHRISTIAN VS NON-CHRISTIAN - WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Christian-VS-Non-Christian--Whats-the-Difference?&id=3905340
If you and your friends dont know what a Biblical Worldview
is, wouldnt the standard youve all become accustomed to be one
you and your friends have decided is right? And is that an absolute
standard, or one decided and agreed upon? Since it is most likely
the later, think about the idea of a Biblical Worldview. Is a Biblical
Worldview one that is decided by the Bible or by us? I heard a
speaker indicate that many Christian youth act as if being a
Christian is nothing more than buying one of the latest Christian
music CDs.

36

To actually get an idea as to what a Biblical Worldview is,

and how close your worldview is to a Biblical Worldview, take the
following worldview quizzes.
Worldview Quiz Self Test To Determine My Worldview?
http://worldviewweekend.com/test/test.php
www.christianet.com/bible/worldview.htm
Something else to consider regarding this. When we invite
Christ to be our Lord, He will convict us of our sin. If you call yourself
a Christian and are living no different than your non-Christian friends,
and not feeling any conviction about aspects of your lifestyle which are
unpleasing to God, you should really consider whether you have truly
accepted Christ, or only said a phrase. God knows our thoughts,
motivations, and actions, and knows our heart.

Hopefully you are starting to understand the significance of

having a Biblical Worldview, and you are now considering your
lifestyle in light of a Biblical Worldview. With the information you
now have, lets consider those two questions again:
Will we make the Bible flexible to our human reasoning,
or will we make our hearts, lives, and motivations flexible
to the Bible? and Should a Biblical Worldview have an
effect on my life; in how I think and what I do?
Why Think of Worldviews
www.crossway.org/blog/2014/01/why-think-worldviews
Worldview & Basic Beliefs Review
http://truth4freedom.wordpress.com/modern-societyengulfing-philosophies/basic-beliefs-and-worldview-review
Summit Ministries Worldview Chart
www.summit.org/resources/worldview-chart
A Biblical Worldview Has a Radical Effect on a Person's Life
www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/131a-biblical-worldview-has-a-radical-effect-on-apersons-life#.VFct_yLF_E0

37

Worldviews in the Movies

www.worldvieweyes.org/resources/CIY-ConferenceMaterials/WVs-in-movies.htm
(A good list of questions to think of when watching
movies, TV, commercials, listening to music, etc.)

* Worldviews and College

Think again about the survey by the Barna Group. Only 1
in 200 18-23yr old young adults have a Biblical worldview. Combine
this with the statistic on the first page that 70% of the students who
are Christian will abandon what they believe before the end of their
freshmen year in college, and you should see the real concern.
I believe the primary reason this happens is because while
most Christian students may have been taught WHAT Christianity
believes by their church, approximately 70% were never taught WHY
they could believe it. They were never taught evidences for the
truths of Christianity. These two statistics show that most students
will go all the way through high school and beyond without ever
learning many of the actual evidences for Christianity, and what
Christianity teaches.
Of course, there are other reasons why students abandon
Christianity in college. It could be that they never really were a
Christian and they were just trying to look like a Christian and fit
in, so that others would think they were a Christian. Christianity
never really became their faith. Or that once in college, without any
RULES, the temptation of unrestricted freedom is too strong when
combined with the peer pressure there. Of course, for some of the
students who have turned away from Christianity, it may never have
become their faith because they were never shown evidences.
While it is reasonable to assume that the professor will
usually make true statements about the subject that they teach,
students will often mistakenly conclude that other claim made by
the professor are also true. So when the professor makes claims
like, There is no God, The Bible is full of myths, Jesus was
just a man, or Jesus never existed, many students think those
claims are correct also, because theyve not been taught to respond
38

to the claim. The students mistakenly conclude that the professors

challenges are true. After all, they are the student, and they are
there to learn. The professor has already gone through school, and
is the educated one. So the professor must be right. Right?
Two friends Ive known since high school went to the same
church I did, before the time churches thought about teaching
evidences for Christianity and before most people even knew that
there were evidences. Both of these friends graduated from a wellknown university, with degrees. And because they had never been
taught any evidences for what they were brought up believing, they
graduated from this well-known university as Atheistic Evolutionists.
They were never taught why they could believe in the Bible, God,
or Jesus. I believe this contributed to them abandoning what they
believed.
You may be thinking that the worldview of a professor
doesnt affect their teachings. But does it?
Studies indicate:
1. College Professors are 5 TIMES more likely to be atheists
than the general public.
2. More than half of professors have UNFAVORABLE feelings
toward Evangelical Christians.
3. Only 6% of professors say the Bible is the actual word
of God.
4. 51% of professors say the Bible is an ancient book of
fables, legends, history & moral precepts.
The following are a few quotes from some professors.
See if you notice their worldviews in their statements.
They will see me as just another liberal professor trying to
cajole them out of some of their convictions, and they are dead
right about that thats what I am, and thats exactly what I am
trying to do.
Daniel Dennett Tufts University
. . . we try to arrange things so that students who enter as
bigoted, homophobic, religious fundamentalists will leave
college with views more like our own . . . So we are going to go
right on trying to discredit you (the parents) in the eyes of your

39

children, trying to strip your fundamentalist religious

community of dignity, trying to make your views seem silly
rather than discussable . . Richard Rorty Stanford University
"I personally feel that the teaching of modern science is
corrosive of religious belief, and I'm all for that! If scientists
can destroy the influence of religion on young people, then I
think it may be the most important contribution that we can
make.
Steve Weinberg U of T Austin
When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called
insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called
Religion. If this book (The God Delusion) works as intended,
religious readers who open it will be Atheists when they put it
down.
Richard Dawkins Oxford University
From his book The God Delusion

These professors statements show the worldviews a

Christian student is likely to encounter in college. And do you now
see that their worldview influences their motivations toward
Christian students? Their comments show that they feel it is their
responsibility to eliminate the any belief in God a student has.
Here are a few reviews about the book The God Delusion:
"The God Delusion makes me embarrassed to be an atheist
Michael Ruse - Atheist
To call The God Delusion sophomoric would be an insult to
sophomores
Alvin Plantinga of Notre Dame

This is why the APOLOGETICS and EVIDENCES sections are

so important. Knowing evidences for what you believe gives you
greater confidence in what you believe. The more evidences you
know, the stronger your foundation will be for what you believe, and
the less likely you are to abandon what you believe or be swayed
by a others claims. Clearly, the college students in the 70%
statistic did not have a confidence in what they believed. You can
have the confidence they didnt!
Regarding evidences, even when presented with evidence
contradictory to ones worldview, a person may be very resistant to
change their worldview. This is why just showing the evidence for
Christianity wont automatically bring a non-Christian to the point of
40

accepting Christ as Savior. Think about your Christian beliefs and

worldview. What evidences against Christianity would you need to
see to consider giving up your beliefs about God, Jesus, the Bible,
etc.? They would need to be significant, right?
Another reason a worldview is more influential than
evidences alone, is because evidence can sometimes be looked at
in such a way that confirms the persons worldview. Think about
Evolution and Creation. The evidence is the same for both beliefs.
The difference is how the evidence is interpreted.
I hope through this section that you now see that everyone
has a worldview. Even if you did not know what a worldview was
previously, I hope you now see its influence over a persons life and
actions. I hope as a Christian you also see the importance of having
a Biblical Worldview and the importance of living consistent with it.
It should affect every area of your life. If it doesnt, youre probably
living according to a different worldview, as 199 out of 200 do in the
18-23yr age range.
An Open Letter To Graduates Sean McDowell
www.conversantlife.com/life-with-god/an-open-letter-tograduates Pt.1
www.conversantlife.com/belief/an-open-letter-tograduates-part-2 Pt.2
How Should Youth Leaders Prepare Students for College?
www.conversantlife.com/theology/how-should-youthleaders-prepare-students-for-college
Who's Waiting for Your Kids?
www.conversantlife.com/belief/whos-waiting-for-your-kids
Why Kids Leave The Church in College Frank Turek
www.youtube.com/watch?v=msIXv3_0xTA
Intellectual Predators on Campus Frank Turek
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_LgIFbtuf4
Equipping Youth with a Biblical Worldview Sean McDowell
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiTFoQP1vVg
World-Proof Workshops - Sessions 1-3 2014 Jay Wegter
http://gospelforlife.org/sermons
41

Testing Worldviews
http://testingworldviews.com
The Power of the Christian Worldview In Pagan Evangelism
http://truthxchange.com/media/2007/01/21/the-powerof-the-christian-worldview-in-pagan-evangelism
Worldview Weekend Online Academy
www.worldviewweekend.com/academy/topics.php#topic84
How Some Postmodern Kids Used Logic in Berkeley
www.conversantlife.com/theology/how-somepostmodern-kids-used-logic-in-berkeley
Christian Student Vs. Atheist Professor Collection
http://walkingasjesusdid.blogspot.com/2012/04/christianstudent-vs-atheist-professor_3470.html
Sites on Worldviews:
http://allaboutworldview.org
www.xenos.org/classes/papers/5wldview.htm
www.summit.org/resources/worldview-chart
www.bibleculture.org/text/worldview/worldview_comparis
on_chart.pdf
www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/christian_worldview/whats
_a_christian_worldview.aspx
www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/christian_worldview
/why_is_a_christian_worldview_important.aspx
Real Life Challenges on Campuses
http://campusreform.org
www.c-span.org/video/?193268-2/political-correctnessdiversity-campus
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/crossexamined/id402803400?mt=2
(Cross Examined October 29, 2014: Getting Ready for Campus)

Getting Prepared for College

The Challenges College Students Face on Secular Campuses
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Challenges-CollegeStudents-Face-on-Secular-Campuses&id=9920

42

The Challenges Facing Young Christians

http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/the-challenges-facingyoung-christians
Christian College Students: Top 10 Challenges Faced
www.hearitfirst.com/blog/christian-college-students-top-10challenges-faced
Top 10 Challenges Christian Students Face In College
www.cedarville.edu/eNews/ParentPrep/2012/ChallengesChristian-Students-Face-in-College.aspx
Challenges Facing Christian Students at UCLA
www.dts.edu/thetable/play/social-and-intellectualchallenges-facing-christian-students-at-ucla
Are U.S. colleges hostile to Christian students?
www.beliefnet.com/News/Home-Page-News-andViews/Are-US-colleges-hostile-to-Christianstudents.aspx
College Prep Course
http://crossexamined.org/college-prep-course
Preparing Students for College
www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/students.html
Preparing Students for Anti-Christian Hostility
http://faithoncampus.com/blog/preparing-students-for-antichristian-hostility
Preparing Your Student for Secular College
https://answersingenesis.org/college/preparing-yourstudent-for-secular-college
Summit Ministries
Summit Student Conferences
www.summit.org/conferences/student
Summit Student Institute
www.summit.org/institutes/semester
Nurturing Christian Students As They Engage the
Challenges of Atheism
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/nurturing-christianstudents-as-they-engage-the-challenges-of-atheism
43

12 Bible Verses for College Students

www.christiancollegeguide.net/article/Bible-VersesCollege-Students
** The Atheist Challenge - Sean McDowell, PhD
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNql36qIExA
A GREAT video with Sean McDowell taking the roll of an Atheist to
demonstrate some of the very effective sounding arguments against God you
are likely to face. He spends the 2nd half of the video answering the arguments.
This video does a great job of showing how unprepared most Christians are to
defend their faith, and some of the very effective sounding arguments used to
challenge them.
Of the arguments in the video, Sean references two of the latest scientific
discoveries being used to challenge Christianity and the existence of God.
They are the discovery of the Higgs Boson Particle, and Planck Time. The
links below show why they are not a challenge to Christianity and how to
answer someone presenting these two challenges.

Higgs Boson Particle

Higgs boson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgs_boson
Higgs BosonThe "God Particle"?
www.apologeticspress.org/apPubPage.aspx?pub=1&issu
e=977&article=1500
The God particle and the trump card
http://flatlandapologetics.blogspot.com/2012/07/godparticle-and-trump-card.html

Planck Time
Planck time
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_time
In Science We Trust
www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=1
2&article=4758
Is God Real? Does Science Answer "Is There a God?"
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/is_god_real.html
44

3. CHALLENGING STATEMENTS
FOR CHRISTIANS
Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an
extraordinary destiny... C. S Lewis
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;
an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Winston Churchill
How would you respond to the following?
There is no truth
All roads lead to God
You cant know anything for sure
We dont allow the view of Christianity, we allow all views.
Christians shouldnt be so intolerant
In this section, we will look at some of the statements made
to Christians; statements which can seem quite challenging . . . at
first. In this section particularly, I want you to remember:
John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you

love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love
one another. By this all men will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another."
It is easy to feel personally insulted when our beliefs are
challenged, but it is important to remember that ultimately it is God
who is being challenged, not us. We must remember that God
doesnt need our help to defend Him. However, if we have
developed the skills which this guide and other resources will help
with, He does offer us the privilege of being involved in the process,
not so much to defend Him, but to defend truth and correct error.
There is no challenge to Christianity that should upset us. If
we find ourselves upset we need to increase our knowledge on the
subject and remember Greg Koukls statement, When talking
with someone, if either of you get upset, you lose. This section
45

will increase your ability to respond to the challenging statements

made by others, so that you dont need to feel unprepared to
respond to someones challenge, or possibly feel insulted or upset
by their challenge.
I believe the following could be some of the main reasons
why people make these challenges against Christianity. Some may
have become let down by an experience they had in a church. They
could have been offended or hurt by an individual in that church,
and then associate the actions of that person with Christianity.
Maybe others were convinced by professors who persuaded them
that God doesnt exist and that the Bible isnt from God. Those who
have been persuaded that there is no God may look at the
collections taken by churches and religious ministries as a rip-off.
Whatever the reason, theyve decided to challenge what they now
believe is a lie, possibly thinking they are actually doing good
because they believe they are exposing what they believe is false.
I believe the best way to answer the challenges made by
others is not to get defensive, or offensive for that matter, but to
present truths which correct the incorrect information others have,
and thus persuade them with truth. This way, not only do you
answer their false challenge, but in doing so, you may motivate
them to not repeat their false challenge to others, and possibly bring
them to a point where they would consider Christianity. This can be
beneficial in that Christians who dont know the answers to the
challenges arent confronted with these challenges. It can also be
beneficial in that there will be fewer non-Christians hearing these
false challenges and then repeating them to others.
It is important when answering challenges, that you do so
with an attitude of love and respect. Our Biblical mandate as
Christians requires that we do all we can to reach others, and to do
so with respect. We are to share truths to correct the errors of those
who repeat these challenges in such a way that does not disrespect
them and doesnt embarrass them for using these challenges. This
is because they probably dont know the challenges are false. I
believe it is very important that those who make these statements
be given the benefit of the doubt in their motivations for saying
them. It is highly probable that they have never heard the
46

responses to the statements which show the falsehood of the

claims, and so never had a reason not to believe and repeat them.
As Christians, we often avoid challenges because we dont
want others to see us as confrontational or defensive. We also
hesitate to speak up because we dont want to put ourselves in a
position where we can be embarrassed because of our inability to
accurately defend what we believe. As well, we avoid challenges
because we want to avoid the possibility of embarrassing others.
These scenarios where Christians have been confrontational,
defensive, or lacking in answers have put Christianity in a negative
light with non-Christians. Being properly prepared resolves these
issues.
So, lets consider some of the challenging statements you
are likely to hear. The statements in this section can cause a
Christian great concern if they havent learned the errors of the
statements and how to respond to those making the statements.
When you first hear these statements they can sound very
convincing, but when you examine them you will quickly discover
the inconsistency in each of them. As you will also see, the
inconsistency can be brought to the attention of the person making
the statement without being offensive or rude, and in a way to show
the error of the statement.
I stress again that it is very important to be able to respond
to challenges with respect, because as Christians, we are to be
winning hearts, not winning ARGUMENTS to the point of silencing
those raising challenges. The ARGUMENTS referred to here are of
the non-legal type, the heated discussion type. Just because you
have silenced a person doesnt mean you have changed their heart.
There is a saying that captures this thought quite well, A person
convinced against their will is of the same opinion still.
The inconsistency in the challenging statements typically
come from the statements being what are called SELF-REFUTING or
SELF-CONTRADICTORY. That means that the statement REFUTES its
own claims, it CONTRADICTS itself. The first few statements are
simple examples of this so that if youve not worked with these types
of statements before, you will start to understand the concept.
47

What is wrong with the following statements?

I can't speak a word of English.
No sentence can have more than three words.
It should be easy to see that these statements contradict
themselves. If youre not quite sure how, the first statement
contradicts itself because the person stating it is using English to
state that they cant speak English. The second statement
contradicts itself because it is a sentence having more than three
words stating that no sentence can have more than three words.
You should see by these examples that self-contradictory
statements are automatically false. There is no possibility that they
can be true.
Now, consider these statements:
There is no truth

There are no absolutes

Can you tell whats wrong with them? The contradictions

are a little harder to identify, right? Again, these statements are
usually made by non-Christians who have heard them stated by
others and they have not examined them. We all have a tendency
at times to do this. Think about yourself. Have you ever repeated
something youve heard without verifying its truth? I know I have.
The surprising thing is that these statements are also made
by professors who should know better. Some professors might
repeat the statements knowing they are false, because they know
that many Christians havent learned how to respond to them.
Weve already seen in the WORLDVIEW section the motivation of
some professors. Lets cover these statements so that you will
know how to respond in the future.

* THERE IS NO TRUTH
When someone states, There is no truth, they are stating
THE TRUTH, that THERE IS NO TRUTH, also called MAKING A TRUTH
CLAIM. This is a clear contradiction because there cant be a TRUE
statement about there being NO TRUTH, if TRUTH doesnt exist.

When they state, There are no absolutes, they are stating the
ABSOLUTE, that there are NO ABSOLUTES. Another contradiction.
48

Again, I believe that some professors will make these claims

to cause Christian students to doubt what they believe. The
professors who do this do so because when you as a student doubt
what you believe you are much easier to persuade to believe
differently. Or if you are not persuaded to believe differently, you
will be less motivated to persuade others to believe in Christianity
because you will be less confident that Christianity is true. Check
this Frank Turek video:
WHY CHRISTIAN KIDS LEAVE THE CHURCH IN COLLEGE - Mins 1-8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=msIXv3_0xTA
How Do We Know? Epistemology
http://arcapologetics.org/objections/how-do-we-knowepistemology
When you think about the idea of TRUTH, if there is no truth,
nothing can be known for sure. If there is no truth, then Jesus
statement in John 14:6 I am the Way, THE TRUTH, and the Life,
cant be true. If the statement isnt true, Jesus is not who he claimed
to be, and either a lunatic or a liar. If there are no absolutes, there
can be no MORAL ABSOLUTES. Since the Bible presents moral
absolutes, this statement challenges the legitimacy of the Bible.
Can you see how effective these statements are at challenging the
foundational Truths of Christianity and the beliefs of Christian
students?
Lets for a moment look at one of the sentences in the last
paragraph. You may have been surprised or offended that I said
that if Jesus wasnt The Way, The Truth, and the Life, he was
either CRAZY or a LIAR. My apologies if I offended, but lets consider
a few things. Have any of your friends, family, or teachers ever
claimed that they were God and that they could forgive sin? If they
did and were sincere in their claim, would you consider them a good
moral teacher? Of course not. Youd think they were crazy or lying.
Many who refuse to believe that Jesus is God consider him
just a good moral teacher. But did he leave this as an option? If he
was just a man and was claiming to be God and forgive sin, would
he be a good moral teacher? No. He would either be a liar or a
lunatic. He left no other option. This is referred to as the LORD,
49

LIAR OR LUNATIC TRILEMMA. Check the YouTube video of an

excerpt of C.S. Lewis book Mere Christianity.
C.S. Lewis - Lord. Liar or Lunatic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynyl0hCUIcs
So, how do we respond to these two challenges?
There is no truth and There are no absolutes
Here are a few possible responses which should bring the
person to the realization of the problems with the statements. When
someone states, There is no truth, ask them, Is that the
truth? When they say There are no absolutes, ask them Are
you absolutely sure? If they state, There are no moral
absolutes, let them know that they are actually stating a moral
absolute.
The response to a self-contradictory statement will show the
person making the statement the contradiction in their statement.
People making these contradictory statements have usually heard
someone else make the same statement, without the statement
being responded to. The statement initially sounded convincing,
and since it wasnt responded to, they themselves never questioned
it. Because of this, they now repeat the statement because they
dont have reason to question the validity of it.
Do you see that responding to a self-contradictory statement
primarily requires recognizing that the statement is selfcontradictory? It only takes a little knowledge and practice to get
good at doing this. And as you will see later, a significant benefit of
asking questions is that questions are less confrontational, so they
better allow another to keep their self-respect. I stress again, our
job is to persuade minds and win hearts, not win arguments (and
again, arguments of the non-legal kind).
Another observation about these statements. If someone is
claiming There is no truth, they are suggesting that NOTHING
CAN BE KNOWN FOR SURE. As such, the claim of the person stating,
There is no truth cant be known for sure, and so it cant be true.
If the person saying this is an Atheist, anything they write or say
about God not existing, cant be true either. If someone states,
50

Nothing can be known for sure, you can ask, Well how then
can we know THAT for sure?
One of the increasingly common phrases which is similar in
meaning to There is no truth, is Thats true for you, but not
for me, or Im glad you found a truth that works for you,
implying that different people can believe different truths which
are contradictory to each other. When you say something like,
The Bible says . . . a person might respond, Im glad the Bible
is true for you, but it is not true for me.
These statements demonstrate one type of truth called

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH. SUBJECTIVE TRUTH is based upon a persons

preference, similar to which type of ice cream a person believes is
the best. The other type of truth is OBJECTIVE TRUTH. OBJECTIVE
TRUTH is true for all people at all times. It isnt up to each persons
preference. You will see these concepts of differing truths
presented in more detail in the TRUTH section.
The two specific terms to be familiar with for this subject are

RELATIVISM and POSTMODERNISM.

RELATIVISM is the philosophy (belief system) that the
different points of view people have are all valid and true.
That a persons point of view is true if they believe it is true.
RELATIVISM http://carm.org/relativism
POSTMODERNISM is the philosophy (belief system) that
centers on there being no ABSOLUTE TRUTH. As you can see,
they are closely related concepts.
POSTMODERNISM
http://carm.org/dictionary-postmodernism
https://carm.org/emerging-church-postmodernism
There are some who believe that since Einstein proved the
Theory of Relativity, RELATIVISM has been proven. They believe
that RELATIVITY and RELATIVISM have similar meanings, since the
words look similar. They do not have similar meanings. The
following audio will give you a good understanding of both terms
and the differences.
Paul Copan Audio Interview: Relativism
www.4truth.net/fourtruthpbnew.aspx?pageid=8589952825
51

The following links also have great information in this area.

They will allow you to gain a much better understanding of these
concepts. This will help you to learn more and give you the ability
to more readily recognize a persons worldview and the
contradictory statements they might make.
http://carm.org/relativism
www.asa3.org/ASA/education/views/wva.htm
www.apologeticsindex.org
www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&article=269
www.cslewisinstitute.org/Relativism_BAC_Video
www.cslewisinstitute.org/Postmodernism_BAC_Video
Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air Great video on relativism!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s98Z4tlunA
Tackling Relativism with Greg Koukl
http://vailchristian.com/podcast/category/message-series/tacklingrelativism-with-greg-koukl

* CHRISTIANS SHOULDNT BE SO INTOLERANT

Another statement commonly stated to challenge Christians
is, Christians shouldnt be so intolerant. Christians are
frequently referred to as INTOLERANT. This claim is usually made
because Christians believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation
and that there is only one way to God. Because of this, some
believe that Christians arent open minded and that they shouldnt
share their beliefs with others. People who use the term
INTOLERANT believe that Christians dont consider others beliefs to
be as valid as their Christian beliefs. This initially sounds pretty
convincing, right? As we shall see, these people misuse the term
INTOLERANT. Consider one of the definitions of INTOLERANT:
Unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially
in religious matters.
By this definition Christians dont fit the definition of
INTOLERANT, do they? No. The majority of Christians by definition
are TOLERANT, not INTOLERANT. Most Christians, while disagreeing

with non-Christian beliefs, are certainly not unwilling to grant equal

freedom of expression. One of the definitions of TOLERANCE is:
52

The attitude of someone who is willing to accept someone else's

beliefs, way of life, etc. and allow them to hold that belief, even if
they disagree with them. So by definition, most Christians certainly
are tolerant.
Our culture and much of the world it seems, have changed
the definition of TOLERANCE to mean the ACCEPTANCE AND
AGREEMENT of anothers different beliefs as truth, even if those
beliefs contradict ours. If we dont consider true anothers beliefs
which are contradictory to ours, we are considered INTOLERANT.
This is because many believe that no one can know anything for
sure, (POSTMODERNISM), and to claim to know anything for sure,
according to them, is very arrogant. This is especially true when it
comes to where one will spend eternity.
Can you see the contradiction in the statement, Christians
need to stop being intolerant? The statement is a statement of
intolerance, made by the person who is saying it. The person
stating it is not just disagreeing with the Christians belief, they are
urging that Christians not share what they believe. But if they
disagree with the truth the Christian believes, they are not accepting
of the beliefs of the Christian holds as true. Isnt this intolerant on
their part? If anything, Christians are the ones showing TOLERANCE,
because we allow all beliefs. We just dont consider beliefs that are
contradictory as TRUE. This fulfills the definition of tolerance.
The person stating that Christians need to stop being
intolerant really believes that the Christian shouldnt share their
belief. After all, they wouldnt say it if they didnt believe it. So, can
you see how the person saying it is trying to impose their belief on
the Christian, that the Christian shouldnt share their Christian
belief? The statement is self-contradictory because the person
stating that Christians need to stop being intolerant is
demonstrating an intolerance of the belief of Christians. The person
making the statement is demonstrating a misunderstanding of the
word INTOLERANT.
When a person claims that you are intolerant, they do so
because they are offended that you think you are right. As we have
seen, the truth in this situation is that they think they are right too,
53

otherwise they wouldnt criticize you, would they? Greg Koukl uses
the following conversation example to demonstrate how to respond
to someone claiming you are intolerant. This should effectively
show them that they are the ones actually demonstrating
intolerance.
Challenger: Youre intolerant!
You: Can you tell me what you mean by that? Why would
you consider me an intolerant person?
Challenger: Well, its clear you think youre right about
fill in the blank, and you think everyone who disagrees
with you is wrong.
You: I guess I do think my views are correct. Its always
possible I could be mistaken, but I dont think I am. But
what about you? You seem to be disagreeing with me.
Dont you think your views are right?
Challenger: Yes, I think Im right, too. But Im not
intolerant. You are.
You: Thats the part that confuses me. Why is it when I
think Im right, Im intolerant, but when you think
youre right, youre just right? What am I missing?

* ALL ROADS LEAD TO GOD

A statement related to the statement of intolerance is, All
roads lead to God. Think for a moment about the statement. You
should notice that its a TRUTH CLAIM. When someone makes this
statement, do you think they are any less confident about their belief
that all roads lead to God than the confidence you have that there
is only one way to God? Greg Koukl points out that ultimately,
anyone who makes the claim is doing so because they believe what
they are claiming.
Another statement similar to All roads lead to God, is the
statement, We allow all views. Doesnt this sound very
agreeable and accepting of ALL views? However, when they are
asked if they allow the view of Christianity, they will often say
something like, We dont allow that view. We allow all views.
With a response to this, it is clear that they may allow all views
except Christianity, and in doing so, they certainly dont allow all
54

views. And they dont allow Christianity because of the truth claim
we make.
Again, this is because the teaching of Christianity, that there
is only one way to God, is exclusive, and that contradictory views
cant be true. If those who believed this allowed the Christian view,
they would be allowing the view that they are wrong. If there is only
one way to God, the belief of Christianity automatically excludes
any other contradictory belief. Can you see how the All roads . .
., and All views . . . statements are not accepting of all views
and are self-contradictory statements? As well, the last statement
is one of intolerance, because they dont want Christians sharing
their beliefs. Again, Christianity allows all views. It just doesnt
agree that all views are true, but it doesnt try to keep those who
believe those views from believing them.
In a nutshell, the NEW definition of Tolerance is to treat all
views as TRUE, not just to be accepting of all views. Again, for nonChristians to have this new view of tolerance would require that they
believe that Christianity is true. But Christianity teaches that beliefs
contradictory to Christianity are false. The non-Christians who
claim that Christians are intolerant DONT THINK THAT CHRISTIANITY
SHOULD BE ALLOWED primarily because we believe that beliefs
contradictory to Christianity are false. Non-Christians of this attitude
believe that Christianity is false and not true. Since they dont
consider it true, they are showing themselves to be intolerant. As
well, while Christians allow even views we believe are wrong, these
non-Christians dont even allow the Christian view. So who is really
demonstrating intolerance?
One of the illustrations sometimes used by those holding
this belief, that ALL ROADS LEAD TO GOD, is The Blind Men and the
Elephant, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant.
If you are not familiar with this Indian proverb, it is used to
illustrate the limitations of our ability to come to the full truth about
something. This is because we usually dont have all the
information. In the proverb, there are 6 blind men who encounter
an elephant for the first time. They are trying to determine what the
elephant is like, and each is near a different part of the animal.
55

The one touching the leg claims the elephant is like a tree.
The one touching the tail claims the elephant is like a rope. The
one touching the side claims the elephant is like a wall. The one
touching the tusk claims the elephant is like a spear, and so on with
the other two. The six men get into a heated argument (the nonlegal type) as to what the elephant is like, because each man insists
that he is right. A wise man was passing by and saw them arguing.
He told them that all of them were partially right, but since each was
touching a different part of the elephant they didnt have all the truth.
They only had part of the truth.
When someone uses this Indian proverb to claim that a
Christian cant know the truth, it sounds reasonable. But is it
accurate? It is true that we dont have all knowledge, and knowing
this, it seems fair to apply the proverb. However, when the
illustration is used we must keep in mind that the person using it
doesnt have all knowledge either. However, they are proposing
the proverb and inferring that they DO have all knowledge. They
are inferring that they have the full perspective, and can see that
everyone else, especially Christians, only have a limited
perspective and limited knowledge.
That is why it is self-contradictory for someone to use this
proverb against a Christians claims of truth. They are saying that
THEY HAVE ALL KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW THAT NO ONE HAS ALL KNOWLEDGE. If no
one can have all knowledge, then they cant have all knowledge to
know that no one has all knowledge. The other detail not
considered, is that the God of the universe does have all
knowledge, and if he truly has communicated truths and proven
himself true, we can rely on his information even if we dont know
everything.
Since he has revealed himself both through
supernatural evidences and in the Bible, we can know things that
we wouldnt otherwise be able to know through our limited
perspectives. Youll see these evidences in the EVIDENCES FOR
CHRISTIANITY section.
Here is a great video showing the problem with this illustration.
Challenge Response: The Blind Men and the Elephant
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO-25yKxQ9M#t=47
The Cheap Shot of "Intolerance"
www.christianity.com/blogs/trevin-wax/the-cheap-shot-ofintolerance.html
56

The Intolerance of Tolerance

www.conversantlife.com/theology/the-intolerance-oftolerance
The previous example is an excerpt from the EXCELLENT book Tactics by
Greg Koukl. A more thorough examination of this excerpt is at:
http://adozenseconds.com/2013/04/03/intolerance
To preview a few chapters of Gregs excellent book, go to:
http://books.google.com/books?isbn=0310574757
To hear a presentation by Greg Koukl on Tactics, check out:
Pt 1: http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/2003/17053.mp3
Pt 2: http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/2003/17054.mp3
Are Christians Intolerant? - Greg Koukl
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHQV_QsA_f0
The Intolerance of Tolerance
www.str.org/publications/the-intolerance-of-tolerance
Hopefully, you can see the self-contradictory nature of the
statement Christians shouldnt be so intolerant. To see a
few eye-opening examples of intolerance exhibited toward
Christians, check the following YouTube videos:
Wretched: Anti-Christian Intolerance
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YQs0I6AQxw
Wretched: Shut up, Christian!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4ofS4N2RK8
Anti-Christians Vandalize Pro-Marriage Signs in Maine
http://en.gloria.tv/?media=359104
Gay's Attack Christians in Seattle
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI9ckQ6494k
Attacked by Tolerance -- How same-sex "marriage" hurts people
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za0ZvliA3AM#t=32
Here are a few more stories demonstrating this intolerance toward
Christians by the govermnent :
US Government Is Now Forcing Five American Pastors
To Turn In Their Speeches
http://shoebat.com/2014/10/20/us-government-nowforcing-five-american-pastors-turn-speecheshomosexual-sharia-continues
57

American Government To Christian Pastor: Do A

Homosexual Wedding Or Get Thrown Into Prison
http://shoebat.com/2014/10/20/american-governmentchristian-pastor-homosexual-wedding-get-thrown-prison/
It is important to realize that many non-Christians use
names, (intolerant, homophobe, racist, judgmental,
etc.), because theyve heard these names used to challenge
Christians without most Christians responding to these names.
This is very similar to the way the other statements in this section
have been used.
If you think more about this practice of name calling youll
see that name calling actually forces you to divert from the subject
you are discussing. Whether intended or not by the one calling the
name, you end up no longer discussing the subject and are now
forced to defend yourself against the name.
As an example, if you are called Intolerant, you are now
forced to defend yourself against the charge of being intolerant,
instead of talking about the subject you are discussing. Again,
since so many people repeat claims theyve heard, claims which
are not usually challenged, I believe that many of the people who
call others by these names dont even realize they are using this
diversion. And since most Christians havent been taught to deal
with this practice of name-calling, the action is very effective at
shutting down or diverting the conversation.
You will also find that some people will call others names
when they dislike the conclusions others present. This is usually
because they have a weak argument, or none, with which to
respond to the presentation they believe is wrong. This is
unfortunately somewhat common, and you will see when one
person doesnt have a response to the other persons argument,
they will start attacking the person, rather than deal with the
persons arguments.
If a person resorts to name calling, they are already acting
in an aggressive way, so being a little more direct is very fair. Some
responses to a person calling you a name could be,

58

Calling me a ______ doesnt really deal with the evidence

(or) conclusion Ive presented. Do you have a challenge to
the evidence/conclusion other than calling me names?
or, Whether Im a _____ or not doesnt really answer the
evidence (or) conclusion Ive presented. Creative name
calling isnt evidence and isnt a challenge to the evidence.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH NAME CALLING?

www.str.org/blog/how-do-you-deal-with-name-calling

HOW DO YOU HANDLE NAME CALLING IN A WINSOME WAY?

www.str.org/blog/how-do-you-handle-name-calling-in-awinsome-way-video
A way to quickly response to the claim You shouldnt be
so intolerant would be to first use the previous example we
showed. Then ask, If I am being so intolerant of anothers
views as you claim, and we shouldnt be intolerant, that why
are you being intolerant of my views and why is that OK? You
might be the first person to effectively answer their claim, and bring
them to a realization to the truth of their self-contradictory position.
Again, people usually make these statements because
Christians claim their beliefs are the truth. Others see this as in
intolerance of the non-Christian beliefs of others. They believe that
Christians are judging other beliefs as NOT THE TRUTH. (see the
section on TRUTH, and the following YouTube video:
Law of Non Contradiction
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWVzHOhGSC0
The main reason people make these claims is that they
dont like it when theirs or anothers beliefs are judged by Christians.
When we make truth claims like Christianity is true, or Jesus
is the only way, others think, You Christians think youre
better than others, because you think you are right, and others
wrong. They see it as a criticism of the person holding the belief,
not the actual belief itself. They see it as a personal attack.
However, most Christians dont do this because they think
they are better, they believe that TRUTH matters, and the implication
of this truth is eternal. And remember, those making these claims
against Christians believe they are right and that Christians are
59

wrong, so they are the ones demonstrating intolerance, not

Christians.
Think of the illustration of a burning house. Suppose you
were out very early one morning and you saw a house that had
caught fire. You knew the family was home asleep. If you woke
them up to tell them their house was on fire and they refused to
believe you and get out of the house, would it be intolerant of you
to keep trying to convince them to get out of the house? To claim
a Christian is intolerant, is similar to claiming that you were
intolerant for trying to persuade the family different than what they
were comfortable believing. A Christian in this illustration might be
considered persistent, but certainly not intolerant. It is because
Christians believe in an eternal hell, that they continue to try to
reach others. Once others are dead, there is no further opportunity.

* YOU SHOULDNT JUDGE

Criticisms similar to Christians shouldnt be so
intolerant are You shouldnt judge or Christians are so
judgmental. When they claim You shouldnt judge, they are
doing so again because you think you are right. Think about those
who believe differently than Christianity, and make the claim You
shouldnt judge. Dont they think they are right? When someone
states, You shouldnt judge, isnt that a judgment about the
person they are stating it to? You shouldnt judge is in fact a
judgment. So they are judging Christians for judging others beliefs.
You shouldnt judge is another example of a selfcontradictory statement, and can be responded similarly to
responding to the claim that Christians are intolerant. The response
to this criticism could be, If we shouldnt judge, then why are
you judging me?
If you had more time, you could respond similar to the
following dialog example which Greg Koukl has used when
someone has made the statement to him:
Non-Christian: You shouldnt judge
Christian: Why not?
Non-Christian: Because you think you are right, and you
think others are wrong
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Christian: Do you think you are right?

Non-Christian: Yes
(What are they going to say, that they are wrong? No.
If they thought they were wrong, they wouldnt complain.)
Christian: Why when I think Im right, Im judgmental,
but when you think youre right, youre just right?
This again is a very similar response to being called
intolerant.
Another statement people use about Christians judging is
taken directly from the Bible:
Matt 7:1 Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
This verse is used by many in our tolerant culture to
promote the perspective that Christians dont have the right to judge
anything because Jesus said that we shouldnt judge. Is this a true
and correct understanding of this verse, and are we as Christians
obligated to follow the verse the way it is presented by those using
it in this way? Often, a single Bible verse can be used to justify
something opposite what the Bible actually means. The following
answers this challenge and shows the correct understanding of the
verse.
The Verse the Culture Misquotes Most Regularly in an
Effort to Quiet Christians - J. Warner Wallace
www.str.org/blog/the-verse-the-culture-misquotes-mostregularly-in-an-effort-to-quiet-christians#.VDA_rmddXE1

* CHRISTIANS ARE HYPOCRITES

Another criticism is, Christians are hypocrites. Notice,
this is NAME CALLING OF A GROUP. In this instance the name calling
is of Christians. Some people indicate hypocrisy as the reason for
not being open to spiritual things, particularly Christianity. They say
this because they see those who call themselves Christian, whether
on TV or maybe people they know, who demonstrate characteristics
in their lives opposite of the characteristics of a Christian.

61

Donald Barnhouse made the statement,

There are two reasons people dont become Christians. The
first is that they dont know any, and the second is that they do.
To see the significant impact our character has in the
perceptions of non-Christians, we only need to see two comments
Gandhi made. He stated, I like your Christ, I do not like your
Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ, and also
If Christians would really live according to the teachings of
Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian
today. What a condemnation of the way many Christians live.
I was privileged to hear an interview with Dr. Jerry Root, who
is a professor at Wheaton College` and a C.S. Lewis Scholar, who
spoke on this subject. It is the best presentation Ive heard on this
subject. It is one of the STAND TO REASON podcasts. The audio is
at the following link, but Ive transcribed it just in case the link
becomes unavailable:
Dr. Jerry Root - C.S. Lewis Scholar
http://www.str.org/podcasts/weekly-audio/dr.-jerry-root--c.s.-lewis-scholar (the following starts at 1hr40minute mark)
Dr. Root states,
When they say they're not interested in spiritual things,
especially Christian things because they've seen too many
hypocrites in the church. Ive said to them, That's really
insightful of you. Obviously your powers of observation
are pretty good. Nobody in the church has it together"
If we judged any segment of society by its worst
examples, nobody could stand. We can always find
examples of bad pastors, bad students, bad lawyers, and
bad car salesmen, whatever it might be."
But, when I say to the person, It's insightful of you to
see that there are hypocrites in the church, I say to them,
Here's how I know what you're saying is true. I'm one. I
believe in the high ideal of love, but there have been times
I've had sharp words with people I say I love most in the
world. I believe in justice, but there have been times I've
been unfair. I did not set out to be unfair, but realized it
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after the fact. Now I know there are hypocrites in the

church, because I'm one."
With only one exception, hundreds and hundreds of
times I've had that conversation, the person has responded to
me as openly as I've been unguarded with them. And they've
said "When you put it like that, I struggle with these things
too." Now the issue of hypocrisy is not the barrier that keeps
us from talking about matters of faith, the barrier actually
opens the door, so that we can get to the issues of faith.
"So I say to them, Now as a pilgrim on the same road
with them, As a struggler in life, knowing I don't have it
all together, what's helped you?" And they say to me,
"Well, I struggle . . . I say, "Can I share with you what
helps me?" And I'm then able to go and talk with them about
the love of God. The God who knows me, knows all of my
goofiness, knows my lack of life skill, knows my
inconsistencies, and hypocrisies. He knows me and he loves
me. And that gives me the encouragement then to pick myself
up from my failures, and have a reason to go on, in the light
of that love. Not only that, He forgives me of those things,
which in a sense, is a fresh start, a second chance". And I
think that's brilliant stuff, and we all long to be fixed. Anyone
whos honest with themselves at least longs to be fixed.
CS Lewis says in his essay Christian apologetics,
"Before the Gospel can be Good News, its got to be bad
news". Lewis says, "Nobody comes to faith in Christ,
without acknowledging their need for Christ, without
coming to some awareness of sin. That the way to
awaken a person to their sins, is probably not to be
condescending and condemning.
But Lewis said that, There's a better way. That way is
to talk about our own struggles this last week, and often
that kind of honesty, will allow the other person in our
presence to be equally honest. Now we can get to some
good places.

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* SCIENCE IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN KNOW REALITY

Lets look at this statement about science which initially
sounds quite valid. Many people have been convinced that science
is the only way to know anything about the world and truth, and they
will make the claim, You cant know anything outside of what
can be proven by science. This is another statement that sounds
valid, has not been examined by many of those who use it, and is
repeated because it is rarely challenged.
Many mistakenly claim that the Bible is contradicted by
science, and that you either believe in science or you believe in the
Bible/religion. Unfortunately, when many Christians are confronted
with this claim, theyve been persuaded by it and been silenced.
When you check out the EVIDENCES FOR CHRISTIANITY section, you
will see that the Bible is supported extremely well by science. This
is the exact opposite of this incorrect claim about science and the
Bible. If you dont know about the evidences though, its really easy
to be deceived into thinking that this claim is true.
So, what is wrong with the claim? When someone makes
the claim, Science Is the only way we can know reality, they
are essentially saying that one can only gain a knowledge of reality
through SCIENCE and no other area of study. So, if nothing can be
known other than by SCIENCE, we cant then know anything about
reality through any other area of learning. As such, we cant know
anything through Literature, Philosophy, History, Art, Psychology,
or other areas of study.
So how do we answer this claim? While the claim is that
Only science gives us a knowledge of reality, can this claim
be known through the scientific method? No. Greg Koukl
(www.str.org) observes that the statement Only science gives us
a knowledge of reality, is not a statement of science, because it
cant be proven using the scientific method. It is actually a
statement of belief (or philosophy) about science, also called a
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY. So you could respond to the person,
Your statement cant be proven using the scientific method.
J.P. Moreland makes a great observation about this. He
states, The statement itself cannot be known through science.
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So essentially, it is a statement of philosophy that says that

you cant trust statements of philosophy. What is this type of
statement called? Thats right, a self-contradictory statement. Here
is the link to his recording with this quote:
Has Science Made Belief in God Unreasonable? (audio)
www.apologetics315.com/search?q=Has+Science+M
ade+Belief+in+God+Unreasonable
Reconciling Science and Scripture
www.apologetics315.com/2009/12/reconciling-sciencescripture-mp3-audio.html
In this second audio above, he also very creatively answers
a person who states, If you cant test it and quantify your data
and measure it in a laboratory, its nothing but a bunch of idle
speculation and hot air. Check out some of the outstanding
audio recordings of JP Moreland on this subject. Evidence for
Christianity, Reconciling Science and Scripture, and others at:
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/J.P.%20Moreland
Audio Resources from J.P. Moreland
http://thinkingmatters.org.nz/2010/02/audio-resourcesfrom-j-p-moreland
Preparing Students for College Jerry Solomon
www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/students.html
I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist - Frank Turek
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTmjnxzK3gQ
This has answers to many challenging statements.

* HAS ANYONE SEEN OR HEARD GOD?

I remember a few years ago on one of Greg Koukls radio
call-in programs, his mentioning of an encounter between a
professor and a student Greg knows. The professor used a line of
reasoning to prove to their students that God didnt exist. This line
of reasoning initially sounded valid. The professor gave the
following reasoning to a class the student was in:
Professor: Does anyone believe in God? - a few hands raise
Professor: Has anyone seen God? - Silence
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Professor: Has anyone heard God? - Silence

Professor: Has anyone interacted with God? - Silence
Professor: Since no one has seen, heard or interacted with
God, I shall conclude that God must not exist.
After the professor finished talking, a student raised his hand, and the
professor acknowledged him.
Student: Can I ask the students a few questions?
Professor: Go ahead.
Student: Has anyone seen the professor's brain? - Silence
Student: Has anyone heard the professor's brain? - Silence
Student: Has anyone interacted with the professor's brain?
Student: Based upon the professor's own logic, the professors
brain must not exist.
Greg Koukl indicates that you want to have a very good
relationship with your professor before you attempt such an answer
to this type of challenge by your professor. If you are in a similar
situation and you dont want to give the impression that you are
challenging your professor, you could make your point effectively
by asking questions similar to the following:
Professor. Are the only evidences for the existence of
something being that we be able to see, hear, or interact
with it? Wouldnt it be valid for someone use the same
reasoning to question the existence of the brain?
How Some Postmodern Kids Used Logic in Berkeley
www.conversantlife.com/theology/how-some-postmodernkids-used-logic-in-berkeley

* GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD AND SO ISNT WORTHY OF WORSHIP

Some have objected to the verses where God states that He
is a jealous God.
Exodus 20:5 "You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I

the Lord your God am a jealous God."

Exodus 34:14 "For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord,

whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."

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In this video Oprah tells how she rejected the idea of the
God of the Bible because of this description of God being jealous.
Oprah really believes God is Jealous of her
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxao4LmTMfU&spfreload=1
When we think of the human emotion of JEALOUSY, it is
understandable that some would come to the conclusion Oprah
has. www.thefreedictionary.com uses the following words in its
definition of JEALOUS: ENVIOUS, RESENTFUL, FEARFUL, and WARY. It
seems almost ridiculous to even think of applying these words to
God as he is represented in the Bible. That the God of the universe
would experience any of these emotions seems absurd. Is there
another way to consider the term used by God of Himself?
www.thefreedictionary.com lists the 5th definition of jealousy
as: Intolerant of disloyalty or infidelity; autocratic: a jealous god.
Ezekiel 39:25b states, "and I will be jealous for my holy name.
When we consider this definition and the verse, we get a better
understanding of the kind of JEALOUSY God is indicating. According
to this definition, God is jealous, (or intolerant of disloyalty or
infidelity), for his holy name. This makes perfect sense when
thinking of the God of the Bible. God is intolerant of our disloyalty
or infidelity, or anything which would contribute to intolerance or
disloyalty to Him. This is fully consistent with the character of God
as He is described in the Bible.
Greg Koukl explained to a caller that since God has created
us and done so much for us, he is jealous for us and against
anything that would take our affections from him. God isnt jealous
OF us, but FOR us.
The illustration Greg used is that of a couples relationship.
Think about a couple you know. Would one of the two people have
the right to be jealous if they found out that the other person was
having romantic feelings for someone other than them? Think
about yourself. If you have a boyfriend or girlfriend, would it be OK
to be jealous if they were showing more than a friendly interest in
another? Of course it would. You have something special with that
person, and for them be this inconsiderate would be to show a lack
of concern and respect for the relationship they have with you.
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Gods jealousy is similar to this, but not quite the same.

Since God has created us and paid the price for our salvation, he is
fully justified in being jealous for us when he knows that any other
thing we try to find fulfillment in can never come close to comparing
to Him. He is truly interested in our best, and he knows He can
provide infinitely better for us than any other person or thing.
In the video with Oprah, Opera asks God is jealous of
me? I think it is much more accurate to see that God is not jealous
OF Oprah or us, God is jealous FOR Oprah and us. Hopefully this
gives you a better way to look at this objection.

* CHRISTIANITY IS JUST A CRUTCH

Christianity is just a crutch. This is said to imply that
Christians are weak and gullible and that we believe Christianity
simply because we want it to be true. We believe that we NEED a
God because we cant handle life on our own. Couldnt the same
be said about the beliefs of those who criticize Christianity?
Couldnt we claim, Atheism is just a crutch, or any other belief
is just a crutch too? After all, its really not about whether someone
has a crutch, (what the person wants or doesnt want to be true),
but which crutch that person is using. Whether Atheist, Muslim,
Mormon, etc. They want that belief to be true and that there be no
God. Everyone, whether a Christian or not, relies on something.
Everyone is basing or supporting the foundation for their life on
something.
Is Religion a Crutch?
www.rzim.org/just-thinking/is-religion-a-crutch
The article covering this and many other criticisms of
Christians as well as responses, can be found at:
Common Criticisms of the Bible and Their Weaknesses
www.freesundayschoollessons.org/systematictheology/apologetics/lesson-6-common-criticisms

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* BELIEFS ARE DUE TO CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY

Jay Wegter mentions in the following recording: about a
Wellesley College class which was taken by the wife of one of his
mentors. http://gospelforlife.sermon.net/main/main/10072576
In the first class session, the professor of the class drew
attention to the mentors wife Janice. He mentioned that she had
indicated that she was a born again Christian. The professor then
pointed out another student, Alicia, and that Alicia was a Muslim,
and had grown up in Saudi Arabia.
He then asked Janice if she had grown up in a Christian
home and asked Alicia if she had grown up in a Muslim home.
When they both acknowledged that they had, the professor stated,
Lets face it, your religious affiliation is a geographical
coincidence. Janice, if you had been born in Saudi Arabia
youd be a Muslim, and Alicia, if you had been born in a
Christian family, youd be a Christian. So lets drop our
exclusivism. Lets just drop the topic of whos right and whos
wrong. How would you handle a situation like this where the
professor singled you out and made the statements they did? How
intimidated would you feel?
Janice waited until all the students had left and gently
confronted the professor. She said, You spoke this morning as
if you were speaking from a place of total objectivity. You
didnt own your worldview. You had fun with my worldview,
but you didnt own yours. What is your worldview and how
does it weigh objectivity? She then said, I want respect from
you, and I want respect for my Christian worldview. Otherwise,
Im going to ask you to own your worldview in front of the
class.
Her response took the professor completely off guard. He
changed his perspective and from then on showed respect for
Janice and her beliefs. For the rest of the semester when the class
was discussing a topic, he would say, Janice, if you could tell us
what the Biblical worldview is on this topic that would be
great. Jay indicates that, He showed her complete respect
and actually invited her input to share from a Biblical
worldview. Notice that Janice didnt try to embarrass him in front
69

of the students. She waited until everyone was gone so that she
wasnt putting him on the spot, which allowed her to be more direct.
Janices professor had probably never had a Christian
student point out the inconsistency of the professors statements
before. How do we respond when someone claims that we only
believe in Christianity because we were brought up in a Christian
culture, and/or household, and why was Janices response to this
professor so effective?
It wasnt immediately apparent to me what the contradiction
was in what the professor said. What Janice pointed out to her
professor is that he was really claiming that beliefs are only based
upon culture and geography, and not on truths. Like The Blind
Men and the Elephant parable, he implied that he saw the topic
from a position of full understanding and objectivity, and implied that
Janice and Alicia only had a partial understanding. Considering the
professors statement, Lets just drop the topic of whos right
and whos wrong, the professors belief is that no one can be fully
objective about right and wrong. Of course, he believes himself to
be fully objective.
Calling on and asking the questions he asked of Janice and
Alicia, he implied that he was the only one who had objectivity,
which contradicts his implication that no one can be objective. His
comments show that what he believed to be true was that religious
beliefs are really only based upon where a person is born and
raised and the culture they live in. He gives no indication that he is
religious, and implies that he IS able to be objective.
A few other thoughts about someone holding this
perspective. If they are an Atheist, did they grow up in an Atheist
home? Ive read that many atheists actually grew up in religious
homes. If the person posing these questions about geography and
culture is an Atheist, but they grow up in a religious household, their
conclusion from their questions contradicts their own experience.
Geography as the Most Important Predictor of Religion
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&
article=2789
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&
article=4133
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Jay Wegters Worldproofing Workshop 2013

Pt 1 Exposing the Lies of our Public Universities
http://gospelforlife.sermon.net/10072576
Pt 2 Is Evolution a Scientific Theory or a Religious Philosophy?
http://gospelforlife.sermon.net/10072577
Pt 3 The New Tolerance, Calling Good Evil and Evil Good
http://gospelforlife.sermon.net/10072578
Jay Wegters Worldproofing Workshop 2014
Pt 1 Biblical Cosmology; the Foundation of the Gospel
http://gospelforlife.org/s/WorldproofingWkshop-I-BiblicalCosmology-Gospel-Foundation-2014-awnd.mp3
Pt 2 Deconstructing the Idolatry in Education (Romans One)
http://gospelforlife.org/s/Worldproofing-Wkshop-IIDeconstructing-Idolatry-in-Ed.mp3
Pt 3 Christian Apologetics; Answering a Culture of Skepticism
http://gospelforlife.org/s/Worldproofing-Wkshop-IIIAnswering-a-Culture-of-Skepticism.mp3
Jay Wegters Other Excellent Recordings
http://gospelforlife.org/sermons/
http://thesermonnetwork.com/sermon-search
Enter Wegter in last name of Advanced Search and click Go

* IF I DONT ACCEPT JESUS, WILL I GO TO HELL?

One of the last statements I would like you to be aware of,
is actually a question. While its not a self-contradictory statement,
it can still be challenging when raised. While some do ask the
question honestly, I believe others will ask it to trip up Christians.
They look to use the Christians probable answer as evidence of
how narrow minded the Christian is, and how petty God is.
The question is: If I dont accept Jesus, will I go to hell?
While the question initially seems challenging, I have
provided information from Greg Koukl, as to how to respond to this
below, as well as in the SHARING THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY
section.

71

When you think about the question, you can see that if only the
single word answer yes is given, the person will leave with the
impression that they are going to hell simply because they picked
the wrong preference of religion. If only the single word answer
no is given, the person will have a misunderstanding of salvation.
It will seem to them very trivial on Gods part that they might have
lived a GOOD life, and are still going to hell.
Since it is impossible to provide an adequate answer to this
question using only a single word answer, a question like this needs
to be answered very tactfully so that the person asking the question
comes to a full understanding of the importance of their question.
A single word answer cannot provide this needed understanding
and perspective.
Greg Koukl stresses that if someone presses you for a single
word answer and is not willing to give you the time necessary to
give them a full answer, you are not obligated to answer at all. You
could respond, The subject is much too important to give a
single word answer to. If you are really interested in an answer
rather than just a quick response, Im happy to talk with you.
If you wont give me the time to show your question the respect
it deserves, you must not be that serious about the question
and the answer must not be that important to you.
Review Greg Koukls effective method of responding to this:
Am I Going to Hell? www.str.org/articles/am-i-going-to-hell

* IF GOD IS ALL POWERFUL CAN HE MAKE A ROCK SO BIG . . .

There is one question that is almost always asked to stump
Christians. It is not typically asked because the person is seriously
looking for an answer. The question is, If God is all powerful can
He make a rock so big that he cant lift it? It is posed as a
challenge to the concept of an ALL-POWERFUL GOD.
When you initially hear the question, it does make you
wonder how the question could be answered. The underlying
challenge in the question is:
If God is all powerful, he could make a rock that big, but
then he couldnt be all powerful because he couldnt lift
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it. If he could lift any rock that he could make, he isnt

powerful enough to make a rock too big for him to lift.
Either way, God is lacking power in some way.
The answer to this challenge has to do with the nature of
God. God has made a logical world, where two or more concepts
cannot be both true and contradictory at the same time. The
question is similar to someone asking, Can God make a square
circle? It is a logical impossibility. The rock question is another
example of a logical impossibility.
Greg Koukl states in the following video,
God is ALL-POWERFUL, which means He has all the power
needed to do anything that requires power to accomplish,
but there are some problems power cant solve.
Greg Koukl - If God is all-powerful, why does evil exist?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jRMWKz4hbw
Have you ever thought that God cannot do certain things?
The idea that there are things He cant do, may surprise you.
However, considering the nature of God and His character; we see
that God cannot lie, that He cant act contradictory to his nature,
that He cant violate laws of logic, that He cant learn (He has all
knowledge, so He knows everything), and that His nature will never
change. While these may initially seem like limitations, they enable
us to have great confidence in God, in His integrity, and in His
promises.
Malachi 3:6 "I, the Lord, do not change."
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same

yesterday and today and forever.

We can have confidence in God, because He doesnt change. We
know that we will be able to depend on the promises he has made.

* JESUS IS A COPY CAT SAVIOR AND

CHRISTIANITY IS A COPY CAT RELIGION
This challenge is not commonly heard, but it can catch you
off guard if youve never heard it nor the answer to it before.
73

The following are the details about a deity, told to J. Warner

Wallace by a man he spoke with. See if you can determine who it
is.

He was born of a virgin, born in a cave.

His birth was heralded by a star, and attended by shepherds.
He had 12 disciples, did interesting things, and preached a
sermon on the mount.
He preached to save the masses and died to save the world.
Three days later he rose from the dead.
His birth is celebrated on Dec 25th, and his resurrection is
celebrated on Easter.
Afterwards His disciples started meeting on Sundays, and
celebrated the Lords Supper with communion.
And he was called the way the truth the light.

Who do you think this describes? Would you be surprised

to find that you would be wrong if you said Jesus?
These details are believed to speak about Mithra, a God
from Persia worshipped 400 years before Jesus. Followers even
worshipped alongside the new Christians, who the followers of
Mithra believed to have stolen Mithras identity, call him Jesus, and
built the Christian basilicas in Rome on the foundations of the
Temples of Mithra.
If someone presented this challenging information, and you
had never heard it before, what kind of impact do you think it have
on your confidence in what you believe, especially to find that these
are actual details of the Greek and Egyptian gods of Horus, Mithras,
Krishna, and Dionysus?
Was Jesus a Copy of Horus, Mithras, Krishna, and Other Pagan Gods?
http://beginningandend.com/jesus-copy-horus-mithrasdionysis-pagan-gods
In the following video, J Warner Wallace, the cold case
detective (http://pleaseconvinceme.com), recounts one of the first annual
trips he took with Bret Kunkle (www.str.org). Each year they take a
group of students to Berkeley or Salt Lake City to give the students
exposure to philosophies contradictory to Christianity. They do this
so that they can prepare students for the sometimes very effectively
74

expressed arguments against Christianity. In this video he talks

about the presentation given by an Atheist to the group of students
in Berkeley, who presented the details about Mithra at the start of
this section.
Is Jesus a Copycat Savior? - J. Warner Wallace
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORTkCONbYFo
The following sites should give you additional information on
this challenge, and how to answer it. I have particularly tried to find
a number of sites on this challenge because of the impact this claim
can have on Christians if theyve never heard it before.
Is Christianity a Copycat Religion? - Sean McDowell
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/apologetics/is-christianitya-copycat-religion
Doesn't the religion of Mithra prove that Christianity is false?
http://carm.org/christianity/bible/doesnt-religion-mithra-provechristianity-false
Impossible Faith Non-Parallel #1: Mitrhaism
www.tektonics.org/uz/yeswayjose1.php
The Mithras Myth-Makers
www.canadianapologeticscoalition.com/the-mithras-mythmakers
Exploding the Mithras Myth: Christianity did not borrow
its beliefs from a Roman mystery religion
www.jonsorensen.net/2013/04/17/exploding-the-mithrasmyth-christianity-did-not-borrow-its-beliefs-from-aroman-mystery-religion
Was Christianity Stolen from Mithraism?
http://1peter315.blogspot.com/2011/03/was-christianitystolen-from-mithraism.html
Doesn't the religion of Mithra prove that Christianity is false?
http://carm.org/christianity/bible/doesnt-religion-mithra-provechristianity-false
Did Christianity Steal From Mithraism?
www.comereason.org/mithraism.asp
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Is there any validity to the Zeitgeist movie?

www.gotquestions.org/zeitgeist-movie.html
The Jesus Myth Theory: Investigating Claims of Copying
www.apologeticsguy.com/2011/07/is-jesus-a-myth-mithrasosiris-theory-christianity
Was the story of Jesus rising from the dead borrowed from pagan myths?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI4m4tj_A3E

* The Bible is Derogatory to Women

Some claim that the Bible is derogatory to women. The
following sites show that while many of the ancient world and even
certain countries today treat women as second class citizens, it is
the Bible which has elevated the value of women.
Does Christianity Oppress Women?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxAK8ApMkg
Is Christianity Oppressive to Women?
www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2004/mar5.html
The Biblical Portrait of Women: Setting the Record Straight
www.gty.org/resources/articles/A265/The-Biblical-Portrait-ofWomen-Setting-the-Record-Straight
Christianity: The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Women
https://bible.org/article/christianity-best-thing-ever-happenedwomen

* The Bible Promotes Slavery

Some claim that the Bible promotes slavery. Is this true?
When you examine the information in context, you will see a
completely different story.
Does the Bible condone slavery?
www.gotquestions.org/Bible-slavery.html
The Bible and Slavery
www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=11&
article=1587

76

You Say the Bible Advocates Slavery?

www.christianapologeticsalliance.com/2012/10/20/you-say-thebible-advocates-slavery
Why is slavery permitted in the Bible?
https://carm.org/slavery
Slavery In The Bible
https://bibleapologetics.wordpress.com/slavery-in-the-bible-25
Slavery in the Bible: 8 Quick Resources
www.apologetics315.com/2011/06/slavery-in-bible-8-quickresources.html
I would like you to be aware of one additional challenging
statement. I cover it as well as the answer to it at the end of the
SHARING THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY section. The statement is:

* I CANT BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO WOULD CREATE ME KNOWING I

WOULD SIN, AND THEN HOLD ME GUILTY FOR SIN HE KNEW I WOULD
COMMIT.
The reason for waiting till later to cover it is that the
statement touches on a few different sections detailed later in this
guide. I believe that it is important to have read through the sections
on TRUTH, EVIL, and EVIDENCES, to gain the necessary perspective
to fully appreciate the challenge and the answer to that challenge.

* REVISIONIST HISTORY
A non-question challenge to Christianity and related to
some of the misinformation we have already looked at is what is
called HISTORICAL REVISIONISM. Historical Revisionism is the
revising of the record of the past so that people will believe different
in the present. This can be done either by changing the details and
facts of the historical record, or by leaving out critical details. If the
United States wasnt founded based on the principles of the Bible,
how can we object when we see the country moving toward nonChristian values?
There is much misinformation about the significant influence
of Christianity on the foundation of the United States, about its
77

founders, and significant events in history. Some say that the

United States wasnt founded upon Christian values, and that the
Founding Fathers were mostly Deists, Agnostics, and Atheists.
As in other challenges, people repeat this misinformation
simply because they arent aware of the facts due to not having
researched the accuracy of the information. The people who have
created the information itself knowingly look to change what people
believe happened in the past, and thus what people now believe in
the present. The following quotes illustrate how effective this is:
He who controls the past, controls the future. George Orwell
A people without a heritage are easily persuaded. Karl Marx
He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future! Adolf Hitler
If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will
eventually come to believe it." Joseph Goebbels
Nazi Minister of Propaganda
Gone in Only One Generation
https://answersingenesis.org/culture/gone-in-only-onegeneration
What Are The Dangers Of Revisionist History ?
http://society-politics.blurtit.com/295492/what-are-thedangers-of-revisionist-historyCheck the following links to see some of the ways history
has been revised and some of the current efforts to revise our
history.

HISTORICAL REVISIONISM
What are Some Examples of Historical Revisionism?
www.probe.org/what-are-some-examples-of-historicalrevisionism
Who Do You Believe, the Revisionists or the Founding Fathers?
www.revolutionarywararchives.org/revisionist.html
The Founding Fathers: Faith or Fiction?
http://god-and-logic.blogspot.com/2010/04/founding-fathersfaith-or-fiction.html
Religious Founders? Read Their Writings
www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=161
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Was George Washington a Christian?

www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=127
The Bullet Proof President
www.c4cg.org/bullet.htm
John Quincy Adams and the Bible
https://loopyloo305.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/feb-21-jqathe-bible
Confronting Civil War Revisionism: Why the South Went To War
www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=92

EDUCATIONAL REVISIONSIM
Historic fail? Greatest Americans missing from proposed curriculum
www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/07/historic-fail-greatestamericans-missing-from-proposed-curriculum

AP Downgrades History
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3201737/posts
My Comments on the U.S. History Standards
www.facebook.com/notes/marjorie-holsten/my-comments-onthe-us-history-standards-please-help-me-keep-this-frombecoming-t/226981890650639
Comments on US History Standards from an Attorney and
Teacher of the Constitution
http://edlibertywatch.org/2011/05/403
Students Walk Out of Class - Protest School Rewriting of History:
"You can't Change History"
http://freedomoutpost.com/2014/09/students-walk-class-protestschool-rewriting-history-cant-change-history
Revisionism: How to Identify It In Your Children's Textbooks
www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=112
Colorado Tries to Follow Texas & Stop APUSH, Left Hijacks
Narrative over Patriotism.
www.breitbart.com/texas/2014/09/27/colorado-tries-to-followtexas-stop-apush-left-hijacks-narrative-over-patriotism
Why The Public School System Teaches Revisionist History
http://westernconservatory.com/articles/why-public-school-systemteaches-revisionist-history
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PROMOTING ISLAM
Islam, Anti-Semitism Sneak Into Tennessee Textbooks
http://political-conservatives.blogspot.com/2014/11/what-arewe-doing-with-our-education.html
Islam in a Public School
www.wnd.com/2014/01/islam-in-a-public-school
The Islamization of American Public School Children
www.thecommonsenseshow.com/2014/12/29/islamizationamerican-public-school-children
How Historic Revisionism Justifies Islamic Terrorism
www.christianpost.com/news/how-historic-revisionismjustifies-islamic-terrorism-107816/
Is President Obama Correct: Is America No Longer a Christian
Nation?
www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=23909
____________________
Individuals using the challenges indicated in this section
knowingly or unknowingly attempt to marginalize the validity of
Christianity. It is important to realize with these challenging
statements that most of them do not do anything to disprove the
truth of the claims of Christianity. People will use them primarily to
silence unprepared Christians, and they are unfortunately effective
at doing this. This is confirmed by the number of Christians
unprepared to answer these challenges. When Christians are
unprepared to answer the challengers, the challengers avoid
having to deal with the truths of Christianity and the answers to
those challenges.
Hopefully you see how these challenges can be responded
to effectively using examples in this guide. These answers apply to
the challenges whether or not the persons using these challenges
knowingly use them as diversions, or that they have only heard
others use the challenges and not really investigated their truth.
Use these additional websites to gain greater knowledge of
many of the techniques used by challengers, and how to answers
them.
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If God is all-powerful, why does evil exist? - Greg Koukl

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jRMWKz4hbw
Who Are You to Force Your Morality? Greg Koukl
www.str.org/articles/who-are-you-to-force-your-morality-2
65 Apologetics Questions Every Christian Parent Needs to
Learn to Answer
http://christianmomthoughts.com/65-apologetics-questionsevery-christian-parent-needs-to-learn-to-answer
Challenge and Response videos by STR
www.apologetics315.com/2012/09/featured-resourcechallenge-response.html
Four-self-refuting-statements-heard-on-college-campusesacross-america
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/four-self-refutingstatements-heard-on-college-campuses-across-america
Self-Defeating Statements People (Unwittingly) Use Everyday!
http://adamlickey.com/2012/09/13/self-defeating-statementspeople-unwittingly-use-everyday
Skepticism as Snobbery
www.conversantlife.com/belief/skepticism-as-snobbery
How to Answer Tough Questions - Conversation Stoppers
Series
http://evangelism.intervarsity.org/how/apologetics/conversati
on-stoppers-series
6 Commandments for Answering Tough Questions
http://evangelism.intervarsity.org/how/apologetics/6commandments-answering-tough-questions

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4. APOLOGETICS To Make A Defense For

Christianity has been successfully attacked and
marginalized because those who professed belief were
unable to defend the faith from attack, even though its
attackers arguments were deeply flawed.
- William Wilberforce
How would you respond to the following?
Why are you a Christian?
Isnt Christianity just another way to God?
Ill worry about deciding when Im dying.
______________________
This section covers the importance of providing evidences
for Christianity and the Bible. Providing evidences for a belief is
called APOLOGETICS, and the person providing evidences is called
an Apologist. There are Christian Apologists, Muslim Apologists,
Atheist Apologists, etc. This guide includes information and links
on Christian Apologetics.
Christian Apologetics came into being out of the need for
Christians to defend against the challenges against the claims of
Christianity being made by non-Christians. Being that Christianity
makes the exclusive claims, There is a God, Jesus is the only
way of salvation, etc., some non-Christians take offense, and
make challenges against the claims of Christianity.
It is important to realize that the effectiveness of Apologetics
is not just in giving people evidences for Christianity. The
effectiveness of Apologetics is also in the way you present the
evidences, as well as the character we convey. The reason the
presentation of the evidences is so important, is because evidences
can often be presented in such a way that they appear to support
the opposite position. If someone is not familiar with the evidence,
this type of presentation can seem quite convincing.
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One example of evidence being used to support two

different positions is with Evolution and Creation. The evidences
are the strata layers in geologic formations and the fossils found in
the strata layers. Evolutionists use the strata layers as evidence of
long time frames necessary for Evolution. Creationists show strata
layers forming quickly and trapping organisms quickly as evidence
of a global flood. The following sections websites show how the
evidence is used support each position. We have THE SAME
EVIDENCE but TWO DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS with TWO DIFFERENT
CONCLUSIONS.
EVIDENCES PRESENTED IN SUPPORT OF EVOLUTION
Evolutionists claim that the strata layers seen in locations
like the Grand Canyon formed slowly over millions of years, with the
less complex organisms found in the lower strata layers and the
more evolved organisms found in the upper strata layers. I believe
this link gives a basic but accurate representation of the
Evolutionary explanation of the strata layers and fossils being
evidence of long geologic times. If youve not seen a presentation
regarding the age of the earth before, I think these videos are a fair
and accurate representation of the Evolutionary explanation.
ROCK LAYERS: TIMELINE OF LIFE ON EARTH
www.prehistoricplanet.com/news/index.php?id=48
WHAT ARE FOSSILS AND HOW DO THEY FORM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_DCP4cLVNg
Here are a few question to think about in reference to long ages
being evidenced by strata layers and fossils:
Have there been observable examples of strata layers
forming slowly that one can observe happening, so that this
explanation can be verified?
Has strata layering ever been observed to happen quickly?
How is the age of the layers and fossils determined in the
Evolutionary explanation of long time frames?
If slowly forming strata layers are an explanation of Evolution,
why do many of the types of fossils look the same as current
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living organisms, if the fossilized examples of the animals died

millions of years ago?
EVIDENCES PRESENTED IN SUPPORT OF CREATIONISM
Creationists claim that the strata layers and the fossils are evidence
of creationism and that the strata layers formed very quickly through
rapid laying down of rock layers by water, through a global flood.
Creationist argue that fossils cant form over long time frames in the
method described by Evolutionists, and that they would decompose
long before they could be buried and fossilized.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO FORM GRAND CANYON?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqbRbjM_B68
IS EVOLUTION ACCURATE SCIENCE OR CONCEALED HUMANISTIC
PROPAGANDA?
http://strateias.org/evolution.htm
I GOT EXCITED AT MOUNT ST HELENS!
http://creation.com/i-got-excited-at-mount-st-helens
MOUNT ST. HELENS: EXPLOSIVE EVIDENCE FOR YOUNG EARTH
CREATION
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0f4URsDWy0
One of the commenters, edgardo bassi, commented:
A religious creatard explaining science? You are an idiot.
The guy in the clip is a scientist? Coal made in 30 years? You
are or an idiot or a liar. At your own choice....

Its interesting that he refers to the speaker in the video as

being a Creatard (Creationist Retard), and questions the validity
of the speaker is a scientist. Remember we looked at the practice
of some people calling other people names when they dislike the
conclusions the other people offer. This is usually because they
have no argument to respond to the conclusion. This is
unfortunately somewhat common, and you will see when one
person doesnt have a response to the other persons argument,
they will start attacking the person, rather than offer an explanation
to answer the persons arguments.
The commenter above uses this practice of attacking Dr.
Austins degree because they dont agree with his conclusion. It
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isnt enough for some to believe different, they feel the need to
attack the person and not produce any kind of convincing response.
The following links show the credentials of the speaker Steve
Austin. STEVE AUSTIN - BIO
http://creationwiki.org/Steve_Austin#Videos
http://donotbedeceived.org/dr-steve-austin-bio
Heres a video showing an Evolutionist scientist claiming that
Creationist scientists arent scientists, because they come up with
conclusions different than Evolutionists.
SHORTEST SCIENTIST VS CREATIONIST DEBATE EVER.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=txzOIGulUIQ
NOTE: Im not implying that all Evolutionary scientists do
this, but you need to realize that there are some who do.
They believe that only evolutionary explanations are
credible explanations and that Creationist explanations do
not need to be taken seriously, because Its not real
science. They wont even consider the evidence a Creation
scientist presents because they are a Creationist.
The following video shows how to simulate the forming of strata
layers quickly by using a jar, water, and some dirt. I call it NOAHS
FLOOD IN A JAR.
TESTING SOIL FOR CLAY CONTENT
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh211b8b5FE
HOW FAST?
https://answersingenesis.org/fossils/how-are-fossilsformed/how-fast
The first video below shows how circular reasoning is used
by Evolutionists to date fossils and strata layers. The 2nd and 3rd
videos are by Evolutionists demonstrating the circular-reasoning
mentioned in the first video.
EVOLUTIONISTS DATE ROCKS & FOSSILS WITH CIRCULAR REASONING
www.youtube.com/watch?v=efcJEIV2RAk
HOW DO WE KNOW HOW OLD FOSSILS ARE?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2GNJ6tfbY0
AGE, ROCKS, AND INDEX FOSSILS.MP4
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydDuT5V9zwM
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The following links show what are referred to as

POLYSTRATE FOSSILS. Polystrate fossils are those fossils which

cross between two or more strata layers. Creationists point out that
for the item to be fossilized, it would need to be buried quickly.
Since the part of the organism that extended beyond the lowest
strata layer would have been exposed to the elements and not
buried, they wouldnt have survived to be fossilized over millions of
years. POLYSTRATE FOSSILS
www.earthage.org/polystrate/polystrate_fossils.htm
http://youngearth.com/topics/polystrate-fossils
I think the following video shows a well thought out
Evolutionary explanation of how Polystrate tree fossils could have
formed over long time frames. I dont hold to the conclusion that
the narrator of the video presents, but I have included it to show an
example of a person using a credible argument rather than name
calling. Calling names never makes as effective an argument as a
well thought reasoned response, and we should not use them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJdLu9CgvVY
My apologies at the length of this example of evidences
being used to support opposing beliefs in this section, but I wanted
to make sure that you had an effective example of the same
evidences used to support two opposing theories. I believe this
provides a good argument showing why Apologetics is necessary,
and why THE WAY THE EVIDENCES ARE PRESENTED IS AS IMPORTANT
AS THE EVIDENCES. You might call it MY APOLOGETIC FOR
APOLOGETICS.
The other main consideration in Apologetics is our
character, and how our character can impact how seriously others
consider the information we communicate. If others dont believe
that we have integrity, they wont consider the information we
present as credible, and wont take what we say seriously and truly
consider it.
Three of the definitions for Character at www.dictionary.com are:

MORAL OR ETHICAL QUALITY:

Ex: A man of fine, honorable character.

QUALITIES OF HONESTY, COURAGE, OR THE LIKE; INTEGRITY:

Ex: It takes character to face up to a bully.
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REPUTATION:
Ex: A stain on one's character.
The way you present the information and your character can
have a big impact, positive or negative, as to how receptive a
person is to considering the information you present.
An example of the impact of character is that of Kent Hovind.
He is a Creationist, and has a video series called the CREATION
SEMINAR. It has a lot of great information, with other creationists
questioning some of the content. Still, it is very good. Here is a link
where you can see the videos online:
CREATION SEMINAR - Kent Hovind
www.truthingenesis.com/creation-seminar-by-dr-kent-hovind
Unfortunately though, his evidences for Creation are not
considered because he was sent to prison for not paying taxes. He
indicates that a layer convinced him that he wasnt legally obligated
to pay them. The result of his situation is the ridicule of both
Creationism and Christianity. Even though some have this belief, I
think you will still find value in much of the content of his videos.
Kent Hovind is Still in Jail
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/03/17/kenthovind-is-still-in-jail-a
As indicated previously, we need to remember that even
with what we might consider great evidences, a person will
sometimes still not be willing to consider the evidence because of
their worldview. Remember the question from earlier?
What evidences against Christianity would you need to
see to consider giving up your beliefs about God, Jesus,
the Bible, etc.?
The more evidences we know for what we believe, the
harder it is for others to persuade us to believe differently. This the
same whether the evidences we believe are for or against
Christianity. Others feel as strongly about what they believe as we
do about what we believe, and they will not readily be open to
considering the evidences presented.
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When someone has seen a lot of misinformation about

Christianity that hasnt been effectively answered, it will be more
difficult to bring them to a point of considering Christianity as
reasonable. They have more reasons not to believe than to
believe. These reasons are barriers to considering the evidences.
Until these barriers are removed Christianity isnt viewed as a
legitimate belief system.
So the Apologetic process helps us discover what the
barriers are, so that we can present the evidences in such a way
that helps to lower those barriers. Once again, this must be done
with love for the individual and a respect for what they believe is
true. This way the evidences we share make it to the point of being
considered by the person were sharing with.
You may find it beneficial to check information in support of
beliefs contradictory to Christianity to become familiar with
arguments non-Christians forward against Christianity. NonChristian beliefs or worldviews are contradictory to Christianity, so
anything indicated as an evidence for a view contradictory to
Christianity will very probably be a challenge to Christianity.
However, before investigating arguments supporting other beliefs,
I highly recommend first reading through to the end of this guide.
This way you will have a good foundation of the evidences for
Christianity. As well, this will reduce the possibility of finding
yourself in a situation similar to those 70% of college students
unprepared for their professors claims.
And similar to the CHALLENGING STATEMENTS section,
where you can start learning how to respectfully respond to the
challenges others will make, you may find it worthwhile to search
for evidences indicated as proofs against Christianity so that you
will see what non-Christians actually consider as evidence against
Christianity. Again, I recommend strongly that before doing so, you
read through the rest of this guide and possibly various websites
about Christian Apologetics, so that you will first learn some of the
excellent evidences supporting Christianity. This way you will have
a firm foundation for what you believe.

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I cant stress enough the importance of having a firm

foundation for what you believe before getting into some of these
good sounding presentations of evidences, some of which may
seem quite convincing against the beliefs of Christianity. The more
you know how to respond to challenging evidences and the way
those evidences are presented, the easier it will be to see the flaws
in the evidences and the presentation being used. Some of the
evidences presented will look pretty foolish, but some will initially
sound convincing. They will seem convincing at first, much like the
CHALLENGING STATEMENTS do until you see how to respond to them.
To be fair, some Christians still use the phrase, You just need to
have enough faith when trying to persuade others to consider
Christianity. This is foolish. Like building a house, you want to
make sure you have a very strong foundation before exposing
yourself to the winds and storms of these supposed evidences
against Christianity.
Section 5 covers many of the evidences for Christianity.
After reading through this guide and then searching for evidences
for other belief systems, you will be amazed at the amount of
evidence for Christianity as compared to any other belief system.
Possibly the most important reason to learn and understand
the importance of apologetic information is so that we can know why
we believe what we do, and have confidence in what we believe.
As already indicated, the more confident you are in what you
believe, the more effective you can be in answering the
misinformation presented as the truth about Christianity, and the
more persuasive you can be presenting Christian truths and the
Gospel.
Using the method demonstrated in the SELF-CHECK - HOW
Section, a person can be shown that they are a
sinner and not as good as they originally thought. Even so, they
may still resist accepting that Christianity is true because they may
still believe mistruths about Christianity, and unfortunately there are
many. Again, those who believe the mistruths about Christianity
typically do so because they have never been shown the evidences
for Christianity or truths to correct those mistruths.

GOOD ARE YOU?

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As indicated by the statistic in the beginning of this guide,

only 30% of Christian students still believe to their faith after their
first year in college. And the Barna poll revealed that only half of
one percent of 18 to 23 year olds have a Biblical worldview. These
low percentages clearly show that most Christian students have not
been taught evidences for the truths of Christianity. Considering
this, should we conclude that non-Christians who are inclined to
believe against Christianity would have learned about any of the
evidences which show the truths of Christianity? And considering
the effectiveness of the challenges weve covered, should we then
expect that non-Christians would have become Christians based
upon the misinformation many non-Christians (and Christians)
believe to be true?
Many believe that science has disproved the existence of
God, that the Bible is full of errors, and thus concluded that
Christianity is not worth considering. Similar to the non-Christians
who believe the unanswered challenges they have heard made
against Christianity, many who believe that science has disproved
the Bible do so primarily because they have heard others make
these claims, without the claims being answered. Its not that they
have been shown actual evidences or that they have investigated
the challenges to the Bible.
They also think that if God actually exists and there is a
heaven, as long as they are sincere in what they believe God will
accept their sincerity. What many dont realize is that one can be
sincere, but be SINCERELY WRONG. Take driving. A person may run
a stop sign in an intersection believing they see no cross traffic.
They are sincere in their belief that there isnt any cross traffic, but
they dont see everything, are sincerely wrong, and they cause an
accident, and possibly the injury or death of someone or
themselves. The truth isnt determined by their sincerity.
Magic is an example of something showing that we can
sincerely believe that we saw something happen, and at the same
time knowing deep down that what we see couldnt happen as we
saw it. Thats part of the appeal of magic. We dont believe that
the magician can fool us and were amazed when they do. When
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we learn how a trick is performed, (learning the evidence), the trick

loses its intrigue, but all the details make sense.
Christianity is an example of something some can sincerely
disbelieve because of the misinformation they believe about it. And
they can confidently disbelieve Christianity without ever having any
knowledge deep down that any of the misinformation they believe
as fact is actually wrong. Since theyve only seen information
challenging the truth of Christianity, and not seen anyone respond
to the challenges, they have no reasons to believe differently. Why
would they believe that there is any truth to Christianity if the only
information they know of it is wrong, but they dont know the
information is wrong and believe it as fact?
With magic, everyone knows there are hidden details which
make the illusion possible. With Christianity, those who dont
believe there are evidences have no reason to consider that any
additional details might exist, and so they DONT KNOW about any of
the evidences supporting the truths of Christianity. This is where
our ability to share these evidences comes in.
When you are able to effectively provide and present
evidences for Christianity to someone who has questions or doubts,
you demonstrate the truths of Christianity and answer the doubts
they have. Learning the truths of Christianity doesnt guarantee that
a person will then accept Christianity, but it will show them that
Christianity is worth considering.
As already mentioned, think about yourself and the
evidences you would need to see to abandon what you believe.
Those who dont accept Christianity believe what they do as
strongly as we believe Christianity. This is usually because they
have never seen any evidence that would motivate them to consider
and accept Christianity as true. This contributes to their nonChristian worldview. Changing a persons worldview is sometimes
a long process. In some cases, it may be almost impossible for us.
Of course, its not impossible for God. It may be that the person
isnt ready to really consider the evidences. There are those who
havent seen evidences supporting the truths of Christianity, so that
they can consider Christianity. There are also people, who
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unfortunately have decided that no one will ever be able to show

them enough evidence to support Christianity. They have already
made up their mind that they wont consider any evidence we may
share with them.
When a person is not willing to accept Christ, even when
they cant dispute the evidences, their commitment to their
worldview is a factor or a sin they dont want to give up. They like
their life as it is, and are not willing to change. Frank Turek will ask
a person, If Christianity is true, would you become a
Christian? He indicates that if they hesitate when answering,
their objection to Christianity is not an intellectual one, but one of
the heart.
We must realize that when a person asks for evidences,
they may not actually be interested in evidence and they may not
accept any evidences we provide anyway. They may be trying to
stump us, and just because we provide evidences doesnt mean
that they will accept those evidences. The conviction to their
worldview may be stronger than the evidence we provide. We also
dont know which evidences they will be willing to accept. Hopefully
this should help you understand why evidences are not always as
convincing to others as we think.
If you are a Christian however, these evidences will be very
beneficial in giving you much greater confidence in your own belief
in Christianity and in the Bible. If you are not a Christian but are
willing to consider the evidences, these evidences should give you
reasons to consider Christianity, and correct misconceptions you
might have about Christianity.
If youve ever seen someone speak knowledgably about a
subject, youve probably noticed how confident they appeared and
how comfortable they were sharing their knowledge. You can have
that same confidence by investing some time learning this
information. Wouldnt you agree that when considering the
potential impact to someones eternal destiny, its hard to think of
another endeavor more important or rewarding?
At this point, you may be thinking that you dont have the
time. Right? It is easy to say that we dont have enough time when
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starting a new endeavor, but in truth, we are able to find the time
for those things we think are important enough to spend time on.
Right? When you think about it, none of us will ever have enough
time to do everything we want to do in this life. It ultimately comes
down to how we choose to spend our time. As Ive told my sons,
When you choose to spend your time doing something, you
automatically choose not to spend that time doing something
else.
So, when we choose to spend time; watching TV, gaming,
texting, surfing, listening to music, etc., we have automatically
chosen not to spend that same time reading our Bible, praying,
learning the evidences for our faith, etc. Its not a matter of not
having enough time, its how we spend the time we have been
given. Again, dont we always make or find the time for what we
feel is important? When was the last time you thought, I just dont
have time to eat today. or I just dont have time to shower or
get dressed today?
What is important to you? What do you find the easiest
activity to make time for? I remember someone saying, What you
spend your time on is what controls you. The following video
shows the average time spent on various daily tasks. I hope you
are as surprised at the end as I was. It really gives perspective as
to how much time we actually waste each day.
How do you spend your time?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv5zNYZlNFI
Also pertaining to time, what we spend the greatest amount
of time on is often what we consider the most important thing in our
lives. It is what drives us, what fulfills us, in some cases it might be
considered what we worship. If it is more important than anything
else in our life, it might even be considered our god. Granted jobs,
careers and education take our time, but what is our motivation in
spending time on a career or education? Are we ultimately looking
to acquire money, power, fame, etc. through a career or education
toward that career? The following is a great video showing how we
turn different things into gods in our life.
Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mK65lpveSM
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With all of this in mind, think about how you spend your time.
Would God more honored by you changing your priorities or not?
God wont force you to change what you do, but realize that once
youve passed from this life, the one thing you will never again have
the opportunity to do is to reach others for Christ. Hopefully this
should prompt us to think about how we spend our time.
Where do we get time from anyway? Have you ever thought
of the resource of TIME as being a gift that God has given us? If
God were to consider your job as being how you use the time He
has given you, what kind of JOB EVALUATION would He give you for
how youve SPENT His time? Would you receive a promotion, a
disciplinary write-up, or would you deserve to get fired? I regularly
think about how I spend HIS time, and I hope you will think about
this now too.
The key verse in the Bible about Apologetics is: 1 Peter 3:15

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being
prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason
for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
Notice that the end of the verse emphasizes with gentleness and
respect.
Again, our task is not to embarrass another or put them in
their place and win the argument. Our task is to win their heart for
Christ. It is important to remember that people who have beliefs
contradictory to Christianity, often hold to these beliefs as strongly
as we hold to what we believe. They SINCERELY BELIEVE what they
believe, just as you sincerely believe what you believe. Remember
however, sincerity is not the same as truth.
As mentioned previously, think about the evidences you
would need to see to abandon what you believe. Do you
understand now why a person may not immediately accept
Christianity when they first start to learn about the evidences? It
may take them time to consider this new information, especially in
light of their current beliefs. That is why the most important task is
to show where the evidence leads, and to do so with gentleness
and respect.
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You may have heard the saying, A person doesnt care

how much you know, till they know how much you care. If
those with whom we share the truths of Christianity feel that were
just trying to win a debate or argument, do you think they will believe
that we sincerely care about where they spend eternity?
Another saying you may have heard, A person convinced
against their will is of the same opinion still. You can win the
argument and effectively silence someone with your knowledge, but
in the end, turn them off to considering Christianity.
A good friend of mine was a police officer for 25 years. Early
in his career, I shared with him about Christ and Christianity, but
without most of the evidences I know now. After a number of my
SHARING EFFORTS, he strongly insisted that he did not want me to
talk to him anymore about Christianity. He stated that he would find
out the truth on his own. Being that he was 61 and weighed about
230lbs, he was very convincing visually in his request for me to stop
sharing my beliefs with him.
Sometime after the last time I tried to share the Gospel
message with him, while still early in his career as a police officer,
he found himself at the point of committing suicide. In his police
work he had witnessed pretty horrific things, and he did not feel that
he could take anymore, nor the images his memory reminded him
of. He told me that at the point he was about to pull the trigger, he
was stopped by the realization that, committing suicide wasnt
what God wanted for his life. He believed this because even
though he hadn't accepted Christs gift to that point, he still believed
in God.
Something to realize is that a belief in God doesnt mean
one has accepted Christs gift of salvation. This is confirmed by
James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the
demons believe-and shudder! This shows that belief in God
doesnt equate to having accepted Christs sacrificial gift. You see,
demons believe in God, even though they will never be able to
accept Christs priceless gift of salvation.
Two of the officers my friend worked with were Christians
and they had been sharing evidences for Christianity with him.
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They shared with him prophesies from the Old Testament and
showed how these prophesies were fulfilled by Christ. The day
after my friend almost pulled the trigger and then came to his
senses, these officers led him to accept Christ as his savior, saving
his life, and his eternal destiny. I truly believe it was because these
officers had showed my friend evidences that he did not kill himself.
As Christians, it is easy to come to the mistaken conclusion
that since we have accepted Christ, there is something special
about us. Some may even think they did something to deserve
salvation. Remember, the ONLY thing that makes us different from
those who havent accepted Christs payment for sin on the cross,
is just that. They havent accepted Christs payment for their sin.
The truth is that none of are worthy of salvation or ever could
be. There is absolutely nothing better, holier, more deserving, or
worthier about one who has accepted Christs sacrifice as
compared to a person who hasnt. The gift of Christ's payment for
our sin by dying on the cross is exactly that, a GIFT. Jesus did
everything to provide this gift. We have done nothing to deserve
his GIFT, nor is there anything we can do to EARN this gift.
Once again, think back to what I wrote about a GIFT in the

SELF-CHECK section. Can you earn a gift? If you could EARN it,

it wouldnt be a gift, would it? You cant earn a gift. Since what
Christ offers is a free gift, (Christ has done all the work by his
sacrifice on the cross paying for our sin), there is NOTHING we can
do to take credit for our salvation. There is NOTHING that we can
point to in ourselves making us deserving of this gift. The ONLY
thing we can point to is what Christ accomplished on the cross,
NOTHING ELSE, because he did everything! Remember, it is a free
gift. The only thing we can do, is either accept His gift or reject His
gift.
Reality Paul Washer Sermon Jam
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygf3MWEbd3w
In the next section we will look at some of the numerous
evidences that exist for Christianity as a defense for the truths of
Christianity. Once again, APOLOGETICS is giving a defense for what
one believes. Giving a defense for Christianity is called CHRISTIAN
APOLOGETICS. And again, the key verse in the Bible for the
defense of Christianity, is 1 Peter 3:15:
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1 Peter 3:15. But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as

holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who

asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with
gentleness and respect
As a Christian, there are significant reasons why we should
learn some of the solid evidences for what we believe. Ive found
the following reasons to know why we believe what we believe,
which includes reasons Brett Kunkle of Stand to Reason and Lee
Strobel have both mentioned.

* REASONS TO LEARN EVIDENCES FOR CHRISTIANITY

1. The knowledge gives you confidence in what you believe.
Just like knowing 2+2=4, when you are faced with challenges
to your belief, you can be confident that there are answers to
those challenges and you wont find yourself questioning if
your beliefs are true or not. You may not have every answer
when someone questions you, but you can have confidence
that answers exist.
2. This confidence has an impact on your Christian life. You
will have a stronger prayer life, because you have confidence
that God will hear you. When you know the truths of God and
the Bible, you will have a greater desire to share these truths
with others, and you will have greater confidence in sharing.
3. Solid reasons help you to face challenges from
professors in college and others. As we have seen, there
are professors who openly try to destroy the confidence
Christian students have in the Bible and the existence of God.
You will also have confidence when challenged by friends and
other people you talk with.
4. Apologetics chips away at the bad arguments of others,
and their denials of the truths of Christianity. Good
arguments probably wont convert the person raising the
objections, but it may bring them one step closer to a decision
for Christ. This is similar to Greg Koukls reference of
putting a stone in their shoe. You will see some of these
arguments later in this guide.
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5. Good apologetic arguments, change the perspectives

non-Christians have about Christians. You will be seen as
a very rational, clear thinking Christian, which is not the picture
most people have of Christians. Atheist Philosopher Thomas
Nagle said, I want atheism to be true and I am made
uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and
well-informed people I know are religious believers.
Many Christians have said things like, You just need to
have enough faith. This makes Christians look like they
have no valid reasons to believe what they do, like a person
thinking that they can accomplish something if they just
believe it enough. To illustrate this idea, could Shaquille
ONeil ever be a professional horse jockey just by having
ENOUGH FAITH?
6. Apologetics contributes to the common good of society.
You are able to demonstrate that abortion, homosexuality,
embryonic stem cell research, and other cultural issues, are
not just a persons preference. Apologetics can show others
how these things negatively impact our society.
7. It may save someones life, and possibly their eternity.
I wrote earlier about my friend who almost committed suicide.
His co-workers shared evidences for the truth of Christianity,
and the reliability of the Bible. This not only saved his life, but
changed his eternal destination.
8. Because God commands it: Lets look at 1Peter 3:15 again:
Always being prepared to make a defense. This is not an
option. God wants us to not only be confident in what we
believe, he also wants us to be able to provide others with
reasons when we are asked or challenged.
9. Ricochet Witnessing: This is the phrase Lee Strobel used
in an audio recording I heard. He said that when you are
giving reasons for what you believe, others may be listening,
but not saying anything. Lee indicates that you might have an
impact on these other people without even knowing it. A great
example of this is in the college environment. Not only can
this have an impact on other non-Christian students but also
other Christian students who arent familiar with the
evidences. This will encourage them!
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When it comes to being a witness for Christ, we don't

really have a choice. Isaiah 43:10 states You are my
witnesses. This verse shows that we WILL be witnesses for
Christ. It is up to us to decide whether we will be good witnesses
or bad witnesses for Christ.
What about our CHARACTER in communicating the truths of
Christianity? How do we represent Christ to others? As witnesses
for Christ, does the integrity and character of our lives help others
to accept or reject Christianity? How would you feel if you found
out that you were the reason someone rejected Christianity? Are
there things in your life, which if found out, would damage your
integrity and that of Christs message?
Lastly, there are some Christians who argue against
Apologetics, because they believe that Apologetics makes faith
unnecessary. Since Apologetics answers the challenges to
Christianity, they see this as eliminating the need for faith.
I believe an expression that demonstrates their idea of
Biblical faith is,I believe it; that settles it! But is this accurate to
the Bibles presentation of FAITH? Isnt a phrase like this essentially
the same as the phrase we looked at earlier, You just have to
have faith? Its as though the FAITH is what makes the difference,
and not what the FAITH is in. Remember the two quotes:
"Faith is a step in the direction the evidence already points."
Lee Strobel
Faith is trust in what we have reason to believe.
J.P. Moreland
Considering the proper understanding of FAITH; it is not a
matter of how much faith you have in something, but what you have
placed your faith in. It is not faith by itself, but the object of that
faith. When I think of my wife, I have faith that she loves me. Do I
have this faith because I have convinced myself after 25 years of
marriage that she loves me, or do I have this faith because I have
the evidences of all of the things she has done proving that she
loves me? Is it my FAITH, or that she has proven her love for me?
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The following is a simple but effective illustration Ive heard

to show the Biblical concept of faith. Suppose you saw a performer
pushing a wheelbarrow across a tight-rope above Niagara Falls.
You watched them repeatedly perform the feat, never faltering even
once. If someone were to ask you if you believed the performer
could do it again, what would you say? Probably Yes, correct?
Now, what if the performer asked you to get into the
wheelbarrow, and they would push the wheelbarrow with you in it
across the tightrope to the other side. Would you do it? If you say
no, you only have a belief that they can do it. You dont have faith
that they can do it. It is only when you place your full reliance on a
person that you have put your faith in their ability to accomplish
what theyve demonstrated they can do. Remember, it is not your
FAITH that makes the persons claims possible, its what they have
proven they can do.

FAITH IN CHRIST is like this. It is not because Ive decided

to believe in Christ, nor how much I believe in Him, but that He has
proven himself capable and faithful to do what he has promised.
We can have faith in who He is and what He has claimed, because
of His death on the cross and his resurrection proving He is God.
He can actually do what He has claimed that makes him God, and
gives substance and credibility to our faith.
When we look at the Bible, what example do we see? Did
Paul ask people to just have faith in his message, or did he use
reasons to convince them?
Acts 17:2 And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for

three Sabbaths REASONED with them from the Scriptures.

Acts 18:4 And he REASONED in the synagogue every Sabbath, and
TRIED TO PERSUADE Jews and Greeks.
Acts 18:19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but
he himself went into the synagogue and REASONED with the Jews.
As these verses and others show, it was the practice of Paul
to REASON with others to reach them with the Gospel of Christ. You
wont find one verse showing Paul recommending others to JUST
HAVE ENOUGH FAITH.
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Pauls Mars Hill Appeal

www.letusreason.org/Current56.htm
In the following audio, Greg shows that the definition of Faith
has changed from the original meaning, and now is a kind of wishful
thinking. He suggests us using a particular word instead of Faith.
Go to 40:40 in the following audio to listen to Greg talk on the
subject, and his recommendation of the word we should use.
Truth is Not Ice Cream audio - Greg Koukl
http://vailchristian.com/podcast/?powerpress_pinw=27podcast
(If you click the PLAY button below the title instead of downloading and
playing the file, the window will only show you the remaining time of
the recording. 40:40 into the recording is the same as -23:40)
This is the link to his three part series, Tackling Relativism
http://vailchristian.com/podcast/category/messageseries/tackling-relativism-with-greg-koukl
So, what kind of witness will you choose to be? Even if your
witness did not convert a committed non-Christian, wouldnt you like
to create the same reaction in those you communicate with as that
of Atheist Thomas Nagel? Remember his comment:I want
atheism to be true and I am made uneasy by the fact that some
of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are
religious believers.
When Kids Question Their Faith
www.conversantlife.com/belief/when-kids-question-theirfaith-part-1
www.conversantlife.com/belief/when-kids-question-theirfaith-part-2
Stop Teaching Young Christians About Their Faith
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2015/stop-teaching-youngchristians-about-their-faith/
Why Apologetics is Critical for Youth Ministry
http://rebootchristianity.blogspot.com/2013/11/whyapologetics-is-critical-for-youth.html
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We Live at the Mercy of Our Ideas

www.conversantlife.com/theology/we-live-at-the-mercy-ofour-ideas
Ideas Have Consequences
www.theologytools.com/PDF/MR/7014_Ideas_Have_Cons
equences_1_Final.pdf
http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/ideas-haveconsequences
From True Belief to Confident Knowledge
www.conversantlife.com/theology/from-true-belief-toconfident-knowledge
What Is Apologetics: Arguing Evangelism
www.str.org/articles/what-is-apologetics-arguingevangelism
What is Apologetics and Why?
www.apologeticsbible.com/apologetics-resources/what-isapologetics
Do Apologetics Still Work?
www.conversantlife.com/theology/do-apologetics-still-work
Do Apologetics Matter Anymore?
www.conversantlife.com/life-with-god/do-apologeticsmatter-anymore
Why Apologetics? - 121 Quotes on Why We Need Apologetics
www.thepoachedegg.net/the-poached-egg/why-apologetics
Being a Winsome Apologist - John Lennox
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwOpsOudaA8
What an Apologists Job is NOT - Melissa Cain Travis
http://hcchristian.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/what-anapologists-job-is-not
Why Apologetics Has a Bad Name - Sean McDowell
www.conversantlife.com/belief/why-apologetics-has-a-badname

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Ambassadors for Christ - Greg Koukl

** Very important presentations showing how our character can
affect the impression others have of Christ)
http://vimeo.com/13049510 (video - shorter)
http://christianaudio.com/ambassadors-for-christ-gregorykoukl (audio)
Regarding Apologetics, an Apology
www.str.org/articles/regarding-apologetics-an-apology
No Apologies
www.str.org/blog/no-apologies
Why We Must Teach Apologetics Unapologetically
www.outreachmagazine.com/features/5486-why-we-mustteach-apologetics-unapologetically.html
We Need Knowledge, Not Just Belief
www.str.org/articles/we-need-knowledge-not-just-belief
Is Faith Blind? Greg Koukl
www.str.org/podcasts/thinking-out-loud/is-faith-blind
We Need to Get Rid of Faith
www.str.org/articles/we-need-to-get-rid-of-faith
Intellectual Faith?
www.str.org/articles/intellectual-faith
The Reasonable, Evidential Nature of Christian Faith J Warner Wallace
www.str.org/blog/the-reasonable-evidential-nature-ofchristian-faith
Ten Bad Arguments - Greg Koukl
http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/1999-2000/01148.mp3
Why Should I Defend My Faith? (Video)
www.str.org/blog/why-should-i-defend-my-faith-video
Faith & Wishing
www.str.org/publications/faith-wishing

Truth is Not Ice Cream audio - Greg Koukl (FAITH starts at 40:40)
http://vailchristian.com/podcast/?powerpress_pinw=27podcast
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More Than a Feeling

www.conversantlife.com/theology/more-than-a-feeling
The Essence of Apologetics - Os Guinness
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Os%20Guinness
The Vision of Literary Apologetics
www.conversantlife.com/writing/the-vision-of-literaryapologetics
Apologetics for a New Generation Book by Sean and Josh McDowell
www.openisbn.com/preview/0736925201/ - Preview of Book
Free Study Guide To The Book
http://seanmcdowell.org/pdf/Apologetics%20Study%20Gui
de.pdf
Video Including Atheist Role Play
http://vimeo.com/15733653
God and Cosmology Videos
www.youtube.com/user/tacticalfaith/videos
How to Get Apologetics in Your Church
www.apologetics315.com/2010/09/how-to-get-apologeticsin-your-church.html
Common Objections
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/search/label/Common%20O
bjections
Answering Common Objections to Christianity from Skeptics
www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/qa_steve_hay
s02.html
Why Apologetics Has a Bad Name
www.equip.org/article/why-apologetics-has-a-badname/#christian-books-2

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5. EVIDENCES For CHRISTIANITY

"Ultimately, the problem with man is not the absence of
evidence, it is the suppression of it." - Ravi Zacharias
How would you respond to the following?
How do you know God exists?
Wasnt Jesus just a good man?
How do you know that the Bible is true?
______________________
The evidences in this section are presented in the following order:
TRUTH GOD THE BIBLE JESUS CHRIST
Ive presented the subjects in this order because I believe it
is the most logical progression of these subjects.
If there is no TRUTH, then we cant know that GOD exists.
If we cant know GOD exists, then we cant know that the
BIBLE or any other religious writing is from GOD.
If we cant know the BIBLE is from GOD, then it doesnt
matter about the person of JESUS CHRIST.
Conversely:
If there is TRUTH, then we can evaluated different beliefs
about GOD, as to their TRUTHFULNESS.
If a belief about GOD proves TRUE, then any contradictory
belief is automatically false, according to the LAW OF

NON-CONTRADICTION.
If God exists and He has communicated to us, then which
volume claiming to be from Him shows evidence of this?
If the BIBLE, which claims to be from God, proves to be
from God, then any volume which contradicts the BIBLE
is automatically false, according to the LAW OF NONCONTRADICTION.
If the Bible proves to be from God, we then have a
decision to make about the central personality of the
Bible, JESUS CHRIST, whether we like it or not.
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When you consider evidence, think about a court trial and

the requirements of the EVIDENCE. I was privileged to be on a jury
trial recently found it to be a very accurate illustration. With respect
to the evidence, both the prosecuting attorney and defense attorney
emphasized the phrase beyond a reasonable doubt. Neither of
them ever stated the phrase, beyond all possible doubt. When
considering evidence, we look at the most logical explanation and
conclusion the evidence proves?
Many will explain away an evidence or evidences for
Christianity, because they can imagine a scenario, no matter how
unlikely, where the evidence wont support Christianity. In their
belief, all they have to do is just come up with a story about the
evidence to explain it away, regardless of how unrealistic the story.
Greg Koukl will often state, "A story is not an argument".
He has heard many people come up with a story to explain
something or explain it away, but they provide no argument using
evidences and reason for their objection. They only have a story.
In a courtroom you wont hear a story as part of the evidence
presented. Any conclusion in a courtroom must be consistent with
the evidence produced.
Some even invent alternative explanations to refute a
conclusion a person doesnt like. One example is the FLYING
SPAGHETTI MONSTER. This is something invented by a few Atheist
professors, who hold to the belief that there is absolutely no
evidence for God (according to them). Since they believe there is
no evidence for God, and people believe in God, then why not
believe in something else that has no evidence, and is equally
unrealistic? They have proposed what they believe is an equally
unrealistic subject of belief. They have created the FLYING
SPAGHETTI MONSTER. They have a name for the followers of this
pasta invention. They are actually referred to as PASTAFARIANS.
So, is it fair to say that there is no evidence for either? After
reading this section you will see the difference is that while there
isnt any evidence for this this pasta invention and creation of the
colander, there is great evidence for God as we will see. The
mistake many make is that when they see evidence they dont like
which supports Christianity, they dont consider it evidence or they
106

consider it insufficient to prove the validity of Christianity. Think

again about a court trial. As a juror you are instructed to follow the
evidence where it leads, not ignore evidence when it doesnt lead
where you want it to. Check Greg Koukls commentary on this, and
these additional articles.
THE FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER (Video)
www.str.org/blog/the-flying-spaghetti-monster-video
INVISIBLE PINK UNICORN, FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER, SANTA CLAUS AND GOD
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/unicorns.html
A BRIEF REBUTTAL TO "THE FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER"
http://articles.faithwriters.com/reprint-articledetails.php?article=14769

* TRUTH ICE CREAM OR INSULIN?

Have you ever thought about TRUTH as being like ice
cream? I know this sounds like a strange question, but it will make
sense shortly. You may have never given much thought to the idea
of TRUTH before, but people regularly confuse the meaning of truth.
When considering the concept of TRUTH, It is important to be aware
of the two primary designations of TRUTH. Those two designations
are: SUBJECTIVE TRUTH, and OBJECTIVE TRUTH. Greg Koukl
(www.str.org) uses ICE CREAM and INSULIN to creatively illustrate
the concepts of Subjective Truth and OBJECTIVE TRUTH.
There are many people who think about truth in an ICE
CREAM kind of way. No, they dont think TRUTH is actually chocolate
or rocky road, but they view TRUTH as if it were a flavor of ice cream.
Lets look at one scenario. When a person states, Rocky
road is the best, they dont necessarily expect YOU to believe its
the best. If you do, thats fine, but what if you dont? Thats fine
too. And whichever flavor you believe is the best, that person
doesnt feel uncomfortable with you stating it even if they dont
believe it is the best flavor.
Lets look at a second scenario. What if a person claimed a
particular flavor was the best and you disagreed with them. Then
the person called you a sinner for not believing the flavor they
mentioned was the best and that you would go to Hell because you
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didnt believe their flavor was the best flavor. It would be very
strange for someone to do that, wouldnt it?
The first scenario, I think this flavor is best, and you
think a different flavor is best, is an example of a SUBJECTIVE
TRUTH claim. It is a truth about the SUBJECT, about each PERSON
and THEIR PREFERENCE of ice cream flavor, not the ice cream itself.
In this example, it is the truth about whoever is claiming that their
flavor is the best. It is about their personal likes and dislikes.
When many look at different beliefs, they look at them
subjectively. Christianity works for you, it is your BELIEF FLAVOR,
but they have a different BELIEF FLAVOR that works for them. They
are happy for you whether or not your belief flavor is their belief
flavor. They are fine with you having a different BELIEF FLAVOR.
That is unless of course you insist that your belief flavor is the BEST
FLAVOR or THE ONLY TRUE FLAVOR, and then go on to tell them that
if they dont believe your BELIEF FLAVOR is the best, they will go to
hell.
The second scenario above is an example of OBJECTIVE
TRUTH. It is a truth about the OBJECT, about the ice cream. It is
about the claim itself, not the preference of the person making the
claim. When we state that Christianity is the truth, we mean it
OBJECTIVELY, that it is actually true for all people everywhere, not
just that we LIKE it best. Many look at our claim about the truth of
Christianity as a SUBJECTIVE TRUTH, as an Ice Cream kind of truth.
Gregs effective illustration for OBJECTIVE TRUTH is to see it
like insulin, and not like ice cream. Think about having a friend with
diabetes. What if one day they decided that chocolate ice cream
was the best treatment for diabetes because they liked the flavor?
Would you feel awkward trying to convince them that they were
wrong? Of course not. Would you think it appropriate to try to talk
them out of this CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM treatment? Of course.
You can see in this scenario that the focus is the treatment
of the diabetes, not what someones personal preference of
treatment is. With beliefs, like medical treatments, we want to
choose beliefs that work, beliefs that are true.
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Greg Koukl states, When it comes to ice cream, we

choose what we like. When it comes to diabetes, we choose
what works. Greg also states, Subjective truth is NEITHER
right nor wrong. Objective truth is EITHER right or wrong.
Why are beliefs important? Because BELIEFS HAVE
CONSEQUENCES. Remember earlier when we covered the similar
phrase: IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. With the TREATMENT OF
DIABETES example above we see different consequences
depending on the belief someone has about its treatment. In just
the last hundred years we have seen the consequences to the world
due to the beliefs held by Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Zedong. Those
consequences are that over 100 million dead.
I believe that deep down we really want to know the truth,
but when we are challenged to face the reality that we are wrong
our pride gets in the way. We like living in the BELIEF BUBBLE weve
become happy with and we dont like the idea of anyone popping
our bubble. Ive been guilty of this too. Just ask my wife if Ive ever
been resistant to change when shes brought me to the reality of a
wrong decision. There is a phrase I like which illustrates our
wanting to keep our beliefs just the way they are: Dont confuse
me with the truth, Ive already made up my mind.
Does it make sense now why people dont have an issue
when we say, Insulin is a treatment for diabetes, but they do
have an issue when we say, Jesus is the only way? When we
tell them about Jesus, they think were trying to force them to accept
our BELIEF FLAVOR as THE BEST FLAVOR, because they are looking
at the claim of Jesus being the only way, as our BELIEF FLAVOR.
They have a different belief flavor, and they dont want us trying to
get them to switch their flavor for our flavor. They have MADE UP
THEIR MIND about the belief flavor they like, and they dont want
anybody challenging that belief.
Its important to realize that when a person looks at beliefs
like a BELIEF FLAVOR, it is part of their worldview. Their BELIEF
FLAVOR is that a persons PREFERENCE OF BELIEF is the TRUTH,
(SUBJECTIVE TRUTH), and not that SOME BELIEFS ARE ACTUALLY
TRUE FOR EVERYONE (OBJECTIVE TRUTH). When in conversation with
others, its very important to remember this difference and even
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clarify this difference to those you talk with. There are some very
effective techniques for clarifying a persons understanding of
TRUTH in the TACTICS section.
One very effective question to get a clearer understanding
of a persons belief, and the first TACTICS question is, What do
you mean by that? If they were to say something like All roads
lead to heaven, you could ask,What do you mean by All
roads?
Truth is Not Ice Cream audio - Greg Koukl
http://vailchristian.com/podcast/?powerpress_pinw=27-podcast
Lets look at a few statements and see if we can tell whether they
are SUBJECTIVE (ICE CREAM) or OBJECTIVE (INSULIN).
1. 2 + 2 = 4
2. Disneyland is better than Magic Mountain.
3. The 2011 Toyota Camry is ugly.
4. 99% of U.S households have at least one TV set.
5. Television is more important than anything else to poor people.
6. Apple only allows company approved apps to be installed on
iOS devices.
7. 53% of Americans pay federal income tax.
8. God exists.
9. Premarital sex is immoral.
The answers (O = objective, S = subjective):
1:O, 2:S, 3:S, 4:O, 5:S, 6:O, 7:O, 8:O, 9:O
Are you surprised to find that statements 8 and 9 are
OBJECTIVE statements? Many students will initially answer that both
are subjective. Statement 8 is easier to see as objective when we
realize that God either exists or doesnt exist, and since the
statement has to do with God and not our belief about Him, it is an
objective statement. Statement 9 is a little more difficult, in that
many will answer based on how they FEEL about premarital sex,
and not consider MORALS being truly objective. Similar to actual
truths being objective and not subjective, morals are actually
objective and not subjective because RIGHT AND WRONG are
determined by God and not our likes or dislikes. Morality will be
covered more shortly. This video by Frank Turek demonstrates the
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concept of objective moral law, and will give you a better

understanding. Is There an Objective Moral Law?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOJeseNJneg
Now think about a situation where youre in a conversation
with someone, and you make the statement, Jesus is the only
way . . . If the person responds with Im glad youve found
something that works for you, but that is your truth and not my
truth. Would their claim be a claim of OBJECTIVE TRUTH or a
SUBJECTIVE TRUTH? HINT. Is their claim about Jesus (the object), or
what their preference is (the subject)?
So, with their response, where do we go? We must go to
the foundation of everything. That foundation is ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
As a Christian you may be thinking, Isnt God the foundation of
everything?, and you would be right. God is the foundation of
everything. Consider John 14:6. Jesus said to him, I am The

Way, THE TRUTH, and The Life. No one comes to the Father except
through me. Jesus claimed to be THE TRUTH not just A TRUTH. He
is ULTIMATE TRUTH, so when you point to TRUTH as the foundation
for everything, you are actually pointing to God as that foundation.
With OBJECTIVE TRUTH we can evaluate beliefs and
teachings as to their truthfulness. Whichever belief proves to be
OBJECTIVELY TRUE, any beliefs that contradict that true belief are
AUTOMATICALLY FALSE. IF there is ONE GOD, the teachings of many
Gods, no God, you are God, and any other contradictory beliefs
about GOD are automatically false. IF there is NO GOD, then the
teaching of One God, many gods, and you are god are
automatically false. The same is true for any of the other options
about the truth of God(s) existence or non-existence. This is the
same with most areas of knowledge. Think about most math
problems, all the given answers can be false, but only one answer
can be true.
This aspect of the truthfulness of something is called the LAW OF

NON-CONTRADICTION:
The Law of Non-Contradiction:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_noncontradiction.
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The LAW OF NON-CONTRADICTION states that, Contradictory

statements cannot both be true in the same sense at the same
time. As an example, the two propositions A is B and A is
not B are mutually exclusive.Ravi Zacharias illustrates this law
very effectively in this YouTube video
Law of Non-Contradiction
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWVzHOhGSC0
Its important to realize that this is the LAW of non-contradiction, and
not the THEORY of non-contradiction. This means that it is proven,
not just a theory.
Considering the LAW OF NON-CONTRADICTION, when there is
a scenario where there are multiple possible answers, you will
usually find that while all the answers given can be false, only one
answer can be true. Math is a great example of this: 2+2=4, not 57,
-5, 273, or any other number. Whichever answer is true, anything
contracting that true answer is automatically false. One way to think
about TRUTH is that it is exclusive and intolerant.
Think about the importance of truth. Remember, if there is
no truth, there is nothing you can know with any certainty. If you
cant know anything with certainly, you can't know for sure that there
is a God, or that Jesus is God, or that He is the only way of
salvation.
John 14:6 states that Jesus is THE truth. Once again,
some professors will state There is no Truth. If there is no
TRUTH, Jesus can't be the TRUTH. This means that the verse is
false, and that the Bible has errors and can't be from God. When
students hear a professor say this, most don't think the professors
statement through. If there is no truth, then nothing can be known
with any certainty. And if nothing can be known with any certainty,
then the professors claim that THERE IS NO TRUTH, can't be known
with any certainty either. Anyone making this statement cant have
it both ways. They cant try to convince you that their statement is
true while also stating that there is no truth.
Knowing this reality about OBJECTIVE TRUTH and the LAW OF
NON-CONTRADICTION, we can be confident that OBJECTIVE TRUTH
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exists. Since OBJECTIVE TRUTH exists, we can be confident in being

able to evaluate beliefs and claims as to their TRUTHFULNESS. As
such, we can evaluate the truthfulness about beliefs and teachings
about God, Allah, the Bible, the Quran, Jesus, Buddha,
Mohammad, etc.
When you consider OBJECTIVE TRUTH, any truth is true no
matter; its popularity, whether somebody really wants it to be true,
whether it is believed no matter how sincerely, strongly, or
confidently. Weve already looked at SINCERITY, (Magic and
driving), and DESIRE (Deal or no Deal), as not having any bearing
on truth. What about CONFIDENCE?
The Super Bowl is a good example of individuals exhibiting
great confidence in a future outcome. I think we can reasonably
conclude that the majority of the people who watch the Super Bowl
REALLY believe one of the two teams will win. What they BELIEVE
or WANT doesn't change the truth of the outcome of the game, no
matter how strongly they believe it or want it. Ultimately, only one
team will win and in upwards of 50% of the fans will be wrong.
One of our son's previous teachers bet $1600 on a team in
the 2013 Super Bowl! Considering that he bet $1600, how
confident do you think he was that his team would win? If you had
$1600 would you bet it all on a team if you werent fully confident
they would win? Before the game started, he was so confident in
his choice he was willing to bet $1600 dollars on the outcome. His
team lost and he lost $1600! Do you think he would have made the
bet if he had any thought his team would lose?
With the 2014 Super Bowl, the owner of a furniture company
was so convinced that the Denver Broncos would beat the Seattle
Seahawks that he held a promotion for anyone spending more than
$6,000 on furniture and having it delivered before game day. The
Denver Broncos lost the Super Bowl and the promotion he ran cost
him 7 million dollars!
Texas Furniture Store Owner Loses $7 Million In Super Bowl Bet
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMAfl8PQA1w
Think about the Earth. According to history books, before
1492 it was believed with great confidence that the Earth was flat.
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What was the belief about the Earth after 1492? Eventually almost
everyone believed it was spherical. Was the earth flat before 1492
because people believed it was flat, and then in 1492 because of
Columbus it became spherical because people changed their
belief? Or was it always a sphere? Did it matter that at one time
almost the entire world believed the Earth was flat? No. So truth is
not based upon the number of people who believe something, is it?
So you see, truth is not dependent on how much confidence
one has in something or how popular the belief either.
It is my understanding that there are over 20 religious
volumes which claim to be inspired by God. According to the LAW
OF NON CONTRADICTION, if one volume proves to be from God any
other book contradictory to that volume is automatically not from
God.
Lets consider the Bible and the implications if true. The
Bible speaks of the person Jesus the Christ. It indicates that Jesus
Christ died on the cross to pay the debt for the sin we have
committed so that everyone might have the opportunity to receive
eternal life. The Bible also indicates that none of us can do anything
to be worthy of receiving the gift he offers. Isaiah 64:6 But we are
all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags.
If everything we try to do is described as FILTHY RAGS, then
the only hope we have is not in anything we can do but only in one
who actually has the qualifications and ability to pay the debt we
owe. Our only hope is to accept Christ's payment for our sin, (which
we don't deserve and cant earn), so that we can receive Gods gift
of eternal life. If the Bible is true, we have no choice but to make a
decision about this person Jesus Christ, his claims to divinity, and
his claims to be able to take away sin. Can you see that If we
choose not to choose, we have still made a choice? Not choosing
is actually making a choice to reject his gift. So the question is, Is
the Bible true?
Think again about the idea of TOLERANCE, that what
everyone believes is TRUE (subjective), even where one persons
belief contradicts another persons belief. If what everyone believes
is TRUE, then what about the different beliefs in God? What about
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those who don't believe in God? Is Gods existence based upon

how strongly someone does or doesnt believe in His existance? If
so, God would exist for those of us who do believe He exists and
not exists for those who believe He doesnt exist. He would both
exist and not exist at the same time. You see the obvious
contradiction here, as only one of these two beliefs can be
objectively true.
God exists or doesn't exist, because He does or doesn't
exist (objective), not because people choose to believe or not
believe in His existence (subjective). So you see, TRUTH is also not
based on the strength of a persons BELIEF.
Is Truth Knowable? - Frank Turek
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNuULwwSMzg
Does Truth Exist - Is It Knowable?" - Pt. 1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=APwu8c9JLXQ
Sites on Truth: www.knowtruth.com/truth
www.letusreason.org/Apolo1.htm
www.gotquestions.org/absolute-truth.html
www.allabouthow.com/is-there-absolute-truth.htm
http://coldcasechristianity.com/?s=truth
http://pleaseconvinceme.com/?s=truth
Truth or Consequences - Greg Koukl
http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/1999-2000/00925.mp3
Why the Correspondence Theory of Truth is Superior
http://clearlens.org/2013/03/23/why-the-correspondencetheory-of-truth-is-superior
The Usual Suspects- Responses to "Notable" Skeptics
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2009/07/usual-suspectsresponses-to-notable.html
A Basic Logic Primer
www.apologetics315.com/2009/05/basic-logic-primer.html

Straight Thinking
www.reasons.org/explore/type/straight-thinking

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* GOD
Now that we have a better understanding of truth, we can
apply this understanding to the different beliefs about God(s).
Whichever teaching about God or gods is true, any contradictory
beliefs or teachings to the true teaching are automatically false.
The major beliefs about God are: 1) There is one God, 2)
There are many gods, 3) There is no god, or 4) You are god. Can
you see that whichever belief is true, the other beliefs are
automatically false? If there truly is no God, then the teaching of
ONE GOD, MANY GODS, or YOU ARE GOD are automatically false. The
same is true for any of the other beliefs about God.
Consider the existence of the universe. The three major options for
the existence of the universe are:
1. It has always existed
2. It created itself
3. It was brought into existence by a being outside of time,
space, and matter.
Einstein was one of the scientists within the last 100 years
who proved that the universe (TIME, SPACE, MATTER), had an
origination point sometime in the past. He proved, that the universe
had a beginning at some point in the past, and so it hasnt always
existed. So the first option, that THE UNIVERSE HAS ALWAYS EXISTED,
that it is eternal, HAS BEEN DISPROVED.
Is The Universe Eternal?
www.gotquestions.org/universe-eternal.html
The Universe is Not Eternal, But Had A Beginning
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/beginning.html
Origin Of The Universe Quote from well-known scientists
www.veritas-ucsb.org/library/origins/quotes/universe.html
The second option is that the universe brought itself into
existence. For the universe to bring itself into existence, the
universe would already need to exist first to be able to bring itself
into existence. Essentially, IT WOULD NEED TO EXIST, BEFORE IT
EXISTED. Does that sound logical to you? To say that the universe
created itself, is philosophically and logically impossible.
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This also violates THE LAW OF CAUSALITY, also called THE

LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT. This is a LAW and not a THEORY. This
law states that for anything that has come into existence, (which is
the effect), there must be a cause. Notice that it doesnt say For
anything that exists. As well, the cause must be at least as
powerful as the effect, and must exist outside that effect.
So, whatever was the cause of the universe (TIME, SPACE,
MATTER), the LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT requires that the cause of
the universe be at least as powerful as the universe itself. Think of
the mass and energy of all of the suns the universe which contains
an estimated 100 billion galaxies, with each galaxy containing an
average of 100 billion stars. The cause is greater than this
incomprehensible amount of energy and mass!
So the third option, where the universe was brought into
existence by a being who is outside time, space, and matter, and
who has power equivalent or greater than all the power in the
universe, is the only logical option.
Origins of the Universe. A Philosophical Perspective
www.johnanning.com/origins.html.
Greg Koukl, of Stand To Reason (www.str.org) states humorously,
If there was a big bang, there must be a big banger!
Genesis 1:1 states, In the beginning, God created the
heavens and the earth.
In the beginning - - - - - - - TIME,
God created the heavens - SPACE,
And the earth - - - - - - - - - MATTER.
This is a scientifically accurate statement written 3500 years
before the statement could ever be confirmed by science. The
description of a being who is outside of time, space, and matter and
more powerful than the entire universe is a very accurate
description of the God indicated in the Bible.
This description of the universe having a beginning, and
requiring a cause is called THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT. One
way to remember this could be to think of the word CAUSE, as
having the same sound as the first syllable in the word
COSMOLOGICAL.
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J.P. Moreland gives evidences for the existence of God in his

audio presentation,
Evidence for Christianity
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AU-R7cKo-U (video)
www.apologetics315.com/2011/03/evidence-for-christianityby-jp.html (audio)
How Do I Know God Exists - Dinesh D'Souza
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ien2Ah3lEY
What's Consciousness?.. and Evidence for the Existence of the
Soul - J. P. Moreland
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNZhk_bDicA

Sites on God:
www.godandscience.org
www.allaboutgod.com
www.everystudent.com/menus/existence.html
www.evidence.info/html/Evidences (use capital E)
www.gotquestions.org/questions_God.html
www.alwaysbeready.com (Click God, Evidence for at left)
If you receive an Unsupported Browser, click HOME at lower left.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster.
http://www.str.org/blog/the-flying-spaghetti-monster-video
Greg Koukl effectively illustrates the difference between
NO EVIDENCE and NOT ACCEPTED EVIDENCE in this video.

Arguments For God's Existance

www.inspiringphilosophy.org/arguments-for-god-sexistence.html
This is a site/author Ive just discovered, who is looking to build the
largest apologetic video library on the Internet. The videos are very
thought provoking and some may be difficult to understand just
watching them once. Even so, they are great videos covering many
different topics, and I highly recommend them. He is looking to
make an additional video every month!

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PRIMARY ARGUMENTS FOR GODS EXISTANCE

THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (also called Argument from Design)
THE MORAL ARGUMENT
THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT for the existence of God, is the
argument weve already looked at briefly of the universe having a
beginning, and requiring a cause outside the universe
www.allaboutphilosophy.org/cosmological-argument.htm

THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT for the existence of God is also

referred to as the ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN. The universe shows
amazing design, in that there are so many aspects of it which must
to be ultra-fine-tuned to an incredible degree, before life can exist.

THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (What it really says)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yt7hvgFuNg

THE MORAL ARGUMENT for the existence of God states that if

objective morality exists, then God exists. If objective values and
obligations do not exist, then God doesnt exist. If God doesnt
exist, then everything is relative which means that there is no
standard of right or wrong.
Richard Dawkins Confirms Moral Argument for God's Existence
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQYGiccUUKw
Any Old God Wont Do - Greg Koukls
http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/2003/17127.mp3
God Exists - J.W. Wartick
http://jwwartick.com/god-exists
Hitchens' Presumption of Meaning
www.conversantlife.com/theology/hitchens-presumption-ofmeaning
What Skeptics Want Christians to Know
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/atheism/what-skepticswant-christians-to-know
True U - Does God Exist 8 Parts. An EXCELLENT series!
http://vimeo.com/channels/579135
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Also check these arguments for God at:

www.allaboutphilosophy.org In the MATTERS OF THOUGHT section
www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-godsexistence.htm
www.gotquestions.org/does-god-exist.html
www.reasonsforgod.org

THE TRUTH PROJECT

This is an excellent program to gain an understanding of the
truths of the world around us, the universe, and how we fit into it,
from a Biblical perspective. If you have the opportunity to attend a
class, I highly recommend doing so. Use the website below to find
a group.
THE TRUTH PROJECT Website:
www.thetruthproject.org
The description of THE TRUTH PROJECT indicates:
Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and
importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.
This is the list of the lessons:
1-What is Truth?
6-History,
2-Philosophy and Ethics
7-Sociology,
3-Anthropology
8-The State,
4-Theology
9-Am I Alone?
5-Science

10-The American
Experiment,
11-Labor: Created
to Create,
12-God Cares; Do I

Click the following link to see one of the lessons:

TRUTH PROJECT LESSON 7 SOCIOLOGY: DIVINE IMPRINT

http://vimeo.com/71233946

THE TRUTH PROJECT LEADER GUIDE

www.thetruthproject.org/en/downloads/~/media/files/PD
F/ttp-leader-guide-final.ashx

THE TRUTH PROJECT - Find a Group

www.mytruthproject.org/small_group_support/search_gr
oups.aspx

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* GOD, EVIL, AND PAIN

I was initially hesitant about including this section because
there are so many who have experienced pain through various
circumstances and the actions of others. This pain seems to best
be described as EVIL. I sincerely hope that if you are reading this
and you have experienced pain in your life, you will see that I would
never make light of the pain you have experienced. If through
including it I have caused you to relive pain that youve experienced,
I am truly sorry, and hope that you will forgive me.
I have added this section because the EXISTENCE OF EVIL is
considered one of the strongest challenges to the existence of God.
What you will find after reading this is that the existence of evil is
actually one of the best proofs FOR the existence of God. Even if
this is so, this probably wont provide you much consolation for the
pain you may have suffered.
It seems almost impossible at times to make sense of the
meaningless violence, unprovoked assaults, and other very
infuriating events we only need to watch to news to see. These
events have caused people to question God as to why a
circumstance has happened to them or a friend or loved one, and
then caused them to question if God actually exists. I can only
make an attempt to understand what people are going through who
have experienced this kind of pain. If you have experienced evil in
your life, my prayers are with you and I hope this section provides
some answers.
While this section is not intended to make sense of the evil
that people experience and cause, it is included to provide an
answer to the challenge made that the existence of Evil proves that
God does not exist. I may not understand what you are going
through, but I hope the included links will help to bring you some
understanding and comfort.
Many who don't believe God exists believe this because of
the existence of evil. Essentially, their logic is as follows:
1. If God is all-loving, He would want there to be no evil.
2. If God is all-powerful, He would be able to eliminate evil.
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3. Since evil exists, God either lacks the will or the ability to
save us from evil.
4. If He lacks the will, He is not all-loving.
5. If He lacks the ability, He is not all-powerful.
6. Therefore, the existence of evil stands as evidence that
God cannot be both all-loving and all-powerful, or it is
evidence that God doesn't exist at all.
This argument sounds very logical and convincing at first,
because the only options considered as proof or disproof of the
existence of God in reference to EVIL are the ones given. What if
there is another way to look at the issue of EVIL?
Greg Koukl, (www.str.org) gives insight into this subject.
When you look at the above references to EVIL, the underlying
assumption in the statements is that EVIL is an ACTUAL THING, that
it is a substance that has material properties which can be
measured. The statements are valid if evil is an actual thing. But
that is the question. Is EVIL a thing?
Lets look at a few illustrations which answer the question.
One of Greg Koukls illustrations for the concept of EVIL is HOT AND
COLD. When we say that something is cold, we are not referring to
cold as a substance, but as a description of a lack of HEAT ENERGY.
Heat energy can be measured, but there is not a measurement for
COLD ENERGY because there is no such thing as cold energy.
The other illustration he uses is LIGHT AND DARK. The same
is true with the concept of DARK as the concept of COLD. DARK
doesnt exist in and of itself. DARKNESS is a description of the
absence of light. You can measure LIGHT, but you cant measure
DARK.
My favorite illustration from Greg Koukl is that of a donut.
Think about a regular glazed donut and the opening in the center.
This opening is called a DONUT HOLE. Have you ever eaten a donut
hole? Not the small pieces of dough that are sold at donut stores,
but have you ever eaten the opening in the center of a donut called
the DONUT HOLE? You havent, have you? You see, the DONUT
HOLE in the center of a regular donut is not a substance itself. The
name DONUT HOLE describes where the donut is not. Greg Koukl
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humorously illustrates this by saying, Cold is the absence of

heat, darkness is the absence of light, and the donut hole is
the absence of donut.
Evil is like this. It is not a substance that can be measured.
It is the name for the absence of something. What is that something
that is absent? That something is GOOD.
Lets look back to the argument that God cant exist because
the existence of EVIL. This is the misunderstanding that EVIL is a
thing. If there is no God, then there is no standard for GOOD. With
no standard for GOOD, nothing can be considered GOOD. Without
GOOD, nothing can be called EVIL because there is nothing to
compare it to, nothing to contrast it with.
If there is no standard for GOOD, there can be no EVIL. Just
like there cant be cold without heat, and there cant be dark without
light, and there cant be a donut hole without a donut. THERE CANT
BE EVIL WITHOUT GOOD. If there is no God, there is no good or
standard for good, and without good, there can be nothing called
evil.
Recognizing the existence of EVIL is only possible when we
recognize a standard of GOOD to compare it to. A standard of GOOD,
is only possible if God exists, and only with a standard of GOOD, can
things be recognized as EVIL. So when we understand this
relationship between EVIL and GOOD, we understand that the
existence of evil is actually one of the best evidences for the
existence of God, rather than against His existence.
Hopefully this section has brought greater understanding to
this subject, and shows an effective answer to the objection of evil.
What about pain though? Is there any explanation for the existence
of pain in our lives, considering Gods stated love for people?
I heard the following statement that gives one reason for
pain that makes it at least understanding to me.
God will take us where we dont want to go so that he can
create in us what we could not accomplish on our own.
When I look back at the times Ive experienced pain, I realize
that in many of those circumstances the pain caused me to change
what I was doing, stop doing something that I was doing, or take
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action when I was avoiding doing so. If we are honest, pain can be
a great motivating factor in our lives. Can you think of times in your
life when pain caused you to make a change? Maybe change a
relationship or a circumstance?
I remember hearing Greg Koukl mention in one of his
programs a reason for some of the discomforts we experience. He
gave the example of Arnold Schwarzenegger, when Arnold was a
body builder. Greg asked if Arnold had been born with the physique
that he had when he won the Mr. Universe competitions. The
obvious answer is that he hadnt. He had the genetic makeup, the
particular physiology necessary to eventually win the Mr. Olympia
contest seven times, but he wasnt born with his Mr. Universe
physique. Arnold had to train many hours a day for years to develop
his physique.
Greg said, God wants to change us into the type of
people he wants to spend eternity with. He wants to change us
to have the qualities and characteristics we dont currently have, or
dont have to the degree he desires; characteristics of patience,
forgiveness, thanksgiving, long-suffering, etc. The only way for us
to acquire these characteristics is for God to allow us to experience
troubles and difficulties necessary to develop the characteristics.
Like Arnold working against the force of the weights, it is only in
those times of difficulty and inconvenience where we have the
opportunity to develop those valued qualities.
The characteristics which God is looking to develop are
those we value in others and ourselves too. However, they are
things which God cannot simply create us with. Like the SQUARE
CIRCLE, mentioned earlier God cannot do certain things. This is one
of the things that He cant do. He cant automatically make us to be
thankful without an experience requiring us to express
thankfulness. Greg indicates that the only way to develop
forgiveness, is to experience a situation where we have to show
forgiveness. Similarly, the only way we can develop other qualities,
is to experience circumstances which give us the opportunity to
exercise those qualities as well.
Think about the CHARACTERISTIC of PATIENCE. Have you
ever heard anyone say, Give me patience, and give it to me
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now? It is only in times of impatience and inconvenience that we

can develop patience. The same is true for any other characteristic.
Something else to consider when thinking about qualities
God is developing in us. Think about those you know who have
been given things theyve not had to work for. Dont they appreciate
less what theyve been given than those who have had to work for
what they have? Its human nature to appreciate something that
cost us something and see less value in something that we didnt
work for, that which we have nothing invested in. Have you ever
heard someone say of another, They are not invested in the
situation? We place a much higher value on those things that
cost us something; be it money, effort.
Its the same with the desirable characteristics we want to
aquire. We wouldnt value them if we didnt have to invest effort,
and only through this effort are they even possible. Isnt it worth it
though? Think about your closest friends. Dont they have
characteristics that you admire? Isnt your relationship with them
close because of the valued characteristics they demonstrate?
That is why God wants to do the same work in us, to have that same
close relationship with all of us, having developed those
characteristics of value to Him.
The limitation in all of this though, is that since these
characteristics are developed through work, difficulty, pain, and
discomfort, we only have this life to develop them for God.
I believe the following links provide perspectives on evil
which have not been considered by those who use evil as an
argument against the existence of God.
The Problem of Evil Peter Kreeft
www.peterkreeft.com/topics/evil.htm
How Can A Good God Allow Evil?
www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/evil.html
Good God & Evil World - Paul Copan
http://vimeo.com/12216276
The Problem of Evil
www.reasonablefaith.org/the-problem-of-evil
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Can We Be Good Without God? William Lane Craig

www.reasonablefaith.org/can-we-be-good-without-god
Does Pain and Suffering Prove There Is No God?
www.str.org/articles/does-pain-and-suffering-prove-thereis-no-god
Resources to Help You Respond to the Problem of Evil (Free Bible Insert)
www.conversantlife.com/belief/resources-to-help-yourespond-to-the-problem-of-evil-free-bible-insert
7 Things Not to Say to a Grieving Person
www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/7-things-not-to-say-tosomeone-who-is-grieving.html
Sites on God and Evil:
http://users.binary.net/polycarp/evil.html
www.str.org/articles/a-good-reason-for-evil
http://carm.org/why-there-evil-and-suffering-world
www.str.org/articles/the-strength-of-god-the-problem-of-evil
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jRMWKz4hbw&playnext=1&list=P
L95016912C8EE1E87&feature=results_video
If Gods all powerful, why does evil exist?
www.comereason.org/god-and-evil.asp Isaiah 45:7

* CAN EVOLUTION EXPLAIN MORALS?

While the existence of evil has been a fairly compelling proof
of Gods existence, there is a recent challenge to the concept that
EVIL and the existence of OBJECTIVE MORALS are evidence for God.
This section covers this new challenge to the existence of God.
In the WORLDVIEW section I indicated a more recent
challenge to the existence of God, and that being the Atheistic
explanation as to where morality comes from. For many years the
existence of morality and evil have been two challenges to evolution
and Atheism, which have been difficult for Evolutionists and
Atheists to answer. Since the beginning of this century however,
Evolutionists and Atheists have been claiming that objective morals
can be accounted for through evolution. I believe the following
video is a fair and effective presentation of this position:
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Morality Comes From Evolution

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLuRfUU4sYM
This has been one of the more challenging topics for me to
gain a good understanding of, so dont be discouraged if you find it
slightly confusing at first. I hope that I have given an effective and
understandable explanation in the limited space given. I strongly
encourage you to explore the links provided as they will connect
you with many of the resources I found for the topic. Like the other
topics in this guide, these sources will allow you to not only access
more information on the topic but also see the explanations given
by the speakers themselves. With this topic especially, I believe
that reading this content more than once and exploring the
additional links is very important to gain a good understanding.
If youre not fully clear on what morality is, it is what would
be considered the RIGHT thing to do in a situation. It relates to
RIGHT AND WRONG. An example of doing whats right or doing
whats moral would be not stealing something, or not cheating
someone, etc. Not doing these things would be the RIGHT and
MORAL thing to do even if you could do it without anyone ever finding
out. Another term for morality is ETHICS.
It is important to realize that with MORALITY there is more
than one definition. Like truth, there is OBJECTIVE MORALITY and
SUBJECTIVE MORALITY. Remember in the section on Truth where
we used Greg Koukls illustrations of ice cream and insulin to
represent the two different classifications of truth: SUBJECTIVE
TRUTH, and OBJECTIVE TRUTH? MORALITY is very similar.

SUBJECTIVE MORALITY is like ice cream, in that it is that

morality which we choose or decide upon for ourselves. It is what
we prefer and decide is right. OBJECTIVE MORALITY is like insulin in
that it is a standard which exists outside of anyones preference or
what any individual or group decides. It is the same for all people
at all times, whether 1000 years ago or 1000 years from now. Rape
has always been wrong and will always be wrong, regardless of any
feeling or preference of any person or teaching by any culture. To
illustrate the difference between the two definitions of MORALITY,
Greg Koukl uses the phrase Its the difference between REAL
BAD and FEEL BAD.
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J.P. Morelands presentation EVIDENCE FOR CHRISTIANITY

(referenced earlier) www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AUR7cKoU shows
evidences for objective moral laws at 21:50 minutes. He uses the
example of TORTURING BABIES FOR FUN, and KINDNESS and
HONESTY. Without anyone telling you, you automatically know
which of these three examples is bad and which is good. In his
presentation above, J.P. Moreland also shows a very creative way
to respond to a moral relativist, one who believes that all morals are
subjective.
When someone makes a statement about morality, it is
important to determine whether they are referring to objective or
subjective morality. Hopefully you are starting to be able to identify
the difference between the two, and their significance. As in the
previous TRUTH section, determining which morality a person is
referring to is very important when in conversation with them.
Again, refer to the TACTICS section for methods of determining what
a person means without being insulting. The TACTICS methods can
also be used so that the person you are talking to doesnt assume
that you mean something you dont.
Once again, Evolutionists now make the claim that morals
can evolve. They indicate that the evidence for this can be seen in
nature. As shown in the video at the link above, animals show a
SOLIDARITY in the way the members of their community interact with
one another. This solidarity is pointed to as an evidence of a
NATURAL MORALITY.
The author of the video points to the fact that animals in
the community behave the way they do because it is ultimately
better for the community, and thus better for the members of
the community. It is better for the members to be more MORAL
to each other, so that the community has a better chance of
survival and is able to maintain larger populations.
Referring to the Mexican Beaded Lizard, the author
indicates, Natural selection seems to be the only thing
that explains the necessity of this sort of behavior.
Referring to the spectacled Cayman Alligators, where one
female remains behind at the nursery pool, he states, The
survival of the population greatly outweighs the
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inconvenience of the lone adult female. The author states

that Complex courtship rituals provide an advantage
over rape in the ability of the species to thrive. Toward the
end of the video, he gave a current example showing the
benefit of teamwork over independence, and illustrated this
through his playing CAPTURE THE FLAG with other students
when he was in college.
I believe that this video provides a good example of the
concept that EVOLUTION CAN BRING ABOUT MORALITY. While the
examples the author gives seem to be good evidence to support his
conclusion, I believe there is information critical of his conclusion
which needs to be considered as well.
Fortunately, when I first saw the video the comments below
from both Sam A and James Wallace existed. They do not
currently. I dont know if they were deleted because they were
effective at showing the limitations of attributing OBJECTIVE
MORALITY to the behaviors of animals or not. Unfortunately the
majority of comments currently on the video page are not worth
viewing, and are primarily insults to other commenters.
Sam A writes, If we get our morals from Evolution that
means what is morally correct could change, since the
word Evolution itself means 'to change.
And Rape takes place all the time in the animal
kingdom, does this mean it came from Evolution and that
it is justified?
Sams comment that Evolution itself means 'to change is
very observant. If objective morals dont change, but evolving
morals do, then evolution by definition cannot be an adequate
explanation for OBJECTIVE MORALITY. Claiming that evolution can
bring about morality is the same as saying that Change over time
can produce something that doesnt change over time. This
qualifies as self-contradictory, and would be a better example of
SUBJECTIVE MORALITY, not OBJECTIVE MORALITY.
Brett Kunkle of www.str.org demonstrates this effectively in an
interview with Bobby Conway, in this ONE MINUTE APOLOGIST video.
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Can Evolution Explain Morality?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLC-Rx5F6WE
Sam also mentions that rape takes place all the time in the
animal kingdom. Im not sure of the number of species which do
this, but I found that male Mallard ducks will gang up on a female
Mallard duck to mate with her. Since male Mallard ducks do
engage in courtship rituals as well, should we conclude that this
GANG activity found in mallards is of less evolved members of the
group?
This video shows mallard ducks in a courtship ritual.
Mallard Duck Mating Dance
www.youtube.com/watch?v=drK2bwzjY9c
This video shows this GANG activity by male mallard ducks.
Male mallards force female with ducklings to mate
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uI2CKCOwQc
Maybe this is why a group of ducks is not referred to as a
FLOCK, but can be referred to as a BADLING. Could the ducks in the
second video be described as Ducks behaving BADLING? ;-)
Sorry, I couldnt resist.
While this Can Evolution Explain Morality? video seems to
indicate that animal morality has evolved so that they now engage
in courtship rituals. The second video on mallard ducks
demonstrates that members of at least one animal species dont act
morally in every instance, as is evidenced by the first video where
the ducks demonstrate courtship rituals. This contradicts the idea
that evolution is a sufficient explanation for the origin of morality.
Could there be other species which behave similarly?
James Wallace writes, Animals exhibit moral behavior,
they don't exhibit ought to behavior like we
choose to do.
And, I ought to be unselfish because it is better for the
group, which is better for the species, which is better
for me. So why ought I be unselfish? Because it is
better for me. But looking at what is better for me, is
selfishness. So all of this so-called description of
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where morality comes down to, gets reduced to this

ludicrous statement: I morally ought to be unselfish so
that I can be more thoroughly selfish . . . . Morality is
something altogether different. We may debate about
all that moral views and understandings entail, but one
thing we can all agree on, I think, is that when we are
looking for a definition of morality, we know it isn't
about selfishness. It is about not being selfish, just the
opposite. That's why these explanations don't work.
They either smuggle morality into the equation by
describing the behavior that is meant to be explained
by evolution so they depend upon morality to do the
job, or else the descriptions and explanations end up
being reduced to selfishness, which isn't what we're
trying to explain. We're trying to explain why one ought
not to be selfish, not why one ought to be selfish.
James makes a great observation. He shows that the
reasoning given by Evolutionists, while sounding convincing, is
contradictory when brought to its logical conclusion. That
conclusion being that ACTING UNSELFISH IS IN ACTUALITY ACTING
SELFISH.
Something else to think about is that even ants and other
insects demonstrate a type of COMMUNITY in the way their colonies
seem to work and in the way the colony defends against predators.
Even insects demonstrate courtship rituals.

COURTSHIP RITUALS IN INSECT MATING

http://insects.about.com/od/matingreproduction/p/courtship
_rituals.htm
Courtship Behavior of a Jumping Spider
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dw3-w4JyyI
If community and courtship rituals in higher level species are
pointed to as evidences of morals evolving, dont the same
community and courtship rituals in lower level insects argue against
evolution as an explanation for this activity? Considering this
tendency in both higher level and lower level organisms, might there
be a better explanation than Evolution, since both demonstrate
these characteristics?
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As well, since both the female Black Widow and Praying

Mantis will regularly eat the male right after the mating process, how
do we factor this into an explanation of morality originating through
evolution? Since the regular consuming of the male during mating
reduces the population of the male of the species, is there any
explanation which could show a benefit to the species as a whole
as is proposed by Evolutionists in other examples? Could a more
simple explanation be found?
Since this explanation of objective morality coming through
evolution has valid criticisms, couldnt another simpler explanation
be worth considering? Wouldnt it be valid to conclude that all of
these behaviors demonstrate nothing more on the part of the
animals/insects than an example of INSTINCT? Greg Koukl has
written a great article on this subject of whether animals actually
demonstrate NATURAL MORALITY.
Monkey Morality: Can Evolution Explain Ethics?
www.str.org/articles/monkey-morality-can-evolutionexplain-ethics
What Greg aptly indicates in the article, which isnt
addressed by this evolutionary theory, is that MORALITY HAPPENS
BEFORE THE ACTUAL ACTION. This is like a persons MOTIVE in a
crime. The motivation of a person who does a crime is of primary
consideration in the punishment of the perpetrator in a courtroom.
Consider the two following news reports where a person is
killed in two different traffic accidents. While a person was killed in
both, the motivations of the two drivers are very different. In the
first event the man clearly determined what he was going to do
before he did it. In the second event the death was determined to
be an accident.
Lake County jury finds Mundelein man guilty of murder
www.dailyherald.com/article/20140926/news/140928658
Death from Route 145 wreck ruled an accident
www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehighcounty/index.ssf/2014/04/death_from_route_145_wreck
_rul.html
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Since only the physical action can be observed in animals,

there is no way to determine the motivation of the animal before the
physical action takes place. To attribute morality to animals
overlooks this important point.
In the following video, Greg Koukl speaks on the difference
between OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE morality. He shows that the
most Evolution can do is to make us feel that a particular action is
wrong. It cant make that action OBJECTIVELY wrong.
How Do Moral Absolutes Prove That God Exists? - Greg Koukl
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZWiqK3wl_k
Why are you so afraid of subjective moral reasoning?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0218GkAGbnU
In the following interview between Sean McDowell and
Atheist Michael Shermer, Michael Shermer contends that right and
wrong would still be recognized in a world without God. But isnt
this really speculation? As an Atheist, isnt he assuming that this
would be the case?
Objective Morality | Cross Examination | Ep. 6
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvxJVkcK6aM
Objective Morality 2 | Cross Examination | Ep. 7
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfARUVDSXjE
Check the other great Cross Examination videos on YouTube!
Begin with this one and find others in the series in the right column.
Intelligent Design | Cross Examination | Ep. 1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aW5wnlqxqM
The Bible states that we know that EVIL and RIGHT AND
WRONG exist previous to us ever being instructed.
Jeremiah 31:33 I will put my law in their minds and
write it on their hearts.
Children demonstrate this knowledge of right and wrong
quite early in their actions and statements, He hit me!, She
took my toy!, and an actual comment from the child of a friend
of my wife and I, Hes looking out my window!
Grounding Morality - Greg Koukl
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz6HBn1ZwK0
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Morality from Science? - Greg Koukl

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rw4MLqGuvc
Objective morality - Greg Koukl
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki5YVNwJR9c
Is There an Objective Moral Law? - Frank Turek
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOJeseNJneg
Why Morality Must Be Objective
http://apologetics-notes.comereason.org/2014/10/whymorality-must-be-objective.html

From a Moral Law to a Moral Law-Giver - Dr. Ravi Zacharias

http://resplect.com/from-a-moral-law-to-a-moral-law-giver/
Objective Morality Search at www.str.org
www.str.org/Search?q=objective+morality
Ravi Zacharias On The Evolution Of Morality by Richard Dawkins
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGy_mGogXxM

Atheism and Morality - William Lane Craig vs Lewis Wolpert

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKkcZ9ZSI5o
Where do Objective Morals Originate in the Universe WL Craig
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmg720wO6tY
Is There an Explanation for Moral Obligation on Atheism WL Craig
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSLxh4FpmW8
5 Common Objections to the Moral Argument
www.apologetics315.com/2013/08/5-common-objections-tomoral-argument.html
America Adrift You Cant Legislate Morality D James
Kennedy
www.truthimpact.me/index.php/2014/01/america-adrift
God, Evolution, and Morality - Greg Koukl:
This is an EXCELLENT ARTICLE in STRs Solid Ground publication!
Pt1.www.str.org/Media/Default/Publications/Solid%20Groun
d-God,%20Evolutino,%20Morality%20May%202014-1.pdf
Pt2.www.str.org/Media/Default/Publications/Solid%20Groun
d-God,%20Evolution,%20Morality%202%207-2014-1.pdf

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In the above 2-part article, Greg states, Exactly how does

this work? How does a mechanistic process produce a
moral obligation? In what sense is goodness or badness
a physical quality? Genes might determine behavior, but
how do they determine beliefs about behavior when it
comes to right and wrong? Greg adds, Remember what
makes a behavior good or bad is not in its chemistry or
physics. Right and wrong, virtue and vice, values and
obligations are not material things.
I encourage you to read and re-read this EXCELLENT article
for the additional points Greg makes to answer this challenge to the
existence God!
Considering there are very effective arguments against this
new theory that Evolution can explain morality, its clear that the
EVOLUTIONARY MORALITY theory, while an initially convincing
explanation, doesnt stand up to analysis. Hopefully, you now have
a better understanding of the claims, as well as the contradictory
evidences relating to this topic.

* WHO CREATED GOD?

One of the other challenges made is the question, If God
created the universe, who created God? This makes the
assumption that everything has had a beginning. According to this
belief, if God created the universe, God must have had a beginning
also. This then begs the question, Who created whoever
created God?, and then, Who created whoever created
whoever created God? and so on. This is called an INFINITE
REGRESS. As you can see, you never arrive at the beginning.
Think back to the universe having a beginning, the EFFECT
of TIME, SPACE, and MATTER. We saw that the only logical
explanation for the universe coming into existence, consistent with
the LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT, is that it was CAUSED by a being
outside of time, space, and matter, and as great as or greater than
time, space, and matter.
Look again at the definition of THE LAW OF CAUSE AND
This law states that for anything that has come into

EFFECT.

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existence there must be a cause. Notice that it indicates For

ANYTHING THAT HAS COME INTO EXISTENCE, there must be a cause
and not For ANYTHING THAT EXISTS there must be a cause.
Everything that exists is not an EFFECT. If everything was
an effect, the LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT would also apply to the
scenario Who (THE CAUSE) created God (THE EFFECT)? This
means that by the LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT, the WHO would have
to be as GREAT AS OR GREATER than God. Then, in the Who
created whoever created God, the WHO would have to be AS
GREAT AS OR GREATER than the WHOEVER, and the WHOEVER would
be AS GREAT AS OR GREATER than God. Isnt this starting to sound
illogical? Can you see how this scenario still needs an ETERNAL
FIRST CAUSE, which has always existed?
It has been proven that the cause of the universe, (TIME,
SPACE, AND MATTER), existed OUTSIDE OF TIME, SPACE, AND MATTER,
and BEFORE TIME, SPACE, AND MATTER EXISTED. AN INFINITE AN
ETERNAL GOD, WHO EXISTS OUTSIDE OF TIME, SPACE, AND MATTER; is
the only logical explanation for the existence of the universe, and is
fully consistent with the law of cause and effect.
Something else to consider. If the God of the Bible were
created by another greater God and the God of the Bible is still
powerful enough to create the universe out of nothing, would it
really matter? We would still need to satisfy the requirements of
this God of the Bible, wouldnt we? We dont have the option of
bypassing the God of the Bible. Deciding not to honor the
requirements of the God who created this universe, and demanding
that we deal with His creator would be like the President of the
United States sending a representative to a person, and that person
demanding an audience with the President rather than showing
respect to the representative and taking the representatives
message seriously, as would be expected by the Presicent. Do you
see how foolish this is?
As well, having a GOD who created God, would be in conflict
with the Bible, would prove the Bible wrong, and violate the LAW OF
CAUSE AND EFFECT.
1 John 3:20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is

greater than our heart, and He knows everything.

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Isaiah 44:6 I am the first and I am the last; besides me

there is no god.
These verses show that GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING, that HE IS
THE FIRST GOD AND THE LAST GOD, AND BESIDES HIM, THERE IS NO
GOD. Since he knows everything, and knows that there is no other

God, then according to the Bible there cant be another God who
created Him. These are very specific claims. As you will see in the
next section on the evidences for the Bible being from God; if the
Bible shows evidence that it is from God, and true, and the above
verses are in the Bible, then the above verses are by default, true.
Who Created God?
www.gotquestions.org/who-created-God.html
http://christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c039.html
www.comereason.org/exst_god/exs010.asp
http://whocreatedgod.net/
www.compellingtruth.org/who-created-God.html
www.doesgodexist.org/Pamphlets/WhoCreatedGod.html

What about those who say, Since no one was there at

the beginning of the universe, no one can really say whether
there was a God or not? Is it necessary that we see the creative
act taking place to know the cause? As an example, do you need
to see a painting being painted to know that a painter painted it? If
you found a watch on the beach, would you think it just happened
by accident through the movement of the waves and sand over
time? What about Mount Rushmore? If you never knew anything
about its construction, would you conclude that the rain and wind
over time shaped the faces of the presidents? None of these would
be logical conclusions.
There are a vast number of things in our world, which we
have never seen being created or built. Does this mean that since
we havent see the creative act, we cant logically conclude that a
creator was responsible for the existence of these things? The
other thing to realize is that if God can be shown as the most logical
cause of the universe, and the Bible shown to be written by God,
then there was someone at the beginning of the universe, who was
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the FIRST CAUSE. The logical conclusion would be that God was
there at the beginning, and he has provided information about the
beginning.
If we think about the Atheist belief that there is no God, and
the proof that the universe came into existence in the past, the
logical conclusion is the entire universe came about out of nothing,
with no help whatsoever. A direct statement that illustrates this
effectively is, Nothing times nothing equals everything. This
is a theory actually promoted by some Atheistic physicists, that
quantum physics could generate something coming out of nothing.
One particular example is a recent book by Steven Hawking.
In it Hawking claims that with gravity the universe will come into
existence on its own, so there is no need for God. But doesnt that
ultimately mean that you have either eternal God or eternal gravity?
This would also apply to anything else any scientist indicates could
bring the universe into existence without God. If gravity has always
existed then were faced with the question, Where did gravity
come from? The existence of ETERNAL GRAVITY doesnt qualify
as NOTHING existing at the beginning as some will claimed.
John Lennox illustrates a major problem with this theory
using a JET ENGINE. He states that the laws of physics can describe
HOW a jet engine works, but it doesnt answer WHY the jet engine
exists. LAWS may be able to answer the HOW question dealing with
function, but they can't describe WHY the jet engine was invented.
John Lennox indicates that even with physics and the inventors
mind you still need matter. He states, Matter is humble stuff, but
it cannot be produced by laws". I believe John Lennox also made
the following quote which provides an additional illustration for this
idea, Science nor scientific theory didn't, in fact couldn't have
brought the universe into existence. The sun rises in the east
and sets in the west, but science can't cause the movement of
the sun.
When considering the evidence that the universe had a
beginning, and then looking at the two options that there is a God
or there is no God, which option is more logical to believe?
Remember, dont choose based upon what is more popular or what
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you might really want or prefer. Choose what the most logical
conclusion based on the evidence.
A Matter of Gravity - Prof John Lennox
This answers the challenge of Stephen Hawking
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xy4gMVlUCE
Bethinking 2/6: John Lennox on Stephen Hawking's "The Grand Design"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eHfhbP1K_4
Why Do Some Physicists Talk Nonsense about Nothing?
http://maverickphilosopher.typepad.com/maverick_philoso
pher/2012/01/why-do-physicists-talk-nonsense.html
Ravi Zacharias Answers Stephen Hawking Parts 1 and 2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wMyMmjPgLs
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHUh9S6Kg7Y

* THE BIBLE
As previously indicated, the Bible is one of over 20 religious
works claiming to be inspired by God. There are the Hindu Vedas,
the Quran, the Book of Mormon, etc. If the evidence proves the
Bible as actually being from God, any other religious book which
contradicts the Bibles teachings is automatically false and not from
God.
One of the ways bank tellers are trained to spot forgeries is
by handling authentic currency. They handle so much currency that
they become VERY familiar with it; with its feel, thickness, scent,
sound, etc. They become so familiar with the authentic that when a
forged bill just passes over their fingertips, the teller knows
immediately. They dont need to be trained in all the forgery
techniques, they just need to be VERY familiar with the authentic.
www.bankersonline.com/security/gurus_sec1001d.html
This is why in this guide, we will primarily look at the
evidences for the Bible and not so much the specific challenges to
the bible nor specific differences between Christianity and other
religions. Similar to truth being applied in the previous examples, if
the Bible is proven to be from God, any other book claiming to be
from God and contradicting the Bible is automatically false. This
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doesnt mean that these books dont contain ANY truth, but if the
Bible is from God, and doesnt have error, and these other volumes
contradict the Bible in areas, that means that these other volumes
have errors and cant be from God. For further study on the
differences between Christianity and other religions, check this link:
www.patheos.com/Library/Lenses/Side-By-Side. This will allow
you to compare the teachings of different religions side-by-side.
While we wont be covering most other religions in any
detail, it is important to address the claim some people make. The
claim is that most religions are basically the same, so what is the
real issue? After all, they all teach a belief in god, right? The
following links will give much greater insight into this idea. Greg
Koukl uses the illustration of aspirin and arsenic. He states that
while they are both white and come in powdered form, it is not the
similarities but the differences that matter.
The Christian Story Greg Koukl
www.str.org/articles/the-christian-story
When studying religions, the point is not to focus on the things that are
similar because its the differences that really matter. Greg Koukl
Arent All Religions the Same?
http://revstephenj.com/2014/05/22/arent-all-religions-the-same
Religious Stew
www.equip.org/articles/religious-stew
All Religions Are Basically the Same
www.str.org/blog/all-religions-are-basically-the-same
Some of the main challenges to the Bible are the supposed
contradictions in it. If you are interested in finding out about many
of the supposed contradictions in the Bible and answers to those
contradictions, go here: http://defendinginerrancy.com/bibledifficulties
The answers to these contradictions, combined with all the
evidences presented in this guide should go a long way toward
answering the challenges raised against the Bible.
Remember the concept of TRUTH, that if something can be
proven true, anything that contradicts it is automatically false. If the
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Bible proves to be true, you can have confidence in it. And even if
you dont have an answer to a challenge someone might make, you
can have confidence that there is an answer.
If you look at the evidence supporting the Bible and apply
the same standards to any other religious book, you will see the
tremendous amount of evidence in support of the Bible, which is
lacking in any other book claiming to be from God and which
contradicts the Bible.
The evidences for Bible being from God which we will briefly
examine are in four areas:
1. Archeological Evidences: The accuracy of history, places, and
people indicated.
2. Prophesy and Statistics: The probability of predicting the
future, with very specific details.
3. Manuscript Evidence: The evidence for the credibility of the
original documents, and the consistency of those documents.
4. Scientific Evidences: The scientific accuracy of historical
writings. Verifiable scientific principals are indicated, and
scientific concepts are described accurately well in advance of
them being discovered through more modern scientific
observations.
How Accurate is the Bible?
https://bible.org/article/how-accurate-bible
Is the Bible Fact or Fiction? Josh McDowell
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvNdqyrOVls
* Archaeological Evidences: Nelson Glueck is a renowned
Jewish archaeologist. He wrote: "It may be stated categorically
that no archaeological discovery has ever invalidated a biblical
reference."
http://christiananswers.net/archaeology
www.bibleevidences.com/archeology.htm
www.faithfacts.org/search-for-truth/maps/archaeologicaland-external-evidence

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To compare other beliefs, perform an internet search for xxxxx and

archaeology, replacing xxxxx with a religion or religious work:
Bible, Quran, etc.
* Prophetic Evidence: As has been mentioned, there are
over 20 religious works that people of faith believe are divinely
inspired. Of these 20+ works only the Bible contains specific
fulfilled prophecies. With the Bible there are an estimated 2500
prophesies with 2000 fulfilled so far, without a single one wrong.
The other prophesies speak of events in the future which is why
they havent been fulfilled yet. In the section on Jesus there are a
few of the over 300 prophesies about Christ listed, which were
written in the Old Testament.
The amazing fact about the prophesies of the Bible is that
all of the prophesies were written hundreds and sometimes
thousands of years before they were fulfilled! And these prophesies
were not generic, they were very specific and detailed. There is no
other book like the Bible which has prophetic evidence as proof of
being from God. Of course, considering that God is outside of time,
God knowing what will happen in the future is fully consistent with
the accuracy of the prophesies. The accuracy of very detailed
prophecies prove that God is outside of time.
Fulfilled Prophecy as Evidence for the Bible's Divine Origin
www.faithfacts.org/search-for-truth/maps/fulfilledprophecy-as-evidence

Fulfilled Prophecy: Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible

www.reasons.org/articles/articles/fulfilled-prophecy-evidencefor-the-reliability-of-the-bible

ADDITIONAL SITES SHOWING FULFILLED BIBLE PROPHESIES

www.100prophecies.org
http://bibleprobe.com/365messianicprophecies.htm
https://carm.org/prophecy-bible-and-jesus

NOW COMPARE THE DETAIL OF PROPHESIES LISTED IN THE QURAN

ISLAMIC PROPHESIES
www.alislam.org/library/articles/prophecies.html
www.islamreligion.com/articles/347
www.nairaland.com/225114/fulfilled-prophecies-holy-quran
http://worldview3.50webs.com/quranvbible.html

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* Manuscript Evidences: Manuscript evidence deals with

how accurate the oldest manuscripts are to the original documents,
called SOURCE DOCUMENTS. Manuscript evidence also relates to
how many of the source documents there are, and the length of
time between the manuscript and source documents. The following
chart illustrates these details as they apply to both the New
Testament documents and also apply to many unquestioned
documents from ancient history. The chart will allow you to see the
specifics of each of the documents listed, and also compare the
details of the New Testament to the other accepted works of ancient
literature.
www.biblicaltheology.com/Research/MartinezR02.html
Author

Date
Written

Homer (Iliad)

900 B.C.

400 BC

500 yrs.

643

95%

Herodotus

480-425 BC

900 AD

1300 yrs.

Thucydides

460-400 BC

900 AD

1300 yrs.

Plato

427-347 BC

900 AD

1200 yrs.

384-322 BC 1100AD

1400 yrs.

49

Pliny

61-113 AD

850 AD

750 yrs.

Suetonius

75-160 AD

950 AD

800 yrs.

New
Testament

50-100 AD

130 AD

Less than
100 years

24,000+

99.5%

Aristotle

Earliest Approx. Time Number

Copy Between Orig of Copies
& Copy

Accuracy
of Copies

As you can see by the chart above, the Bible is so incredibly

confirmed by manuscript evidence that no other ancient book,
religious or otherwise, even comes close.
When comparing the number of partial or full manuscripts of
the New Testament to other unchallenged ancient documents, and
also compare the distance of the copies to the originals, there is
absolutely no comparison, as shown by the chart above.
F. F. Bruce: "There is no body of ancient literature in the
world which enjoys such a wealth of good attestation as
the New Testament."
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William F. Albright: "Thanks to the Qumran discoveries,

the New Testament proves to be in fact what it was
formerly believed to be: the teaching of Christ and His
immediate followers circa. 25 and circa. 80 AD."
Many people mistakenly think that the different translations
of the Bible show that it was translated from the original language
to a 2nd language, then from the 2nd language to a 3rd language, then
from 3rd to 4th, 4th to 5th, etc. Many translation steps. This would be
much like the TELEPHONE GAME:
How to Play Telephone
www.ehow.com/how_2044551_play-telephone.html
In reality, the way the Bible was translated into each
language was that each language was translated from the same
original documents. Only one translation step.
www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/bib-docu.html
www.str.org/articles/can-we-trust-the-bible
Despite the overwhelming manuscript evidence for the Bible
as compared to other ancient works, the accuracy and reliability of
the Biblical text is still challenged while other ancient works are not.
I believe there are two primary reasons for this. One reason is that
misinformation about Christianity is continuing to be repeated. The
second is the overwhelming desire by some to create doubts in
others about the authenticity and reliability of the Bible and
subsequently the truths of Christianity.

THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

One of the amazing discoveries providing one of the best
MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCES for the Bible is the discovery of the DEAD
SEA SCROLLS. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 in
Qumran, and are referenced in the quote above by William F.
Albright.
The scrolls are manuscripts and portions of manuscripts of
both Biblical and non-Biblical works, with the Biblical works being
almost all of the books of the Old Testament. They have been
described as the greatest manuscript discovery of modern time.
144

Until the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in Qumran, the

oldest manuscripts of the Old Testament we had date to about 800
years after Christ. When the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered
and verified, it was discovered that they were written about 200 BC,
approximately 1000 years before the oldest manuscripts we had to
date.
The amazing fact of the Dead Sea Scrolls is that when they
were compared to the manuscripts 1000 years later, they were
found to be nearly identical. This answered the critics who claimed
the Old Testament we have isnt accurate to the original
manuscripts, and that over 100 prophesies regarding Jesus Christ
in the Old Testament were written after Jesus lived. Since the
prophesies of Christ have now been shown to be made centuries
before He was born, the Dead Sea Scrolls have proven the critics
wrong.

WHAT ARE THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS?

www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/bible-faqs/what-are-thedead-sea-scrolls

WHAT ARE THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS?

www.josh.org/resources/study-research/answers-toskeptics-questions/what-are-the-dead-sea-scrolls

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS?

www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a023.html

THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

https://bible.org/article/dead-sea-scrolls

THE DIGITAL DEAD SEA SCROLLS

http://dss.collections.imj.org.il
* SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES: Again, Scientific Evidences refer to
the scientific accuracy of historical writings when scientific
principals are indicated which can be verified. As well, do they
accurately indicate scientific concepts in advance of the concepts
being discovered through more modern scientific observations?
Weve already looked at Genesis 1:1 In the beginning,
God created the heavens, and the Earth. The following are some
of the other major scientific evidences.
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ATOMIC STRUCTURE:
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was

created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out
of things that are visible.
This is an accurate description of the atomic structure of
matter, and was written 2000 years ago. The electron microscope,
necessary to view a molecule or atom, wasnt invented until 1930.
www.inplainsite.org/html/scientific_facts_in_the_bible.html
(In the Earth section)
BLOOD REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN LIFE:
Leviticus 17:11 The life of the flesh is in the blood
This was written 3000 years ago. Even up to almost 1800,
sick people would be BLED to resolve IMBALANCES, sometimes
resulting in death.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodletting
THE VAST NUMBER OF STARS:
Jeremiah 33:22 I will make the descendants of David my servant

and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in

the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
The earliest telescopes did not exist until the early 1600s.
Looking into the night sky, one can count approximately 4000 stars.
Jeremiah was written between 630 and 580BC. 2500 years ago,
and 2000 years before telescopes could give modern science the
tools to learn about the actual number of stars. Check out the
Hubble Extreme Deep Field in the next link and read the
description, as well as the area of sky the picture represents. Click
any of the Image Formats in the right column for much larger
versions of the pictures. When looking at the pictures, remember
that each spec of light in the picture is not a star but an entire distant
galaxy containing an estimated 100 billion stars!
The Hubble eXtreme Deep Field
www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic1214b
In 2014, scientists made a 3D model of the Ultra Deep Field:
The Hubble Ultra Deep Field in 3D
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVjF_7ensg
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HYDROLOGIC CYCLE THE WATER CYCLE:

Ecclesiastes 1:7 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never
full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
The hydrologic cycle wasnt observed scientifically until the
1700s, more than 2700 years after this verse was written.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_cycle
(check the 7.3 Precipitation alone section)

CLOUDS HOLDING INCREDIBLE WEIGHT OF WATER:

Job 26:8 He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do

not burst under their weight.

One inch of rain over one square mile equals 17.4 million
gallons of water weighing 143 million pounds (about 72,000 tons),
or the weight of a train with 40 boxcars.
www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream//tstorms/ll_h2ocontent.htm
I wasnt able to find a reference of the scientific discovery of
the clouds ability to do this, but it is still amazing to think that this
was referenced 5000 years ago in the Bible.

WATER EVAPORATION:
Job 36:27 He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to
the streams
Nils Wallerius 1706-1764 was a Swedish physicist,
philosopher and theologian. He was one of the first scientists to
study and document the characteristics of evaporation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nils_Wallerius

GENETIC CLASSIFICATION:
Genesis 1:21-31 v21 So God created . . . and every living thing
. . . according to their kinds, and every winged bird according
to its kind. v24 . . . according to their kinds . . . each according
to its kind. v25 God made the wild animals according to their
kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the
creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds.
The modern science of genetics, seeking to
understand this process, began with the work of Gregor
Mendel in the mid-19th century
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics
147

GLOBAL WIND PATTERNS AND GLOBAL OCEAN CURRENTS:

Ecclesiastes 1:6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to
the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the
wind returns.
Psalms 8:8 . . the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
Matthew Fontaine Maury 18061873 nicknamed
"Pathfinder of the Seas". Maury made many important new
contributions to charting winds and ocean currents, including ocean
lanes for passing ships at sea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Fontaine_Maury
AIR HAS WEIGHT:
Job 28:25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned

the waters by measure

Evangelista Torricelli began the first accurate measurement
of the pressure (or weight) of air, in 1644.
www.robinsonlibrary.com/science/science/biography/torricelli.htm
2ND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS (ENTROPY):
Psalm 102:25-26 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and

the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you
will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change
them like a robe, and they will pass away
Isaiah 51:6 . . . for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will
wear out like a garment,
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words
will not pass away.
Nicolas Lonard Sadi Carnot 1796 1832 was a French
military engineer and physicist, often described as the
"The Father of Thermodynamics"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_L%C3%A9onard_Sadi
_Carnot

148

THE EARTH SUSPENDED IN SPACE:

Job 26:7 (Written 3000 BC) He spreads out the northern skies

over empty space; he hangs the earth on nothing.

This was written 4000 years ago. The beliefs of many
people even as recent as 1000 years ago was that the Earth was
supported on the backs of elephants, or on the back of a tortoise.
http://christianevidences.org/scientificevidence/astronomy/suspended-earth/

* WHAT ABOUT CLAIMED SCIENTIFIC ERRORS IN THE BIBLE?

Many critics of the Bible claim that science has proven the
Bible wrong and that it has errors when indicating scientific facts,
so it cant be true. Since critics claim the Bible has errors so they
conclude then that it certainly cant be from God. After all, the God
of the universe wouldnt make scientific mistakes because he
knows everything, right? What is true is that these criticisms are
misinterpretations of the Bible, or they are wrong themselves.
Weve already seen some of these misinterpretations.
These sites answer many of the scientific criticisms of the Bible.
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/sciencebible.html
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/bible_science_criticisms.
html
www.faithdefenders.com/from-thedesk/inerrancyofthebible.html
Sites Showing Bible Evidences:
http://bibleandarchaeology.blogspot.com
www.everystudent.com/features/bible.html
www.alwaysbeready.com (Click Bible, Evidence for the Bible at left)
If you see Unsupported Browser, click the HOME link at lower left.
http://sciencespeaks.dstoner.net
The Bible: Has God Spoken? - Greg Koukls
http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/2002/14173.mp3
Scientific Facts In The Bible
www.inplainsite.org/html/scientific_facts_in_the_bible.html
149

Scientific, archeological, and prophetic evidences show that

God has proven Himself in the things we can check so that we can
have faith in Him in the things we cannot check. These evidences
also show that the claim The Bible is scientifically inaccurate
is made by one who has never investigated the evidences, or that
the evidences dont point to the conclusion they have decided.
Now that weve seen evidences for the Divine origin of the
Bible, we can be confident in the verses it contains.
2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and

profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training
in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped
for every good work.
It is clear through this verse and the confirmation of the
different evidences, (Scientific, Archaeological, etc.), that the Bible
contains all we need to know, and is the ONLY reference proving to
be from God and necessary to answer the important questions
concerning God, our lives, our eternal destination, etc. There are
some religions which consider the Bible authoritative, but they use
a slightly changed Bible, or consider other works on the same level
of authority as well to support their unbiblical teachings. This verse
shows that this is not the position of God. If we think about it
logically, isnt it foolish to think that this God who is outside of time,
who has created 100 billion galaxies out of nothing, etc. would have
left anything necessary out of the book which He has provided.

* A CHALLENGE TO THE BIBLE FROM WITHIN

The Bible has proven itself to be the word of God, and there
are many verses, 2 Tim 3:16-17 included, claiming its truth and
perfection, and that it will last forever.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of

our God will stand forever.

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Matthew 5:18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass

away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is
accomplished.
John 10:35b Jesus answered them ". . . to whom the word of God

cameand Scripture cannot be broken"

2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of

man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the
Holy Spirit.
INERRANCY OF THE BIBLE ADDITIONAL VERSES
www.openbible.info/topics/inerrancy_of_the_bible
The Bible is described as the Word of God, is truth, is
profitable for teaching . . . for every good work, cannot be
broken and will stand forever. The God of the universe knows
everything, created all 100 billion galaxies out of nothing, and is
outside of time. If this amazing God has provided this incredible
resource for us, should we conclude that He is also able to keep it
the way that he has promised? Of course we can!
If you are not familiar with the word INERRANCY, it has to do with
ERROR. www.thefreedictionary.com defines INERRANCY as: Freedom

from error or untruths; infallibility. When applied to the Bible, it means

that the Bible is free from errors or untruths, and is infallible. Norman
Geisler states: If the Bible is the Word of God and God cannot err,
then the Bible cannot err. To deny the inerrancy of the Bible one
must either affirm that God can err or that the Bible is not the Word
of God. Considering the definition and the Bible verses, Norman
Geislers conclusion is logical and reasonable.

WHAT'S INERRANCY!? AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?

http://defendinginerrancy.com/why-is-inerrancy-important

PROOF INERRANCY IS HISTORICAL / BIBLICAL

http://defendinginerrancy.com/historical-evidence-forinerrancy

THE INERRANCY OF THE BIBLE

www.4truth.net/fourtruthpbbible.aspx?pageid=8589952767

151

BIBLE ACCURACY
www.4truth.net/accuracy
Here is Norman Geislers presentation at the VERITAS 2014 NATIONAL
APOLOGETICS CONFERENCE:

DOES THE BIBLE HAVE ERRORS?

http://defendinginerrancy.com/does-the-bible-have-errors
Today in many of the evangelical seminaries the professors have
signed STATEMENTS OF INERRANCY. This means that they hold to the
position that the Bible is without error. If you were going to a seminary,
would you want to learn under a professor who doesnt hold that the Bible
is without error?
Would you be surprised to learn that a number of these professors
who hold that the Bible is inerrant also believe certain passages didnt
happen as these verses indicate, that they were myth, or that they
were exercises in creative writing on the part of the writer? Does
this sound contradictory to Norman Geislers statement? His statement
again: If the Bible is the Word of God and God cannot err, then the
Bible cannot err. To deny the inerrancy of the Bible one must either
affirm that God can err or else that the Bible is not the Word of
God.
To see some of the statements of these professors, check the articles at
these links:
www.albertmohler.com/2011/09/14/the-devil-is-in-the-details-biblicalinerrancy-and-the-licona-controversy
www.normgeisler.com/articles/Bible/Inspirationinerrancy/Blomberg/DenialOfMiracleStory.htm
www.normgeisler.com/articles/Bible/InspirationInerrancy/Licona/InerrancyWorse.htm
www.normgeisler.com/articles/Bible/InspirationInerrancy/Blomberg/2014ResponseToBlombergCanWeStillBelieveInTheBible.htm
www.normgeisler.com/articles/Bible/InspirationInerrancy/ETS/OpenTheistsAndInerrancyCPinnockOnBibleAndGod.htm
Also check out this excellent presentation by David Farnell
demonstrating the larger concern regarding the influence of professors
teaching this NEW inerrancy in seminaries.
152

RESPONDING TO THE NEW ATTACKS ON SCRIPTURE - David Farnell

http://defendinginerrancy.com/responding-new-attacks-scripture
In the section covering the amazing number of fulfilled prophesies,
I also made reference to certain prophesies not having been fulfilled yet.
As well, many of the fulfilled prophesies could not be confirmed as fulfilled
until recent archaeological discoveries discovered the evidence. Did
archaeologists make up stories about the unfulfilled prophesies while
waiting for the archaeological discoveries? No. Would it be fair to
conclude that there are prophesies which we will never be able to verify?
I believe probably.
It seems foolish that some professors would feel the necessity to
have an explanation for every possible Bible difficulty. I realize that there
are those who will use any unresolved Bible difficulty as evidence that
the entire Bible is fallible, or that Christianity isnt worth considering.
However, when the few items in question are contrasted to the
OVERWHELMING amount of confirmed evidence for the Bible and
Christianity, it shows that those making the challenges are looking for
any excuse to discount the Bible, and shows that they are not interested
in honestly considering the facts.
Can one be a Christian without believing the Bible is fully
inerrant? Yes. However, you put yourself at risk. You leave
yourself open to the possibility that someone will come up with a
convincing sounding argument against an important part of the
Bible. Take for example the resurrection? If one part of the Bible
cannot be trusted, who is to say another more important part of the
Bible wont be questioned in the future? I point to Norman Geislers
statement yet again, If the Bible is the Word of God and God
cannot err, then the Bible cannot err. To deny the inerrancy of the
Bible one must either affirm that God can err or else that the Bible
is not the Word of God.
COLOSSIANS 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy

and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the

elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ.
It is important to realize that despite the position of many of
those professors who are changing the traditional definition of
INERRANCY pertaining to the different Biblical passages, many of
153

them have still done tremendous work in most other areas of

Apologetics. Because of this, you will see some of them included
in the LEADING SPEAKERS AND THINKERS section. Considering the
importance of inerrancy, it is vitally important to check any speaker
or authors position on the inerrancy of the Bible, regardless of their
effectiveness in other areas. Remember Acts 17:11

ACTS 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in
Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining
the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
My intention in including this section is that you will be aware
of what is being taught in evangelical seminaries, especially if you
are planning on going into ministry and attending one of these
seminaries. Most of these seminaries were originally started as an
answer to this CHALLENGE TO THE INERRANCY OF THE BIBLE back in
1914-15. 100 years later, this challenge to inerrancy is being
advanced now at these very seminaries.
I highly recommend David Farnells presentation on this subject:

RESPONDING TO THE NEW ATTACKS ON SCRIPTURE

http://defendinginerrancy.com/responding-new-attacks-scripture

* JESUS
If the Bible proves itself as the only book truly inspired by
God, we can trust in everything written there. One of the proofs that
the Bible is inspired is PROPHESY. Fulfilled prophesy is a proof
exclusive to the Bible. No other book claiming to be from God has
the evidence of detailed prophetic fulfillment that the Bible does.
The following site compares prophesies between the Bible
and the Quran
The Qur'an (Koran) vs. The Bible: Predictions of human actions show
which one is truly from God
http://worldview3.50webs.com/quranvbible.html
Below are just a few of the over 300 specific prophesies
written in the old testament just about Jesus Christ during his life
and death. He fulfilled all of them!
154

A few of the Old Testament prophesies fulfilled by Christ:

He would be born of the seed of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3, 22:18),
Born of the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10),
In the lineage of David (2 Samuel 7:12f).
He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
Hed come while the temple was still standing (Malachi 3:1),
He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14),
He would open the eyes of the blind, unstop the ears of the deaf, and
cause the lame to walk (Isaiah 35:5-6),
Hed be rejected by His own people (Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:7).
The precise time in history when He would die (Daniel 9:24-26),
That He would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27-32).
How He would die (Psalm 22:16-18, Isaiah 53; Zechariah 12:10)

One of the other 300 prophesies is Psalm 22:16-18. It is the

oldest of the prophecies Christ fulfilled, and it is the prophesy
indicating the type of execution Christ would suffer.
Psalm 22:16-18 For dogs encompass me; a company of evil
doers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. I can
count all my bonesthey stare and gloat over me; they divide my
garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
I found this prophesy to be particularly amazing. It is dated
at 1000BC, 1000 years before Christs birth, which is amazing in
itself! However, it was also written 400 years before crucifixion had
even been invented by the Romans! It is kind of a dual prophesy.
Now, let's take a closer look at the amazing probabilities of
these prophesies:
The odds of just 8 of over 300 prophecies being fulfilled
in any one individual by accident is 1 in 1017th power, (1 with
17 zeroes after it). This number, 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000
is a little hard to comprehend at first. This illustration should
help. 1017th power silver dollars would fill the state of Texas
2ft deep. If you marked one silver dollar and mixed it into the
rest, the odds of someone picking that marked silver dollar
out on the first try would be 1 in 1017th power.

155

The odds of 48 of over 300 prophecies being fulfilled by

accident in any one individual, (less than 1/6th of the total
number of prophesies), is 1 in 10157th power or 10 with 157
zeroes after it. The size of the known universe is estimated
to be able to contain only 1080th power atoms. This is a
microscopically small number compared to 10157th power.
If your recollection of exponents is a little foggy, each
increase of one in the exponent indicates 10 times the
number. So 1080thx10 = 1081st, 1081stx10 = 1082nd, etc.! 10157th
atoms would fill not one universe, but trillions and trillions of
universes! Now pick one atom, mark it, mix it in with all the
others . . . You get the idea. Remember, these odds only
apply to the fulfillment of less than 1/6th of the total number
of fulfilled prophecies of Jesus!
The Law of Probability
www.answering-islam.org/Walid/10probability.htm

BOREL'S LAW indicates that anything with odds beyond

1 in 1050th power has a zero probability of happening by
accident. Considering this, it is IMPOSSIBLE for someone to
have ACCIDENTALLY fulfilled these prophecies. No human
has been able to foretell future events with any specific
accuracy, but the Bible foretells specific details about a large
number of future event. In the life and death of Jesus Christ
alone the Bible prophecies date to in some cases more than
1000 years before Jesus Christ fulfilled them. Even if we
dont consider any of the other evidences these prophecies
by themselves provide convincing proofs of the Divine origin
of the Bible and the Divinity of Christ.
God and the Laws of Science: The Laws of Probability
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&
article=3726

MESSIANIC PROPHECIES FULFILLED BY JESUS CHRIST

www.thedevineevidence.com/prophecy_jesus.html

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354 Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ

www.accordingtothescriptures.org/prophecy/353prophecie
s.html
Biblical Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus
www.cbn.com/spirituallife/biblestudyandtheolo
gy/jesus_prophecy_fulfilled.aspx
Jesus In Prophecy - Ed Hindson
http://ffmp3.com/catalog/2001/13145.mp3
I believe it is important to cover one particular prophesy in more
detail. It is the resurrection, prophesied in Psalm 118:22 and fulfilled
by Christ. The reason becomes clear when we look at the following
passages:
1 Corinthians 15:17-19

And IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN

your faith is futile and YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR SINS. Then
those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in
Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to
be pitied.
RAISED,

Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is

purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no

forgiveness of sins.
COULD THIS BE THE SHEDDING OF JUST ANYONES BLOOD?
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence

to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we

have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son
cleanses us from all sin.
The 1st Corinthians verse above clearly shows that without
Christs resurrection, our sins are not forgiven and others should
pity us. Jesus resurrection is one of the most important events in
the Bible. Hebrews 9:22, 10:19 and 1 John 1:7, show that only the
shedding of blood of Jesus forgives and cleanses us from sin.
Dont these two verses seem to contradict each other? One
verse indicates RESURRECTION is necessary while the other
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indicates that ONLY THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD forgives us of our sin.

How do we resolve the seeming conflict of one verse showing that
the shedding of blood is required for forgiveness and the other
verse showing that the resurrection is necessary to forgive sin?
It is easy to resolve when you realize that while the shedding
of blood is essential for the forgiveness of sin, only the blood of one
who can actually forgive sin is valid. And only God is qualified to
pay for sin, and to forgive sin.
When you think about everyone eventually dying, what
would a person need to do to prove they were God? What would
be something that only God could do that no one has ever done
before or since, to prove they were God? Wouldnt rising from the
dead, their resurrection, qualify as something that only God could
do? And with Jesus, not only was the resurrection proof that He
was God, Jesus foretold that He would rise from the dead.
Luke 9:21-22 And he strictly charged and commanded them

to tell this to no one, saying, The Son of Man must suffer many
things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
Do you see how these two verses actually work together?
Jesus resurrection three days after dying on the cross proves that
He is God. And his dying on the cross shows that he paid the price
for our sin using his own blood. His prediction about His
resurrection was also true.
Evidence for the Resurrection Josh McDowell
www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html
There are those who challenge the validity of the Bible,
because of supposed contradictions similar to this one. Some want
the bible to be false so that they can feel more confident in their
belief that there is no reason to believe in the existence of God.
The supposed contradictions are proof to them that the Bible
has errors, and cant be from God. They therefore dont try to find
an answer for the supposed contradiction because an answer
would conflict with what theyve already decided to believe. The
supposed contradictions confirm their worldview.
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Do a Bing search for: Bible Contradictions Answered, to find

many sites answering supposed contradictions in the Bible.
Alleged Bible Contradictions: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Answer Objections

www.thepoachedegg.net/the-poached-egg/2014/02/allegedbible-contradictions-5-questions-to-ask-before-youanswer-objections.html
When all the evidence is considered, it is not difficult to
come to the conclusion that Jesus Christ is who the Bible says, and
who He claimed to be, God in human flesh. Considering the
evidences demonstrating fairly conclusively the truth that Jesus is
God, do you want to be one who chooses to ignore these evidences
and the implications of rejecting His payment for your sin?

SITES ON JESUS:
The Real Face of Jesus Amazing documentary on the Shroud of Turin!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNJPJ4JwHeE
If you find the video has been pulled,
do a Bing video search for THE REAL FACE OF JESUS
Other Sites With Evidence About Jesus

www.allaboutgod.com/is-jesus-god.htm
www.christiananswers.net/jesus/home.html
www.everystudent.com/menus/jesus.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcJ9i_apd_E
www.jesusevidence.org
www.risenjesus.com/top-10-myths-about-jesusresurrection
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay_Db4RwZ_M
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iyxR8uE9GQ
One more point. There are some who believe that Jesus
never died and so He could never have been resurrected. They
conclude that, There cant be a resurrection from the dead, if
the body never died. This belief ignores a few major facts:
Rome had been performing crucifixions as a capital
punishment for hundreds of years. They were experts at
performing crucifixions, and wouldnt have made the
mistake of allowing someone to survive the ordeal.
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 The Roman guards certainly didnt have any sympathy for

Jesus that they would have reduced the torture that Jesus
experienced. The guards wove a crown of thorns because
of Jesus being referred to as king, they beat him, and even
pulled out parts of his beard. It is probably the case that the
Roman guards actually enjoyed beating him, considering he
was a criminal of Rome and sentenced to death.
Check out the links below under the:
Medical Detail of Jesus Suffering
Jesus was killed by one of the most excruciatingly painful
forms of execution in all of human history. When I realized this, I
started to wonder WHY. I didnt wonder, Why would Jesus Christ
choose to be sacrificed for our sin? I wondered, Since Jesus
Christ is God, why did he chose to enter history in the time of
one of the most excruciating forms of execution ever
invented? After all, if Jesus Christ was God, couldnt he decide
to enter history during a time when a quicker much less painful
execution was the norm? What about being run through with a
sword in the Middle Ages? Wouldnt that be quick and much less
painful (respectively), while still allowing him to shed his blood?
I believe Christ chose the time history he did is because He
wanted us to know that not even the most brutally excruciating
execution would be enough to keep Him from his mission, to pay
the price for the sin weve committed and will commit, so that we
can spend eternity with Him in Heaven, because He loves us so
much!
I asked Jesus how much He loved me,
and He stretched out His hands and He died.
To see specific details of the incredible price Jesus paid
through scourging and crucifixion and the evidences of His death,
investigate the medical examination of the crucifixion of Jesus:
Medical Detail of Jesus Suffering
http://the-crucifixion.org
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RptnOb-IFFM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC9krDwjfZE

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Evidence for the Resurrection:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzNREgNC11k
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVoKR_cvJJM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iyxR8uE9GQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pV5XxZQDLs
Evidence For The Resurrection - Craig Hazen
http://ffmp3.com/catalog/2001/13061.mp3
Did Jesus Really Rise? Dr. Phil Fernandez
`
http://ffmp3.com/catalog/2009/45623.mp3
Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead? - John Ankerberg
http://ffmp3.com/catalog/2001/13142.mp3
The Resurrection Argument That Changed a Generation of Scholars
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay_Db4RwZ_M

How Do The Twelve Apostles Deaths Prove Easter?

http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/04/whathappened-to-the-twelve-apostles-how-their-deathsevidence-easter/?nabe=6241452902318080:1
Historical Evidence for the Resurrection
www.desiringgod.org/articles/historical-evidence-for-theresurrection
Testimony of the Evangelists - Simon Greenleaf
www.bibleteacher.org/sgtestimony.htm
If Jesus Wasnt God, He Deserved an Oscar John Ankerberg
http://ffmp3.com/catalog/2009/45551.mp3
Reclaiming Easter
www.josh.org/pages/reclaiming-easter
Essay Series: Is Christianity True?
www.apologetics315.com/2010/04/essay-series-ischristianity-true.html
Tackling Tough Questions - Sean and Josh McDowell
www.conversantlife.com/theology/tackling-toughquestions-sean-and-josh-mcdowell-on-conversant-live

161

How Can You Trust That Christianity Is True

If You Havent Examined All the Alternatives?
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/how-can-you-trust-christianityis-true-if-you-havent-examined-all-the-alternatives/
It is important to realize that we will probably never have
evidences for everything pertaining to the Bible and God. There will
be things that are impossible to check, primarily because
archaeology hasnt yet discovered the evidences. But remember
again, archaeology has verified over 2000 of the approximately
2500 prophesies listed in the Bible, and not a single one has been
wrong. The others havent yet been fulfilled because they speak of
future events. Considering this, I believe that the way to consider
all of the evidences God has provided for us; the scientific,
archeological, and prophetic evidences, is that he has proven
Himself in the things we can check so that we can have full faith in
Him in the things we cannot check.

* THE TRINITY
This is one of the doctrines of the Bible which most will admit
is difficult to understand. This lack of understanding has caused
some to determine that it cant be true. The fact is that we will never
fully understanding the doctrine. Even so, we can accept it if it is
true even if we dont understand it. As we will see, TRUTH is not
determined by our UNDERSTANDING of something.
Christianity teaches that Jesus is one of three persons of the
TRINITY, also referred to as the GODHEAD. Jesus is co-equal with
God the Father and also God the Holy Spirit. However, each of the
Persons of the Godhead have different roles.
Some claim that the Trinity isnt a Biblical concept because
the word TRINITY is not found in the Bible. It is true that the word
TRINITY is not found in the Bible. The term MONOTHEISM isnt
found in the Bible either, but few would deny that MONOTHEISM is
clearly taught in the Bible. Like Monotheism, if the concept of the
TRINITY is taught, does it really matter that the Bible doesnt use a
particular word to describe the concept?

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What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?

www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html
Again, some will claim that because they dont understand the
trinity, it cant be true. Remember, TRUTH isnt determined by our
UNDERSTANDING. 25 years ago Pastor Wayne Stockstill stated, If
God were a God we could understand, he wouldnt be much of
a God, would he? Think about Proverbs 3:5:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not

lean on your own understanding.

There are many things we use every day, of which we dont
understand that things complexity or functionality. With a car, do
you need to have a complete understanding of how the fuel system
atomizes the fuel and how the pistons and valves are synchronized
to compress the fuel air mixture to be able to start the engine? Do
you need to have an understanding of how an automatic
transmission works to drive to work or school? Do you need to
understand how an LED screen works to watch a program on TV?
Again, the TRUTH of something isnt determined by whether we
understand it or not.
One of the main criticisms of the concept of the Trinity is that
if God the Father is God, and Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is
God, then you have something similar to the equation 1+1+1=1.
Just as this equation isnt logical, it also isnt an accurate description
of what Christianity teaches about God. I believe a more accurate
math equation is to look at the Trinity not as 1+1+1=1, but 1x1x1=1.
I believe when some people first hear the 1+1+1=1 analogy, they
dont bother to think beyond it and instead use it as an example of
Christians not thinking logically, because it supports their belief. But
does this 1x1x1=1 relationship exist elsewhere?
Our world has a number of TRINITARIAN or 3 in 1 aspects to
The following are three examples: TIME = PAST, PRESENT,
FUTURE; MATTER = SOLID, LIQUID, GAS; VOLUME = LENGTH, WIDTH, and
HEIGHT. In all of these there is a 3 in 1 relationship. In TIME; the
past is time, the present is time, and the future is time. They are 3
distinct components of time, but they are still 1 time. In VOLUME;
length is volume, height is volume, and width is volume. They are
3 distinct and separate aspects of volume, but they are 1 Volume.
The same with MATTER.
163

it.

I think VOLUME is the most accurate illustration Ive heard for

the Trinity. VOLUME = LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT. When you look at
an object from each view, (LENGTH, WIDTH, OR HEIGHT), arent you
seeing the entire object? Yes. Are any of the three views the same
as the other two? No. But they are still of the same object, right?
Yes. So you have LENGTH, and WIDTH, and EIGHT each being the
object. And LENGTH is not WIDTH, WIDTH is not HEIGHT, and HEIGHT
is not LENGTH. So, you have three separate identities of an object
each being different from each other, but all being the one object.
Another Look at the Trinity
http://carm.org/christianity/christian-doctrine/another-look-trinity
We must remember that any attempt to describe an INFINITE
God using FINITE illustrations will always fall short. However, this is
still the best illustration Ive heard. When you look at either Jesus,
God the Father, or the Holy Spirit, you are seeing all of God.
However, each is not the other. The link below will take you to a
great article going into some nice detail on the subject. There is
also one of the best diagrams Ive found illustrating the essential
characteristics of the Trinity.
Something I believe gives credibility of the Trinity being a nonhuman concept, is that it is almost impossible to think of a person
inventing this almost incomprehensible idea.
Remember Wayne Stockstills quote:
If God was a God we could understand, he
wouldnt be much of a God, would he?
Another criticism of the concept of the Trinity, is that it has
its origin in Paganism. As such, it cant be true or Biblical. At first,
the challenge does seem to have merit. The examples used are:
The Greek triad of ZEUS, ATHENA, and APOLLO; the Hindu triad of
BRAHMA, VISHNU, and SHIVA; and the Egyptian triad of ISIS, HORUS,
and SUB.
Once researched though, the comparison doesnt work,
because in each of the above examples, what are presented as
evidences of the pagan trinity, are actually three gods. They are tritheistic and are not the Christian representation of the Trinity. As
well, they have no unity as the unity indicated in the Bible. Here are
two links which show that the Trinity has no basis in paganism.
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IS THE TRINITY PAGAN?

www.letusreason.org/Trin8.htm

TRINITY IS NOT BORROWED FROM THE PAGANS!

www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-pagan.htm

SO WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

If the Bible has come from God, then what is written there is
true. If there is only one God, and God the Father is God, Jesus is
God, and the Holy Spirit is God, then there are three persons being
the one God, whether we understand it or not. So, what does the
Bible teach about this concept that there is one God, and that God
the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are each God?
There is only one God
1 John 3:20 "for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater
than our heart, and he knows everything."
Isaiah 43:10 "Before Me there was no God formed, and there will
be none after Me."
Isaiah 44:6 "'I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God
besides Me."
Isaiah 44:8 "Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other
Rock? I know of none."
Isaiah 45:5 "I am Yahweh, and there is no other; Besides Me there
is no God."
Isaiah 45:14 "Surely, God is with you, and there is none else, No
other God."
We see through these verses that the Bible clearly teaches
there is one God. This, for the most part, is acknowledged in
Judaism, Islam, and even Mormonism and Jehovahs Witness
teachings. This is consistent with the teaching of GOD THE FATHER
in Christianity. What is denied is the Christian teaching that while
God is one, God consists of three persons. Let us look at what the
Bible teaches about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Once again, if the
Bible is true and is Gods word, the truth is not based upon our
understanding of the truth and any contradictory teaching to the
truth is false.
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ONE GOD IS REFERENCED IN THE PLURAL

Gen 1:26 Then God [singular] said, Let Us [plural] make man

in Our [plural] image, according to Our [plural] likeness...

Gen 1:27 So God [singular] created man in His [singular] own
image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He
created them.
Verse 26 mentions God three times US, OUR and OUR
In verse 26, God refers to Himself in the plural while
immediately following in verse 27 He refers to Himself in the
singular, indicating - HIS, HE and HE
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name [singular] of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. [plural]
We are not baptizing in multiple names, but ONE NAME.
There is but one God and Lord to baptize in the name of.
But we are also to baptize in the one name of the threeperson Lord Father, Son and Spirit.
1 John 5:7 For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the

Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.
This verse states the concept clearly.
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.
This verse gives us a glimpse into the different rolls the persons
of the Trinity take.

THE BIBLE TEACHES JESUS IS GOD

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with

God, and the Word was God

This verse shows two Persons of the Godhead and one God.
John 1:3 "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not
anything made that was made."
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Only God has always existed. If all things were made by

Christ, He has always existed, and so must be God
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he

saw it and was glad. The Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty
years old, and have You seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Most
assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.
This shows that Jesus existed as God before his human life,
and also referencing God speaking to Moses in Exodus 3:14:
Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, I am who I am. And he said,
Say this to the people of Israel, I am has sent me to you.
Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is
forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your
kingdom.
God the Father refers to the Son as O God, and that the
Son has a kingdom.
Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and

forever.
This verse shows that Jesus Christ doesnt change. God the
Father doesnt change. Being that Christ doesnt change,
both He and the Father are God.

THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD

Acts 5:3-4 "But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your

heart to lie to the Holy Spirit . . . You have not lied to man but to
God.
Lying to the Holy Spirit is the same as lying to God
2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the

Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONHOOD
Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock,

in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the
church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
The Spirit is capable of MAKING.
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1 Corinthians 2:10 "For to us God revealed them through the

Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things"

The Spirit is capable of SEARCHING
1 Corinthians 2:11 Even so no one knows the things of God

except the Spirit of God.

The Spirit is capable of KNOWING.

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and overtake

this chariot.'
Acts 10:19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit
said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you.
The Spirit is capable of COMMUNICATING
Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by

whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

The Spirit is capable of BEING GRIEVED
Romans 8:27 "And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind

of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints

according to the will of God"
The Spirit has a mind, and is capable of INTERCEDING
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will

send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your
remembrance all that I have said to you.
The Spirit is capable of TEACHING
John 16:12-15 I still have many things to say to you, but you

cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide
you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority,
but whatever he hears he will speak"
The Spirit is capable of GUIDING and has his own authority
Hebrews 10:29 ". . . and has insulted the Spirit of grace?"
The Spirit is capable of BEING INSULTED
These verses clearly teach the concept of the Trinity; that
there are three distinct Persons in the Godhead, and that there is
only one God. Each Person is not the other person, yet they are all
the one God. The truth of this concept is not based upon our
168

understanding of the Trinity. If we are to discount the teaching of

the Trinity because of the criticism that the word TRINITY isnt found
in the Bible, we could discount the Biblical teaching of One God
because the word MONOTHEISM isnt found in the Bible.
DIVINE TITLES, FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTER QUALITIES
ASCRIBED TO THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT
www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-definition-god-divine-qualitiesascribed.htm
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
http://truth4freedom.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/theolog
y-god-the-father-the-son-and-the-holy-spirit

HOW CAN ONE GOD BE THREE PERSONS?

http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t002.html

UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY

www.bethinking.org/god/understanding-the-trinity
The God head-Trinity Described by Ravi Zacharias
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys326rDQTNY
What is the Trinity? - Inspiring Philosophy - playlist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gCvFAjgps&list=PL1mr9ZTZb3TWpnOJV09MuEAwbbQ
NCS6Qf

169

6. HAS CHRISTIANITY BENEFITED THE WORLD?

The Church is the Church only when it exists for
others...not dominating, but helping and serving. It
must tell men of every calling what it means to live for
Christ, to exist for others. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
We are called to service in the kingdom of God. The
Christian life is not about what you claim. It is about
what you believe. True belief cannot be separated from
what we do. Tyler Edwards
How would you respond to the following?
Christianity promotes intolerance, and ignorance.
Christianity contradicts modern science.
Christianity promotes slavery
Christianity degrades women
Christianity is the cause of millions of deaths.
God commanded genocide in the Old Testament.
________________________
Some people believe Christianity has not been a benefit to
the world. They believe that if we could just get rid of Christianity
or at least the influence of Christianity, the world would be a much
better place. They believe that the influence of Christianity actually
holds us back from progress, that it is the restrictions of Christianity
that keep us from achieving real freedom. This could be one of the
reasons why Atheistic professors make an attempt to reduce and
even eliminate the confidence students have in Jesus and the Bible.
Remember the term INTOLERANT being used of Christians?
If the world truly would be better without Christianity then many
have good reason to ignore the evidences in the previous sections
of this guide. Is not one of the measures of a belief-system, the
actual impact of that belief-system on the world? So, has
Christianity had an impact on the world, and if so, has it been
positive or negative?
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To see the impact of Christianity, one need look no further

than the western societies based on Judeo Christian values as
compared to the other societies in the world. What you may be very
surprised to find out is that Christianity has had a significant
beneficial impact on the world. Below are a number of the impacts
of Christianity and Judaism, as well as links to be able to research
them further. Think about how much you would want to live in a
country where these qualities didnt exist. It is easy to take these
benefits for granted when weve never lived in a country that doesnt
have them.
www.inplainsite.org/html/impact_of_christianity.html
MODERN MEDICINE. Not as modern as originally thought.
Medical principals were specified in the Old Testament, and
developed further by Christians
http://creation.com/modern-medicine
UNIVERSITIES, which also began during the Middle Ages. In
addition, most of the worlds greatest universities were started
for Christian purposes.
www.tysknews.com/Depts/Educate/history_part3.htm
LITERACY AND EDUCATION for the masses.
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/56682
CAPITALISM AND FREE ENTERPRISE.
www.allaboutworldview.org/christian-economics.htm
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, particularly as it has been seen
in the American experiment.
www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/the-bible-and-government
THE SEPARATION OF POLITICAL POWERS.
www.probe.org/the-declaration-and-constitution-theirchristian-roots
CIVIL LIBERTIES.
www.reformationsa.org/index.php/history/the-reformation1517-1610/87-howthereformationchangedtheworld
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, both in antiquity and in more
modern times.
www.summit.org/resources/truth-and-consequences/christianityand-slavery
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 MODERN SCIENCE. Most of the major branches of science were

founded by Christians.
www.christianity.co.nz/science4.htm
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/sciencefaith.html
www.exploringchristianity.com/index.php?option=com_content
&view=article&id=213&catid=47&Itemid=270
THE DISCOVERY OF THE NEW WORLD by Columbus.
www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0196_Columbus_Christian_C.html
THE ELEVATION OF THE POSITION OF WOMEN in Society.
https://bible.org/article/christianity-best-thing-ever-happenedwomen
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Amazing-Things-Christianity-HasDone-to-Advance-the-Cause-of-Womens-Rights&id=2661871
BENEVOLENCE AND CHARITY; the Good Samaritan ethic.
www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/05/08/3754498.htm
HIGHER STANDARDS OF JUSTICE.
http://creation.com/the-christian-foundations-of-the-rule-of-law-inthe-west-a-legacy-of-liberty-and-resistance-against-tyranny
THE ELEVATION OF COMMON MAN.
www.phc.edu/gj_schirrmacherv3n2.php
HIGH REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE.
www.mtio.com/articles/bissar53.htm
THE CLASSIFYING AND FOUNDING OF MANY OF THE WORLDS
WRITTEN AND SPOKEN LANGUAGES.
India: www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/february-webonly/how-white-missionaries-helped-birth-modern-dayindia.html

Taiwan:www.thefreelibrary.com/Pentecost+of+the+Hills+i
n+Taiwan%3a+The+Christian+Faith+Among+the...a060138400 Check the last paragraph of the article.
Maraland:
Check the section Literature work and Bible translation.
Ghana:www.thefreelibrary.com/%22Obstinate%22+pastor+
and+pioneer+historian%3a+the+impact+of+Basel
+Mission...-a0197989375
Check the section Ideas on African Languages and the "Nation"
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 GREATER DEVELOPMENT OF ART AND MUSIC. The inspiration for

the greatest works of art.
www.mightystudents.com/essay/Christianity.impact.music.15296
HOW CHRISTIANITY CIVILIZED BARBARIAN EUROPE in Just
One Hundred Years
www.newenglishreview.org/Emmet_Scott/How_Christianity_Ci
vilized_Barbarian_Europe_in_Just_One_Hundred_Years
THE COUNTLESS CHANGED LIVES Transformed from Liabilities
into Assets to Society Because of the Gospel.
www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/changed-lives
Is Christianity Good for America? Dinesh DSousa debate
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rACrVLuIfDY
What if Jesus Had Never Been Born
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHLioeL9dYk
The Social and Historical Impact of Christianity
www.probe.org/the-social-and-historical-impact-of-christianity

The Impact of Christianity

www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/the-impact-of-christianity
What has Christianity done for the World?
http://godtalk.hubpages.com/hub/What-has-Christianitydone-for-the-World
21 Positive Contributions Christianity Has Made
http://verticallivingministries.com/tag/the-historicalbenefits-of-christianity
The Benefits of Christianity in Society
http://mbogartministries.hubpages.com/hub/TheBenefits-of-Christianity-in-Society
The Influence of Christianity on Western Civilization
http://crossandquill.com/journey/the-influence-ofchristianity-on-western-civilization

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Also, as to whether the United States was founded as a Christian

nation, (not that it is currently), check the videos at this link:
Popular David Barton & Politics Videos
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFxZAfgz_jo&list=PLY7LUJl9N36QWYpywH-xS1EEzFDlNOFY
Also check: www.faithofourfathers.net

* What About the Crusades, Witch Trials and Inquisitions?

While the many previous examples show the positive
benefits of Christianity on the world, there are many non-Christians
who point to specific times and events in history as evidence of the
negative influence of Christianity. The primary historical events
they point to are the CRUSADES, the SALEM WITCH TRIALS, and the
SPANISH INQUISITIONS. Many Non-Christians claim that these
events show that religion in general, and Christianity specifically
have been responsible for more deaths in history than any other
reason.
With the exception of the Crusades, a study of the actual
numbers of those killed in these historical events show that the
claim of MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DEATHS is vastly inflated. These
claims have been repeated so often, that many believe and repeat
the claims without ever checking them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_and_disasters_by
_death_toll
In the case of the Crusades, it is important to realize that the
initial reason for the Crusades was to take back land which was
taken by Muslim Conquests.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades
People were motivated to take part in the Crusades because
of various reasons. Many of the reasons were not consistent with
Christian teachings, especially considering the incentive offered by
Pope Urban II. The Wikipedia article above indicates that for
anyone who participated, he would grant that all of their sin would
be forgiven. This certainly is not consistent with the teachings of

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Jesus Christ, as only God can forgive sin, and only Jesus Christ
offered the necessary sacrifice to pay for sin.
Considering again the objection raised of the deaths by
Christianity through history, it is absolutely tragic that 10 deaths,
much less 1,000,000+ deaths, are attributed to those who have
caused them in the name of Christianity. It is important however to
consider the teachings of Jesus, and then compare His teachings
to the actions of these individuals who killed IN THE NAME OF GOD.
Can one truly claim to act In the name of God, when they are
acting opposite the teachings of Christ?
This link shows the facts of the Crusades,
www.inplainsite.org/html/atheism_or_christianity.html
The same site answers many of the Barriers to Faith
www.inplainsite.org/html/Page3a_barriers_to_faith.html
I asked the question earlier, Isnt one measure of a beliefsystem, the actual benefits of that belief-system? If we were
to consider the same question in regards to other belief systems
and whether or not they have been a benefit to the world, what do
the facts show? The first link above exposes the lie of MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DYING because of Christianity, and shows the
real influence on the world that the philosophies of Atheism and
Secularism have had.
Many non-Christians claim that the deaths caused in the
Salem Witch Trials and the Inquisitions, were done to force the
spread of Christianity, or because the persons being killed violated
Christian standards. Because of this, they claim that Christianity is
the cause of the deaths.
Some non-Christians object to claim that the deaths caused
by Hitler, Mao, Stalin, and others were caused because of Atheism.
They believe that since the murders werent committed to forward
Atheism, the deaths shouldnt be attributed to Atheism.
Is it reasonable to conclude that Christianity is responsible
for the deaths blamed on it when the deaths are caused by those
working in direct opposition to the teachings of Christ, but not
conclude that Atheism is responsible for the deaths which
happened under Atheistic and Secular leaders living consistently
with the philosophies of atheism and secularism?
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Consider the philosophies of both belief systems and the

logical results of each system. Do we blame the philosophy
because of those living opposite to the teachings of that philosophy,
or because of those living consistent with the philosophy?
Consider Christianity. What are the teachings of Christianity
and its founder Jesus Christ? Is it to spread Christianity by the
sword? No. What does Christianity teach through the verses of
the Bible?
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over

all wrongs.
Matthew 22:3739 Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD

your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is
like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this that he lay down

his life for his friends.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of

angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging

cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries
and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and
surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Matthew 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies."
Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder."
Romans 13:9 "For the commandments, You shall not commit
adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You
shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and if there is
any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Christianity teaches to love, and against murder, (not
against self-defense). Anyone not living consistent with these
commands is violating the teachings of Christianity. We can also
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see how the benefits indicated earlier are quite consistent with the
teachings of Christianity.
What about Atheism? Some non-Christians will object that
Atheism isnt a religion and shouldnt be considered. It is a philosophy
though, like Christianity, which makes it valid to consider in reference
to the deaths in history. With no book similar to the Bible to quote from
we are limited to the observation of the events in the world which are
consistent with the teachings of the philosophy itself. The philosophy
of Atheism when taken to its logical conclusion is that without God,
nothing is evil nor prohibited. Once again, Atheists can and do live
moral lives, but without God there is no foundation for Atheistic
morality.
What is atheism?http://carm.org/what-is-atheism
When we consider the philosophy of Atheism, and then look
at the actions of Marx, Stalin, Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot in
history, is this philosophy consistent with the actions of these
leaders? Lets look at the events in history.
Think back to the WORLDVIEW section. People usually act
consistent with their worldview or philosophy and a person doesnt
need to have intentionally determined to push their worldview.
Their actions give insight to their motivations, and are the evidence
of their true worldview.
Atheism has no OBJECTIVE foundation for right of wrong. As
such, while most Atheists live according to a moral standard they
have determined (SUBJECTIVE), there is no foundation for an
absolute morality in Atheism. Some leaders in history who hold to
an Atheistic worldview have lived consistent with the belief that
there is no God or morality. Killing is a means to an end, and in
some instances in history, the killing of millions of people. Many
were killed because of their belief that there was a God and many
were not. Either way, killing millions of people toward an end is
consistent with an Atheist philosophy and not a Christian
philosophy. And this is regardless of whether Atheism is promoted
or not.
Atheism / Secularism Influence on Life
www.missiontoamerica.org/faith/atheism-influence-onlife.html
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Atheism and Mass Murder

www.conservapedia.com/Atheism_and_Mass_Murder
http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2009/05/10/who-is-moreresponsible-for-the-mass-murders-of-history-christians-oratheists/
www.csustan.edu/history/darwin-hitler
Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism
www.conservapedia.com/Richard_Dawkins,_atheists
_atrocities,_and_historical_revisionism
Atheism and Child Murder
http://atheisticviolence.wordpress.com/atheism-and-childmurder
This last link above gives us an even greater appreciation of
Matthew 18:6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who

believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great

millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth
of the sea.
If this punishment is what the Bible suggests for causing a
child to sin, what punishment would be valid for killing a child?
Doesnt this seem to conflict with the Old Testament, where God
ordered the killing of entire cities of people, including children?
Non-Christians point to this KILLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE as proof
that God is really not a God of Love. When we consider ALL the
information, what is the most reasonable conclusion?
When this objection is raised it is easy to assume these
cultures and peoples were as the culture we ourselves live in with
the human rights we enjoy. Remember that it is difficult to conceive
of living in a culture without the benefits we so often take for
granted. History confirms the Bible which shows these cultures to
be very wicked, even sacrificing their children to idols.
Psalm 106:36-38 They served their idols, which became a
snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters
to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of
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their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of

Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood."
Did God Commit Atrocities by Ordering the Killing of Entire
Cities of People?
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/killergod.html
Genocide in the Old Testament
www.rationalchristianity.net/genocide.html
Did God Command Genocide In the Bible?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FGv9aOCcyU
A Response to New Atheism
www.conversantlife.com/belief/a-response-to-new-atheism
Six Questions to Ask an Atheist Bottom link on page.
www.rzim.org/media/questions-answers
Christopher Hitchens Masterfully Submits Flyweight Dinesh
D'Souza in Debate
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUSTEV3Qu68
In this last link I think you will see that Dinesh DSouza, the
Christian, is not bested by Christopher Hitchens as indicated by the
title. You will see that Dinesh DSouza very effectively and I believe
much more articulately presents his case. Ive included it so that
you can see a very effective response to those who claim that
religion is the cause of the problems of the world.
One last illustration I remember from some time ago as to
the effect Christianity has had and still has:
Suppose you were walking down a dark street at night in
a rough part of Chicago and you saw a group of young
men walking towards you, each carrying something.
Would you feel more comfortable if you knew that they
had just come from a Bible class, and you could see that
what they were carrying were Bibles?
I hope this section has clearly demonstrated the difference
between the philosophies of Christianity, and that of Atheism. I
hope it has also shed light on the true impact these two philosophies
have had on the world throughout history.
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7. SHARING THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIIANITY

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting.
It has been found difficult; and left untried.
G.K. Chesterton
How would you respond to the following?
Im a good person, why do I need to accept Christ?
If I dont accept Christ, am I going to hell?
Why would a loving God send someone to hell?
Arent all religions are basically the same?
_________________________
There can be no greater privilege for a Christian, than being
part of the activity of changing the eternal destiny of others. And
when we considering the following verses, there is also no greater
importance than helping others see that there is no Getting right
with God AFTER this life. These verses also proves that the Bible
doesnt teach reincarnation.
Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die

once, and after that comes judgment

2 Corinthians 5:8b "to be absent from the body and to be
present with the Lord."
Considering there is so much evidence validating the Bible
as being from God and being true, and also the equally great
probability that we will all be judged after this one life, there is then
only this life without the possibility of reincarnation where we can
make a difference in others lives and their eternal destination. And
while we realize this importance, many of us still avoid sharing with
others the message of salvation Christ offers.
And just as there is NO GETTING RIGHT WITH GOD after this
life, once we leave this life we will never be able to reach others
with the amazing news of salvation through Jesus Christs payment
for our sin on the cross. Think about those people you enjoy
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investing time with in this life. Do you love your friends and loved
ones enough to share this knowledge with them? Do you hesitate
sharing with others, and instead hope that someone else might
share Christs gift of salvation?
I believe the main reason that many of us avoid sharing
Christs gift of salvation is because many of us dont know how to
talk with others without feeling unprepared. Many of us hesitate to
share because we feel the person we want to share with will ask us
questions we wont be able to answer. If this describes the
hesitation you have, I know how you feel. I have been there too,
but because of the methods developed by others included in this
section, I have a much greater confidence in being able to raise the
important questions most people dont bother to consider.
I believe the information in this guide will give you much
greater confidence too, not only in your knowledge of Christianity
and your confidence in its truths, but also in your ability to share the
truths of Christianity with others. This section of this guide covers
two aspects to sharing the truths of Christianity which will increase
your confidence and effectiveness in sharing with others.
The first part is the method taught by The Way of The
Master ministry. Youve already seen this method used in the
SELF-CHECK section. It is one of the most effective techniques Ive
seen to bring a person to the realization of their sinfulness and need
for a Savior. The second part deals with being able to respond to
questions and challenges in a conversation. As mentioned earlier,
often a challenger doesnt realize that their question or challenge
has logical inconsistencies. This method allows you to guide the
conversation and show the logical inconsistencies of the challenge
without the other person feeling insulted.

* THE WAY OF THE MASTER

Again, this method is one of the simplest and most effective
techniques I have seen, and again the one used in the SELF-CHECK
section. It was developed by Ray Comfort of the ministry, The Way
of The Master (www.wayofthemaster.com). Ray Comfort calls it
The Way of the Master, because it follows the way Jesus used to
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persuade people of their need for a Savior. Ray and Kirk Cameron
demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in videos on their
website: www.wayofthemaster.com/watchwitnessing.shtml.
One video I think is of particular importance to watch is the
one with Kirk Cameron talking to the Santa Monica Gang Members.
It can be viewed at the above link and also on YouTube at:

KIRK CAMERON TALKS WITH GANG MEMBERS

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVco8t-R8KU
The reason I believe this video is so important to watch is because
of the following video showing an event The Way of the Master did
5 years later. They noticed that one of the gang members Kirk
spoke with 5 years earlier was in the crowd.

KIRK CAMERON & GANG MEMBER - 5 YEARS LATER...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuDFWFKalsU
At its most basic level this method uses just three or four of
the Ten Commandments. The person being interviewed is asked a
question like, You believe you are a good person, right?
Almost everyone believes they are good. The people they interview
in the videos are no different. They think they are pretty good too.
The person being interviewed is then asked if theyve kept all of the
Ten Commandments. Most will respond that they havent killed
anyone or done anything major and that they believe they have
essentially kept the Ten Commandments. This is the typical
response when a person believes they are GOOD.
Then they are asked about their ability to keep the
commandments dealing with lying; stealing, committing adultery,
and blasphemy. Have you ever told a lie, even a small one?
When they respond, Of course, who hasnt? Ray then asks,
What do you call someone who tells a lie, even a small one?
They usually admit, A liar. Then he asks, Have you ever taken
anything that doesnt belong to you, even if it was very small?
What do you call someone who takes something that doesnt
belong to them? They will concede, A thief. Ray then proceeds
the same way through the other few commandments.

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Going through these commandments, a person is brought

to the realization they are lying, thieving, blaspheming,
adulterers at heart, (as are we all). They are then asked, If God
were to judge you right now would you be found guilty or
innocent? An honest person realizes that they can only answer
Guilty. They are then asked, Does that concern you? Many
are concerned as this is sometimes the first time theyve ever
considered themselves guilty of sin before, as this method so
effectively shows. This is because they previously have only
compared themselves to others who are worse than they are. Once
most people compare themselves to Gods STANDARD OF
PERFECTION, they realize their sinful condition, and they are much
more interested in a solution to their sinful state.
This is why this method is so effective, because it shows a
person their sinful state. If a person doesnt see themselves as a
sinner they wont see their need for a Savior. Just like many of us
dont see the need for a mechanic until we hear a noise weve not
heard or see a dash light lit that wasnt lit before. If you are a
Christian, think back to when you decided to accept Christ and his
payment on the cross for your sin. When you accepted Christ was
it because you realized you were a sinner in need of a savior?
If we only show a person evidences for Christianity, many
will believe they are still basically GOOD. Even if heaven does exist,
many reason that God will let them into Heaven anyway because
God is a GOD OF LOVE and a God of love wouldnt really send
anyone to hell. Or would He?
What many dont realize is that God doesnt send anyone to
hell. People ultimately make the choice to go there, through their
own actions and their refusal to accept Christs payment for their
sin. We either accept Christs payment for our sin or we are left to
try to pay for the penalty of our sin ourselves. Since God is the only
one capable of paying for sin, we cant pay for it no matter what we
try to do. Without Christ, we are still guilty in Gods sight and
deserving of the penalty that all sin requires.

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Why Would a Loving God Send Someone to Hell?

www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/apologetics/why-woulda-loving-god-send-someone-to-hell
Through a persons actions they show that they are not
interested in having God in their life while here, as evidenced by not
wanting to do things Gods way. If they have no interest in God in
this life why would God force them to spend eternity with him in the
next life?
Think about a person who really liked you romantically but
you didnt like them romantically. Would you want them to keep
pursuing you or would you want them to respect your wishes and
stop pursuing you? Now think about God pursuing a person. If they
dont want God why would God not respect their wishes? God loves
people too much to force them against their will.
That is why it is so important to bring a person to the
realization of their sin. Most methods of sharing with others don't
really touch on sin and so don't bring a person to believe they have
any need for a Savior. These methods usually try to show the
significance of the price Jesus paid or stress how much better a
persons life will be after choosing Christ. This presentation by Ray
shows the ineffectiveness of methods which dont bring someone
to the realization of their sin.
Hells Best Secret - Audio Lessons
www.wayofthemaster.com/audiolessons.shtml
The first link below is to the same presentation, and a
number of others available to listen or download. Go to the 2nd link
below to see videos of Rays method. The 3rd link is a flash version
which takes a person through evaluating if they are truly Good.
The Way of the Master method lessons and examples
www.wayofthemaster.com/audiolessons.shtml
www.wayofthemaster.com/watchwitnessing.shtml
www.needgod.com
Sites on sharing the truths of Christianity:
www.sohmer.net/wotm_only_way.php
www.onemilliontracts.com/pdf/witnessmanual.pdf
www.repentandturn.com/wst_page10.php
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Why do Christians leave the faith?

www.patheos.com/blogs/blackwhiteandgray/2011/11/why-dochristians-leave-the-faith-the-surprising-importance-ofapologetics
How Many Youth are Leaving the Church?
www.conversantlife.com/theology/how-many-youth-are-leavingthe-church
You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church
www.conversantlife.com/the-church/you-lost-me-why-youngchristians-are-leaving-church
The Elephant in the Room: Why many kids leave the faith
www.conversantlife.com/belief/the-elephant-in-the-room-whymany-kids-leave-the-faith
Arming Christian Students With the Truth
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/arming-christian-studentswith-the-truth/
Four Ways to Strengthen Your Kids Faith
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/four-ways-to-strengthenyour-kids-faith/
Being a Winsome Apologist - John Lennox:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwOpsOudaA8
How to Disagree - Matt Chandler, Tim Keller, Michael Horton
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0bK04wAwhM
How To Share Jesus With Your Non-Christian Friends
Pt.1 http://ffmp3.com/catalog/2009/45552.mp3 - John Ankerberg
Pt. 2 http://ffmp3.com/catalog/2009/45553.mp3 - John Ankerberg
Evidence For Christianiy
http://wellspentjourney.wordpress.com/evidence-forchristianity

* TACTICS
The second aspect of sharing the truths of Christianity is
based upon the TACTICS IN DEFENDING THE FAITH resource by Greg
Koukl. It comes from his DVD by the same title, and his book,
TACTICS: A GAME PLAN FOR DISCUSSION YOUR CHRISTIAN CONVICTIONS.
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As I indicated earlier, facts sometimes arent enough. If you

dont have an effective way to present the facts they can fall on deaf
ears. It is not too difficult for a person to take the FACTS by
themselves and view them in such a way that the facts fit into that
persons worldview, or that they just disregard the facts and come
up with a creative explanation for them.
Similar to the techniques of The Way of the Master method,
Tactics uses the method of asking questions rather than stating
claims. The beauty of asking questions is that youre not under an
obligation to defend a claim because you havent stated a claim.
When another person is making a claim and you are asking
questions, they have the burden of proof to defend their claim, not
you. The other beneficial aspect to this method, is that when you
ask questions, you actually control the direction of the conversation.
By deciding what questions to ask, you determine the subject or
topic. An additional encouragement to using this method is the
quote from Francis Schaeffer - "If you give me an hour, I'll listen
55 minutes and talk 5. When you ask questions, the other person
is encouraged to talk more, and this will provide you with more
information about their beliefs, feelings, and reasoning.
Whenever possible, ask OPEN ENDED questions and not
CLOSED ENDED questions. Closed ended questions are questions
that can be answered with a single word, like yes, no, three, etc.
Open ended questions cant be answered with a simple yes or no,
or a single word. They are far better for getting to know the person
you are talking with because you learn much more about what the
person believes. Open ended questions are questions which have
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW, and WHY, as the first word in the
question. Be careful though when asking WHY questions as WHY
questions can make the other person feel a little like they are being
interrogated.
The primary tactic in the TACTICS system is called the
COLUMBO METHOD. The technique is named after the lead
character in an old TV police series named Columbo, and his style
of police detective work. He very effectively used questions to
determine the true details of a crime he was investigating.
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Again, this method has the benefit of placing the burden of

proof on the person who is challenging your beliefs. This is very
important because of the misunderstandings that so many have
about Christianity. And unfortunately, even some Christians have
some of these misunderstandings too. If the person you are talking
with isnt being confrontational and challenging your beliefs,
questions can help them discover the reasons, or lack of reasons
they have for the beliefs they hold. As stated before, we must show
respect to the person we are talking with, so that they will be open
to participating in the conversation, and not close us out.
The following are examples of situations and the first
questions you could ask in these situations:
When someone declares, There is no God, you can ask, What
do you mean by God? or, What particular idea of God are
you rejecting? It is easy to assume another thinks about God,
(and many of these topics), in the same way we do. If they reject
God because they think He is an old man in the sky, I would reject
that concept as well because thats not the God I believe in.
When someone asserts, All religions are basically the same,
you can ask, Really? What do you mean by the same? or In
what way are they the same? Remember Greg Koukls
comment, When studying religions, the point is not to focus
on the things that are similar. Its the differences that really
matter.
When someone makes the objection, You shouldnt force your
views on me, you can ask, Specifically, what is it Im doing
to force my views on you right now? then perhaps, How is
that forcing my views?
When someone states, The Bible has been changed over the
years, you can ask, What in the Bible has been changed?
and/or, How exactly do you think it has been altered?
Something to be aware of when asking questions. The way
you ask the question is critically important. Think about the
following questions, and think about the way they are being asked:
Oh yeah, well what about _______?!
You dont have an answer for that, do you?
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Cant you almost hear the harsh tone of voice of someone

asking questions in this way? If you were having a conversation
with someone and they asked questions of you in this way, would
you be more willing or less willing to have an open conversation
with them, and consider their information?
That is why it is important not to ask questions in this
manner. Hopefully you can see that asking questions in a nonconfrontational manner will result in much more consideration being
given to what you are asking and what you have to say.
This method of asking questions is demonstrated in the
resource links below. Remember, we are trying to be persuasive
not offensive. As Greg Koukl says, The Gospel message is
offensive enough. It doesnt need us to help in the offense. We
need to make sure it is the Gospel and not our conduct that is
offensive, but we dare not leave the Gospel message out.
Ambassadors for Christ Greg Koukl
A very important presentation showing how our character can affect
the impression others have of Christ, and the first audio in the
Ambassador Basic Curriculum series.
http://vimeo.com/13049510 (video - shorter)
http://christianaudio.com/ambassadors-for-christ-gregorykoukl (audio)
This is free, but you still need to click Buy Now and then Checkout.
Ambassador Basic Curriculum - Greg Koukl
Gregs full self-study curriculum on being an ambassador for purchase
http://store.str.org/SearchResults.asp?Search=ambassadors&
Submit=Search
Greg Koukl demonstrates aspects of this very effective technique,
in the following excellent YouTube video.
How to Defend the Faith without Sounding Defensive
www.youtube.com/watch?v=58Eu6GRts_s
Terrible Arguments Against Religion
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3vSAKmzuCc
Bad Arguments Against Christianity
www.youtube.com/watch?v=teA6g8qti54

The Intolerance of Tolerance Greg Koukl

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG_R9e60Wp4
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Is Tolerance Intolerant Ravi Zacharias

http://veritas.org/talks/tolerance-intolerant
Check out additional examples on the STR videos channel
www.youtube.com/user/STRvideos?feature=watch
Thats Just Your Opinion and Tactics Resources MP3s
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Greg%20Koukl
Tactics in Defending the Faith - 2 Part audio - Greg Koukl
Pt 1: http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/2003/17053.mp3
Pt 2: http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/2003/17054.mp3
Greg Koukl Tactics Resources MP3 and Video
www.apologetics315.com/2009/02/greg-koukl-tacticsresources-mp3-and.html
Tactics In Defending The Faith Video Training Series
Part 1 - Learning the "Columbo" Tactic
www.cross.tv/122924
Part 2 - Refining the "Columbo" Tactic
www.cross.tv/122925
Part 3 - Perfecting the "Columbo" Tactic
www.cross.tv/122926
Part 4 - The "Suicide" Tactic
www.cross.tv/122927
Part 5 - The "Taking the Roof Off" Tactic
www.cross.tv/122928
Part 6 - The "Steamroller" Tactic
www.cross.tv/122929
Faith Under Fire Greg Koukl using Tactics methods
representing Christianity with Deepak Chopra representing
Hinduism.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYyWOu_xIMo

IF I DONT ACCEPT CHRIST, AM I GOING TO HELL?

This is the same question shown in the CHALLENGING
STATEMENTS section, and Ive included it here in the event that
youve not read that section yet. I would recommend going to that
section to see the detailed response to this.
In summary, Greg Koukl presented this question on his radio
program and then demonstrated his TACTICS methods to answer it.
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He showed that its important to answer this question carefully and

skillfully, and not get pulled into responding with just a single YES or
NO answer. The reason for this is because if you only use a single
word answer, your answer can cause the one asking the question
to completely misunderstand the principal of salvation and the gift
Christ provides through his sacrifice.
If you answer Yes, they will believe they are going to hell
simply because they picked the wrong BELIEF FLAVOR. It will seem
to them very trivial on Gods part, that they might have lived a GOOD
life but still go to hell. If you answer No, they will mistakenly think
that living a good life really is what matters, and not the decision to
accept Christs payment for their sin. Hopefully, you can see how
if only a single word answer YES or NO is given the questioner will
end up with the wrong impression.
This is why a question like this needs to be answered very
tactfully, so that the person asking the question comes to a full
understanding of the importance of the situation. A single word
answer cannot provide this needed understanding.
Review Greg Koukls very innovative method in responding to
this question:
www.str.org/blog/do-you-think-i-m-going-to-hell
www.str.org/articles/am-i-going-to-hell
http://apologeticjunkie.blogspot.com/2010/07/am-i-goingto-hell-if-i-dont-believe-in.html
Another consideration when sharing the truths of Christianity is
the terminology many Christians use when talking to others. At the
start of this guide I mentioned terminology to become familiar with
as a Christian so that you gain a greater understanding of the
subjects. It is also important to realize the confusion that can occur
using certain terms with non-Christians. Youll notice that
throughout this guide Ive tried to avoid using the word
Witnessing, and tried to use Sharing the truths of
Christianity.
Most Christians usually understand what
WITNESSING and other terms and phrases mean but many nonChristians dont. And they wont understand many of the other
terms and phrases Christians regularly use.

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Here are some terminology examples:

Sanctified

Trinity

Anointing

Born Again

Repent

Fellowshipping

Love Gift/Offering
The Word - The Bible
Ask Jesus into your heart

How about those terms or phrases that probably sound quite

disturbing to non-Christians:
Filled with the spirit

Washed in the blood

The first question of the Tactical method is, What do you

mean by that? A non-Christian can be left feeling like an outsider
if were not careful in the terms and phrases we say, and they
probably wont ask what the terms and phrases mean. I know Ive
been in conversations where a term I didnt understand was used,
and I gave the impression that I knew what the other person was
talking about. Remember, we want to draw others to the truths of
Christianity, not make them feel like they are an outsider. If they
feel like an outsider they will probably become uninterested in the
truths we share and probably think we are rude, even though that
is not our intention.
We should heed Pauls example in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Verse 22b: I have become all things to all people so that by all
possible means I might save some.
Whenever possible, we should make our message as easy
to understand as possible to others we speak with.
How NOT to Speak Christianese
http://evangelism.intervarsity.org/how/conversation/how-notspeak-christianese
Here are a few sites defining many of these terms/phrases
that can confuse people we talk with. It might be a good exercise
to see if you can come up with your own way of describe these
terms and phrases so that you can better communicate to those
you want to reach.
www.genuineleatherbible.net/2012/religious-terms-thatconfuse-non-christians
www.aboundingjoy.com/Bible%20studies/terminology.htm
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Why Christian Case Makers Need to Learn a New Language

http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/why-christian-casemakers-need-to-learn-a-new-language/
Here are a few links which show the importance and
effectiveness of Apologetics. Remember that APOLOGETICS is
being able to provide reasons for what you believe.
What I Needed to Hear When I Was An Atheist
http://pastormattblog.com/2014/04/08/what-i-needed-to-hearwhen-i-was-an-atheist-and-how-i-needed-to-heartit/?utm_content=buffer00337&utm_medium=social&utm_
source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
A Harvard University student explains how evidence changed
her mind about God:
http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/a-harvarduniversity-student-explains-how-evidence-changed-hermind-about-god-2
Professor Anthony Flew was a very famous Atheist for most
of his life. He debated many Christians over the years, and became
a Deist before his death. A Deist is one who believes that a God
exists, but a God who isnt involved in the workings of humans.
Typically and not the God represented by any particular religion.
Although he did not accept the God of any particular religion nor
accept the salvation gift of Christ, he came to this belief because of
the design and complexity that he found in DNA. Here is a quote
from him:
What I think the DNA material has done is that it has
shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the
arrangements which are needed to produce life, that
intelligence must have been involved in getting these
extraordinarily diverse elements to work together. Its the
enormous complexity of the number of elements and the
enormous subtlety of the ways they work together. The
meeting of these two parts at the right time by chance is
simply minute. It is all a matter of the enormous complexity
by which the results were achieved, which looked to me
like the work of intelligence. -Interview in 2004

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He realized that random chance couldnt have brought the

incredible complexity of everything into existence. Once again, a
belief in God by itself doesnt save anyone. And while there doesnt
seem to be evidence that Anthony Flew ever accepted Christ, the
move from a belief in No God to a belief that there is a God is far
greater than the move from a belief that there is a God to believing
in the God of the Bible.
Anthony Flew Never Converted to Christianity
http://divineirony.tumblr.com/post/36643191211/anthonyflew-never-converted-to-christianity
What is the Deal with Anthony Flew's Conversion to Theism?
http://christiancadre.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-is-dealwith-anthony-flews.html
Antony Flew and his conversion to theism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVZEfeYN5oI
Antony Flew on God and Atheism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHUtMEru4pQ
I want to emphasize again the importance of our character.
How do others perceive our character? When we talk with
others about Christianity, our character is critical as to how much
credibility others place in our message.
In the APOLOGETICS section, I listed a reference for Greg
Koukls presentation, Ambassadors for Christ. If you havent
already listened/viewed the message, I really want to encourage
you to do so through the links below. As mentioned in the original
reference, this is a very important presentation showing how our
character can significantly affect either positively or negatively the
impression we leave with others about Christ and Christianity.
Again, how would you feel if you found that another person rejected
Christ because of the character you demonstrate?
Ambassadors For Christ: The Essential Skills
http://vimeo.com/13049510 (video shorter than the audio)
http://christianaudio.com/ambassadors-for-christ-gregorykoukl (audio)
The Best Question to Ask When Starting a Conversation about God
www.str.org/blog/the-best-question-to-ask-when-starting-aconversation-about-god
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* I CANT BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO WOULD CREATE ME KNOWING

I WOULD SIN, AND THEN HOLD ME GUILTY FOR SIN HE KNEW I
WOULD COMMIT.
This is the challenging statement I indicated would be
included toward the end of the guide. As I indicated earlier, I
recommend that you have read through the previous sections
on TRUTH, EVIL, and EVIDENCES, so that you have a much better
understanding of this challenge and how to respond to it.
A longtime friend made this challenging statement to me
when we were talking about the concept of God. I presented some
of the information and evidences included in this guide. Even
though they saw evidence for the existence of the God of the Bible,
they still concluded that they couldnt believe in this God. Their
primary reason was because they didnt like the idea of a God who
would hold them guilty for the sin they committed even though this
God created them knowing they would commit sin.
This is one of the current objections challenging
Christianity. I think it is an objection which is well intentioned on the
part of the person making the challenge and it does seem when first
heard to be difficult to answer. I certainly found it so when my friend
said it to me a few years back. As with the other challenges, I
believe it can it can be answered. And similar to the other
challenges, there are facts not considered by the questioner.
As you can see by the objection, the position of the one
making the objection is that they cant believe because
they dont like the idea of a God as they understand Him. Their
belief in this matter is not based upon the evidence but what they
like or dont like. Weve already seen in the TRUTH section that
truth isnt based upon what we like or dont like. If something is true
and if it impacts us, we must consider its implications. If we ignore
the implications or if we CHOOSE not to believe them, they will still
affect us.
Think about a teacher giving a pop quiz that they know many
of the students arent prepared for. Do you think the teacher would
have allowed the following objection from any of the students, I
cant believe in a teacher who gives a quiz, and then holds me
responsible for knowing the answers, even though they know
that I probably dont know them?
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Can you see that this is part of the persons worldview, that
there cant be a God who created them and then holds them
responsible for the sin they commit? They are basing what they
believe on their worldview, their likes and dislikes rather than
evidences. They are expressing a subjective view of truth. As
shown in the TRUTH section, the real truth of something has nothing
to do with what we like or dislike, what were confident about, or
what is popular.
In other areas of our lives, if we have evidence but we dont
like the conclusion the evidence determines, do we say that we just
dont believe the conclusion because we dont like it? Across the
country there are thousands of inmates who are serving time in
prisons because the evidence brought during their trial proved their
guilt. They are sitting in a prison cell, even though they didnt
LIKE the consequences of the truth indicated by the evidence.
Another possible reason for my friends objection is that they
dont understand how a loving God would allow this
situation. Theyve already concluded that if God would do this then
God isnt loving as Christians claim. Looking back to the TRUTH
section, truth again is also not based upon whether we understand
something or not. How many things would cease to exist if they
depended on everyones understanding of them? Nuclear reactors,
the space shuttle, Wi-Fi, internal combustion engines, etc. would all
cease to exist. If we dont understand something, is it possible that
we dont have all the information and that we havent considered
that additional information? And are we willing to consider
additional information?
As was indicated earlier, God being all-powerful doesnt
mean that God can violate the laws of logic. God has all the power
to do anything that power requires. However, regardless of how
much power God has He cant make a square circle. So could our
sin nature be one of the inevitable realities of being created with
FREE WILL? And if God knows everything and chose to create us
with a free will so that we could freely choose to love and worship
Him, He also knew creating us with this choice would require the
brutal death of His Son on the cross.
When we ask the following question, we focus on ourselves.
Why God would create us knowing we would sin?
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There is a better question to ask to more accurately understand

the situation. The question we should be asking is,
Why would God create us knowing that our sin would
require the brutal execution of His Son on the cross?
Rather than focusing on what we believe is unfair, we need
to look at the situation honestly, and consider all the facts.
The reality of Gods decision to create people with free will
is that all of us would choose to sin, and that some would freely
choose Him while others would freely choose to rebel against Him.
Adam and Eve only had one command to obey and they failed. God
has given us free will to choose to accept or reject Christs payment
on the cross. The inevitable result of us having free choice is that
we would also freely choose to sin. God also knew that our sinning
would be the result our free will and also require the death of His
Son to pay the sin debt we owe.
Now lets consider a few observations about God. Weve
seen significant evidence for the existence of the God of the Bible
and that the Bible could only have come to us through God. If the
Bible is true, the following verses are true even if we don't like or
understand them:

GOD IS ALL POWERFUL:

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord and abundant in power; his
understanding is beyond measure.
Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The
Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is
unsearchable
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the
power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is
in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O
Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
Again, God has all the power to be able to do what power can
accomplish. God cannot violate the laws of logic He cannot
make a square circle even with unlimited power.
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GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING:

Psalm 147:5

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His

understanding is beyond measure.
1 John 3:20 For whenever our heart condemns us, God is
greater than our heart, and He knows everything.
Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The
Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is
unsearchable
God knew what the implications of creating people with free will
would be even before He ever created Angels and people. He
knew that our free will would result in us sinning, which would
require Jesus Christs death on the cross to pay the debt.

GOD IS GOOD:
Luke 18:19 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good?

No one is good except God alone.

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and
proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at
all.
Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is
the man who takes refuge in him!
It is because of Gods goodness that he freely paid the sin debt
that we owe, so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven.

GOD IS UNCHANGEABLE:
Malachi 3:6 For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O

children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and
forever.
Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of
man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he
not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

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Since God does not change, his promises will never change. His
love for us will never change, and his judgment on sin will never
change. We can fully rely Gods promises.

GOD HAS CREATED US WITH A FREE WILL:

John 1:12

But to all who did receive Him, who believed in his

name, He gave the right to become children of God
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may
be blotted out
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for
whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who seek him
Since he has given us free will, we have the choice to choose his
will or our own. Since we live in a sinful fallen world our natural
tendency is to choose sin. We face the consequences of our
choices.

GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE WOULD DIE FOR US:

1 John 4:16

So we have come to know and to believe the love

that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love
abides in God, and God abides in him.
Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
eternal life.
God has a love for us that goes beyond our understanding. He
loves us so much so that he was willing to die to pay the penalty
for the sin we choose to commit, and which He has no blame for.

GOD IS JUST AND RIGHTEOUS SO HE MUST PUNISH SIN, BUT HE HAS

ALSO PAID THE PENALTY FOR ALL WHO WILL CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THE
PAYMENT HE MADE, BY ENDURING THE PENALTY HIMSELF:
1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.
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1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive

us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not
common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted
beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the
way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
As we saw earlier, if God didnt punish sin, he wouldnt be a good
God. No judge would be good who let offenders off. The way God
solves the dilemma of having to judge our sin and also forgiving
that sin, is to pay that penalty himself by dying on the cross.
Im reminded of a saying I heard years back which really
impacted me.

I ASKED JESUS HOW MUCH HE LOVED ME?

AND HE SAID THIS MUCH
AND HE STRETCHED OUT HIS ARMS, AND HE DIED

GOD

IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIN WE COMMIT NOR THE

DECISIONS WE MAKE:

Is God Responsible for Evil?

www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A189
Did God create sin?
http://carm.org/questions/about-god/did-god-create-sin
Original Sin - Are We Condemned by the Sin of Adam and Eve?
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/original-sin.html
Considering the specific truths already indicated in this
section, who has the greater price to pay for us to spend eternity
with the perfect God of the universe? Is it we, who have only to
accept Jesus death on the cross for our sin and show this choice
through our lives? Or is it God, who is perfect and knew that
creating us would require that his Son would be brutally executed
on the cross before he ever created us or the angels?
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Considering the original objection and that we almost

always focus on ourselves, there is a statement that comes to mind,
Its not about you! . . . . . . . . . . and its not about me either.
Who then is it really about? It is about the God who created
100 billion galaxies out of nothing and who knows everything. Since
he knows everything, he knows that the only possible way to create
us with free will, to be able to choose Him, would also result in us
choosing to sin. He also knew that our choosing to sin would
require the brutal death of His son. He knew all this and still decided
to create us, because he loves us and wants us to be able to spend
eternity with Him.
Do you think that the God of the universe who knows
everything, could have created us with freewill but without the ability
to sin? To believe this is to presume to know something the God of
the universe doesnt know is possible. Does it sound logical for
someone to believe they know something that God doesnt? Since
God knows everything, he must know that creating us with freewill
but without the ability to sin is not possible. He decided to create
us with free will, knowing we would sin. And He decided to do this
before he created angels and humans knowing that He would pay
the price for the sin we have and will commit. He did this why? So
that we could spend eternity with Him. The only requirement on our
part is to truly accept His payment for our sin.
If we choose to reject Christs payment for our sin in light of
these truths then the only other option is that we try to pay for our
own sin. Since God is the only one qualified to pay the penalty for
our sin, that means we are unable to pay the penalty for our sin and
still guilty. If we choose to try to pay for our own sin and dont accept
Christs payment on the cross, we will suffer the penalty for our sin.
Sin must be punished. Not wanting to believe in this God because
we dont like his plan doesnt change reality.
To put all of this in perspective, look at the question again.
I CANT BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO WOULD CREATE ME KNOWING I WOULD SIN,
AND THEN HOLD ME GUILTY FOR SIN HE KNEW I WOULD COMMIT.

Who is this statement focusing on, God or us? There are 2 Is and
2 Mes. Again, ITS NOT ABOUT US. For us to ask a question like
this only focuses on ourselves. It may be sincere but it isnt looking
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at the entire picture. When we only focus on ourselves we miss the

BIG PICTURE, and in this situation, THE PICTURE IS HUGE!
Lets consider the specifics again. The incomprehensible
God of this universe created all 100 billion galaxies, each having an
estimated 100 billion stars. This God knows everything and created
a plan to resolve our sinful condition, which doesnt require anything
from us. A plan whereby He would pay the debt we owe by willingly
dying by the most brutal execution ever devised by human kind; the
same humans he died to save. And all we are required to do is to
accept the priceless gift He offers. And we feel we have the right
to complain to this God that His plan is unfair to us?
Remember again, that this perfect God paid the debt we
owe. He had done nothing wrong. He was innocent. We deserve
to be in His place on the cross, but He took our place and paid our
debt. And why did he do all this? For no other reason than because
He loves us so much and wants us to be able to spend eternity with
him. Do you now see the amazing picture of His love and mercy?

* WHAT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FROM OTHER RELIGIONS?

There are four non-Christian religions which I believe are
important to have a knowledge about.
The religions are
Mormonism (Latter Day Saints), Jehovahs Witness, Islam, and
Wicca. The primary reason I believe it is important to have a
knowledge about the first three religions is because of their
significant efforts to convert individuals. It is almost guaranteed that
you will be approached by members of one or more of these three
belief systems in an effort to convert you to their belief. With Islam,
we see the significant effect on current events by radical factions,
with the forced conversions by these factions of this religion. Ive
included Wicca because of their popularity among young people,
not because they work at converting others.
The reason Im not covering other religions than these four
is because most other religions do not have the focus of converting,
or that they expend significantly less effort to convert others than
these three. Many consider both Mormon and Jehovahs Witness
CHRISTIAN religions, while Islam (covered later), teaches the
opposite of many of the main teachings of Christianity. The official
sites of both Mormonism and Jehovahs Witness make claims to
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being Christian. I believe this is because they both use terminology

and have details and about their religions which are mistaken as
being the same as Christianity. I am including the religion of Wicca
because Wicca is believed by some to be the fastest growing
religion among young people.
It is not my intention to offend anyone who considers
themselves a member of one of these four religions and who
sincerely believe they are following the truth, and I do not question
the motives of those who are sincere in their beliefs of one of these
four religions being true. However, as covered in the TRUTH
section, TRUTH is NOT determined by sincerity. One can be SINCERE
but be SINCERELY WRONG. IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, and if the
consequences of some ideas are eternal, it is important to look at
what are the TRUE facts and not rely on our SINCERITY.
I am presenting this information because I believe the best
evidence shows that everyone will pass from this life into one of two
eternities. If I were to neglect my sharing of these truths, I would
essentially be saying that I didnt care about the eternal destination
of others, and that I would be thought of as not loving others. It is
because of my belief that the evidence proves these truths that I
want to get this information out to others.
I have included passages from the Bible because of the
tendency of some religions to pick certain verses which seem to
support the teachings of those religions. Similar to understanding
the full meaning of a word by seeing it in different uses, seeing
multiple verses on a topic gives us a much better understanding of
the accurate Biblical teaching on that topic. As with other sections
in this guide, I have also included websites so that you can research
further.
It is important to always go to the Bible to learn what it
teaches rather than to assume a teaching is Biblical, and then go to
the Bible to try to find evidence. Consider again the question:
Will we make the Bible flexible to our beliefs, or
will we make our beliefs flexible to the Bible?
As there are similarities in the teachings of both Mormonism
and Jehovahs Witness, we will examine these two religions first.

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The following links show that both organizations consider

themselves Christian. As indicated before in the Truth section, you
cannot have two contradictory beliefs both be true. If they
contradict, only one can be true. If both these religions claim to be
Christian, but they contradict the essential teachings of Christianity,
they cant be Christian.

ARE MORMONS CHRISTIANS? (Official Mormon site)

www.mormon.org/faq/mormon-christian

MOST MORMONS SAY THEIR RELIGION IS CHRISTIAN

www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/January/Most-MormonsSay-Their-Religion-is-Christian-

ARE JEHOVAHS WITNESSES CHRISTIANS? (Official Jehovahs Witness site)

www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/are-jehovahswitnesses-christians

CHRISTIANS OR NOT CHRISTIANS?

http://en.az24.info/jehovahswitnesses/are-jehovahswitnesses-christians.html
The above sites, show that the beliefs of many and the
teachings of the churches are that both religions are Christian. Both
religions place strong emphasis on the family, and teaching to love
and care for others. This is fully consistent with Christianity, and
Christians applaud their emphasis of these ideals. We also admire
their efforts and dedication to share what they believe is true, even
if we disagree that the beliefs are true. Remember Greg Koukls
observation about different beliefs,
When studying religions, the point is not to focus on the
things that are similar. Its the differences that really matter.
Even though these family ideals are consistent with
Christianity, there are other important details which are essential to
consider from the standpoint of eternal destinations. Both
Mormonism and Jehovahs Witness teachings differ from the
ESSENTIALS of the Christian faith, and these differences cannot be
bridged by teachings of how we should treat others. Looking back
at THE LAW OF NON CONTRADICTION, the different teachings about
the essentials between these two religions contradict each other as
well as the Bible. As such, Mormonism, Jehovahs Witness, and
Christianity cant all be true. Only one teaching can be true, and
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whichever is true the contradictory teachings are automatically

false. If you have the wrong teaching, you dont have a Jesus who
can pay for your sin and so you dont have a salvation that works.

WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?

www.gotquestions.org/essentials-Christian-faith.html
www.str.org/articles/essential-christian-doctrines
https://carm.org/essential-doctrines-of-christianity
There is a saying I heard years ago which I believe captures
how Christians are to relate to others regarding beliefs.
IN ESSENTIALS UNITY, IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY,
AND IN ALL THINGS CHARITY.
We can partner in unity with other individuals and religions
when they hold to the same essential teachings of Christianity. We
can show liberty and not break fellowship with them over teachings
which are non-essential. And we can show charity to all individuals
and groups whether or not they hold to the essentials of Christianity.
While there may be differences in teachings between major
denominations of Christianity almost all of them hold to the same
ESSENTIALS as indicated in the links above. Any who dont would
also not be Christian by definition. Both Mormonism and Jehovahs
Witness claim to be Christian, as those links above indicate.
However, we will see that their teachings contradict the essentials
of Christianity as the official church information and information in
each of the sections below confirm. As such, their teachings prove
they cannot be Christian religions.
Again, it is not my intention to offend. Ideas have
consequences, and if the consequences of an idea has an eternal
ramification, we need to take seriously the actual teachings of any
belief system we are considering adopting. If the teachings of
Mormonism and Jehovahs Witness are contradictory to the
essentials of Christianity then they are not Christian religions.
Again, if you have the wrong Jesus, a Jesus who is not the eternal
God, you dont have the Jesus who can save you from sin.

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* MORMONISM
Mormonism teaches a Father God, Jesus Christ, and a Holy
Spirit. They teach on sin, salvation, and atonement, and use many
terms similar to Christianity. Mormonism also has the name of
JESUS CHRIST in the full name of the church. This is where the
abbreviation LDS originates, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER DAY SAINTS. It is important to realize that just because the
same name or terminology is used doesnt mean that a religion has
the same meaning for that name or the terminology used.
Mormons may feel that they are being persecuted by those
who point out specifics about the Mormon religion which are
inconsistent with Christian teachings. Since this Criticism issue is
raised by Mormons, we should consider the original Mormon
criticisms of Christian churches. This link clearly shows the
criticisms of Christianity raised by the founding and influential
members of the Mormon Church and that it began long before
teachings of Mormonism were challenged.

"WE NEVER CRITICIZE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES"

www.mrm.org/we-never-criticize

Once again, we need to focus on what is true about the

ESSENTIALS teachings between both religions and indicate the

actual differences.

Another possible reason for Mormons feeling persecuted is

that the Mormon Church doesnt seem to encourage its members
to think critically. Mormons and others are encouraged to pray
about the Book of Mormon, to get what Mormons call A burning
in the bosom, to see if it is true.
READ THE BOOK OF MORMON AND PRAY TO DETERMINE ITS TRUTH
www.godandscience.org/cults/praytruth.html
PRAYING ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON - IS IT BIBLICAL?
www.mrm.org/praying-about-bofm
What does the Bible say?
The Bible tells us to compare all things with Scripture (Acts 17:11;
2 Tim. 3:16) because it is through the word of God that we have
spiritual truths revealed to us.
https://carm.org/james-1-5-pray-book-of-mormon
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The ESSENTIALS OF CHRISTIANITY focus on the identity and

characteristics of God, of Jesus, and of Salvation. The links below
contrast the teachings of the two religions on ESSENTIALS. The links
reference actual Mormon works.
MORMON Doctrines differing from Christianity
https://carm.org/dictionary-mormon
COMPARISON CHART - MORMONISM AND CHRISTIANITY
www.4truth.net/fourtruthpbnew.aspx?pageid=8589952801
MORMONISM VS. CHRISTIANITY
www.contenderministries.org/mormonism/comparison.php
IS THE MORMON RELIGION A CHRISTIAN RELIGION?
www.philvaz.com/apologetics/num23.htm
WHY THE MORMON CHURCH IS NOT THE TRUE CHURCH JESUS CHRIST STARTED?
www.letusreason.org/LDS32.htm

The following links will connect you to the Mormon works

referenced in the above links and some of the teachings in official
Mormon works.
MORMON LITERARY WORKS

BOOK OF MORMON

www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng Current
https://archive.org/details/bookmormon01smitgoog 1840 version
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc?lang=eng
http://sacred-texts.com/mor/dc/index.htm

PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp?lang=eng Current
https://archive.org/details/pearlofgreatpric00hall 1867 version
MORMON DOCTRINE - Bruce R. McConkie
www.josephsmithacademy.org/inspira/ebooks/mormon-doctrine

JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES
http://journalofdiscourses.com

DISCOURSES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG

www.josephsmithacademy.org/inspira/ebooks/discourses
-of-brigham-young
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KING FOLLETT DISCOURSE

www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng
ARTICLES OF FAITH - 1899
https://archive.org/details/articlesfaithas00talmgoog
TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH
http://scriptures.byu.edu/tpjs/STPJS.pdf
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH by BYU Studies
https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx

QUOTATIONS FROM MORMON LEADERS

As man now is, God once was; as God is now man may be.
http://www.mrm.org/lorenzo-snow-couplet
"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits
enthroned in yonder heavens!"
KING FOLLETT DISCOURSE - 3rd Section - GOD IS AN EXALTED MAN
www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng
"Here, then, is eternal lifeto know the only wise and true God; and you
have got to learn how to be gods yourselves"
KING FOLLETT DISCOURSE 4th Section - ETERNAL LIFE TO KNOW GOD AND JESUS CHRIST
www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng
Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are
only one God! I say that is a strange God anyhowthree in one, and one in
three! It is a curious organization All are to be crammed into one God,
according to sectarianism. It would make the biggest God in all the world.
He would be a wonderfully big God he would be a giant or a monster
TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH - p. 372
http://scriptures.byu.edu/tpjs/STPJS.pdf
"We cannot remember that Lucifer, a son of God the Father, a brother of Jesus
Christ, rebelled against Gods plan" Robert D. Hales - Presiding Bishop
THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD: RETURN WITH HONOR - Paragraph 3
www.lds.org/general-conference/1990/04/the-aaronicpriesthood-return-withhonor?lang=eng&query=aaronic+priesthood%3a+return+
with+honor

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"It is the Devil, the mighty Lucifer, the great prince of the angels, the
brother of Jesus"
http://journalofdiscourses.com/6/31 - Paragraph 12
no less a person than Jesus Christ was married on that occasion
http://journalofdiscourses.com/4/49 - Paragraph 11
We say it was Jesus Christ who was married
http://journalofdiscourses.com/2/18 - Paragraphs 34 and 35
"The Christian world, so called, are heathens as to their knowledge of the
salvation of God" - Brigham Young
http://journalofdiscourses.com/8/44 - Paragraph 3
We know that it is by grace that we are saved AFTER ALL WE CAN DO
www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/25?lang=eng - 2 Nephi 25:23
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly;
we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."
www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1.8?lang=eng Articles of Faith 1:8
The Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible, and also
contradicts other inspired Mormon works.
THE BOOK OF MORMON VS THE BIBLE
www.equip.org/article/the-book-of-mormon-vs-thebible/#christian-books-2
THE BOOK OF MORMON CONTRADICTS ITSELF, OTHER INSPIRED
MORMON WRITINGS AND CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE!
www.bible.ca/mor-contradictions.htm
BIBLE AND BOOK OF MORMON CONTRADICTIONS
www.utlm.org/onlineresources/bibleandbomcontradictions.htm
THE BIBLE OR THE BOOK OF MORMON?
www.str.org/articles/the-bible-or-the-book-of-mormon
This link also answers the Mormon claim:
We believe in the Bible insofar as it has been translated correctly.
Consider prophesies made by Mormon leaders. God
indicates that fulfilled prophesy is one of the verifications as to
whether those prophesying are speaking for God or not. If the
prophesy does not come true, the one making the prophesy is not
speaking for God.
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Deuteronomy 18:22, "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of

the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message
the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken
presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
1 John instructs us to test any prophecy claiming to be from God.
1 John 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the

spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world."
What was the punishment in the Old Testament for a false
prophet?
Deuteronomy 18:20 "But the prophet who presumes to speak a

word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or

who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall
die."
Deuteronomy 13:5 "That prophet or dreamer must be put to death,
because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who
brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of
slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your
God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from
among you."
These verses show that the primary test God has
established to determine whether or not a prophet is speaking for
God is whether the prophesy comes to pass. If it doesnt happen,
it is a failed prophesy and the prophet is clearly not speaking for
God. The determination that a prophet is false does not change
based upon ones sincerity or dedication. It also doesnt change
depending on whether one decides to Bear their testimony as
Mormons suggest. Deuteronomy 18:20 also shows that in the Old
Testament God commanded that any person who makes a false
prophesy be put to death. This is because a false prophet draws
people away from God, not toward him. As shown earlier, God is
jealous for us because he has created us and wants the best for us.
Being drawn away from God takes us away from His best for us.
So, does Joseph Smith Jr. claim to be a prophet of God and
if so, do his prophesies prove him to speak for God or not?
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JOSEPH SMITH: PROPHET TO OUR GENERATION Official LDS page

www.lds.org/general-conference/1981/10/joseph-smithprophet-to-our-generation?lang=eng
FAILED PROPHESY - The following are two of the failed prophesies.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO BE OVERTHROWN IN A FEW YEARS

I prophecy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United
States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state
of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in
a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted,
and there will not be so much as a potsherd left for their wickedness
in permitting the murder of men, women and children, and the
wholesale plunder and extermination of thousands of her citizens to
go unpunished.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, VOL. 5, PAGE 394

https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/5/21.html#HOC
SUMMARY OF VOL.5 IN THE INTRODUCTION REFERENCES THE YEAR 1842
https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx

THE COMING OF THE LORD

President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called,
because God had commanded it; and it was made known to him by
vision and by the Holy Spirit. . . . it was the will of God that they
should be ordained to the ministry and go forth to prune the
vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh
- even fifty six years should wind up the scene.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, VOL. 2, PAGE 182

https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/2/14.html#HOC
SUMMARY OF VOL.2 IN THE INTRODUCTION REFERENCES THE YEAR 1837
https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx
SITES SHOWING FAILED PROPHESIES
https://carm.org/false-prophecies-of-joseph-smith
http://saintsalive.com/resourcelibrary/mormonism/testing-theprophecies-of-joseph-smithhttp://mit.irr.org/failed-prophecies-of-joseph-smith
www.exmormon.org/prophet.htm
www.utlm.org/onlineresources/falseprophecies.htm
Again, I have no criticism of the Mormon people or their
sincerity and dedication. I bring this information to light because of
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my concern about the eternal destination of all persons, and the

false teachings by some religious leaders who would try to convince
us to believe false information which would draw us away from God.
SHARING THE TRUTH WITH MORMONS

CHRISTIANS WITNESSING TO MORMONS

http://4witness.org/what-we-offer/christians-witnessing-tomormons

MORMONISM RESEARCH MINISTRY - EVANGELISM

www.mrm.org/evangelism-and-dialog

RON CARLSON MESSAGES

http://higherpraise.com/RonCarlson.htm

UNDERSTANDING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND MORMONISM

http://waltermartin.com/realaudio.html

MORMONISM
www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?currSection=sermonst
opic&keyword=Mormon&keyworddesc=Mormonism

MORMONISM
www.towertotruth.net/Mormon/mormon_main.htm

MORMONISM
www.towertotruth.net/audio.htm#mormon

MORMON AUDIO FILES

http://mmoutreach.org/mormon/mormon_audio.htm

SAINTS ALIVE - AUDIO LIBRARY

www.saintsalive.com/media-library/audio-library

* JEHOVAHS WITNESS
Jehovahs Witnesses like Mormons are very sincere in their
beliefs. We commend them for their dedication to what they believe
as the truth. As with Mormons, we do not challenge the dedication
and sincerity of Jehovahs Witnesses. We challenge the teachings
of the organization as those teachings compare to the ESSENTIALS
OF CHRISTIANITY. We want to focus on the truths of the teachings,
not the sincerity of those who hold these beliefs. I stress again that
TRUTH is not determined by our SINCERITY or DEDICATION.
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In addition to being sincere and dedicated, Jehovahs

Witnesses and Mormons are also similar in that the teachings of the
religions deviate from the ESSENTIALS OF CHRISTIANITY; who God
is, who Jesus is, and what is required for salvation. One of the
primary differences between the two religions is that most of the
deviations from the ESSENTIALS OF CHRISTIANITY taught by
Jehovahs Witness are located in their version of the Bible, the NEW
WORLD TRANSLATION.

WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?

www.gotquestions.org/essentials-Christian-faith.html
www.str.org/articles/essential-christian-doctrines
https://carm.org/essential-doctrines-of-christianity
Besides the Jehovahs Witness Bible translation, the
additional publications of Jehovahs Witnesses are the two
magazines; THE WATCHTOWER and AWAKE. I also found a
reference to STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES. The link to view the
Scripture Studies online is below. According to the Sept 10, 1910
Watchtower issue, the Jehovahs Witness organization places
particular importance on these STUDIES as indicated by the quotes
below.
"If anyone lays Scriptural Studies aside even after he has
become familiar with them, after he has read them ten
years, and goes to the Bible alone, though he has
understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows
that within two years he goes into darkness"
"If the six volumes of Scriptural Studies are practically
the Bible topically arranged, with Bible-proofs given, we
might not improperly name the volumes, The Bible in
Arranged Form. That is to say, they are not merely
comments on the Bible, but they are practically the Bible
itself"
Charles Taze Russell
WATCHTOWER, SEPTEMBER 15, 1910, PAGE 298.
www.scripturessay.com/a-reply-to-a-jehovahs-witness/9
Scanned pages with some of these quotes are at:
http://jehovahswitnessrevealed.com/wpcontent/uploads/2006/10/bstudy.PDF

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The following publications can be seen at the following links:

STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES Volumes 1-7
MILLIONS LIVING WILL NEVER DIE
http://jehovah.net.au/classic-watchtower-publications

WATCHTOWER MAGAZINES ONLINE 2000 to Present

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/lv/r1/lp-e/0/11891

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God

a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly handling the

word of truth."
This first passage shows that to be approved unto God,
we need to study the Word of God. It also indicates rightly
handling the word of truth." This shows the importance of making
the effort to correctly understand Gods word, not coming to it with
our minds already made up as to what it means. We need to let the
Bible be the teacher so that we can accurately learn its wisdom and
truth. The verse commands us to Study. Since there wasnt any
other works, references, or the STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES for
centuries after the Bible was completed, (see the William F. Albright
quote below), this command can only mean that we need to study
the Bible, without the need for other works. This contradicts the
Jehovahs Witness teaching that without the Watchtower Society
and STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES, we Go into darkness.
"According to archaeological evidence there is "no
longer any solid basis for dating any book of the New
Testament after about A.D. 80."
William F. Albright was the world's foremost biblical archaeologist.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful

for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in

righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work
This second passage emphasizes that All Scripture is
God-breathed and useful. It does not indicate Most Scriptureor
Some Scripture, and it doesnt mention any work other than
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Scripture! It states that All Scripture is God-breathed, which

means it is from God and not man. We can have confidence that
God has provided us with the Bible because of its confirmation by
the volume of evidences shown earlier in the BIBLE section. This
verse shows that all Scripture is useful for teaching, correcting, and
training in righteousness. It also states that the reason this is
important is so the person of God will be equipped for every good
work, not equipped for some/many/most good works.
I wasnt able to find references as to Jehovahs Witnesses
holding the WATCHTOWER and AWAKE magazines as INSPIRED like
as they do the NEW WORLD TRANSLATION BIBLE. Both publications
present teachings of the Jehovahs Witness religion. You can view
back issues of the Watchtower magazines online from year 2000 to
present on the Jehovahs Witness website, at:
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/lv/r1/lp-e/0/11891
Unfortunately, the WATCHTOWER magazine issues before 2000 are
not available on the Jehovahs Witness website. You may be able
to find scans of specific issues by performing a Bing or Google
IMAGE SEARCH using the DATE as well as the term WATCHTOWER. In
the SEARCH field. example: Watchtower Sept 15 1910
As indicated by the quotes above, Jehovahs Witnesses are
instructed that studying the Bible without the Scriptural Studies one
goes into darkness. As you can see by these quotes, the
method of BIBLE STUDY indicated by the Bible is to STUDY THE
BIBLE, without relying on any other reference for understanding.
I found it interesting that the Jehovahs Witness claim
implies that without the Scriptural Studies everyone goes into
darkness. Remember the Berean Jews in Acts?
Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in

Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness,

examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
How were these Jews able to accurately compare the
teachings of the scriptures to those being preached since the
STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES wouldnt be written for almost two
thousand years? And how was Charles Taze Russell able to put
together the STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES, without the benefit of the
STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES? Shouldnt he have gone into darkness
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as he claimed would happen to those who do not keep using his

STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES?
This claim by Charles Taze Russell is self-contradictory
being similar to the universe bringing itself into existence. It also
contradicts Gods recommendation. Again, Timothy 3:16-17:
Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for

teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every
good work
Could the Jehovahs Witness Scriptural Studies be
something that is added as is commanded against in the Bible?
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify together to everyone who

hears the Words of the prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds

to these things, God will add on him the plagues that have been
written in this Book. And if anyone takes away from the Words
of the Book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out
of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things
which have been written in this Book.
Lets look at some of the teachings of the Jehovahs
Witnesses pertaining to the ESSENTIALS OF CHRISTIANITY.

JEHOVAHS WITNESS TEACHINGS ON GOD

THE TRINITY
The Jehovahs Witness Religion rejects the teaching of the
Trinity, as evidenced by quotations from two of the religions leaders.
How strange that any should attempt to misuse and
pervert these our Lords words, to make them support the
unreasonable and unscriptural doctrine of a Trinity, three
Gods in one person. (Atonement Between God and Man/
Studies In The Scriptures Vol. 5, page 76, 1912) Charles Taze
Russell
http://jehovah.net.au/books/5-The-At-one-ment-BetweenGod-and-Man-1.11Mb.pdf
That there are three gods in one; God the Father, God the
Son, God the Holy Spirit, all there equal in power,
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substance and eternity. If you ask a clergyman what is

meant by the trinity he says: That is a mystery. He does
not know, and no one else knows, because it is false. Never
was there a more deceptive doctrine advanced than that of
the trinity. It could have originated only in one mind, and
that the mind of Satan the Devil.
(Reconciliation,
page 101, 1928) - J.F. Rutherford
If youve not yet read the earlier section on the Trinity,
please do so to have a better understanding of the evidences that
answer these challenges to the Trinity. Wikipedia appears to have
a very good article on the Trinity and how the doctrine was
developed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity
The Jehovahs Witness organization attempts to use
passages from the Bible to prove that Jesus is not the eternal God
and that the Holy Spirit is not a person, so they claim Christianitys
understanding of the verses are wrong and that Christianitys
teaching on the Trinity is wrong.
At this link on their Churchs website the first paragraph of
the article gives the definition of the Trinity according to the
Athanasian Creed.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989276?q=trinity&p=par
Their article also lists publications which make reference to
the doctrine of the Trinity not being established in Christianity until
about the 4th century. The article suggests that the doctrine
originated from pagan sources and that the term isnt found in the
Bible. These details seem to be included to shed doubt on the
doctrine, and I think the author has been fairly effective at raising
doubts about the doctrine of the Trinity.
Lets consider some of the points raised by the article. Does
the indicated 400 year delay mean that we cant be confident in the
conclusion about the Trinity? Hardly. The Trinity wasnt the only
doctrine debated early in Christianity and there are doctrines still
being debated 2000 years after Christ lived on earth; doctrines such
as: the Tribulation, Predestination vs. Election, the Millennium
Reign, etc. Debating a topic is a good way to bring out all the
information available, so that an accurate conclusion can be arrived
at. I believe this article leaves out important details which might
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cause one to believe a different conclusion about the Trinity than

the Bible teaches.
Something else to consider about this 400 year delay. How
difficult was it at that time for people to obtain information? No
internet, no newspapers, libraries were only in very major cities, and
very few people had any written works.
The printing press was to the past what the Internet is to us
now. The printing press allows us to have multiple copies of the
Bible in our homes, but it didnt exist till 1000 years after Christ lived
on earth, and 600 years after the Athanasian Creed was finalized.
The Gutenberg Bible, the first Bible printed by printing press, wasnt
printed until about 1450, almost 1000 years after the Athanasian
Creed was finalized and almost 1500 years after Christ. Until then,
most people probably never had the opportunity to touch a Bible,
much less own one.
Think about the Bible, a hand copied work of over 1000
pages. It would be surprising if more than a few who were involved
in determining the Athanasian Creed had a complete Bible.
Creating copies of Bibles was something commissioned only by
kings because it was so expensive, and time consuming.
Now think about how easy it is now for us to access so many
resources and being able to do so now on a phone we carry with
us. Remember, the cell phone and all the other quick information
access options we have didnt exist even 40 years ago. This pretechnology information access world existed unchanged for over
1500 years. Does this give you a better understanding as to the
challenges faced by those in the past; those determining official
doctrine?
A few of the paragraphs from this Jehovahs Witness article
demonstrate some of the mistaken assumptions made by the
author. And since this is on an official Jehovahs Witness site these
assumptions must be those of the organization as well.
Other statements of the dogma emphasize that these
three Persons are not separate and distinct individuals
but are three modes in which the divine essence exists.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989276?q=trinity&p=par
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This sentence is in the first paragraph of the same document

above. The paragraph starts by indicating the Christian definition
of the Trinity as indicated in the Athanasian Creed, with the
exception for this sentence. The writer of the article adds the
sentence indicating Other statements but they dont include
what these statements are. If you only read this sentence and
dont read any of the Athanasian Creed you will get the impression
that this sentence gives an accurate view of the Athanasian Creed.
The Athanasian Creed can be read at the following link. This
link is one of many that are easily found through a search.
www.reformed.org/documents/athanasian.html
The above sentence also states these three Persons are
not separate and distinct individuals The following statements
from the Athanasian Creed are the only ones which use the word
PERSON. Do any of these statements give any indication that the
PERSONS of the Trinity are not separate?

3. Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the

substance
4. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son
and another of the Holy Spirit.
18. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to
acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord;
25. But the whole three persons are co-eternal, and co-equal.
35. One altogether, not by the confusion of substance, but by
unity of person.
The sentence in the Jehovahs Witness article also states
these three Persons are not separate and distinct
individuals but are three modes. This is a teaching called
MODALISM, where God is not three persons but one person. This
one person operates in three different MODES at different times.
https://carm.org/modalism
This is a representation of God which Christianity rejects also.
The Holy Scriptures tell us the personal name of the
FatherJehovah. They inform us that the Son is Jesus
Christ. But nowhere in the Scriptures is a personal name
applied to the Holy Spirit.
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In this paragraph of the same link, the author states that

there is no personal name applied to the Holy Spirit in any Biblical
Scripture. They suggest that this is evidence of the Holy Spirit not
being a person. However, most Biblical verses about the Holy Spirit
describe the Holy Spirit using personal attributes.
Acts 5:3-4 "But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart

to lie to the Holy Spirit . . . You have not lied to man but to God.
The Holy Spirit can be lied to and is also referred to as God.
2 Cor 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all"

We can have fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 "But the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My

name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance
all that I said to you." (He not it)
The Holy Spirit can teach.
John 16:13-15 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide

you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative,
but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you
what is to come. He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and
shall disclose it to you.
The Holy Spirit can guide, speak, and disclose.
Romans 8:27 "And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of

the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to
the will of God."
The Holy Spirit can intercede.
Even Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as Him and not It.
John 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage

that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to
you. But if I go, I will send HIM to you.
Do these verses seem to describe a person or an impersonal force,
and does this verse give at least one name to the Holy Spirit, the
Helper?
Consider also the verses which describe God both in the
singular and the plural. These verses demonstrate the concept of
the One God being composed of the three persons.
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 GOD DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS SINGULAR.

Isaiah 43:10 "Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be

none after Me."

Isaiah 44:6 "'I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God
besides Me."
Isaiah 44:8 "Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock?
I know of none."
GOD DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS BOTH SINGULAR AND PLURAL
Gen 1:26 Then God [singular] said, Let Us [plural] make man

in Our image, according to Our likeness...

Gen 1:27 So God [singular] created man in His [singular] own
image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He
created them.
GOD DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS PLURAL
Genesis 3:22 Then the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become

like one of US in knowing good and evil.

Genesis 11:7 Come, let US go down and there confuse their

language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.

Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit" "Baptize in the name" singular, not "names" plural
It is important to stress again the command of the Bible, and
also the emphasis the Bible places on itself as the only true
authority to best learn the characteristics of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman

that needs not be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable

for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in

righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for
every good work.

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Another paragraph from the same article demonstrates

the authors confusion with the terms GOD and PERSON.
Which translation of John 1:1,2 agrees with the
context? John 1:18 says: No one has ever seen
God. Verse 14 clearly says that the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us . . . we have beheld his glory.
Also, verses 1, 2 say that in the beginning he
was with God. Can one be with someone and at the same
time be that person? At John 17:3, Jesus addresses the
Father as the only true God; so, Jesus as a god merely
reflects his Fathers divine qualities.Heb. 1:3
You can see that their understanding of the teaching of the
Trinity is the 1+1+1=1, and not the Christian teaching of 1x1x1=1.
Seeing this confusion, it is understandable why Jehovahs
Witnesses reject the teaching of the Trinity. As mentioned earlier,
the author equates the teaching of the Trinity with Modalism, and
not the accurate teaching of Christianity.
In this next paragraph the author fully acknowledges
passages which use terms of personal attributes, but then discounts
them because of other passages which dont use terms of personal
attributes.
Some individual texts that refer to the holy spirit (Holy
Ghost, KJ) might seem to indicate personality. For
example, the holy spirit is referred to as a helper (Greek,
parakletos; Comforter, KJ; Advocate, JB, NE) that
teaches, bears witness, speaks and hears. (John
14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:13) But other texts say that people
were filled with holy spirit, that some were baptized with
it or anointed with it. (Luke 1:41; Matt. 3:11; Acts 10:38)
These latter references to holy spirit definitely do not fit a
person. . . . What is the reasonable conclusion? That the
first texts cited here employ a figure of speech personifying
Gods Holy Spirit, his active force, as the Bible also
personifies wisdom, sin, death, water, and blood.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lpe/1101989276?q=what+is+holy+spirit&p=par

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The author
conclusion?

then

asks

What

is

the

reasonable

Wouldnt the reasonable conclusion be the Holy Spirit that

the Bible indicates, with both characteristics of PERSONHOOD and
NON-PERSONHOOD?
While a square-circle is a contradictory
concept, the Holy Spirit having both attributes of personhood and
non-personhood is not contradictory. Havent you heard of people
been referred to as A ROCK, A PILLAR of the community, A BEACON
of righteousness? Im sure some have said that talking to me
sometimes is like talking to A BRICK WALL. If people can be referred
to in non-personal terms, why would we limit the God of the
universe in the way this author does? Also, no Bible verse indicates
that the Holy Spirit is ONLY these non-personal attributes.
In this article, the author has concluded that the Holy Spirit
can only be personal or non-personal, and not both. The author
has also concluded that the personal attributes dont justify the
possible consideration of the personhood of the Holy Spirit. I think
the authors concept of God is too small, because their concept is
limited to a God they can understand. Again, the quote:
If God was a God we could understand, He wouldnt
be much of a God, would he? Pastor Wayne Stockstill

JEHOVAHS WITNESS TEACHINGS ON JESUS

Jehovahs Witness teachings about Jesus are consistent
with their teaching that there is no Trinity. They teach that Jesus is
the savior and that He is A GOD, a MIGHTY GOD, but not the ALMIGHTY
GOD. Their New World Translation is the only translation to add the
letter a to the end of John 1:1. The end of the verse becomes,
the Word was a god and not the Word was God as in the other
major translations.

In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was a god." John 1:1 New World Translation
Jehovahs Witness teaching is that Jesus is not Jehovah
God. He is a separate and lesser god. They teach that Jesus was
actually created and was Michael the Archangel before his earthly
existence, and they also teach that he is savior.
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Both of these links will provide you with information as to

why adding the a before God is incorrect:
https://carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahswitnesses/john-11-word-was-god
www.dianedew.com/john1.htm
Jehovahs Witness teach Jesus was created.
As a created being, he cannot be part of the Trinity. John 14:28
The Father is greater than I am, said Jesus.
Section 3 at this link
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lpe/102010283?q=jesus+created+being&p=par
Jehovahs Witness teach Jesus was Michael the Archangel.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lpe/2010250?q=jesus+michael&p=par
Jehovahs Witness teach Jesus was Savior
Jesus Christ He is the Savior, the Son of God, and the firstborn
Section 3 at this link
of all creation.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lpe/102010283?q=jesus+created+being&p=par
These are significant claims and challenges to three of the
essentials of Christianity about God, about Jesus, and about
salvation. If Jesus isnt the one God, and if the Holy Spirit is not a
person, there cant be the Trinity. And since only God can save, if
Jesus is not the one true God, He cant be the Savior.

RESPONSES TO JEHOVAHS WITNESS TEACHINGS ON JESUS

Jehovahs Witnesses teach that Jesus is a created angel and
is not Jehovah God. They seem to only accept Jesus Christs
human characteristics indicated in the Bible, and either ignore or
explain away His divine characteristics indicated in the Bible. And
that is if they are even aware of them. As indicated above, John
14:28 The Father is greater than I am, is one of the verses used
to justify their teaching that Jesus was a created being. What they
dont seem to consider is that John14:28 is only talking about Christs
human existence, not his pre-human existence in Heaven.

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Philippians 2:5-8 shows that Jesus Christ emptied himself taking

the form of a servant. Adding to Himself a human nature
automatically limits aspects of His divinity. One example is Jesus
Christ as a man not being able to be everywhere at once.
Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is

yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of

God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being
born in the likeness of men. And being found in human
form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the
point of death, even death on a cross.
If he EMPTIED HIMSELF to take on human form, he must have been
FILLED PRIOR to taking on human form. Right?
IN WHAT SENSE DID JESUS EMPTY HIMSELF?
www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_795.cfm
Colossians 1:15 is also cited as proof of Jesus creation. They
teach that being the FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION is the same as
being the first created thing.
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the

firstborn of all creation.

JESUS CHRIST: THE FIRST OF GOD'S CREATIONS?
www.godandscience.org/cults/jesuscreated.html
In John 1:1, they claim that In the beginning was the Word
(Jesus) is a reference to when time existed. They reason that
since God existed before time, Jesus wasnt eternal because he
was at the beginning.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word

was with God, and the Word was A God.

This conclusion has problems though, as the verse doesnt
state, In the beginning, the Word began. The Jehovahs Witness
conclusion is the same type of conclusion as those who claim that
there is a contradiction between two of the Gospels because John
indicates Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early (John 20:1),
while Matthew indicates Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went
to see the tomb (Matthew 28:1). Notice that John doesnt indicate
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that ONLY Mary Magdalene visited the tomb. Mary Magdalene was
the only woman John references, not the only woman there.
In the same way, Jesus was there at the beginning, but the
Bible never claims that Jesus didnt exist until the beginning of time.
If this reference to THE BEGINNING means the beginning of time then
even Almighty God would have been there also, because He
already existed before the beginning of time. By the authors
reasoning, if Jehovah God was there at the beginning He couldnt
then be eternal. This isnt a logical conclusion.
Now look at the NEW WORLD TRANSLATION of Colossians 1:16,
Colossians 1:16 because by means of him all OTHER things were

created in the heavens and on the earth.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=colossians+1%3A16
Jehovahs Witness indicate the word OTHER is in their
accurate translation implying all other translations are not accurate
because they do not have the word OTHER. This is their argument
proving that Jesus Christ was created first. However, contrast this
Colossians 1:16 verse with their John 1:3.
John 1:3 All things came into existence through him, and apart

from him not even one thing came into existence.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=john+1%3A3-4
These two verses show a clear contradiction in the NEW
WORLD TRANSLATION BIBLE. According to the Law of NonContradiction, you cant have the Jesus Christ of Jehovahs Witness
creating all OTHER things, implying that He was CREATED first,
while at the same time being the same Jesus Christ who apart from
him not even one thing came into existence. That would be like the
contradictory idea of the universe creating itself. The universe
would by necessity need to exist before it was created.
Lets consider other verses and information about Jesus
Christ and His identity.
WAS JESUS AN ANGEL AS JEHOVAHS WITNESSES TEACH?
Consider again John 1:3
John 1:3 All things came into existence through him, and apart

from him not even one thing came into existence.

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If all things came into existence through Christ, and apart

from Him not even one thing came into existence, the only
logical conclusion is that Jesus Christ has always existed. Since
He created everything, He created all of the angels, and so he cant
be an angel, unless an angel could create themselves like some
believe the universe did. As well, while He is not God the Father,
He is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. Consider these
additional verses.
Hebrews 1:5-6 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

You are my Son, today I have begotten you? Or again,

I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he
says, Let all God's angels worship him.
Look at the last sentence in this verse.

when He (God) brings the firstborn into the world, he (God)

says, Let all Gods angels worship him.
If God is the only one to be worshipped, and God
commands his angels to worship Jesus Christ, the only logical
conclusion is that Jesus Christ is God. Not another God, but
another person in the one true God. And this is true whether or
not we understand this. Consider the following verses where
Jesus Christ is called God.
JESUS IS CALLED GOD
Romans 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race,

according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all,

blessed forever. Amen
Matthew 1:23 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a

son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means,
God with us).
Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son He (God) says, Your throne, O

God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the

scepter of your kingdom.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and

has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is

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true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life.
Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells

bodily
John 20:28 Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God!
Isaiah 10:20-21 In that day the remnant of Israel and the

survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who

struck them, but will lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel,
in truth. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the
mighty God.
Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his

Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: "I am the first and I am the

last; besides me there is no god.
Titus 1:3-4 and at the proper time manifested in his word

through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by

the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a
common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Savior.
Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the

glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

GOD DOES NOT SHARE HIS GLORY WITH ANY OTHER
Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to

no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

But the following verses show that Jesus had glory with His
father.
Mark 8:38b when He comes in the glory of his Father with the

holy angels.
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence

with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.
If God does not share His glory with any other, and Jesus
wasnt God, the previous verses would not be logical. The
only way that the previous verses are logical is if Jesus Christ
227

is the same God as God the Father, and that Jesus Christ
and God are separate persons.
Again, when Jesus Christ took on His human nature, it
limited his attributes as God. JOHN 17:5 illustrates this, and that
Christ would once again be glorified as He had before.
If Jesus is God, it is acceptable for Him to not only request
Glory He indicates that He had, it is also fully acceptable for Him to
receive glory, and thus, does not contradict the verses stating that
God will not give His glory to another.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT ONLY GOD IS TO BE WORSHIPPED.
Exodus 34:14 "for you shall worship no other god, for the

Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God"

The Angels of God Refuse Worship
Revelation 22:8-9 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these

things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship
at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to
me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and
your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words
of this book. Worship God. also Revelation 19:10
Even Jesus Stated That Only God Is To Be Worshipped.
Matthew 4:9-11 "And he said to him, All these I will give you,

if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him,
Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the
Lord your God and him only shall you serve.
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered him, It is written, You shall

worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.
DOES JESUS ACCEPT WORSHIP AS GOD?
From the angels
Hebrews 1:6 "And again, when he brings the firstborn into the

world, He says, Let all God's angels worship Him.

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From the disciples

Luke 24:51-52 "While he blessed them, He parted from them and

was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him and

returned to Jerusalem with great joy"
From the believers
John 9:38 He said, Lord, I believe, and he worshiped Him.
Commanded by Angels
Revelation 14:7 And he said with a loud voice, Fear God and

give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come,
and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and
the springs of water. (Remind me again, who made everything?)
From everyone eventually
Philippians 2:10-11 so that at the name of Jesus every knee

should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.
DID JESUS RECEIVE WORSHIP AS GOD?
http://letusreason.org/Trin18.htm
JEHOVAHS WITNESS TEACHING ON SALVATION
Jehovahs Witness teach a different doctrine of salvation
than what is taught by Christianity and the Bible. They teach that
there are four requirements to be saved. In the Watchtower February 15, 1983 issue:
1. Taking in knowledge of the true God and of Jesus Christ
2. Obeying Gods laws and conforming to the moral
requirements set by the Bible
3. Being associated with Gods Channel, his organization
. . . To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must
identify that organization and server God as part of it.
4. Showing Loyalty to God
The issue is unavailable online on the Jehovahs Witness website,
but click the Feb 15, 1983 link at this site to see a picture:
www.spiritualhostages.org/questions/what-do-jehovah'switnesses-say-is-required-of-salvation/
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The Watchtower-September 1, 1989 issue states the following:

Only Jehovahs Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant
and the great crowd, as a united organization under the
protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any scriptural
hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed
system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17;
2 Corinthians 4:4)
The issue is also unavailable online on the Jehovahs Witness
website. Click the Sept 1, 1989 link at this site to see a picture:
www.spiritualhostages.org/questions/what-dojehovah's-witnesses-say-is-required-of-salvation/
This statement from the Watchtower indicates that there is
a united organization under protection, and the inference is that
the Jehovahs Witness organization is that organization.
Looking up the two passages referenced, only Rev 7:10&17
seem to apply, and there is no mention of any organization:
Revelation 7:10, 17
10 and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our

God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their

shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
In the following 2 Cor. passage we see a reference to a
blinding of the minds of UNBELIEVERS by the god of this world,
and there is the reference to the gospel of the glory of Christ.
The Watchtower section above doesnt reference the next verse 5.

what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:4-5 4 In their case the god of this world has

blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing

the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus
Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
Two of the verses Jehovahs Witness point to as support for
their teaching of requirement 2 of salvation, are James 2:20 and
Philippians 2:12:
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James 2:20 "Faith without works is dead"

Philippians 2:12 "Work out your own salvation with fear and

trembling"
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT SALVATION?
The SALVATION section toward the end shows many
aspects of salvation taught in the Bible. These verses in James and
Philippians are part of salvation, but not in the way Jehovahs
Witnesses or Mormons use them. The importance of works is not
in that there is anything we can do for our salvation, as if we could
do anything. The importance of works is that it is one of the
evidences of our decision to accept Christ. There is nothing we can
do to justify our salvation. It is fully and completely the work of
Jesus Christ. Our works dont save us, they ONLY give evidence
of our being saved.
Weve already seen the two following verses. They both
show that God the Father, and Jesus are involved in the work of
Salvation. This make sense as only God can save.
Titus 1:3-4 and at the proper time manifested in his word

through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by

the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a
common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Savior.
Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the

glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

This link indicates many verses which show the different
Persons of the Trinity being referred to as SAVIOR.

WHO IS OUR SAVIOR?

www.godandscience.org/cults/savior.html
PROPHESIES BY JEHOVAHS WITNESS ORGANIZATION
As is also consistent with Mormons, Jehovahs Witness
teachings include Prophesies about future events. Considering the
other evidences of the errors of the Jehovahs Witness organization
in this section, in their teachings on the essentials of Christianity,
should we expect that their prophesies will be accurate?
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1872 BREAKING INTO PIECES OF THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD

In this chapter we present the Bible evidence which indicates that six
thousand years from the creation of Adam were complete with A.D. 1874;
and hence that, since A.D. 1872, we are chronologically entered upon the
seventh thousand or the Millennium - the forepart of which, the 'Day of the
Lord,' the 'day of trouble,' is to witness the breaking into pieces of the
kingdoms of this world and the establishment of the Kingdom of God under
the whole heavens. (Charles T. Russell: Studies in the Scriptures vol.2 - The
Time Is At Hand, 1913 ed . p.33)

STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES VOL.2

http://jehovah.net.au/books/2-The-Time-Is-At-Hand-.87Mb.pdf
Does it seem that there has been any breaking into pieces of
the kingdoms of this world and the establishment of the Kingdom of God
under the whole heavens for the past 100+ years?

1914A SIGNIFICANT YEAR IN BIBLE PROPHECY (Jesus return)

www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-teach/1914-asignificant-year-in-bible-prophecy
The 8th paragraph states, Just as Jesus predicted, his presence
as heavenly King has been marked by dramatic world developmentswar,
famine, earthquakes, pestilences. (Matthew 24:3-8; Luke 21:11) Such
developments bear powerful testimony to the fact that 1914 indeed marked
the birth of Gods heavenly Kingdom and the beginning of the last days of
this present wicked system of things 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
This refers to one of the earlier of the Jehovahs Witness
prophesies about Jesus Christs returning, and is from the official
Jehovahs Witness site. This talks about 1914 marking the birth of
Gods heavenly Kingdom and the beginning of the last days of the present
wicked system of things As this has been 100 years since the
prophesy, do you see any evidence that Gods Kingdom has come
into being, or any specific details in what they are saying?
Here are a few of the sites indicating many of the Jehovahs
Witness inaccurate prophesies.

JEHOVAHS WITNESSES/ WATCHTOWER PROPHECIES

www.letusreason.org/JW47.htm

WATCH TOWER SOCIETY UNFULFILLED PREDICTIONS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watch_Tower_Society_unfulfilled
_predictions#1914:_The_end_of_human_rulership
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JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES OF THE WATCHTOWER FALSE PROPHECIES

www.truthandgrace.com/WTfalseprophecies.htm

PROPHECY BLUNDERS OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

www.bible.ca/Jw-Prophecy.htm

CHANGED DATES :: FAILED PREDICTIONS

www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND THEIR MANY FALSE PROPHECIES

https://carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses-and-their-many-falseprophecies
When we consider the Jehovahs Witness prophesies, we
find that they are also similar to Mormon prophesies in their lack of
accuracy. Again, the Bible shows us how to tell if a prophesy is
from God or not. And again, The Old Testament also shows how
serious it was to say you had a prophesy from God.
Deuteronomy 18:22 "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the

LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the
LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously.
Do not be afraid of him."
1st John instructs us to test the prophecy claiming to be from God.
1 John 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the

spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world."
And again, what was the punishment for a false prophet?
Deuteronomy 18:20 "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word
in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who
speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die."
Deuteronomy 13:5 "That prophet or dreamer must be put to death,

because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who

brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of
slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your
God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from
among you."

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The Bible has proven itself through accuracy over time and
through prophecy. How do the quotes by Charles Taze Russell
compare to the Bibles accuracy?
2 Timothy 3:15-17 from infancy you have known the holy

Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation

through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify together to everyone who
hears the Words of the prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds
to these things, God will add on him the plagues that have been
written in this Book. And if anyone takes away from the Words
of the Book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out of
the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things
which have been written in this Book.
2 TIMOTHY 3:15-17 shows that the Bible is fully sufficient for
everything necessary for a Godly person. REVELATION 22:18-19
indicates the punishment God has for anyone adding anything to or
taking anything away from the prophesies of the book of Revelation
and possibly the entire Bible.
Whether the Revelation passage applies to only the book of

REVELATION or the entire Bible, can you think of any reason why
any of these works; BOOK OF MORMON, PEARL OF GREAT PRICE,
THE WATCHTOWER, AWAKE, and STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES with
their false prophesies which contradict Biblical Teaching wouldnt
fall under Gods warning of adding to or taking away from? If
these works and failed prophesies qualify, do you really want to be
associated with one of these religions?
We have seen that the Bible teaches that there is only one
God and that God knows everything and knows of no other Gods.
This one and only God doesnt share His glory with any other, and
is the only one to be worshipped. The Bible teaches that Jesus
created everything that has always existed, that He received Glory,
and accepted worship. The Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit
has personal characteristics with even Jesus referring to the Holy
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Spirit as HIM. The only logical conclusion regardless of our

understanding is that there is only one God; and The Father, Jesus
the Son, and the Holy Spirit are that one true God, and are also
separate persons from one another. The teaching of the Trinity by
the Bible is clear.
The following publications can be seen at the following links:
STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES Volumes 1-7
MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE
http://jehovah.net.au/classic-watchtower-publications

WATCHTOWER MAGAZINES ONLINE 2000 to Present

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/lv/r1/lp-e/0/11891
WATCHTOWER ONLINE LIBRARY
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/lv/r1/lp-e/0
FREE ONLINE BOOKS
www.jwfiles.com/online_books/index.htm
SHARING THE TRUTH WITH JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

CHRISTIANS WITNESSING TO JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

http://4witness.org/what-we-offer/christians-witnessing-tojehovahs-witnesses

QUICK TIPS: MINUTES WITNESS TO A JEHOVAHS WITNESS

www.christianministriesintl.org/articles/Quick-TipsWitnessing-Jehovahs-Witness.php

HOW TO WITNESS TO A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-to-witness-to-ajehovahs-witness-1408500.html

WITNESSING TIPS
www.towertotruth.net/witnessing_tips.htm

WITNESSING TO JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

www.onthewing.org/user/Cul_Witnessing%20to%20JWs.pdf
www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/martin_walter/jw/How
_to_Witness_to_Jehovah_s_Witnesses.cfm

TESTIMONIES OF FORMER JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

www.jwinfoline.com/Page/audio.htm
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SAINTS ALIVE - AUDIO LIBRARY

www.saintsalive.com/media-library/audio-library

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
www.towertotruth.net/JW/jw_main.htm

UNDERSTANDING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND MORMONISM

http://waltermartin.com/realaudio.html

RON CARLSON MESSAGES

http://higherpraise.com/RonCarlson.htm

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES TESTIMONIES

www.towertotruth.net/audio.htm

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?keyword=Jehovah%2
7s+Witnesses&selectsearch=

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
www.towertotruth.net/JW/jw_main.htm

* ISLAM
There are significant differences between the doctrines of
Christianity and Islam; in the nature of God as Trinity, the identity of
Jesus Christ, and Salvation. As such, we come back to the concept
of Truth, and again The Law of Non-Contradiction. Remember, two
contradictory concepts/beliefs/ideas cannot both be true at the
same time and in the same way. Since these teachings are
contradictory, if either Christianity or Islam is true, the other is
automatically false. If you have the wrong savior, you dont have a
salvation that works.
This segment on Islam and the following one on Wicca are
the last segments to be added to this guide. Unfortunately due to
obligations and lack of time, I am limited to providing links to
websites on the two religions. My apologies for any inconvenience,
and hopefully these links will provide you with the resources to
sufficiently research the information at your convenience.
You will find likely find duplicated information between some
of the different websites. I believe that seeing the information
presented in the different ways these websites do help to gain a
more complete understanding of the different subjects.
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SITES ON ISLAM
HISTORY OF ISLAM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Islam
ABOUT ISLAM
www.christiananswers.net/evangelism/beliefs/islam.html
WHAT IS ISLAM? www.truthnet.org/islam/whatisislam.html
HISTORY OF MUHAMMAD & ISLAM
http://bibleprobe.com/muhammad.htm
ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY www.dianedew.com/islam.htm
COMPARISON GRID BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAMIC
DOCTRINE
https://carm.org/comparison-grid-between-christianity-andislamic-doctrine
CONTENDER MINISTRIES ISLAM
http://contenderministries.org/islam.php
THE QUR'AN VS. THE BIBLE
http://worldview3.50webs.com/quranvbible.html
CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM: A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON
www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/Jesus-Muhammad.htm
SCIENTIFIC ERRORS, CONTRADICTIONS, AND INCONSISTENCIES
IN THE QUR'AN
www.faithdefenders.com/articles/worldreligions/Scientific_
Errors_in_the_Quran.html
www.faithdefenders.com/articles/worldreligions/Contardict
ions_and_Inconsistencies_Quran.html

ADDRESSING ISSUES IN ISLAM

WILL THE REAL ISLAM PLEASE STAND UP.
www.equip.org/broadcast/will-real-islam-please-stand-drdavid-wood
METHODS MUSLIMS USE TO ATTACK CHRISTIANITY
https://carm.org/methods-muslims-use-attack-christianity
BILLION BIBLES www.billionbibles.org

237

WITNESSING TO MUSLIMS
www.gotquestions.org/witnessing-Muslims.html
www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/howtowitnesstomuslim
s.shtml
http://arabsforchrist.org/witnessing101
http://standupforthetruth.com/2011/08/7-tips-for-witnessingto-muslims
www.equip.org/search/?q=WITNESSING%20TO%20MUSLI
MS
www.cbn.com/spirituallife/OnlineDiscipleship/UnderstandingI
slam/Witnessing_to_Muslims.aspx
https://carm.org/questions-muslims
www.learnthebible.org/witnessing-to-muslims.html
www.answering-islam.org/Christians/index.html
www.answering-islam.org/Gilchrist/Vol1/index.html
http://engagingwithislam.org/training
www.4truth.net/fourtruthpbworld.aspx?pageid=8589953031
http://bibleanswerstodayblog.com/how-to-witness-to-amuslim
http://edrodgers.net/witnessing-to-muslims-using-the-quran
http://216.198.197.57/Truth%20to%20Say%20to%20Muslim
s%20-%20Camel%20Method.htm

SOME DRAMATIC CONVERSIONS FROM ISLAM

MY DRAMATIC CONVERSION FROM ISLAM
This is the testimony of the dramatic conversion of Tass Saada, a
former Muslim and PLO Sniper.
www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/mydramatic-conversion-from-islam-pt1
www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/mydramatic-conversion-from-islam-pt2

ISLAM: NABEEL'S TESTIMONY

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nqj4nZMvXk

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A NEW CONCERN
There is a recent movement of the last decade or so called
the Insider Movement, also referred to as CHRISLAM. From the
description, it looks to offer Muslims the opportunity to come to
Christ, while still holding to Muslim practices and beliefs. The
following will allow you to gain a greater understanding of this
movement, and the concerns voiced by Greg Koukl and others.
www.gotquestions.org/Chrislam.html
www.str.org/Media/Default/Publications/DigitalSG_1112_
New-1.pdf
www.cc.org/blog/presbyterians_boost_new_chrislam_religion
www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/piper-responds-to-theinsider-movement

* WICCA
Wicca, like Islam, doesnt claim to be Christian as the
Mormon and Jehovahs Witness religions do. I have included
Wicca because it is considered by some to be the fastest growing
religion among young people and especially girls. The following
description is from the referenced link, and gives some of the
reasons for its growth:
Wicca is a fast growing religion. Some have said
that it is the fastest growing religion in America. Whether
or not that is true, the fact remains that the number one
source of numbers in the Wiccan ranks, are the young.
In our postmodern world where moral absolutes
are disparaged and truth statements are doubted, Wicca
fits right in. It offers a subjective religious experience that
is aided by your own invention. Wicca is the religion of
nature worship, of gods and goddesses, of spells and
incantations designed to bring influence upon
circumstances and/or people.
Youth sometimes get lost in that transition between
childhood and adulthood, and often do not know what
direction to go to find truth and meaning. But this does not

239

stop them from trying. They seek to identify with groups,

music, causes, and philosophies. It helps to give them
purpose, meaning, and identity. So too with Wicca. It is a
world religion based upon ancient agrarian religious belief
out of northern Europe that allows them to cater their
beliefs and practices to their own desires. How satisfying!
Think about it. There is an attraction to the idea that you
can construct a religious system that suits your
preferences and use that system to gain control and
influence. That is why many of the youth of today are
joining up with it.

WICCA AND THE YOUTH

https://carm.org/religious-movements/wicca/wiccaand-youth

WHAT IS WICCA? IS WICCA WITCHCRAFT?

www.gotquestions.org/Wicca.html

WICCA
https://carm.org/wicca
WICCA AND PAGANISM
http://www.christiananswers.net/evangelism/beliefs/wicca
.html

WICCA: WHAT'S THE FASCINATION?

http://www.cbn.com/entertainment/books/elliottb_wicca.a
spx

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL WITH WICCA?

http://seanmcdowell.org/media/articles/061031.asp

WHY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO WICCA

http://www.equip.org/PDF/JAW180.pdf

HIDDEN TRAPS OF WICCA

www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/teens/hiddentraps-of-wicca

A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO WICCA

www.contenderministries.org/wicca/response.php

WHATS WRONG WITH WICCA?

www.equip.org/bible_answers/whats-wrong-with-wicca
240

PROTECTING YOUR TEEN FROM TODAY'S WICCA

www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/protecting-yourteen-from-todays-wicca-1363841.html

SHARING WITH WICCANS

www.dare2share.org/worldviews/wiccans
This last link is not a Christian website, but the article shows
the impression some Christians have left on the author of this article
and some of the commenters. This is a good reminder to all of us
how important our character is and the negative impression we will
leave with others when we exhibit non-Christian characteristics. I
think it is also a good illustration showing how others will be less
open to considering the truths of Christianity if they feel weve been
disrespectful to beliefs they hold to be true. Something tells me that
the Christians the author references werent using questions from
the TACTICS section.

THE 10 MOST ANNOYING THINGS CHRISTIANS SAY TO PAGANS,

WITCHES, & WICCANS
http://modernalchemyst.hubpages.com/hub/The-10-Most-Annoying-ThingsChristians-Say-to-Pagans-Witches-Wiccans

241

8. SALVATION
He who created us without our help will not save us
without our consent. Augustine
Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth
dying for; to make them worth it. C.S. Lewis

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING?

Why is salvation necessary?
Why do I need to accept Christ to be saved?
Cant I just be good enough?
If Jesus paid for my sins, arent they forgiven
even if I dont decide to accept His gift?
________________________
Ive included this section on salvation because some of the
specific details about salvation throughout this guide might not have
been clear and because they might not have been referenced in
complete context. Also, since the details are located at different
locations throughout this guide, it might be difficult to gain a wellrounded understanding of the subject.
If you didnt have a clear understanding of the concept of
Salvation before reading this guide hopefully you have a more
accurate understanding now. If you still are not very sure, Ive
attempted in this section to present the concept as completely and
logically as I can. Hopefully you will then have a fairly complete
understanding of the subject.
In a nutshell, we are sinners because we have violated the
just laws of our infinite creator God. Our sin has damaged the
relationship God originally established with us and wants to have
again. God has made a way to resolve this damage by sending his
Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for the sin weve committed.
Jesus Christ freely chose to allow Himself to be sacrificed on the
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cross to fulfill the payment penalty for our sin. If we decide to accept
this gift He offers, we will spend eternity in a relationship with Him.
If we dont accept the gift He offers, we will spend eternity in a
location separated from Him. Our desire to live our lives consistent
with Gods desires is the evidence of our having truly accepted his
gift. Will we still fail? Yes, but our desire will be to live for Him.
One of the most important things we can do is to have a
good understanding of the meaning of the words in the Bible.
Misunderstanding the meanings of words in the Bible will cause us
to misunderstand the Bible. When I was young and would ask my
dad what a word meant, he would ask me to read the sentence the
word was in so that he could see how the word was used. Words
frequently have different meanings depending on how they are
used. When you see all the ways a word is used, it gives much
better understanding of that word.
A Concordance is a tool for studying the Bible, which allows
you to see all the verses that contain a particular word. This allows
you to get a very good understanding of the full Biblical meaning of
a word used in the Bible.
Online Concordance: www.biblesuite.com
Another good Bible tool site: www.openbible.info
This section on salvation is similar in that we will look at
many verses which speak to the subject of Salvation, so that we
gain a more complete understanding of the way the Bible means
SALVATION. Like the term TRINITY though, there are verses which
dont use the word SALVATION. Even so, the concept is taught in
the verses. These verses will show why salvation is necessary,
what Christ did to provide it, and how to receive it. I have used a
series of questions Ive wondered about when younger or heard
people ask as the framework to provide the information on the
different aspects of salvation.
I believe that most of us have initially thought that our
Salvation was based upon how GOOD we were, and how many
GOOD WORKS we had done. We initially thought that God would
then weigh our works to see whether our GOOD outweighs our BAD,
and if our GOOD outweighed our BAD, we would go to Heaven.
243

Without any other information to bring us to a different

conclusion, thinking this way would seem reasonable considering
most of our experiences. So many aspects of our lives are based
upon what weve done or not done. Just think about some of the
questions you probably hear, or have heard if you are living with
your parent(s) or guardian in your household: Did you clean your
room?, Did you do your homework?, and How did you do
on your test?
As an adult, we hear questions like, Did you make the
deposit?, Did you make the payment?, Did you get the
documents in the mail? Depending on your answer, the
subsequent results can be either positive or negative.
With only our reasoning to go by, its natural to conclude that
with Salvation, God will judge us by what we have done or have not
done. However, the Bible is the reference we need to use. When
we consider what the Bible says, we see Gods perspective on
Salvation, which really is the only perspective that matters.
Ive tried to think of many of the questions that one might
have about salvation and answer them using the Bible. Since the
Bible shows such great evidence as being from God, we can have
confidence in what it states as being the perspective of God. In the
end, we each need to answer the question we looked at earlier in
this guide as related to salvation, Will we make the Bible flexible
to our beliefs, or will we make our beliefs flexible to the Bible?

WHY IS SALVATION NECESSARY?

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and

proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 Timothy 6:15-16 He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the
King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who
dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can
see.
In these verses we see some of the characteristics of God.
Its important to remind ourselves regularly, myself included, of just
a few of the characteristics of this God who desires a relationship
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with us. These presentations will provide you with greater insight
into this truly Awesome God the Bible communicates to us.
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD LOUIE GIGLIO
www.youtube.com/watch?v=azFFc20_Ub4
INDESCRIBABLE LOUIE GIGLIO
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNgJhuICrVA
To keep things in perspective, Louie Giglios first
presentation just barely covers our own Milky Way Galaxy. The
second presentation expands coverage to a very small area of the
universe. In the Evidences section, I listed a link for the Hubble
Ultra Deep Field. An absolutely breathtaking picture taken of an
area of the sky smaller than the visible moon, showing an incredible
4000 of the 100 Billion Galaxies estimated to exist, with each galaxy
having an average of 100 Billion stars. The creator of this incredible
universe is the God we have offended with our sin. His is the God
the Bible indicates.
Are you starting to feel a little insignificant? Me too. And
yet, as insignificant as we might consider ourselves, this
incomprehensible God loves us so much that He would die on the
Cross to pay the sin debt that we owe.
Do you think of this awe-Inspiring God in the way that these
presentations and the Hubble Ultra Deep Field show Him to be?
According to the Law of Cause and Effect, this God has more
power than the entire Universe, all 100+ billion galaxies of 100+
billion stars in each galaxy, and created it from nothing. He knows
everything and exists everywhere. And to think, he probably
created the entire universe for no other reason than to demonstrate
His power and glory.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

This is the God we have offended with our sin. Is it more
understandable now how our sin is viewed by this perfect God?
As the verses below the first question indicate, God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all and dwells in unapproachable
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light. God cannot share his presence with sin and so he cannot
exist with us in our current condition because we are sinful. This
is why he provided a way of salvation through Christ, so that we
would have the incredible privilege to spend eternity with him in
heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake God made Christ to be sin who

knew no sin, so that in Christ we might become the righteousness of

God.

WHY

CANT GOD JUST FORGIVE OUR SIN?

NEED TO BE A PRICE FOR SIN?

WHY

DOES THERE

Some have wondered why God couldnt just forgive our sin.
After all, if he is God, cant he do anything? Remember, just
because God is all powerful this doesnt mean that he can do
anything. Some issues cant be solved by power.
Think about God as a judge. The Bible refers to him as a
RIGHTEOUS JUDGE: Psalm 7:11 God is a righteous judge, and a
God who feels indignation every day. Think for a moment about
someone committing a horrendous crime against you or one of your
loved ones or friends. Now think about the person being caught
and standing before the judge. How would you feel if the judge
decided to let them go without any sentence simply because the
person hadnt done anything wrong before? If the judge released
them would you feel that the judge was a RIGHTEOUS judge or would
you consider them a terrible judge? If God is a righteous judge he
must judge sin and require a penalty, because to not do so would
mean that he wasnt a righteous judge.
An illustration Ive heard as to what Jesus does is that of a
owning a very expensive collectible car in mint condition. Think
about owning such a car. Would you own a classic collectable, or
a new exotic?
Now, suppose you let a friend drive it and they got into a
major accident that caused major body and structural damage?
You can forgive them but what is still required? The car still needs
to be repaired and a payment has to be made to repair that damage.
If you pay for the damage you have effectively paid the debt they
owed.
246

Think about the word Savior. If Jesus is Savior, doesnt that

mean that he saves us from something? Our SIN has caused
infinite damage to the relationship we have with God. There is a
price to repair this damage, an infinite price, which is far too great
for us to pay. Only Christ is qualified to pay the price but it costs
his death on the cross. If we dont choose to humble ourselves and
accept his payment we are left to our own ability to pay for our sin.
Since we are unable to pay such a price for our sin debt we are
destined for an eternity separated from God.
As mentioned earlier, hell is a place God created for Satan
and the demons where God is not present. So the only location
God can send those who reject Christs sacrifice on the cross where
they are separated from God is hell.

IS SIN REALLY THAT BAD, AND WHY DOES GOD HATE SIN?
Isaiah 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation between

you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so
that he does not hear.
Sin takes many forms. It can be aggressive as in rape and
murder. It can be passive as when we do not do what is right
and let others suffer. Sin can take the form of
misrepresentation so that such things as adultery is called
an affair, Homosexuality is called an alternative lifestyle,
and abortion is called the right to choose.
http://carm.org/why-god-hates-sin

We need to remember that SIN IS all the things we do and

dont do which are the OPPOSITE OF WHAT GOD DESIRES. The reason
God desires that we dont sin is because sin goes against Gods
very nature. Because of this, it ultimately damages our relationship
with Him and with others. How close would you feel to someone
who has lied to you or stolen from you? You would probably be
very hesitant to have any kind of relationship with them. Thats what
our sin does to our relationship with God.
Why is Sin so Bad?
http://odb.org/2005/04/14/why-is-sin-so-bad

247

DOES EVERYONE NEED SALVATION?

Romans 3:10 as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of

God.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through

one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men
because all sinned
The verses indicate NONE and ALL, not many or most. It is
clear that everyone has sinned and has failed to live up to Gods
standard. If there was any doubt of our tendency to sin we need
only look to Adam and Eve in The Garden of Eden, in Genesis. We
see that Adam and Eve failed only having one command to follow.
Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil you shall not eat.
They couldnt even do that. They couldnt even follow just one
command. If they couldnt keep from violating just one command
then what hope is there for us to keep most of Gods commands?
No hope at all. Considering this fact as confirmed by the SELFCHECK section, its pretty easy to see that everyone has sinned and
needs salvation.
I believe God has shown us through the example of Adam
and Eve that even if there were only one command, each of us
would eventually violate the command, showing our true need for
his gift of salvation.

WHY DID GOD CREATE US IF HE KNEW WE WOULD SIN AND THAT

OUR SIN WOULD REQUIRE JESUS CHRISTS DEATH?
God knew that to create us with free will to choose Him
would also mean that we would have the ability to not choose Him.
Without free will we couldnt choose to love him. He did all this
knowing that it would require the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and
knowing this before he ever created us. He did this for His glory,
which he must have felt was worth the sacrifice.

248

Why Did God Create Man Knowing He Would Sin?

http://kirkcameron.com/god-create-man-knowing-sin

If God knew that Adam and Eve would sin, why did He create them?
http://www.gotquestions.org/if-God-knew-Adam-Evesin.html
Ultimately, God created us to bring glory to himself.
Everything God does, everything He doesnt do, everything He
allows or doesnt allow, is ultimately for His glory. Even the
punishment of sin brings Him Glory, because He is glorified in His
righteousness. He created all 100 billion galaxies out of nothing for
His glory. He has created us for His own glory! And he has
provided the opportunity for salvation to all so that He will be
glorified.
Isaiah 43:6-7 Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the

end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created

for my glory.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GLORIFY GOD?
www.gotquestions.org/glorify-God.html

ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD

http://founders.org/fj56/all-to-the-glory-of-god

LIVING TO THE GLORY OF GOD

www.prca.org/sermons/I_Cor_10-31.htm

DOES GOD WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAVED?

Some have claimed that God only saves some and doesnt
want everyone to be saved. What does the Bible indicate as what
Gods desire for our salvation is?
1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God

our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
The unfortunate truth, is that since we have free will to
choose or reject God, some will choose to reject Him and His gift.
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HAS CHRIST PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY OF SALVATION TO EVERYONE?

1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all
1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours

only but also for the sins of the whole world.

These verses show that His sacrifice on the cross is enough
to pay the price for all the sin of everyone who has lived or will ever
live. There is an acronym using the word GRACE which illustrates
this idea.
GODS RICHES AT CHRISTS EXPENSE
Through the
expense Christ paid on the cross we have the opportunity to receive
the riches of God, eternal life with Him for all eternity.
It is important to realize though, that even though Christs
death on the cross is sufficient to pay the price everyone owes for
the sin we all commit, that doesnt mean that everyone is saved.
Only those who have truly accepted his payment will receive it.
John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his

name, he gave the right to become children of God

CAN WE BE GOOD ENOUGH THAT GOD THINKS US RIGHTEOUS?
Romans 3:10 as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one
Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in
Gods sight by the works of the Law; rather, through the Law we
become aware of our sin.
Isaiah 64:6 all our righteous acts are like filthy rags
Most of us have looked to our own works as a justification
for our goodness. While this does apply somewhat in this life in our
relationship with others it doesnt apply to Gods requirement for
entrance into Heaven. I used to think that the Bible showed me how
GOOD I could be and thus be GOOD enough to go to Heaven.
Romans 3:20 clearly shows that the Bible doesnt show me how
good I can be but how bad I truly am and have been.
Romans 3:10 and first part of Romans 3:20 show that none
of us are righteous, nor can be made that way though our own
efforts.
250

Romans 3:20 shows that rather than a GOAL to reach, the

Bible shows GODS PERFECT STANDARD, and shows me how far
short I am of his standard. Think about driving on a road without a
speed limit sign and thinking the speed limit is 55mph and driving
at 55. When you finally see a speed limit sign, and it reads 15mph.
You now see the standard and you then realize how far away from
it you are.
Where this illustration falls short is that while our speed can
be adjusted on the road, our ability to meet Gods standard can
never reach his requirement. The Bible shows how far below Gods
standard each of us are. As in the SELF-CHECK section, we only
need to look to the 10 Commandments. Have we ever taken
anything that wasnt ours regardless of the value? Have we ever
lied about anything or anyone, even if a very small lie? You get the
picture.
And if we had any remaining thought that we could possibly
be good enough our entire life, the following verse should clear up
any confusion.
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one

point, is guilty of breaking it all

We only need to sin once in our entire lifetime to be guilty
before God. The only person who accomplished not sinning their
entire human life was Jesus. This is one of the ways he proved that
He was God and why he is the only one qualified to pay the price
for our sin.

IF IM GUILTY OF SIN, WHAT PUNISHMENT DO I DESERVE?

Romans 6:23a The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God, is

eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord

Wages are what we earn for the work we do. So The wages
of sin is death means that what Ive earned for the sin I commit is
death which the Bible defines as eternal separation from God in
hell.
The verse also states, But the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ Can you earn a gift? No. Think about giving
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someone a gift and as you are handing it to them they try to pay
you for it. Would you feel that their attempt to pay you was a
compliment or an insult? An insult of course!
This is the same with God. If we try to earn the gift he offers,
through our good works, we insult God. We are essentially saying,
Jesus dying on the cross wasnt enough to pay for my sin. I
need to do something. This is the typical human reaction. We
have difficulty accepting something of great value, when its given
without strings or if we havent earned it. If we feel we did
something we feel more worthy of what has been given to us.
Romans 6:23a also states, Eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord, and NOT through Jesus Christ our Lord after all we can
do. Since Jesus is God He is the only one qualified to pay the
price for my sin. And since it states through Jesus Christ our Lord
it only applies if Jesus Christ IS our Lord.
James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the

demons believeand shudder!

Satan and the demons recognize Jesus Christ as Lord but
they arent going to heaven are they? Because to them Christ is
THE Lord, but He is not their Lord. So just believing that God exists
doesnt get anyone to heaven.

IF JESUS

PAID THE PRICE FOR MY SIN, AND MY GOOD WORKS DONT

COUNT AT ALL, WHY DO I NEED TO BE GOOD AND DO GOOD WORKS?

James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also

faith apart from works is dead.

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep my commands
John 15:5,8 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides
in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me
you can do nothing. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear
much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
When we choose to do works that please God we show that
we value the price Christ paid for our salvation. Our living for Christ
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is not to earn our salvation but to show evidence of us choosing

Christs payment for our sin.
If I say Ive been saved by Christ but my life doesnt
show any evidence, (my works and lifestyle), its easy to conclude
that my statement is just words and not what Ive really chosen.
John 14:15 If you love Me, keep my commands. If I dont
keep his commands, it is proof that I dont love him and have not
been saved by him.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified,

and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

1 Samuel 16:7 For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on
the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
When we tell someone something, they can only determine
the truthfulness of our statement by what weve said and then by
our actions. But God can see into our heart and our true motives.
Remember my example of the penalty in a jury trial? When a
defendant is found guilty our justice system typically determines the
severity of the penalty based on the motivation of the defendant. In
the examples given previously showing the two news stories about
the two different deaths, one was an accident and the other was
premeditated. The trials resulted in very different outcomes. Since
God knows everything and is outside of time, He not only knows
our motivations, He knows our motivations before our first thought!
God offers the gift of eternal life to us, not because of what
weve done but because of what Christ did on the cross for us. And
our going to heaven comes down to whether or not weve decided
to accept his payment for our sin. How we live our life proves if
weve truly accepted His gift or if our claim was just words we said.

CAN I REALLY KNOW IVE ACCEPTED CHRISTS GIFT, AND AM SAVED,

AND CAN I LOOSE MY SALVATION IF I SIN REALLY BAD?
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name

of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish,
and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
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God not only offers us the gift of salvation but also the
knowledge that if we are truly saved we can be fully confident in that
salvation. If Christ paid an infinite price to guarantee my eternal
destination, God wont let anything affect his investment.
Ive learned that if weve truly accepted Christs payment for
our sin, God gives us the confidence that our salvation is secure.
This way we can quit wasting time worrying about whether or not
we are saved and invest our time reaching others with the message
of Gods gift of salvation.
Salvation means that Christ has paid for our sin.
Unfortunately, in this life, salvation doesnt mean that we no longer
sin. We certainly will sin but our lifestyle wont be to sin.
1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and

the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If
we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not
in us.
Christ will forgive us of our sin if we have decided to accept
his gift of salvation, but his forgiveness doesnt necessarily remove
the consequences or our sin. As an example, if a Christian drives
drunk and injures or kills someone Christ will forgive this sin, but the
Christian is still subject to the penalties and punishments of the laws
of the land.
Another saying I like in reference to sin is, Sin will keep
you from the Bible, or the Bible will keep you from sin. Are
you regularly reading your Bible? Also, as 1 John 1:8-10 indicates,
we will all continue to sin. However if we are truly saved God will
not allow us to remain comfortable in our sin.

DOESNT GOD WANT ME TO GET MY LIFE ON TRACK FIRST?

Romans 5:8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still

sinners, Christ died for us.

God showed his love for us, he didnt just tell us, He proved
it by dying on the cross. And he did this before we could do anything
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for him. while we were still sinners this part of the verse shows
that God didnt wait for us to get better. He died for us while we
were still sinners. And He did this knowing that many of those he
died for will never choose to accept Him.
Salvation and the Work of Christ An in-depth study
http://godswordforyou.com/bible-studies/salvation-and-thework-of-christ.html

IF JESUS PAID FOR MY SINS, ARENT I

DONT DECIDE TO ACCEPT HIS GIFT?

FORGIVEN EVEN IF

Some may come to the conclusion from the two following

verses that they will be saved even if they dont decide to accept
Christs payment for their sin on the cross:
1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all
1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours

only but also for the sins of the whole world.

When only one or two verses are considered, its easy to
come to an inaccurate conclusion. That is why it is important to
consider many verses when researching a subject in the Bible. And
can there be a more important subject to have a correct
understanding of than Salvation? Lets look at a few other verses
which give additional insight.
John 5:40 you refuse to come to me that you may have life
Luke 13:23-24 And someone said to him, Lord, will those who

are saved be few? And he said to them, Strive to enter through

the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will
not be able.
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in
your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then
will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you
workers of lawlessness.
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And the verse we saw earlier:

John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his

name, he gave the right to become children of God

As we can see, there are people who will not enter the
kingdom of heaven. God actually indicates that he doesnt know
them. And this is even after a plea on the part of some that they
were doing his will.
It seems that those making the plea that they were doing
Gods will have decided on their own what Gods will is. Could it be
that since they are pointing to things theyve done, they are trying
to receive Gods gift through their own works? As weve already
seen, it is an insult to God for us to think that anything we do
provides any justification for us to go to Heaven. God paid the
infinite price and he will not allow anyone to take credit for what He
has done. If He is God and has paid in infinite price, He has every
right to take credit for his work.
The first verse above, John 5:40, clearly indicates that some
will refuse to come to Him. Remember, he will not force anyone to
choose Him. He respects a persons freedom of choice. It is only
those who decide to follow Gods will and accept Christs payment
on the cross for their sin, and then prove their choice by living for
Him who will be saved.
Lastly, think of God offering a pardon for your sin because
of Christs sacrifice on the cross. You still have to make the decision
to accept his pardon or else it doesnt apply. Until recently, if a
criminal sentenced to death was pardoned they still had to accept
the pardon, otherwise the sentence was carried out. This link shows
an event in history where someone refused a pardon.
The Man Who Refused the Pardon
http://members.core.com/~lpm8998/man_who_refused.htm
In the end, it ultimately comes down to who or what we will
place at the center of our lives, who or what we will choose to
worship and follow. Some will say that they dont worship anything,
but in reality we all worship, regardless of our belief in the existence
of a God. For each of us there is something that drives us that gives
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our lives meaning. Whether power, influence, money, sex, God, or

something else; we all worship something.
Everyone Worships Something
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUnoaMp5k58
Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mK65lpveSM
David Warner Wallace - Anything Else You Worship
Will Eat You Alive - This is the author referenced in Tim
Kellers Counterfeit Gods presentation at 14:25
www.afaithtoliveby.com/2011/09/21/anything-else-youworship-will-eat-you-alive-what-david-fosterwallace-came-to-see
The most important part of his speech is the following
segment. He proves to be very insightful.
Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to
worship. And the compelling reason for maybe choosing
some sort of god or spiritual-type thing to worship be
it JC or Allah, be it YHWH or the Wiccan Mother Goddess,
or the Four Noble Truths, or some inviolable set of ethical
principles is that pretty much anything else you
worship will eat you alive.
If you worship money and things, if they are where you
tap real meaning in life, then you will never have enough,
never feel you have enough. Its the truth.
Worship your body and beauty and sexual allure and you
will always feel ugly. And when time and age start
showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally
grieve you.
Worship power, you will end up feeling weak and afraid,
and you will need ever more power over others to numb
you to your own fear.
Worship your intellect, being seen as smart, you will end
up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being
found out.
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But the insidious thing about these forms of worship is

not that theyre evil or sinful, its that theyre
unconscious. They are default settings. [] And the socalled real world will not discourage you from operating
on your default settings, because the so-called real world
of men and money and power hums merrily along in a
pool of fear and anger and frustration and craving and
worship of self.
The very sad reality is that three years after he gave this
presentation he committed suicide. What do you suppose it was
that ate him alive? The following verse shows the same futility and
was written over two thousand years ago.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 "He who loves money will not be satisfied with

money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is
vanity."
I Am Second - www.iamsecond.com
This site shows individuals who give their video testimonies.
Some are well-known celebrities you may have seen before. They
tell in their testimonies about an issue they dealt with and the pain
caused by that issue, and how God met them and their decision to
turn to him. If you have or are currently experiencing a similar
situation, I hope you find inspiration in their experiences. If Christ
loved you so much to Die on the cross for your sin He wants to
reach you in your situation and provide healing in your pain. All you
need to do is to call to him and ask him.

SO WHAT NOW?
Romans 10:9-10 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is

Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified,
and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
If you are a not a Christian and you have gone through this
guide and particularly this section, you have a decision to make.
You can accept the information and make the decision to accept
the gift Christ offers. Or you can reject Christs gift and Him having
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first priority in your life. Youll continue going in the direction youve
been going, that direction which all of us were headed, which
eventually leads to an eternal separation from him.
God will not force you to choose Him. He has done
everything possible for you to be saved, but the decision is still
yours. If you dont want to spend eternity with God and with Jesus
Christ as your Lord and Savior, he will not force you.
If you have reached the point of making a decision to accept
Christs priceless gift of salvation, and you have chosen to live for
him and not yourself anymore, you can pray the following prayer to
God. It comes from the following webpage. I recommend reading
the entire page. Remember, God knows your heart and motivation
before you pray.
Prayer of Salvation
www.allaboutgod.com/prayer-of-salvation.htm
Father, I know that I have broken your laws
and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly
sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful
life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid
sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ
died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is
alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become
the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from
this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help
me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my
life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Paul Washer states, It doesn't matter whether or not you
know Jesus. It does matter whether or not Jesus knows you.
To better illustrate this, he indicates that it is not a matter of us
going up to the Whitehouse and saying that we know the
President that is what allows us in, it is a matter of the
president saying that he knows us.
When it comes to Salvation, you have only two choices; to
accept the payment Christ made for the sin you have committed
and meet Jesus Christ in this life as Savior, or to try to pay yourself
for the infinite debt owed and meet Christ after this life as a
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righteous Judge. The choice is completely up to you, and I hope

after reading through this guide, you realize the importance of this
decision, and the implications of each choice.

CLOSING THOUGHTS
I hope you have found value in the information in this guide
and in the resources listed in the following section and throughout.
If you are a Christian, I hope you now have a better
understanding of the incomprehensible God we worship. I hope
you also have a better understanding of what it means to be a
Christian, and that this guide has helped correct any misinformation
you formerly believed as true. I hope this guide has also shown you
the value of being able to provide evidences for the truths of
Christianity you believe, and that has provided you with a stressfree and skillful method of sharing the Gospel message with others.
I hope you also realize a much greater confidence in what you
believe, and feel that you can be much more capable in defending
your faith to those challenging what you believe, and correcting
misinformation.
If you havent accepted the claims of Christianity, I hope the
information and resources in this guide have shown that Christianity
is worth investigating, not because Christians hope that it is true,
but because of the abundance of evidence to confirm it. If you are
in this last group, I hope this information motivates you to seriously
consider these numerous evidences for the truths of Christianity,
and the implications for your life and where you will spend eternity.
Thank you again for your time in reading through this guide
and considering the information, and may God bless you for it.
Hugo Schraer

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9. RESOURCES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

This last section provides resources to enable you to research
further, as well as other websites to check additional topics not covered
in the previous sections.
I have found many of the included websites while performing
searches on the topics for this guide. The information at the links
indicated seemed accurate and Biblical, and applicable for what I was
looking for, to add to this guide. However, I have not been able to
check every topic at every site. As mentioned earlier, be like the
Berean Jews and check everything by the Bible. That is the best way
to be sure what you are learning is true.
I encourage you to support the ministries which you find have
provided resources and information to strengthen your knowledge and
confidence in Christianity, and increased your ability to respond to the
challenges to Christianity. If you are unable to support them financially,
please pray for them.

* GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN
As a Christian student you not only need knowledge in what
you believe and why but you also need to have resources to grow as
a Christian. If you are a Christian are you growing? Do you find
yourself at the same maturity level in your walk and knowledge level
on Biblical subjects as you were a year ago? If so, youre probably not
growing.
As Christians, we will never exhaust the knowledge we can
learn, and since God is eternal I believe it will take an eternity to learn
of Him. One of my greatest anticipations when I pass from this life, is
to a great memory too!
As Christians we usually gain the greatest satisfaction when
we are in the will of God, and also being used of God. Jay Wegter
emphasizes in Every Mans Battle Pt1 at 51:12 the character and
qualities of the man God will use.
Every Mans Battle - Jay Wegter
Pt1 www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=32008027544

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Since the recording is focused specifically on pornography and men,

the audience he is speaking to when this was recorded is men.
Women can also benefit from the characteristics and illustration he
indicates.
Jay quotes 2 Timothy 2:21-22 Therefore, if anyone cleanses
himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use,
set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good
work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and
peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Jay
states, God wants to use you, but God uses clean vessels. And
perhaps some of you could be more useful of you were more
clean.
Jay then recalls when in Bible College and sharing a house
with four other men. When he was real thirsty he went to get a drink
of water he found every glass was dirty in a sink of greasy water. He
then went to the cupboard and found a clean peanut butter jar and
used that to drink the water. Jay uses this story to effectively illustrate
how God will pass on using what might seem the most appropriate
vessel, if the vessel is contaminated with the filth of this world. God
will use the most humble Christian, if they are serious about being
cleansed from the filth of this world, so that they can be:

a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful

to the master of the house, ready for every good work
I hope these sites will provide you with great tools to grow in
your Christian life.
www.growingchristians.org
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cncEhCvrVgQ
www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/growing-in-christ.htm
https://bible.org/series/abcs-christian-growth-layingfoundation
www.worldwidechallenge.org/stories/christian-growth
www.gospel.com/topics/christian+growth
www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/sermons-about-christiangrowth.asp

Paul Washer: (there are many links to other great sermons by Paul Washer)
The Importance of Prayer for Christians
www.youtube.com/watch?v=53P-L7wu4h0
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Do you see God working on your life?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxzRXb0fHik
Do You Bear Fruit? (John 15)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbeT5Aef0_I
Too many believe that God will make our lives HAPPY simply
because we are Christians and have accepted Christ. It is important to
remember that Gods goal for our lives is holiness not happiness. If
you consider the idea of HAPPINESS, what is it that makes you happy?
Before we were Christians, what we wanted was what brought us
happiness. If you are a Christian, your heart and desires should begin
to be changed so that what God wants to do in your life is what brings
Him happiness. He wants the life of a Christian to be holy, and he is
willing to use circumstances which cause pain and discomfort in our
lives, if necessary, to bring that holiness. Our happiness should be the
result of the holiness we are developing for God. Our happiness is
achieved in our growing in knowledge of Jesus and a growing
relationship with Him.
Leviticus 11:45 You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
1 Corinthians 6:20 For you were bought with a price. So glorify

God in your body.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your

sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

* THE BIBLE
Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the
problems men face. Ronald Reagan
"Sin will keep you from this Book or this Book will keep you
from sin" D.L. Moody
"A thorough understanding of the BIBLE is better than a college
education" Theodore Roosevelt
"Here then, is the real problem of our negligence. We fail in our
duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to
understand, no so much because it is dull and boring, but
because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or
lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy." R.C. Sproul

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The most important resource you will ever have as a

Christian is the Bible. It is the very INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.
Nothing else is. All of the information and websites included in this
guide and all of the reasoning and arguments indicated are listed
here to eliminate the barriers to your confidence in the Bible and the
God of the Bible, and to be able to respond to challenges you
encounter. Only the verses listed are the INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.
The information in this guide is important for that purpose and for
the purpose of us helping to break down the barriers to others
accepting the truths of Christianity, accepting the Bible, and coming
to accept Christs payment for their sin. This guide and other
resources are not the Bible and they should not replace your time
in Gods Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is

useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in

righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work."
Notice, it doesnt say, All Christian Websites and Apologetics
Guides, etc. are God-breathed, but All Scripture
This link will take you to additional verses about the
importance of Scripture in each our lives.
www.allabouttruth.org/all-scripture-is-inspired-of-god-andbeneficial-faq.htm
I bring up the importance of keeping the Bible as your
primary resource, because when learning EVIDENCES and
ARGUMENTS, some will get caught up in the excitement of learning
the information. Finding apologetic information becomes their
priority. Their primary desire becomes wanting to learn more
evidences and arguments, and not Gods Word. I know this can
happen because it happened to me. Learning evidences and
arguments is important, but dont let it replace your time in the
Word. The following tools should enable you to improve your
reading and study of GODS WORD. In addition to these tools, there
are many apps for your phone.
BIBLE READING
www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan
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www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/?version=esv
NEVER READ A BIBLE VERSE Greg Koukl
http://www.str.org/articles/never-read-a-bible-verse
BIBLE STUDY AND EDUCATION
http://bibleresources.org/how-to-study-bible
www.biblestudy.org
http://biblestudylessons.com
www.biblestudytools.com
www.biblicaltraining.org
www.free-bible-study.org/bible-study-links.html
http://freebibleseminary.net
www.gotquestions.org
www.openbible.info/topics
www.summit.org/resources/summit-lecture-series/archive
www.trinitytheology.org
BIBLE MEMORIZATION
www.pursuinglife.com/biblememory.php
http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/tips/scripturememorization-11634857.html
www.memverse.com
www.free-online-bible-study.com/memorize-bible-verses.html
GRACE CHAPEL BIBLE INSTITUTE Grace Chapels excellent Bible Class
http://gclancaster.com/index.php/audio-2/serieslist/ministry/8
Gods Promises in the Bible
www.intouch.org/you/gods-promises
www.smilegodlovesyou.org/promises.html
www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/gods-promises.aspx
Devotionals
www.devotionalsforteens.blogspot.com
www.365promises.com

* CHURCH
One of the most important things you can do as a Christian
is to be involved with a Bible believing church which provides solid
teaching of the Bible. Ive heard more than a few Christians state
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that they dont need to go to church. From the standpoint of being

saved by Jesus payment for our sin and our going to an eternity in
Heaven, that is true. Others mistakenly believe that attending a
church makes one a Christian. Going through the previous
Salvation section should effectively answer that belief.
Even though salvation doesnt require it, being involved at a
healthy Biblical church provides significant benefits as a Christian.
It provides the opportunity to assemble with others of similar
mindset, be encouraged by them, and provide a resource for
learning and growing as a Christian. It also provides an opportunity
to serve and be accountable in our Christian life. Without this
connection to a healthy church, the distractions of the world give us
a distorted view of life and what is really important.
Why should Christians go to church? How important is it?
http://christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t009.html
6 Wonderful Benefits Of Church Membership
http://christianpf.com/benefits-of-church-membership
The life benefits of regular church attendance
www.sundaysoftware.com/stats.htm

* PRAYER
In regards to prayer, you may have thought the following:
If God knows everything and will exercise his will
anyway, what is the purpose in praying?
While there are examples of God answering the prayers of
those in the Bible making requests of Him, you may be surprised to
learn that the purpose of prayer isnt primarily to get what we want.
The primary purpose of prayer is to align our thinking with God, and
keep us focusing on His will rather than our own. It is to show our
reliance on Him and recognize His authority in our lives.
As with anything Biblical, when we look to gain greater
knowledge its important to make sure the information we are
relying on to form our conclusions lines up with the Bible. Acts
17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than

those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great

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eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul
said was true.
It is important to remember with prayer that God does not
always answer in our time, nor in the way that we want him to. God
knows everything, sees the entire picture, and has all knowledge
and wisdom to be able to do the absolute best. When thinking about
God answering prayer, the answer may not be Yes, and it may
not be No. The answer may simply be, Not now.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIANS

www.youtube.com/watch?v=53P-L7wu4h0
http://intouch.org/watch/new-believer/why-pray-what-is-prayerfor-all-things
http://lifeteen.com/why-pray-truth-prayer
http://studentsoul.intervarsity.org/why-pray
www.oneplace.com/ministries/love-worthfinding/read/articles/since-god-knows-everything-whyshould-we-pray-9549.html
www.wycliffe.org/prayer/why-we-pray
www.monergism.com/topics/prayer/sovereignty-god-prayer
www.gotquestions.org/why-pray.html
www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/faith_in_life/prayer/pray
er_has_its_reasons.aspx
www.allaboutprayer.org/why-should-we-pray.htm
www.allaboutprayer.org/why-pray-faq.htm

* TEMPTATION
Carm.org has one of the best single-sentence definitions for
temptation. The definition is broad, but very simple:

TEMPTATION IS THAT WHICH MOVES US TO SIN

https://carm.org/dictionary-temptation
Philip De Courcys audio series mentions that many times
the temptation is for something legitimate, but Satan will encourage
us to fulfill the temptation illegitimately with the wrong person,
in the wrong way, or at the wrong time. For those things that
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are legitimate, acquiring them becomes sin when we try to obtain

them outside the will of God, when we try to obtain them OUR WAY
instead of HIS WAY.
Is using credit sin? It depends. When we at times have a
need to use it to perform a major repair of a vehicle, or even the
replacement of a vehicle or other legitimate and necessary
purchase, it isnt sin. However, when we knowingly use credit to
gain things that are wants and not needs and that we cant afford
those things it would be. Is having a lot of money bad? Not
necessarily. Then why are aspects of Gambling sin? Ive
mentioned to our sons that some people like to play cards and like
to gamble. If they gamble with their goal not being to try to win lots
of money but that they consider it entertainment, like going out to
dinner and a movie, and they budget a certain amount to do that, it
would not be considered sin.
I remember when our sons were young our family stayed at
a hotel which had a casino, I thought of a teaching moment. Before
we went in, I told them that we would need to walk through part of
the casino section to get to the elevator to go to our room. I told
them, When we go through the casino, look at the faces of all of
the people you can see who are gambling and see if those people
are smiling. The found out very quickly that none of the people
they could see were smiling. I told them that the commercials you
see of people gambling and smiling and excited are not what is true
of almost everyone who gambles, and the beautiful architecture and
fountains were paid for by the money people lost gambling.
Temptation often has the appearance of being innocent,
with that temptation to obtain what is desired distorting our ability to
see the sin within the temptation. Because of this characteristic of
TEMPTATION, we usually dont recognize the potential sin until after
we have fallen for it. They kind of sneak up on us. Since the
temptation starts out subtle, we dont notice as it grows and
becomes harder for us to control until its too late.
How many married individuals have allowed an innocent
work relationship to turn into adultery and ruin their marriage?
Many who have had this happen comment that they felt blindsided
and that it took them completely by surprise.
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Many temptations start out seemingly innocent and subtle,

and some even noble. There have been those with the desire to
make money to help others with the money, and then found
themselves consumed with the desire to just make more money.
With the temptation for more, the desire changed from helping
others to simply making more money.
It is important to remember that temptation itself is not sin,
and that God does not tempt us. However, how we handle that
temptation and what we do with that temptation can be sin. As
Philip De Courcy says in his audio series below,

TEMPTATION IS INEVITABLE, YIELDING TO IT IS NOT.

The following sites should give you good information on
temptation and recommendations as to how to recognize it and
keep it from controlling your life.
I believe a quote Ive heard before relates to temptation:
Sow a thought; reap an action.
Sow an action; reap a habit.
Sow a habit; reap a character.
Sow a character; reap a destiny.
https://whatheisteachingme.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/sow
-a-thought-reap-a-destiny
www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/character-developmentdonna-kazenske-sermon-on-character-60405.asp

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT TEMPTATION

http://bibleresources.org/temptation
http://whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/What.Bible.Says
.Temptation.html

WHEN TEMPTATION APPEARS

www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/when-temptationappears-1220961.html

TOP 8 WAYS FOR CHRISTIAN TEENS TO AVOID AND OVERCOME

TEMPTATION
http://christianteens.about.com/od/advice/tp/OvercomeTemp
ata.htm
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7 TIPS TO AVOID TEMPTATION

www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/7-tips-to-avoidtemptation

HOW DOES ONE GAIN VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION?

http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-g005.html

HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION

http://bibleseo.com/matthew/overcome-temptation

AUDIO/VIDEO
GOD IS BETTER - FRANCIS CHAN
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-pLRM0rgjE

WHEN SIN LOOKS MORE ENJOYABLE THAN GOD - FRANCIS CHAN

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszVTWUGQQM

BATTLE READY - PHILIP DE COURCY

A Study of Jesus Victory in the Wilderness
www.ktt.org/battle-ready

* TITHING AND GIVING

Tithing was a requirement of the Old Testament law where
the Israelites would give back to God by giving to the temple, 10%
of the crops they grew and animals they raised. They did this to
recognize Gods provisions for them. While tithing is not a
mandatory requirement in the New Testament, the New Testament
does show giving as an indicator of the state of our spiritual lives.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT CHRISTIAN TITHING?

www.gotquestions.org/tithing-Christian.html

MONEY: IS IT SERVANT OR MASTER? - SHANE IDLEMAN

http://westsidechristianfellowship.org/articles/8312013-moneyis-it-servant-or-master-pastor-shane-idleman

DAVE'S ADVICE ON TITHING AND GIVING

www.daveramsey.com/article/daves-advice-on-tithing-andgiving/lifeandmoney_church/

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* THE TRIBULATION AND THE END TIMES

Regardless of
the views people hold in this area, nobody knows when the
Tribulation will start and no one can have any impact on when it
will happen. God is in control, that His plans are set by Him.
Still, the End Times can be very interesting because of the
prophesies which have yet to be fulfilled. One prophesy which has
been fulfilled is the prophesy of Israel coming back into its own
homeland in 1948, fulfilling a 2600 year prophesy.
Here are links if you are interested in learning more or just curious.

WHAT IS THE END TIMES TRIBULATION?

www.compellingtruth.org/end-times-tribulation.html

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

www.end-times-prophecy.com/tribulation.html

END OF DAYS PROPHECIES, RAPTURE, AND CHRISTIAN TRIBULATION

www.godandscience.org/doctrine/trib.html

THE RAPTURE AND THE TRIBULATION

www.truthnet.org/Endtimes/introduction/Rapturetribulation

* ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment is an important consideration for our spiritual
lives as Christians. Many Christians will honor God with their lips
one day a week, and dishonor Him the rest of the week. They do
this through the choices they make in how they spend their free
time; the activities and entertainment choices they make in music,
movies, magazines and books.
Matthew 15:8 "These people honor me with their lips, but their

hearts are far from me".

Do you consider God in your choices of entertainment? I
am writing this section during the weekend of a major movie
release. The reviews for this movie indicates there are over 100 Fbombs, and reviewers classified the movie similar to what porn
movies were in the past. This movie made a huge profit the first
weekend, meaning that a huge number of people spent money to
see it. Considering the amount of people who saw it, there were
undoubtedly many Christians who saw it as well. I saw a movie in
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2009, which was a remake of what was an excellent movie in the

70s. I didnt check the review until after I saw it because I thought
that due to the major actors starring in it, it would be acceptable.
The review indicated there were over 100 F-bombs in it. I know that
God was not honored by my watching the movie.
It has been proven that we become desensitized to content
as we allow ourselves increased exposure to it. I remember hearing
a pastor on the radio recount going into a video rental store before
Redbox and Amazon Prime. He found that this store rented adult
videos. He also noticed the cashier was a woman in his church.
He asked her if it bothered her that the store rented adult videos.
She indicated that it used to, but it didnt anymore. He then asked
her, Does it bother you that it doesnt bother you anymore? How many
things do we accept now that we would have avoided in the past?
Why Are Christian Women Watching 'Fifty Shades of Grey'?
www.christianpost.com/news/why-are-christian-womenwatching-fifty-shades-of-grey-135272/
Desensitization Due to Media
https://suite.io/latisha-robinson/4yam2gm
https://childrensmedia2day.wordpress.com
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/134/5/877.full
QUOTES BY NON-CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS, ABOUT FAMILY,
CHRISTIANITY AND RELIGION
www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=154679
www.thugexposed.com/satanism-music
Worldviews in the Movies
www.worldvieweyes.org/resources/CIYConference-Materials/WVs-in-movies.htm
(A good list of questions to think of when watching
movies, TV, commercials, listening to music, etc.)

Do you think God is pleased when we choose entertainment

that dishonors him? If we want to please God in our entertainment
choices, we must be proactive in the choices we make. Fortunately,
the Internet is a powerful tool enabling you to find information about
the content of movies you might choose to watch. The first group
of sites below review the content of most of the current movies and
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the message/worldview promoted by the movie. The second group

of sites provide a listing of different non-Christian music artists, and
the similar styled Christian alternatives to the non-Christian
artists/bands.
How would you evaluate your entertainment
choices? What entertainment choices would you change to honor
God?

SITES WHICH SHOW REVIEWS FOR MOVIES AND MUSIC (Plugged In)
PLUGGED IN
www.pluggedin.com
MOVIEGUIDE
www.movieguide.org
CHRISTIAN ANSWERS
www.christiananswers.net/spotlight

CHRISTIAN ALTERNATIVES TO NON-CHRISTIAN MUSIC

http://christiandl.pcriot.com/index.php?topic=3205.0
http://christianmusic.about.com/library/blcomparea.htm
www.teenink.com/hot_topics/what_matters/article/372592/Secu
lar-Music-Vs-Christian-Music
http://extreme-youth.com/Christian_music_comparison.html
Lastly, what if you find yourself watching a movie or listening
to something that you realize doesnt honor God? You can always
leave or turn it off. A Christian music group from the past FARRELL
AND FARRELL had a verse in one of their songs that said, When
will we learn that OFF is as easy to turn as ON? Ive walked out
of a few movies before because I realized that to stay would not
honor God. Ive also wished that I had walked out of others. God
will always honor your choices when you choose to honor Him.

* MONEY AND FINANCES

There are over 2000 verses in the Bible which talk about money.
Its my understanding that there are more verses on this one subject than
any other. Money can be a great tool, but it can also be a thing that holds
great control over us if we dont treat it with wisdom and respect. With the
personal and national debt crisis that exists, it is easy to see that the
money principles of the Bible havent been followed by the majority of
people. If you want to avoid the hardship mismanaging money can bring,
the following sites will provide you with insight.

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God's Big Idea About Finances

www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/faith-based-familyfinances/gods-big-ideas-about-finances/gods-big-ideaabout-finances
Bible Verses About Money
www.biblemoneymatters.com/bible-verses-about-moneywhat-does-the-bible-have-to-say-about-our-financial-lives
Christian teen budgeting
www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2008/09/christian-teen-budgeting
Teen money management mistakes
www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2008/08/teen-money-management
Christian Personal Finance
http://christianpf.com
Managing Our Finances
http://ubdavid.org/advanced/practical/practical-christian_22.html
The Easy Way to Teach Teens About Money
www.crosswalk.com/family/finances/the-easy-way-to-teachteens-about-money-11634229.html
How to Teach Teenagers About Money
www.daveramsey.com/article/how-to-teach-teenagers-aboutmoney/lifeandmoney_kidsandmoney

* EMPLOYMENT
Since most of us will spend about 45 years working, this is
an important part of our lives. The attitudes of younger workers is
often seen by employers as self-centered and selfish. Theyve
found that many younger workers dont want to work hard but they
want more money.
If you are employed, think about your character at work. Are
you giving your employer one hours work for each hour they are
paying you to be there, or do you spend some of that time on
personal activities like texting, surfing, etc.? If you arent doing what
you are paid to do during the time you are at work, you are
technically taking money for not doing what you were hired for.
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Remember in the previous section, what is it called when we take

something that doesnt belong to us? To make this more
understandable, is there anything you are doing at work that you
wouldnt do if your employer were standing behind you? If so, you
are stealing.
As a Christian it is important to remember that we are
ultimately working for God. Realizing that we are really working for
God and not our employer should motivate us to work to do our best
in whatever work we are employed in. And remember, God can
see everything. Think back to the questions I raised about how we
spend our time. Since we ultimately work for God, would he give
us a raise, a reprimand, or would we deserve to be fired?
Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for

the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will
receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord
Christ."
Considering the impression many employers have of
younger workers, as a Christian you have an opportunity to change
that impression by being different than what employers have come
to expect. If and when an employer finds out that you are a
Christian, you might change their impression of Christianity too.
THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF WORK
www.totalchange.org/work.htm
WHAT ARE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHICS?
www.allaboutgod.com/christian-work-ethics-faq.htm
EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS
http://aawdc.org/youth-works/index.php/Job-SearchTools/Employer-Expectations.html
5 ATTITUDES TO GET YOU AHEAD IN THE WORKPLACE
www.careerealism.com/attitudes-workplace-get-ahead
REASONS TO GET FIRED FROM YOUR JOB
http://teenadvice.about.com/od/jobsmoney/tp/how_to_keep
_a_job.htm
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/firedtermination/a/reasonsfor-getting-fired.htm
www.brighthub.com/office/careerplanning/articles/77757.aspx
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ZIG ZIGLAR - DISCIPLINE AND COMMITMENT

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7cR352z2KE
ZIG ZIGLAR - BEING AN OVERCOMER
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=B7MVJB_JQQO
NO ARMS, NO LEGS, NO WORRIES
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=WGAKZSTVES4
NICK VUJICIC - ATTITUDE IS ALTITUDE.COM / LIFE WITHOUT
LIMBS.ORG
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=AJVEOLPLIG8
THE INCREDIBLE LOVE STORY OF NICK VUJICIC AND HIS WIFE
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=S3QEZBVN1BE
LEARN TO LIVE THE LIFE GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=E0ORBKBRYNY

* LEADING CHRISTIAN SPEAKERS AND THINKERS

While I have not had the privilege, (due to limited time), to
learn from all of the extensive teachings of all of the teachers listed,
I have been blessed by many of their teachings and know them to
be very sound teachers. This is confirmed by their association with
and recommendation by other sound teachers. Remember though,
in any particular area to be like the Berean Jews, and check what
is being taught by the Bible.
Besides the main website listed for each speaker, you can
search for additional resources by these teachers on Youtube, Bing
(and Bing video), and others. Use the following search examples:
Jay Wegter audio, Jay Wegter articles, Jay Wegter video
(Jay Wegter was one of our Youth Pastors professors)
Jays audio messages: http://gospelforlife.org (Jays website)
www.sermonaudio.com/sermonsspeaker.asp (search: Wegter)
http://gospelforlife.sermon.net/main/main/20110732
Mike Adams
Randy Alcorn
Kerby Anderson

http://townhall.com/columnists/mikeadams
www.epm.org

www.probe.org/author/kerbyanderson/
www.youtube.com/user/PointofViewTube
http://kerbyandersonspointofview.blogspot.com/

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www.jashow.org
www.youtube.com/user/johnankerberg
Kay Arthur
www.precept.org
David Barton
www.wallbuilders.com
www.youtube.com/user/wallbuilders
Frank Beckwith
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/returntorome
Michael Behe
http://behe.uncommondescent.com
www.youtube.com/user/IDquest
Rob Bowman
http://irr.org
J Budziszewski
http://undergroundthomist.org
http://www.boundless.org/ - search for: Budziszewski
Chuck Coleson
www.breakpoint.org
www.youtube.com/user/ColsonCenter
Francis Chan
www.youtube.com/channel/UCyxyqm4GSqywqfkulXA4o8w
John Ankerberg

www.preachitteachit.org/about-us/the-team/francis-chan/sermons
http://oneminuteapologist.com/
www.youtube.com/user/oneminuteapologist
Paul Copan
www.paulcopan.com
William Lane Craig
www.reasonablefaith.org
www.youtube.com/user/ReasonableFaithOrg
Dinesh D'Souza
www.dineshdsouza.com
www.youtube.com/channel/UCdMutxaYUR325O05J6kj2bA
Norman Geisler
www.normgeisler.com
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Norman+Geisler+
Douglas Groothuis
http://douglasgroothuis.com/
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Douglas+Groothuis
Wayne Grudem
www.waynegrudem.com
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22wayne+grudem%22
Os Guinness
www.osguinness.com
www.monergism.com/topics/mp3-audio-multimedia/all-northamerican-speakers-messages/os-guinness
www.cslewisinstitute.org/search/node/os%20guinness
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22Os+Guinness%22
Gary Habermas
http://garyhabermas.com
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22Gary+Habermas%22
Ken Ham
https://answersingenesis.org
www.youtube.com/user/answersvideos
Phillip Johnson www.touchstonemag.com/archives/author.php?id=40
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLutjxyYic6vRANCTAcEF7ViSBE
8_Asxq0
Tim Keller www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/bio/timkeller.html
www.youtube.com/channel/UCpl7Fleiicgj3bLV4eeZrQw
Bobby Conway

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Scott Klusendorf
http://prolifetraining.com/
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22Scott+Klusendorf%22
Greg Koukl
www.str.org
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Greg%20Koukl
http://christianaudio.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=koukl
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stand-to-reason-weeklypodcast/id278207524?mt=2
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Greg+Koukl"
Peter Kreeft
www.peterkreeft.com
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Peter+Kreeft"
Brett Kunkle
www.str.org
www.youtube.com/user/BrettKunkleSTR/videos
John Lennox http://johnlennox.org http://johnlennox.org/resources
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="John+Lennox"
C.S. Lewis www.cslewis.com
www.cslewisinstitute.org
www.lewissociety.org/articles.php
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="C.S.+Lewis"
John MacArthur
www.gty.org www.macarthurcommentaries.com
www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%22john+macarthur%2
2&qpvt=%22john+Macarthur%22&FORM=VDRE
Paul L. Maier
www.paulmaier.com www.mtio.com/articles
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Paul+Maier"
Walter Martin
http://waltermartin.com/
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Walter+Martin"
Josh McDowell
www.josh.org
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Josh+McDowell"
Sean McDowell
http://seanmcdowell.org
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Sean+McDowell"
Stephen C. Meyer http://stephencmeyer.org/ www.discovery.org
www.youtube.com/user/DiscoveryScienceNews
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stephen+c.+meyer
Chuck Missler
http://khouse.org
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Chuck+Missler"
J.P. Moreland
www.jpmoreland.com
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="J.P.+Moreland"
Robert Morey
http://faithdefenders.com/index.html
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Robert+Morey"
Ronald Nash
www.biblicaltraining.org/speakers
www.biblicaltraining.org/christian-apologetics/ronald-nash
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Ronald+Nash+"
Nancy Pearcy
www.pearceyreport.com
Johnson C. Philip
http://johnsoncphilip.com

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Alvin Plantinga www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Alvin+Plantinga"

www.calvin.edu/academic/philosophy/virtual_library/plantinga_
alvin.htm
John Polkinghorne
www.starcourse.org/jcp
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="John+Polkinghorne
Amy Orr-Ewing
www.rzim.eu/tag/amy-orr-ewing
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Amy%20Orr-Ewing
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Amy+Orr-Ewing"
Ron Rhodes
http://ronrhodes.org
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Ron+Rhodes+"
Hugh Ross
www.reasons.org
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Hugh+Ross"
Ken Samples www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Kenneth%20Samples
Jonathan D. Sarfati http://creationwiki.org/Jonathan_Sarfati
http://creation.com/dr-jonathan-d-sarfati
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="dr.+jonathan+Sarfati"
Francis Schaeffer www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Francis%20Schaeffer
http://www.labri-ideas-library.org/lecture-list.asp?s=5
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Francis+Schaeffer"
Mary Jo Sharp
www.confidentchristianity.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Mary+Jo+Sharp"
James Sire
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/James%20Sire
R.C.Sproul
www.ligonier.org
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/R.C.Sproul
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="R.C.Sproul"
Lee Strobel
http://leestrobel.com/
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Lee%20Strobel
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Lee+Strobel"
Frank Turek
http://crossexamined.org/
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Frank%20Turek
www.youtube.com/user/TurekVideo
J. Warner Wallace
http://pleaseconvinceme.com/
http://coldcasechristianity.com/
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Jim%20Wallace
www.youtube.com/user/pleaseconvinceme
Jay Wegter
http://gospelforlife.org/sermons/

www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSecti
on=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Jay%5EWegter
www.youtube.com/user/MrJwegter
James White www.aomin.org
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/James%20White
www.youtube.com/user/AominOrg

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Dallas Willard http://www.dwillard.org/resources/Default.asp

Ravi Zacharias www.rzim.org
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Ravi%20Zacharias
www.youtube.com/results?search_query="Ravi+Zacharias"
Christianity Reason and Science
www.youtube.com/user/religionphilosophy
The Veritas Forum
www.youtube.com/user/VeritasForum
Tactical Faith www.youtube.com/user/tacticalfaith
Theology, Philosophy and Science
www.youtube.com/user/godlogicscience
ThomisticTheist www.youtube.com/user/ThomisticTheist
Acts17Apologetics
www.youtube.com/user/Acts17Apologetics
oxfordchristianminds Videos
http://vimeo.com/oxfordchristianmind/videos
Christianity 9 to 5: Practical Advice for the Other Six Days
www.youtube.com/channel/UCferVIbckm_j1L8cFtaMGXQ
Two-Minute Warning: Art of Persuasion - Colson Center
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9qFR2JDsHQ

* TERMINOLOGY
The following are many terms you will find when studying Apologetics.
Searching for them as in the examples should give you a high probability of finding a
Christian perspective on the term.
Examples: Worldview and Christian and Secular Humanism and Christian
(Putting words in quotation marks will better search for that exact phrase)
Absolutes
Agnosticism
Anthropic Principle
Apologetics
Argument
From Design
Atheism
Christianity
Cosmological
Argument
Creationism
Cult
Dead Sea Scrolls
Design Arguments

Epistemology
Ethics
Evangelism
Fallacy
Hermeneutics
Inclusivism
Intelligent Design
Irreducible
Complexity
Logic
Moral Argument
Morality
Ontological
Argument

280

Pluralism
Presupposition
Prophesy
Relativism
Secular Humanism
Scientific
Naturalism
Teleological
Argument
Theology
Tolerance
Truth
Worldview

* CHRISTIAN APOLOGETIC SITES

Note: In addition to the sites already indicated in this guide, many of the
following sites have information from more than just the category they are
listed in here. While in a site, make time to look around.

APOLOGETICSDEFENDINGTHETRUTHSOFCHRISTIANITY
www.4truth.net
www.focus.org.uk/index.php
www.aomin.org
http://garyhabermas.com
www.apologetics315.com
www.godandscience.org
http://apologeticjunkie.blogspot.com
www.inplainsite.org
http://apologetics.com
http://impactapologetics.com
www.apologeticsdirectory.com
http://instituteofbiblicaldefense.com
www.apologeticsguy.com
http://ironmanapologetics.wordpress.com
www.apologeticspress.org
http://irr.org
www.bethinking.org
www.knowwhatyoubelieve.com
https://biblescienceguy.word
http://letusreason.org
press.com
www.pleaseconvinceme.com
http://carm.org
www.preventingtruthdecay.org
https://chab123.wordpress.com
www.reasonablefaith.org
www.christianapologeticsalliance.com www.reasons.org
www.christianarsenal.com
www.risenjesus.com
www.christiancadre.org/purpose.html http://simpleapologetics.com
www.christianministriesintl.org
https://sounddoctrineministries.word
http://coldcasechristianity.com
press.com
www.comereason.org
www.str.org
www.compellingtruth.org
www.strangenotions.com
http://creation.com/
www.tektonics.org
www.crossexamined.org
http://thefailedatheist.com
www.christiananswersforthenewage.org http://theologicalresources.wordpress.co
www.christianapologeticsalliance.com
m/category/apologetics-audio
www.equip.org
www.thepoachedegg.net
http://evangelism.intervarsity.org
www.thinkchristianly.org
www.everystudent.com
www.thinkingchristian.net
http://evidencebible.com
www.toughquestionsanswered.org
www.exploregod.com
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com
www.faithinterface.com.au
www.youthapologeticsnetwork.com

ANSWERS TO CHRISTIANITYS CRITICS

http://faithdefenders.com/from-thedesk/How_When_AnswerYourCritics.html
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2009/07/usual-suspects-responses-tonotable.html
http://essentialmatters.blogspot.com/2013/05/answering-christianityscritics-part-1.html

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http://essentialmatters.blogspot.com/2013/05/answering-christianityscritics-part-2.html
www.watermark.org/media/series/281/
www.thetrumpet.com/article/1460.31409.73.0/religion/christianity/answeri
ng-bible-critics
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=10&article=578
www.inplainsite.org/html/asinine_assault.html
http://creation.com/countering-the-critics-questions-and-answers

FREE ONLINE APOLOGETICS TRAINING

www.apologetics315.com/2012/05/31-actions-to-advanceapologetics.html
www.apologeticscourses.com
http://apologetics.theologytraining.com
www.apologeticspress.org/homestudycourses.aspx
www.apologeticstraining.com
http://christiancourses.com (click "Courses"-"Free Courses")
http://christian-apologetics.org
www.cslewisinstitute.org/Basic_Apologetics_Course
www.free-bible-study.org/apologetics.html
http://freebibleseminary.net
http://freecourses.org
www.knowwhatyoubelieve.com
http://pleaseconvinceme.com/academy
http://thegospelcoalition.org/resources/topic-index
www.trinitytheology.org
Worldview Weekend Online Academy
www.worldviewweekend.com/academy/topics.php#topic84

Thinking Clearly - Greg Koukl - 4 part series

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcLIDtrKzpg&list=PLGzZYVID5fAH
oXiLf_l16gUtc4dToNEOu

Apologetics and Evangelism Training - Wes Moore

www.youtube.com/user/themakernovel/videos

Defending Your Faith R C Sproul 25 part video series

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOKL7P3g04&list=PL7E536ECD7A6A4D41
http://freebibleseminary.net/?page_id=16
www.cslewisinstitute.org/Resource_Center (check free video and audio)
www.cslewisinstitute.org/Basic_Apologetics_Course

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COMPREHENSIVE SITES - SITES COVERING MANY TOPICS

http://apologeticjunkie.blogspot.com
www.bethinking.org
www.case.edu.au
www.christiancadre.org/purpose.html
http://discoveryseries.org
www.jpmoreland.com/jpslibrary/recommended-resources-and-links
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2009/03
/apologetics-arsenal.html

http://mywisegeneration.blogspot.com
www.mitchin.com/home.html
www.str.org/training
www.seanmcdowell.org
http://thinkingmatters.org.nz
www.toughquestionsanswered.org
www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com
http://wellspentjourney.wordpress.com

COUNTRY, CULTURAL, AND CURRENT EVENTS

www.breakpoint.org
www.probe.org

http://wallbuilderslive.com
www.watchman.org
CULTS

www.apologetics315.com/search/label/Cults
http://carm.org/cults-outline-analysis
http://theologicalresources.wordpress.com (links in right column)
PROPHESY
www.allaboutthejourney.org/power-of-prophecy.htm
www.faithfacts.org/search-for-truth/maps/fulfilled-prophecy-as-evidence
www.reasons.org/articles/articles/fulfilled-prophecy-evidence-for-the-reliability-of-the-bible

SITES WITH AUDIO & VIDEO

www.apologetics315.com/2008/03/ultimate-apologetics-mp3-audio-page.html
www.apologetics315.com/2007/10/16-best-apologetics-podcasts.html
www.apologetics315.com/search/label/debate
http://christianaudio.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?limit=15&q=koukl
Many free audio downloads from Greg Koukl. Search for other authors also.
www.christiancadre.org/Audio.html
www.cornerstonebible.org/resources/sermons/author
www.criticalthinkeracademy.com
www.cslewisinstitute.org/Resource_Center (check free video and audio)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/ReasonableFaithPodcast
http://htwins.net/scale2 (Shows incredible scale of universe)
www.jpmoreland.com/media

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www.marketfaith.org (links in Worldview Resources)

http://www2.masters.edu/pulpit/speakers
www.mitchin.com/home.html
http://oneminuteapologist.com
www.onegodonegospel.org/audio.htm
www.relyonchrist.com/lecture.htm
www.rzim.org/media
http://server.ffmp3.com (Click "Audio" then "FFFC Catalogs")
www.str.org/explore#&format=PodcastEntry
www.summit.org/resources/summit-lecture-series/archive
http://thinkingmatters.org.nz/resources
http://theologicalresources.wordpress.com
(links in right column)
www.veritas.org
www.waltermartin.com/realaudio.html
www.watermark.org/media/series/281
www.watermark.org/media
www.youtube.com/user/OnGuardConference/videos
www.youtube.com/user/ReasonableFaithOrg/videos

SHARING THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY

www.wayofthemaster.com
www.christiananswers.net/evangelism/home.html
www.christianwitnessingtools.com
www.gotquestions.org/effective-witness.html
www.amazingfacts.org/news-and-features/inside-report/id/481/the-road-toemmaus-15-tips-for-effective-witnessing.aspx
www.cru.org/train-and-grow/evangelism.html
www.allaboutgod.com/christian-witnessing.htm
www.whitestonejournal.com/witness1.html
SITES TO GET YOU THINKING MORE DEEPLY
www.bethinking.org
www.probe.org
www.ccel.org/index/author
www.str.org/explore
www.discovery.org
www.veritas.org
www.reasonablefaith.org/scholarly-articles
www.thoughtfulchristianity.net

TRUTH
www.knowtruth.com/truth
www.allabouttruth.org
http://bibleencyclopedia.com/truth.htm

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth
www.preventingtruthdecay.org
http://truth-defined.com/index.htm
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WORLDVIEW
www.marketfaith.org/worldview-resources
www.christianworldview.net/resources/worldview-ministries
(Listing of organizations with information about worldviews)
www.compellingtruth.org/Christian-worldview.html
www.gotquestions.org/Christian-worldview.html
www.inplainsite.org/html/world_views.html
www.projectworldview.org/worldviews.htm
www.thepoachedegg.net
www.worldview.org/podcast

* CULTURAL ISSUES CHALLENGING TO CHRISTIANS

This section covers prominent cultural issues with which
many Christians have found themselves tongue tied when in
conversations with others. Usually it is because we dont know the
Biblical position, nor how to effectively explain/defend the Biblical
position. Often it is when we are pressed to give a yes or no answer
to a question such as, Is _____ a sin? As you saw earlier with the
question, If I dont accept Christ, am I going to hell? a single
word answer isnt an effective reply to many of the questions people
ask.
As a Christian, you may wonder and even disagree with the
Bible indicating certain things as sin. When we find ourselves
thinking like this, it is good to remind ourselves of the things which
our culture now accepts. Many of these things were not accepted
by our culture even 50 years ago. Are we really going to believe
that this God who knows everything and created the entire universe
out of nothing got it wrong for the thousands of years before the last
50? Or could it be that we have bought into what the culture says
is right. It has been proven that if a person is told something
repeatedly for a long enough period of time, they will start to accept
it as true, even if it isnt. With the change in the position held by the
culture on many things, just in the last 50 years, Isaiah 5:20 seems
to have great insight. Isaiah 5:20, Woe to those who call good evil,
and evil good. When those who have done this are standing in
front of God after this life, how do you think they will be judged?
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If after checking out these subjects and sites you realize that
you have something in your past that you realize is sin, God wants
to forgive you. If you are hesitant to call on him because you are
ashamed, remember, there is nothing in your past that he doesn't
already know about. He knew about it before you were ever born.
While he cant take away the repercussions of your sin, he wants to
forgive you and relieve you of the guilt you are experiencing.

CURRENT GOVERNMENT ACTIONS WITH THE POTENTIAL

TO AFFECT CHRISTIANS
If you watch the news, there seems to be an increase of
stories about what is happening in the government and what is
happening in education. Many of these situations have the potential
to affect Christians and their rights.
An example of this is in Houston where the Mayor
subpoenaed the last three years of sermons from 5 pastors, with
another article indicating email and phone conversations as well.
The controversy stems from an ordinance which passed in
Houston. One of the provisions of the ordinance allows for any
person, including adult, who feels they are the opposite gender, to
use the bathroom of that opposite gender.
www.inquisitr.com/1547906/mayor-of-houston-backs-down-onunconstitutional-demand-for-sermons-after-major-backlash
The following websites have up to date information about
efforts by the government and public education affecting Christians
and others people of faith.
www.frc.org
http://www.issuesineducation.org
http://tunein.com/radio/The-World--Everything-in-It-p43670
www.wallbuilderslive.com
https://washingtonwatch.com

ABORTION AND EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH

Abortion in its simplest description, is the taking of innocent
human life while still in the womb. Embryonic stem cell research is
the harvesting of embryonic stem cells for research and treatment
of medical conditions in others. Harvesting embryonic stem cells
results in the destruction, and thus the death, of the embryo.
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The reason why this is of concern is that the destruction of

human life takes place. Those in favor of these procedures indicate
that these unborn are not full human persons and so they shouldnt
have the rights that full human persons do. But should we arrive at
conclusions based upon SUBJECTIVE feelings or OBJECTIVE facts?
The links listed indicate the facts of the processes and the ethical
concerns raised.
Scott Klusendorfs Presentations
What is the Issue?
What is the Unborn?
Why are Humans Valuable pt1?
Why are Humans Valuable pt2?
The 180 Movie

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnDooyEvaRI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt7GAhbxfHY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qot0zsqqoJ8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N9jSTvdipk
www.180movie.com

Precious Unborn Human Persons

http://server.firefighters.org/catalog/1999-2000/00602.mp3
www.prolifetraining.com
http://makeabortionunthinkable.net
Making Abortion Unthinkable
www.tudou.com/programs/view/1FUeearU5HU
http://prolifepodcast.net
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOWMmx6eBjU
http://creation.com/antidote-to-abortion-arguments
A Presentation By An Amazing 12 Year Old.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOR1wUqvJS4
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=7&article=496
www.godandscience.org/doctrine/stem_cell_research.html
www.str.org/articles/embryonic-stem-cell-research-means-and-ends
Other Sites
http://thefailedatheist.com/category/abortion
www.cbn.com/spirituallife/CBNTeachingSheets/Abortion_
You_Are_Not_Alone.aspx
http://hopeafterabortion.com
If you are a victim of abortion or have caused another to
obtain an abortion, and you have come to the realization that the
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decision is sin, you may want to see a counselor at your church.

God wants to forgive you of that sin, and provide healing for you.

CREATION EVOLUTION
I have included this topic not only because of its cultural
importance but also because it is used as one of the primary
arguments against the existence of God. I have also gone into
greater detail because of the significance of the controversy and the
many confusions that people have about the subject.
Many believe science has proven that Evolution has
happened and because of this many uninformed Christians either
believe that God must have used Evolution, or they eventually
abandon their belief in God because of the arguments presented.
What is the best conclusion based on the evidence that exists?
WHY DOES THE DEBATE ABOUT EVOLUTION MATTER?
www.str.org/quickthoughts/why-does-the-debate-about-evolution-matter
As with TRUTH and MORALITY, it is important to understand
the definitions of the terms dealing with the CREATION-EVOLUTION
CONTROVERSY. SCIENCE, EVOLUTION, and CREATION, have more
than one definition depending on who is using the term. When in
conversation about Creationism and/or Evolution, remember the
first TACTICS question? What do you mean by that?
People will say that Evolution has been proven, but which
Evolution are they referring to? The term EVOLUTION can mean
different things, and unless you understand the specific terminology
you wont know which definition the person is referring to. The more
specific terms of Evolution are MICROEVOLUTION, and
MACROEVOLUTION. These terms are used to describe the process.
There are two additional terms; NATURALISTIC EVOLUTION, and
THEISTIC EVOLUTION. These describe how the process of evolution
got started in the first place.

MICROEVOLUTION, better understood as TRANSITION, is

defined as variances within a species (changes in beaks, thickness
or length of coat, etc.). Descendants are of the same species as
their predecessors. A Pekinese is as much a dog as a Great Dane
is. I know, some of you may disagree. Even though there is
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amazing variance between different breeds, they are all still dogs.
The same is true of other species. These changes are visible and
fully consistent with the concept of CREATION because the species
doesnt change to a different species.
MACROEVOLUTION is defined as changes which extend from
one species to another where a lower level organism will change
into a higher level organism, like from ape to human through
multiple TRANSITIONARY steps. These are much larger changes,
usually claimed by Evolutionists to be caused by mutation.
Evolutionary scientists refer to TRANSITIONAL SPECIES as MISSING
LINKS. With the exception of a few controversial examples given,
almost all MISSING LINKS are artists renditions, with no fossil
evidence found. As Ken Ham states,
What do scientists find? Nothing. What do they
label it as? Missing. Is it that it is missing or it just
isnt there to begin with?
MICROEVOLUTION or variance within a species is fully
observable whereas MACROEVOLUTION has never been observed.
Many proponents of evolution point to genetic mutations as the
force behind the changes but mutations have almost always proven
to be harmful and none have been found to be helpful or useful.
Evolutionists look at micro evolutionary changes and they
extrapolate that if small variances show change then multiple small
variances would result in larger changes over time. They claim this
is evidence of evolution changes happening. Brett Kunkle refutes
this theory effectively in this video:
EVOLUTION: THE BIG QUESTION Brett Kunkle
www.str.org/quickthoughts/evolution-the-big-question
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MICROEVOLUTION AND MACROEVOLUTION?
www.gotquestions.org/microevolution-macroevolution.html
WHAT IS THE MISSING LINK, AND HAS IT BEEN FOUND?
www.compellingtruth.org/missing-link.html
DOCUMENTED TRANSITIONAL FORMS?
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=2437
SURVIVAL OF THE FAKEST A great article showing disproven evidences
still being used in textbooks to support the theory of Evolution.
www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/survivalOfTheFakest.pdf
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The typically concise definition of NATURALISTIC EVOLUTION

is Change over time from one species to another. For this to
be true as described by scientists, fossils of thousands of
transitional species would need to be found to confirm this
evolutionary process. Other than a few fossils classified by
Evolutionists as transitional, the thousands of transitional fossils
have not been found. As a result, a theory was proposed by
Stephen J. Gould called PUNCTUATED EQUILIBRIA. This is where
huge jumps in evolution take place. An example would be where a
lizard lays an egg and instead of a lizard hatching out of it a bird
hatches out instead. As such, there are no transitional species and
so no fossils. Some will say that this lack of fossil evidence is
actually evidence for evolution, because there are no transitional
fossils.
GENERAL REBUTTAL TO THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION - RICH DEEM
www.godandscience.org/evolution/evolution.html
There are some Christians who believe Science has
proven evolution true, and they believe that God used evolution to
bring about the changes seen. This is called THEISTIC EVOLUTION.
THEISTIC EVOLUTION: DESIGNED BY CHANCE?
www.str.org/articles/theistic-evolution-designed-by-chance
THEISTIC EVOLUTION
https://carm.org/secular-movements/evolution/theistic-evolution
The Scientific non-Bible believing community typically
believe that Evolution is a naturalistic process called NATURALISTIC
EVOLUTION. This form of Evolution is completely absent of any
supernatural intervention, and this is why it is called NATURALISTIC.
If there is no God, then He couldnt be involved?
WHAT IS EVOLUTION? Brett Kunkle of www.str.org
www.str.org/articles/what-is-evolution
15 ANSWERS TO JOHN RENNIE AND SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN'S NONSENSE
www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=1046
While evolution is pushed by Atheists and Evolutionists as
the explanation of the development of life, it still doesnt answer the
question of how life came to exist in the first place. Evolution is only
an explanation as to what happened after life was present. The
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concept of life arising by chance from non-life is called

ABIOGENESIS. The Law of Biogenesis indicates life only comes
from life with life never coming from non-life. This is fully consistent
with what is found in nature and in the Bible, and is completely
contradictory to the concept of Abiogenesis, which has been
disproven.
ABIOGENESIS IS IRRELEVANT TO EVOLUTION
http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1631
THE LAW OF BIOGENESIS
Pt.1 www.apologeticspress.org/apPubPage.aspx?pub=1&issue=1018
Pt.2 www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=4178

CREATIONISM and INTELLIGENT DESIGN are terms used for

the concept of life being brought into existence by God. As there
are other religions which teach this (Judaism, Islam, etc.), the terms
are not exclusive to Christianity, however they are typically
associated with Christianity in articles and news reports.
CREATIONISM doesnt specifically indicate the method God
used to create, only that God did. INTELLIGENT DESIGN holds that
certain features of the universe and of living things are best
explained by an intelligent cause rather than an undirected process
such as natural selection. Opponents of the idea that God was
responsible for life coming into existence, commonly confuse the
terms of CREATIONISM and INTELLIGENT DESIGN.
CREATIONISM
https://carm.org/creationism
WHAT IS INTELLIGENT DESIGN
www.intelligentdesign.org/whatisid.php
INTELLIGENT DESIGN NETWORK
www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org
The last term to consider in this section is SCIENCE. One of
the definitions for Science at www.freedictionary.com is:
Systematic knowledge of the physical or material world
gained through observation and experimentation. Science is
the process and method we use to discover information no matter
where the evidence leads. However, today there is a new definition
for SCIENCE. This new definition of science by evolutionary
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scientists requires that if the evidence leads to any conclusion

which infers the existence of God, then you are not doing science.
The definition of science in many schools today only allows
for natural materialistic conclusions that WILL NOT ALLOW the
possibility of God regardless of where the evidence points. The
fancy name for this type of science is METHODOLOGICAL
NATURALISM. This phrase means that the only METHOD that you
can use is one which only arrives at a NATURALISTIC conclusion. If
you are using the above original definition of science, but the
evidence you find points in any way to the existence of God, you
arent doing science according to METHODOLOGICAL NATURALISM.
As you can also see with this topic, asking the TACTICS
question What do you mean by that? is essential to make sure
you are understanding the meaning for scientific terms used by
those you are in conversation with.
WHY DOES SCIENCE LEAVE GOD OUT? (METHODOLOGICAL NATURALISM)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmom0jlgc_Q
EVOLUTIONARY ARGUMENT AGAINST NATURALISM (AN INTRODUCTION)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpQ1-AGPysM
DARWIN ON TRIAL - PHILLIP E. JOHNSON
http://server.ffmp3.com/catalog/1999-2000/01037.mp3
12:18 Realization of the problems with Evolution as presented.
14:05 Observation of the word definitions and logic being used.
Many evolutionists will raise a criticism about Phillip E.
Johnson commenting about evolution because he is not a scientist
but a lawyer. Hmmmm, this sounds like an example where the
person is attacked or criticized rather than to deal with the
conclusion the person provides reasons for.
The following video shows why Professor Johnson is fully
qualified to speak on the subject of Evolution.
CAN A LAWYER SPEAK ON SCIENCE AND EVOLUTION?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mJTZiEu3k0
If you are new to much of this information about evolution, it
can seem a little overwhelming since much of it isnt taught in your
school textbooks. Only Naturalistic Materialism is usually taught. If
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you are somewhat familiar, you could use the following tactic if in
conversation with an evolutionist:
SIMPLE TACTIC WITH TOPIC OF EVOLUTION Brett Kunkle
www.str.org/blog/what-is-a-simple-tactic-you-can-use-with-the-topic-ofevolution-video
Even after being shown the astronomical odds against
Evolution some Evolutionists will still make a statement similar to
this, Evolution has to be true because we are here. How would
they respond if we used almost the same statement? That
statement is, Creationism has to be true because we are here.

ADDITIONAL LINKS:
What does the Bible say? www.gotquestions.org/creation-evolution.html
FrequentlyraisedbutweakargumentsagainstIntelligentDesign
www.uncommondescent.com/faq
Categories www.uncommondescent.com/faq/%20-%20notsc
You must paste this address in the ADDRESS bar, and then press Enter.
Once you are taken to the page with the "The page you are looking for
is not here" message, scroll down past message for the categories.
ANSWERS IN GENESIS ONLINE BOOKS
https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/
MARK EASTMAN:
Former Atheist/Evolutionist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBG9VwdDotg
The Cosmos & The Creator www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mtzMrceQuM
IN THE BEGINNING BOOK BY DR. WALT BROWN
www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/IntheBeginningTOC.html
AMAZING SEMINAR ON INTELLIGENT DESIGN
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Vf6MvBiz8

DEMOLISHING STRONGHOLDS VIDEOS:

War of the Worldviews - Session 1 & 2 - Ken Ham
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/worldview/war-worldviews/
Evolution in Pop Culture - Session 3 & 4 - Carl Kerby
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/evolution/evolution-pop-culture/
Counterfeit Reality - Session 5 & 6 - Bill Jack
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/worldview/counterfeit-reality/

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Answers to Difficult Issues: How to Share

Your Christian Worldview- Session 7 & 8 - Carl Kerby
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/god/difficult-issues/
Simple Tools for Brain SURGERY - Session 9 & 10 - Bill Jack
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/worldview/brain-surgery/
Special Forces for the Savior - Session 11 & 12 - Charles Ware
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/god/special-forces/

ANSWERS ACADEMY VIDEOS:

Defending the Faith
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/bible/aa-defending-the-faith
Where Did God Come From?
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/god/aa-god-come-from
The Rocks Cry Out
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/science/aa-rocks-cry/
Big Problems with the Big Bang
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/evolution/aa-big-bang/
Astronomy: What Do We Really Know?
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/science/aa-astronomy/
A New Reformation: Changing Lives, Rocking the Culture!
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/bible/aa-reform/
After Its Kind
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/creation/aa-after-its-kind
The Ultimate Proof of Creation
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/creation/ultimate-proof/
Nuclear Strength Apologetics
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/bible/nuclear-strength-apologetics
Why Won't They Listen?
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/god/why-wont-they-listen
NW CREATION NETWORK - http://nwcreation.net
CREATION EDUCATION CENTER - www.cecwisc.org
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH - www.icr.org/creation-astronomy
DARWIN ON TRIAL - Philip Johnson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwj9h9Zx6Mw
THE CREATION CONVERSATION Dr'. Stephen Meyer, Dr. Michael Behe,
and Dr. David Berlinski: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgsEtVe_Bis

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EXPELLED NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5EPymcWp-g
ADDITIONAL VIDEOS https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/creation

Links to more videos in left margin.

ID QUEST YOUTUBE VIDEOS
www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4Zy3ry9DrDCdxwyAxXs0g
ARGUMENTS WE THINK CREATIONISTS SHOULD NOT USE http://creation.com
http://creation.com/qa#bad_arguments
DARWIN CONSPIRACY
http://darwinconspiracy.com/index.php
APPEARANCE OF DESIGN
http://creationism.org/heinze/AppearanceOfDesign.htm
INTELLIGENT DESIGN - www.intelligentdesign.org
INTELLIGENT DESIGN NETWORK - www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org
THE CATCH-22 OF PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS
www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=2508
This presentation answers the challenge that Creationist scientists arent
legitimate scientists because they have few Peer-Reviewed articles.

ECONOMICS AND POLITICS

These two subjects have many related points and they are
often contentious issues for Christians. Political decisions usually have
an effect on the national and state economies, which ultimately affect
our own personal economies. As in every area of life, worldviews
impact economic and political decisions as well.
With economics, there is confusion among Christians as to
which system is most consistent with the Bible. Some believe that a
SOCIALISTIC system is more in line with the truths of Christianity
because Jesus called for helping the poor and downcast. Others
believe a CAPITALISTIC system is more in line with the truths of
Christianity because Jesus spoke against theft, and if the government
takes from you to give to others then that is theft. There are aspects
of both systems which are consistent with the Bible, and aspects which
are not. The links below will give you greater insight into the teachings
of the Bible pertaining to economics.
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With politics, the philosophies of the two current political parties

have resulted in different outcomes in the past and having significant
economic results. As with economics, there have been aspects of both
which are consistent with the Bible and aspects which are not. One
additional consideration is whether or not it is Biblical to be involved in
the political process, whether with voting or even running for political
office. There are those both inside and outside the church who argue
for Christians to be involved or not be involved in politics.

ECONOMICS
CHRISTIAN ECONOMICS
www.allaboutworldview.org/christian-economics.htm
A BIBLICAL VIEW OF ECONOMICS
www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/bib-econ.html
ECONOMICS HAS CONSEQUENCES http://vimeo.com/55419730
Study Guide: www.compassclassroom.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/02/Economics-for-Everybody-Study-Guide-Sample.pdf
THE FINAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE
www.gty.org/resources/sermons/80-195/the-final-economic-collapse-part1?Term=economics
www.gty.org/resources/sermons/80-196/the-final-economic-collapse-part2?Term=economics
THINKING BIBLICALLY ABOUT THE ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT, AND YOUR MONEY
www.gty.org/resources/sermons/80-358/thinking-biblically-about-theeconomy-government-and-your-money?Term=economics

POLITICS
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN VIEW POLITICS?
www.gotquestions.org/Christian-politics.html
CHRISTIANS AND POLITICS
www.gty.org/resources/Articles/A124/Christians-and-Politics-Part-1

CHRISTIANS AND POLITICS

http://townhall.com/columnists/gregorykoukl/2007/04/30/political_passivity
%E2%80%94vice_or_christian_virtue
CHRISTIANS AND POLITICS - PART OF THE BIBLICAL CITIZENSHIP
SERIES
www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/christians-in-politics/biblicalcitizenship/christians-and-politics
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WHAT ABOUT CHRISTIANS IN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

http://carm.org/christian-politics-government
SHOULD CHRISTIANS SEEK POLITICAL POWER, OR SHOULD WE ONLY
FOCUS ON CHARITY AND EVANGELISM?
http://christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g005.html
No Hint of Politics
This is a great article by Greg Koukl showing that if Christians are to avoid
politics, all the opposition needs to do is label something were against
Political to keep us quiet.
www.str.org/Media/Default/Publications/December%202004-1.pdf
WAS JESUS A PACIFIST?
www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-pacifist.html

HOMOSEXUALITY
This is another dividing issue in our culture and even some
churches. Some churches and many Christian students are unclear
as to the Bibles position and that if two people love each other what
could be wrong. This section will give you good information about the
Bibles position on this subject, as well as the reasons behind the
Bibles position.
I have included this topic specifically because it causes so
much criticism of Christians. Many non-Christians believe that
Christianity teaches that homosexuality is a sin far worse than other
sins. Considering most non-Christians dont consider it a sin, this belief
contributes toward their feeling that Christians are intolerant. This is
not the case. Remember, all sin is an offense to God, and sin which
isnt forgiven by God will keep a person out of heaven for eternity. We
are all sinners, and deserve hell. And only God can and did pay the
price for our sin so that we could choose Him and live eternally with
him. As you can see by the following verse, the Bible classifies
homosexuality as no greater or lesser a sin than the others listed.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not

inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually

immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice
homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
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GAY, LESBIAN, GOD'S LOVE

www.everystudent.com/wires/gay-lesbian.html
Homosexuality: Compassion and Clarity Sean McDowell
This is a powerful message showing the importance of our being
compassionate when discussing this issue.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7a2RJgAGcM
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
www.gotquestions.org/homosexuality-Bible.html
www.openbible.info/topics/homosexuality
www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=7&article=358
www.str.org/articles/homosexuality-giving-your-point-of-view
www.crossconnection.net/2011/07/apologetics-homosexuality
http://ratiochristi.org/uncg/blog/post/sex-faith-and-utterconfusion/3068?tab=all_blogs_tab#.VBelX8WwIr1
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=7&article=1627
http://carm.org/homosexuality
www.alwaysbeready.org/homosexuality
HOMOSEXUALITY: KNOW THE TRUTH, SPEAK IT WITH COMPASSION
www.conversantlife.com/god-and-culture/homosexuality-know-the-truthspeak-it-with-compassion-part1
www.conversantlife.com/god-and-culture/homosexuality-know-the-truthspeak-it-with-compassion-part2
www.conversantlife.com/apologetics/homosexuality-know-the-truth-speakit-with-compassion-part3

MODESTY
When looking at TV shows, movies, commercials, magazines,
billboards, and the selection of clothing we see being worn, it is easy
to conclude that our culture has an obsession with sexuality. What
does the Bible say? Weve already seen Matthew 5:28 But I say to

you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
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See the other verses listed here: www.openbible.info/topics/modesty

To see the importance in the way a woman dresses and the
effect on guys, check the first link below. To see information about
studies showing scientific evidence about how guys view a woman
when she dresses immodestly, check the second link below.

WHAT GUYS THINK ABOUT MODESTY MODESTY PART II - CJ MAHANEY

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpWMlacQqzY
CAN MODESTY MAKE A COMEBACK? - THE EVOLUTION OF THE SWIMSUIT
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYY2mqIr7cA
When a woman veils her body in modest clothing, she is
not hiding herself from men. On the contrary, she is revealing her
dignity to them. This great quote and others, showing the value of
a Godly woman, are at this link:
http://sistersinchrist-bethany.blogspot.com/2012/05/quotes-godly-women.html
Guys, after youve watched the videos at these links, please
dont get the idea that you are excused from taking any responsibility
for what you allow yourself to see and your thoughts about a woman
who may not be dressed modestly. You must exercise every effort to
not see women as objects. The evangelistic preacher Billy Graham
said, You may not be able to help the first look, but you can help
the second look. This means that we may not always be able to
help the first glimpse of images and those women in attire who could
cause us to have lustful thoughts if we choose to continue looking.
However, we are responsible for what we do with the second look,
whether we will continue to look or will look away.
And just in case you think that once you get older or married
that you wont have to worry about the visual impact a woman can have
if she is dressed in certain attire, you do. In his message EVERY MANS
BATTLE, (39 mins into Pt.1), Jay Wegter talks about one of the founders
of the Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer. While
Dr. Chafer was walking down the longest hallway of the seminary with
a young male student, they found that they were going to have to walk
the length of the hallway about 4ft behind a woman wearing a skin-tight
leotard. The young student said to Dr. Chafer (in his 80s), Boy Dr.
Chafer. It will sure be great to reach that age where that type of
thing wont bother me. And Dr. Chafer said, It sure will.
Every Mans Battle - Jay Wegter

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Pt1 www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=32008027544
Pt2 www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=32008032490
Guys, this will be a challenge for most of you for your entire life.
This tendency to lust does not go away, and you will need to decide
every day, and even every hour whether you will control it or allow it to
control you.
Girls, when you think of the description Jay gave of the woman
walking in front of Dr. Chafer and the young student, what very popular
garment among women could be compared to a skin tight leotard? My
thought is yoga pants. They may be comfortable, but so many young
women are wearing them and dont even know the thoughts guys are
having about them. Once again, its not right for a guy to not control
his thoughts. My purpose in sharing this information is so that you as
a woman will know what many guys are thinking, and if the guy is not
a Christian, they have no reason to control their thoughts.
OVERCOMING LUST
www.thestraitgate.org/devotionals/faith-at-work-devotional/overcoming-lust-part-one
www.thestraitgate.org/devotionals/faith-at-work-devotional/overcoming-lust-part-two
Additional Articles
www.overcoming-lust.com/articles
What does the Bible say about overcoming lust?
www.gotquestions.org/overcoming-lust.html
Keys to Powerful Living: Overcoming Lust
www.cbn.com/spirituallife/cbnteachingsheets/keys-Overcoming_Lust.aspx
How To Overcome Lust
http://brotherjohn.org/how-to-overcome-lust
Overcoming Lust Book Preview
https://books.google.com/books?id=djvKy3iTDp4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=
overcoming+lust

DATING
Modesty can also be a consideration in our actions. The dating
world can be one of the greatest challenges for Christian students, and
their ability to maintain any standard of modesty. I believe that the
following scenario encompasses many of the situations Christian
students find themselves in, and the conflicts they are forced to deal

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with. I hope the questions in this section help to give you a more
complete perspective in this challenging area.
Suppose that you found out an attractive and popular person
wanted to date you but who you didnt know much about. Others would
think you were crazy if you were to turn down a date offer from this
person. You decide to agree to go on a date with them but then found
out they usually dated others who were willing to be quite intimate with
them. Or, that this person had expectations as to what they would get
in return because they were spending money on the date. Would you
still accept the date, or would you cancel knowing that others would
probably look at you as THAT STUDENT who turned down a date with
one who others would jump at the chance to date?
This seems like a difficult conflict but if you think about the
following questions, they might help to put this scenario in perspective.

Is it important to find out about the reputation of another before

agreeing to date them?
Can you think of possible consequences of accepting a date, even
if you plan on keeping your modesty?
If you do accept the date, what conclusions to you think others
might come to about your modesty?
If other students think you are that kind of girl/guy, do you
think a committed Christian student would be more or less
interested in considering going out on a date with you?
I hope these questions illustrate how important your reputation
is, and the potential impact to your reputation if you dont think through
the choices you make. A fairly well-known saying applies in this
situation. The saying is,
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Here are a few other questions to think about:

What kind of first impression do you want others to have of you?

If you focus primarily on the looks or popularity of another
person, what does that convey to others about your character?
Is your character and reputation worth protecting?
Are you willing to sacrifice personal satisfaction, and possibly
some ridicule from other students at times to maintain your
personal integrity and character?
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Its natural to want to try to fit in, but is fitting in at the expense
of your character worth it? Statistics indicate that there is little
difference these days between the sexual ethics of many Christians as
compared to non-Christians. If the world sees no difference in how
Christians live, why would they be motivated to become a Christian?
Another quote, and one that made me really think about my life is:

If you were arrested for being a Christian,

would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Again, when we invite Christ to be our Lord, Christ will convict
us of our sin. If you call yourself a Christian and are living no different
than your non-Christian friends, and you are not feeling any conviction
about aspects of your lifestyle which are unpleasing to God, you should
really consider whether you have truly accepted Christ, or only said a
phrase. God knows our thoughts, motivations, and actions, and knows
our heart. Since your eternal destiny is at stake, isnt this important!
WHAT ARE THE BIBLICAL GUIDELINES FOR DATING RELATIONSHIPS?
http://christiananswers.net/q-dml/dml-y006.html
SHOULD CHRISTIAN TEENAGERS DATE?
www.justindeeter.com/archives/1208
THE TOP FIVE MYTHS OF CHRISTIAN DATING
www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/the-top-five-myths-of-christian-dating11620987.html
BIBLICAL DATING: HOW IT'S DIFFERENT FROM MODERN DATING
http://www.boundless.org/relationships/2012/biblical-dating-how-its-different-frommodern-dating
CHRISTIAN DATING CULTURE PART 1
www.christianpost.com/news/christian-dating-culture-part-1-majority-of-singlechristians-reject-idea-of-waiting-for-marriage-to-have-sex-114422/#
Click the small Magnifying Glass and search CHRISTIAN DATING
CULTURE for parts 2 and 3.

PORNOGRAPHY
Pornography is one of the greatest threats to a persons
Christian witness and their walk with the Lord. It has caused people to
lose their jobs, and in some cases ruined their marriage and family
relationships. It is also one of the most difficult addictions to break
because the material is so easy to access, and one can do this in

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private. It can be done in private from everyone except God. God

knows everything and he knows our thoughts before we do.
Pornography used to be an issue primarily for men, however
due to the effective message of our culture that women should enjoy
this too, this is a growing issue for women as well. If you are struggling
with this issue, PLEASE use the information at these links to help you
gain victory in this area.
WHATS THE BIG DEAL WITH PORN?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/pornography/whats-the-big-deal-with-porn
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? www.gotquestions.org/pornography-Bible.html
www.itbn.org/index/detail/ec/N2cmIzMzrP3aAYGy5Bzbkwi8a1EylvH2
(Every Young Mans Battle)
www.alwaysbeready.org/pornography
http://just1clickaway.org
www.befreeinchrist.com (also click the Links category at the right)
JAY WEGTER http://gospelforlife.org/videopage
Great articles and audio about this issue, from Jay Wegter
Every Mans Battle - Jay Wegter
This is an outstanding message showing the battle men face and how
vigilant we need to be to battle this temptation.
Pt1 www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=32008027544
Pt2 www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=32008032490
Overcoming Sexual Lust
http://gospelforlife.org/s/Overcoming-sexual-lust-4w7e.mp3
Sermons on Overcoming Pornography
www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?keyworddesc=Pornography&keyword=Porno
graph
HOW TO GUARD YOUR EYES FROM PRNOGRAPHY AND NUDITY
www.virtualpreacher.org/contemporary-issues/guard-eyes-porn-nudity
LIES YOUNG WOMEN BELIEVE
www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=1836

THOSE WHO REALIZE THEY MIGHT HAVE AN ADDICTION TO

PORNOGRAPHY

CAN THE EFFECTS OF PORN BE REVERSED?

http://marriagemissions.com/can-effects-porn-reversed-mark-gungor
40-DAY E-COURSE - http://2.bebroken.com/40-day-e-course.html
CHAOS COMPASS - www.chaoscompass.org/how-to-use.html (check phone app)

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TOXIC PORN, TOXIC SEX: A Real Look at Pornography

www.everystudent.com/wires/toxic.html

Also check Jay Wegters message above Every Mans Battle

BRAIN CHEMICALS AND PORN ADDICTION: SCIENCE SHOWS HOW PORN HARMS US
www.covenanteyes.com/2014/02/03/brain-chemicals-and-porn-addiction
www.covenanteyes.com/2010/04/19/your-brain-on-porn-part-1-interviewwith-dr-bill-struthers
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
http://churchpurity.com/resources.php
http://curetobepure.blogspot.com
www.thepureman.org/help-overcoming-pornography-addiction.html
http://porntopurity.com
www.puresexradio.com

SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE

This area is similar to pornography in that it can have a very
harmful effect on your Christian walk. Unlike pornography though, the
consequences can last a lifetime because of pregnancy and disease,
or the regret of an abortion.
In regards to sex outside of marriage some have said God
doesnt want me to have fun. But is this true? In actuality, could it
be that God doesnt want us to be hurt so that we can truly enjoy this
gift within guidelines that are designed to virtually guarantee we wont
be hurt? Consider a couple who is married, and their wedding night is
the first time either of them have sex. If they remain faithful to each
other for the rest of their lives, will they ever need to worry about any
of the dozens of sexually transmitted diseases that exist? Would they
ever need to go through the emotions those feel who have been
dropped by another after sex, and feel they have been used for sex?
A big NO on both accounts! In addition to the other links, I have
included one that responds to, God doesnt want me to have fun.
If you are a woman reading this, ask yourself the question, If
you are intimate with a guy before marriage, which of you has the
most to lose? It should be pretty easy question to answer. You do!
This was illustrated briefly in just the last few paragraphs. I will provide
more significant things to consider later in this section. If you are
considering being intimate with a guy, you are considering giving him

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the most personal part of yourself that you can offer anyone and are
also putting yourself at risk for issues which could last your entire life.
Men are typically visual, while women are typically relational.
The relationship aspect is typically more important to a woman, at least
initially. So what a man will often look for is the woman who makes a
visual impact on him, while a woman thinks more long term, and will
usually look for a man she could see herself in a relationship with. Its
not that the guys looks arent important to a woman, but the relationship
is as important, if not more so. If both looks and relationship are there
in the man, so much the better for the woman. As we all have a
tendency to conceal what we believe would be found negative by
others, men wont typically acknowledge how strongly they are
motivated by the physical appearance of a woman.
Considering the impact of APPEARANCE on a guy, how a young
woman dresses has a significant effect on guys, whether intended or
not. If you have not yet checked out the links in the MODESTY section,
I really encourage you to do so.
Another thing to realize is that guys have typically been goal
oriented. One of the phrases I was reminded of while writing this is
that of a man telling a woman, If you loved me you would. Can
you tell what the goal is for someone making this kind of statement?
Considering todays culture, this might not only be said by a man to a
woman but also by a woman to a man. If you are dedicated to
remaining pure until marriage or have made mistakes in the past and
you are dedicated to remain pure from now until you get married, there
are a few responses to the above statement you might find helpful.
It is not my intention for anyone reading this to be made
uncomfortable by my bluntness, but as in other areas of this guide, my
desire is to provide you with tools to be able to respond to the
challenges you may be confronted with.
I believe that the following statement has a lot of truth to it,
Guys use love to get sex, and girls use sex to get love. Being
GOAL ORIENTED, and not always RELATIONSHIP ORIENTED, guys have
been known to promise LOVE to a girl, if they can achieve their goal.
The unfortunate truth is that many guys will be lying when they tell a
young woman that they love her, to convince her to give them this gift
intended for the wedding night. And unfortunately many young women
have given into this deception only to find out that the guy didnt really

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mean it when he said that he loved them. The guy got the sex he
wanted but the girl didnt get the relationship she wanted.
When challenged by the statement, If you loved me you
would, it might seem that the intent of someone who says this is to
provoke the other person to actually PROVE their love to the one who
made the statement. Unfortunately, many young women have been
deceived into actually believing they can prove their love by sleeping
with the guy. Isnt this statement requesting the proof of love onesided? Why is it that one person has to prove their love to the other by
sacrificing the most intimate gift they will ever give their future spouse?
In reality, the person making the statement is incredibly selfish.
If you are a young woman and a guy says this to you, he is basically
saying that he wants you to give your most personal and intimate gift
to him, to prove that you love him. Hes asking you to give up your
confidence in; not contracting a STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease),
not getting pregnant, and then not going through a 9 month pregnancy,
not going through a long and likely painful delivery of a child, and not
potentially having to raise the child by yourself. Or the other position
you are put in, having to consider even the possibility of ending the
babys life through abortion and possibly be rendered sterile through
the process of an abortion. And he is asking you to do this why? So
that he can satisfy his desire for a few moments of pleasure, at
your expense! This sounds like a fair trade-off, right? . . . . . NOT!
How much concern for YOUR SAFETY, MENTAL WELL-BEING, and
CONFIDENCE does a guy like this have for you? Hopefully you
understand why I feel this is an important subject to cover, and to
provide you with answers to challenges like this.
If told, If you loved me you would, a direct response is,
Well, if you loved me, you would respect my choice/decision.
Thinking about a person proving their love, God loved you
so much that he sacrificed his life so that you could spend eternity with
Him. The Creator of the entire universe did this to prove his love for
you, and did it before you could change and become better! How much
are you valued by this God? Hopefully you know the answer to this
question. You are of infinite worth to Him! If you know that God loves
you this much, how much do you need the selfishly motivated
affections of the kind of guy indicated in this section? Yes, another
question easily answered. You dont!

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If this selfish immature guy persists by saying, But everyone

is doing it, you could respond, Great! You shouldnt have any
problem finding someone to satisfy your immature need. I
thought of one more possible follow up response if the guy is very
persistent (and not getting the hint), But I want to do it with you.
Your response could be, No, you just want to do it with anyone.
Remember, you are of infinite worth to God, as evidenced by
Christs decision to die on the cross and pay an infinite price for your
sin. If you are worth this much to God and he loves you so much, do
you think you need to get proof of your value from a person who is only
concerned about their own selfish needs; a person who has such
disregard for you and your safety and confidence? Tim Keller
mentioned that a man who does this is saying I want you to give
your life for me, (to fulfill my needs), while Jesus says, Ive given
my life for you, (to fulfill all your needs and give you eternal life).
Jesus wants so much more for you than to fulfill some guys selfish
needs.
Can you see now why God has designed the intimacy of sex
to be shared only within the marriage between one man and one
woman, and only between those two people for life? As a young
woman, if a man is willing to wait until you are both married to be
sexually intimate with you, he is proving his love to you. God doesnt
want you to settle for anything less than the best, since you are so
valuable to him.
Considering how valuable you are to God, think about the
comments weve all heard which are critical about the physical aspects
of another person. If those comments have been made to you, how
does that make you feel? If you have made those comments about
another, do you realize now that you have made those comments
about a person who the Creator of the entire universe died for?
If you have had those comments made about you, especially
about something about you that you have no control over, these
comments have possibly caused you to feel inferior to the person
saying them. You might even be willing to compromise your virtue and
change yourself in some way, to make yourself more appealing to this
other person or group. I hope you realize that the approval of this
person or group is meaningless when compared to the love and
affection of the God of the universe. And he already died to prove his
love for you! Isnt waiting till you meet a real man worth it, (or a real

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woman, if you are a guy) who is willing to love you the way that God
has intended?
Ever since Ive heard the following songs, Ive thought of those
who have questioned their worth, or allowed their worth to be
determined by others. Watch and listen to the lyrics and know that the
God of the universe loves you so much and wants the best for you.

HE KNOWS MY NAME - FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI

Video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYpBgJHmGmw
Lyrics - www.metrolyrics.com/he-knows-my-name-lyrics-francesca-battistelli.html
FURIOUS LOVE - VERIDIA
Video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts_osvAzEhA
Lyrics - www.metrolyrics.com/furious-love-lyrics-veridia.html
JONNY DIAZ - MORE BEAUTIFUL YOU
Video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNqQUojBg84
Video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5LPc9jXk80
Lyrics - www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BWI1PxWrcw
SOMETHING EVERY GIRL NEEDS TO HEAR - Alyssa Bethke
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhOLl86Y5YA
10 THINGS EVERY TEENAGE GIRL NEEDS TO KNOW
www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/10-things-every-teenage-girlneeds-to-know.html
10 LIES CHRISTIAN TEENS TELL THEMSELVES ABOUT SEX, DATING,
AND HOW FAR IS TOO FAR
http://christianteens.about.com/od/dating/tp/liessexdating.htm
Peer Pressure

www.creationtips.com/peer.html
www.jesusisthelight.net/PEER-1.htm

When my wife and I were engaged, we had already made the

decision that we would not be intimate till our wedding night. One of
her friends asked her, Dont you want to make sure you are both
compatible physically before you get married? Shouldnt you
both TRY IT OUT so that you know everything will be good, like
trying on a pair of shoes? Using the SHOES illustration, my wife
responded to her, Hugo doesnt want to buy a pair of shoes that
have already been tried on by other people. Also, think about this
logically. With millions and millions of marriages happening since the
beginning of mankind, it is pretty easy to conclude that the physical

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aspect of the marriage relationship is virtually guaranteed to work just

fine.
If you are a virgin, hopefully you have decided to remain a
virgin till marriage. Hopefully, the earlier illustrations showing what you
stand to lose gives you encouragement to wait. You may have
friends who are giving you a hard time and/or are pressuring you to
lose your virginity. A great response Ive heard to answer them is,
Any time I want, I can become just like you.
But you can never again become just like me.
You may no longer be a virgin because of a mistake youve
made in your past, and have now decided to remain pure until
marriage. If youve not already asked God to forgive you of these
mistakes I encourage you to do so. He is the God of forgiveness and
second chances. If you have given away your virginity in the past but
are committed to remaining pure till marriage, you may be wondering
how God can give you a second chance in this area. Check out the
following links for encouragement in your commitment to now honor
God in your physical life:

WHAT IS SECONDARY VIRGINITY?

www.reapteam.org/what-is-secondary-virginity
CAN YOU BECOME A VIRGIN AGAIN?
www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/hottopics/sexabstinence/can-youbecome-virgin-again.html
My wife was a virgin when we married, but I very regrettably
was not. While she had committed to save herself for her future
husband, even though we had never met, I had not saved myself for
her. I had given in to the lies of the culture; cost-free pleasure and
its not hurting anyone. In doing so, I sacrificed the gift I should
have been saving for our wedding night.
The Wedding Gift I ended up giving to my wife for our
marriage was to cause my wife to question herself, wondering how she
compared to the other intimate relationships I had experienced in my
past. Even though we talked about my past before we married, she
still had concerns and doubts for the better part of the first year we
were married. Even though I repeatedly told her that she had nothing
to worry about, it didnt lessen her concern for almost the first year of
our marriage. I share this with you to encourage you to remain
committed to save yourself for your spouse on your wedding night so
that you dont bring this gift of doubt into your marriage, as I had.
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I also want to stress the importance of deciding your limits

before you are in a situation where you could be compromised. The
saying Ive heard which best describes this is, You need to decide
what you are going to do in a parked car before you are ever in
the situation where you are in a parked car, not once you are
there. I guarantee that if you choose to be in that situation, you will
not be thinking critically about limits and consequences. You will be
caught up in the emotions of the moment. One discipline you could
practice in situations like this is to not allow yourself to be alone with
another person. If going on a date, make it a double date. If at home,
make sure other people are there.
Lastly, many students try to think about limits in this area using
the question, As a Christian, how far CAN I go? You want to
change one word and ask, As a Christian, how far SHOULD I go?
To illustrate this idea, if you were at the Grand Canyon, would it be
better to ask, How close to the edge can I go? or How close to
the edge should I go?
I would encourage you to work with your parents and/or youth
pastor/leader, and get their perspective on potentially compromising
situations and how best to prepare/deal with them.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Definition http://carm.org/dictionary-fornication
www.gotquestions.org/sex-before-marriage.html
www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=7&article=1726
WHY SHOULD I SAVE SEX FOR MARRIAGE?
http://christiananswers.net/q-sum/sum-f001.html
http://carm.org/fornication-sex-marriage-forgiven
www.ucg.org/christian-living/sex-outside-marriage-whats-big-deal/
SEX HAS A PRICE TAG PAM STENZEL
CHURCH VERSIONwww.youtube.com/watch?v=yigIdLStbwY
PUBLIC SCHOOL VERSION www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL48E0AE8ACB0DC78D
IS SEX ESSENTIAL FOR HAPPINESS?
www.breakpoint.org/tp-home/blog-archives/12985-is-sex-essential-to-happiness

THE GIFT OF SEX

www.rogerswebsite.com/others/The-Gift-of-Sex.htm
MY BOYFRIEND WANTS TO HAVE SEX. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HIM. WHAT
SHOULD I DO? (Could also apply to a Christian guy by his girlfriend)
www.christiananswers.net/q-dml/dml-y010.html

6 REASONS GOD CREATED SEX FOR MARRIAGE

310

http://stuffthatsrelevant.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/mark-driscoll-6reasons-why-god-created-sex-for-marriage/
IVE GOT SEX ON MY MIND
http://chadfisheronline.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/ive-got-sex-on-my-mind-part-1
ANSWERING THE GOD DOESNT WANT US TO HAVE FUN ARGUMENT
www.missiontoamerica.org/christianity/fun.html
STATISTICS, REALITY, AND RESOURCES
www.puritycoalition.org/web_page.html
http://createdforpurity.com/crisis/crisis.html
www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/love_and_sex/purity.aspx
http://disciplesforpurity.com/materials
www.premaritalsex.info
http://restoringsexualpurity.org
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/topics/charctr_05_sexual_purity.cfm

* DEFENDING AGAINST PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

This is a section I chose to add because of the statistics of the
number of young women who are physically and sexually assaulted
every year. That statistic is that 1 in 4 young women will be assaulted
and 1 in 3 will face dating abuse. Self-defense is fully consistent with
Biblical principles. Also, consider 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not
provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he
has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. As a brother in
Christ, it is my desire TO PROVIDE FOR MY RELATIVES, by showing you a
tool for your safety against any who would try to take your virtue by
force.
The program was created by a young woman who was a high
school student, and studying Jiu Jitsu. She was motivated to do
something after hearing the same statistics that 1 in 4 young women will
be assaulted and 1 in 3 will face dating abuse. This is the program she
was motivated to create.
Check her website: www.justyellfire.com
As a 25 year veteran police officer, my brother recommends
learning a few techniques till they are 2nd nature, rather than trying to
learn many techniques which you need to think to use. If you are ever
in a situation where you need to use defenses, you will only be able to
use the techniques which have become automatic. The techniques

311

shown in this program fit my brothers recommendation. I recommend

partnering with a family member or friend to practice the techniques
shown until they are second nature for you. In doing so, hopefully you
can reduce the possibility of becoming one of the statistics indicated
above. If you have been assaulted, please talk to someone you trust.
Hopefully the JUST YELL FIRE program will help keep this from
happening again.

JUST YELL FIRE Original Film For Girls 11 to 19

www.justyellfire.com/movie.php?video=Just_Yell_Fire_Movie
JUST YELL FIRE CAMPUS LIFE
Newest Film For College Girls
www.justyellfire.com/movie.php?video=JYF_Campus_Life

RECOMMENDED FULL LENGTH VIDEOS

Expelled No Intelligence Allowed www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5EPymcWp-g

LOUIE GIGLIO:
How Great Is Our God
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCrvibgo1LM
Indescribable
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNgJhuICrVA
Unthinkable You
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA4gI-6PM2s
When God Breaks Through
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH5OyEHzgn4
Check other videos by Louie Giglio on YouTube and Bing Videos
LEE STROBEL:
The Case for a Creator
The Case for Christ
The Case for Faith audiobook
The Case for the Real Jesus
The Case for the Resurrection

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajqH4y8G0MI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikxb09pyZwM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zDdd-PzWZc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooItL-caoyg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVoKR_cvJJM

ADDITIONAL VIDEOS:
Icons of Evolution
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKD12szbshY
The Privileged Planet
www.godtube.com/watch/?v=7GGGGGNX
God of Wonders
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvVt4lDSPeY
Unlocking the Mystery of Life
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWvS1UfXl8k&list=PL9F238BF1EB056938
Signature in the Cell
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW6egHV6jAw
Gods not Dead - Argument Scenes www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc5s1ZKNmcc
The Signs of God's Existence
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS1x-6al2pE
312

THE VISUAL BIBLE

Gospel of John
Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Mark (audio)
Gospel of Luke
The Book of Acts:
The Jesus Movie
The Passion of the Christ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ-xbrMecBc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3XOO-yLv2c
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhjkxfiakLg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTb4UIbnOHE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZKprMCFp4
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0k_Uj3nTj4
http://vimeo.com/92163567

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS/APPS
http://pastormattblog.com/2014/01/31/the-three-apologetic-podcaststhat-every-christian-should-subscribe-to/
http://thefailedatheist.com/2015/01/03/top-10-recommended-podcasts/
www.apologetics315.com/2007/10/16-best-apologetics-podcasts.html
LISTS OF RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR APOLOGETICS
www.apologetics315.com/2012/03/apologetics-reading-plan-for-beginners.html
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/books.html
http://1peter315.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-favorite-12-books-to-recommend.html
www.challies.com/recommendations/apologetics
http://thefailedatheist.com/book-resources
http://christianmomthoughts.com/16-book-recommendations-for-studyingapologetics
SITES WITH BOOKS AVAILABLE TO READ ONLINE
https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books
www.apologeticspress.org/PDF-books.aspx
http://carm.org/online-bible
www.ccel.org
www.christianapologetic.org/book01.htm
http://classicapologetics.com/
www.freechristianresources.org/books
www.monergism.com/thethreshold/books/onlinebooks.html
http://ntslibrary.com/index.html
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/browse?type=lcsubc&
key=Apologetics
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2009/07/free-apologetics-e-book-library.html
http://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/free-christian-worldviewand-apologetics-books-online-week-on-veritas-domain
http://ntslibrary.com/Christian-PDF-Books.htm
313

ONLINE AUDIOBOOKS
KNOWING GOD JC Ryle
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2FD9xugRY8&list=PLvwgUlicDKGo
qqzLI-Yv3cCKQLCbOajfr
HOLINESS JC Ryle
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq8FDeBjG40&list=PLzOwqed_gET1
bxl9WiAqsleAfFhskne4q
DEBATES - www.apologetics315.com/search/label/debate

APOLOGETICS STUDY BIBLE FOR STUDENTS

This section includes questions which are in the APOLOGETIC STUDY
BIBLE FOR STUDENTS. I believe the questions are very important and are
those which many people have a desire to find answers for. Below each
question are links to some of the answers found when you perform an Internet
search for the questions.

QUESTIONS FROM THE APOLOGETIC STUDY BIBLE FOR STUDENTS:

WHAT ARE WORLDVIEWS AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
http://everyschool.com/what-are-worldviews
http://everyschool.com/
www.allaboutworldview.org/worldviews.htm
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/22-important-questions-for-thebuddhistic-worldview/
IS RELATIONSHIP IMPORTANT IN APOLOGETICS?
www.everyschool.com/is-relationship-important-in-apologetics
www.rzim.eu/what-is-the-relationship-between-evangelism-and-apologetics
HOW OLD IS THE EARTH?
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-old-is-earth-by-chris-sherrod.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/earth-age.html

IF GOD KNEW ADAM AND EVE WOULD SIN, WHY DID HE PUT THE
TREE IN THE GARDEN?
www.gotquestions.org/tree-knowledge-good-evil.html
www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVanswers/2008/02-01.html

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WHAT IS EVOLUTION?
www.allaboutscience.org/what-is-evolution-faq.htm
www.alwaysbeready.com/evolution
www.truthnet.org/Christianity/Apologetics/Evolutiontrue4
CAN WE TRUST THE OLD TESTAMENT?
www.cltruth.com/blog/2012/can-we-trust-the-old-testament
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfCWFix43E0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYG_-6DN4bQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulCbh_1SlwE
THREE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT HEAVEN
How can God be good if some of my loved ones are not in Heaven?
www.epm.org/resources/2010/Mar/26/if-our-loved-ones-are-hell-wontspoil-heaven
Will there be sex in heaven?
www.gotquestions.org/sex-heaven.html
www.equip.org/bible_answers/will-there-be-sex-in-heaven
Will there be animals in heaven?
www.equip.org/bible_answers/will-there-be-animals-in-heaven
http://carm.org/animals-heaven
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL?
www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-evil.html
www.compellingtruth.org/God-allow-evil.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zNzs6YujPo
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/theology/what-does-it-mean-to-have-faith-in-god
www.gotquestions.org/faith-in-Jesus.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OlY40qlxQ
EVIDENCE FOR GOD: THE MORAL ARGUMENT
www.reasonablefaith.org/moral-argument
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5YdtMxls-c
www.gotquestions.org/does-god-exist.html
www.apologetics315.com/2013/08/5-common-objections-to-moral-argument.html
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT CLONING?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/ethics/what-does-the-bible-say-about-cloning
www.gotquestions.org/cloning-Christian.html
www.allaboutpopularissues.org/cloning-ethics.htm
315

IF I CANT SEE GOD, HOW DO I KNOW HES REAL?

www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c038.html
http://christianteens.about.com/od/christianliving/a/Common-Christian-QuestionsHow-Do-I-Know-God-Is-There-When-I-Ca-Not-See-Him.htm
HOW CAN JESUS DEATH BRING ABOUT FORGIVENESS?
www.jesus.org/death-and-resurrection/the-crucifixion/how-does-the-death-ofjesus-save.html
www.gotquestions.org/got-forgiveness.html
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/ethics/what-does-the-bible-say-abouthomosexuality
http://carm.org/bible-homosexuality
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcIhzSwUWnY
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: WHATS THE BIG DEAL?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/ethics/same-sex-marriage-whats-the-big-deal
http://apologeticjunkie.blogspot.com/2012/09/same-sex-marriage-equal-rightsreligion.html (check the additional links at the bottom of the article)
http://apologeticjunkie.blogspot.com/search/label/same-sex%20marriage
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXOu6hwt4jk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAYvSeDiBbM
CAN GODS LOVE BE RECONCILED WITH HIS ORDER TO KILL THE CANAANITES?
www.thinkingchristian.net/posts/2009/06/did-god-commit-genocide-in-the-bible
http://mysavior.info/article/223
www.reasonablefaith.org/slaughter-of-the-canaanites
WHATS THE BIG DEAL WITH YOGA?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/cults-religions/whats-the-big-deal-with-yoga
www.gotquestions.org/Christian-yoga.html
http://carm.org/should-christians-practice-yoga
ARE THERE CONTRADICTIONS IN THE BIBLE?
http://christiananswers.net/q-comfort/contradictions-bible.html
http://carm.org/bible-difficulties/genesis-deuteronomy
www.exploregod.com/what-about-contradictions-in-the-bible
www.allabouttruth.org/bible-contradictions.htm
DO PSYCHICS HAVE SUPERNATURAL POWER?
www.christiancourier.com/articles/1264-do-psychics-really-have-mystic-powers
316

www.gotquestions.org/psychics-Christian.html
www.soundwitness.org/pop_culture/psychic_mediums.html
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT WAR?
www.gotquestions.org/war-Bible.html
http://bibleresources.org/war
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/just_war_principle.html
HASNT SCIENCE DISPROVED MIRACLES?
www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/rfsm-miracles.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbTft0VlcRQ
HOW DO I CHOOSE MY FAITH?
www.thinkingchristian.net/posts/2010/08/choosing-your-faith-by-mark-mittelberg
www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-to-choose-your-faith-wisely11572196.html
http://choosingyourfaith.com
http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-1579-9.pdf
www.christianity.com/11572196/
WHAT IS THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT?
http://carm.org/new-age-what
www.gotquestions.org/new-age-movement.html
www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/what-is-new-age-religion-and-why-cantchristians-get-on-board-11573681.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqIf_b-OOdU
HOW DO I GROW SPIRITUALITY?
www.exploregod.com/how-can-i-grow-spiritually
www.compellingtruth.org/spiritual-growth.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMiRJXMy4jA
WHATS THE BIG DEAL WITH ASTROLOGY?
www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Astrolgy.html
www.gotquestions.org/horoscopes-Christian.html
www.christianfaith.com/resources/astrology
DOES GOD WANT ME TO BE RICH?
http://gamerfaith.com/does-god-want-me-rich
www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/does-god-want-us-to-be-rich-a-bible-study
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDuDN2FtrIo
317

WHY DOES GOD CARE ABOUT MY ENTERTAINMENT CHOICES?

www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/ethics/why-does-god-care-about-myentertainment-choices
www.gty.org/blog/B130502
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCaPj5xYhns
IS IT OK TO PICK AND CHOOSE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES?
www.inplainsite.org/html/religious_pluralism.html
www.christianpost.com/news/most-americans-pick-and-choose-religious-beliefs-36368
www.str.org/articles/religious-stew
EVIDENCE FOR GOD: COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
www.gotquestions.org/cosmological-argument.html
www.faithfacts.org/search-for-truth/questions-of-christians/does-god-exist
www.allaboutphilosophy.org/cosmological-argument.htm
www.cross.tv/115904
WHAT THE BIG DEAL WITH WICCA?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/cults-religions/whats-the-big-deal-with-wicca
http://carm.org/wicca
www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DKWZKWNX
CAN A CHRISTIAN BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/science/can-a-christian-believe-in-evolution
http://realtruth.org/articles/130530-006.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf5ovSpS2GU
DOES THE BIBLE DEMEAN WOMEN?
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/01/common-objection-17-christianity.html
www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A265
http://kelvinho-kh.blogspot.com/2012/01/does-bible-demean-women-bysharon-james.html
EVIDENCE FOR GOD: BIOCHEMISTRY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQt3b-ovbrs
http://godandscience.org/evolution/design_in_biology.html
EVIDENCE FOR GOD: PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/quotes.html (quotes from scientists)
www.alwaysbeready.com/god-evidence
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https://biblescienceguy.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/17-evidence-for-god-designconvinces-scientists-3
WHAT DO HINDUS BELIEVE?
www.christianministriesintl.org/articles/What-Do-Hindus-Believe.php
www.gotquestions.org/hinduism.html
www.compellingtruth.org/what-is-Hinduism.html
IS RELIGION THE CAUSE OF EVIL IN THE WORLD?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/apologetics/is-religion-the-cause-of-evil-in-the-world
www.allaboutworldview.org/presence-of-evil.htm
HAS GOD SPOKEN?
www.christianity.com/bible/authorship-and-inspiration/what-evidence-is-therethat-the-bible-is-in-fact-gods-word-11542346.html
www.gotquestions.org/which-book.html
www.allabouttruth.org/how-do-we-know-the-bible-is-the-inspired-word-of-god-faq.htm
www.jashow.org/wiki/index.php?title=Can_We_KNOW_the_Bible_is_the_Word_of_God

DO CHRISTIANITY AND POLITICS MIX?

www.gotquestions.org/Christian-politics.html
www.allaboutworldview.org/christian-politics-and-obedience-faq.htm
www.allaboutworldview.org/christian-politics.htm
WHAT IS GOD LIKE?
http://everyschool.com/what-is-god-like
http://gotquestions.org/What-is-God-like.html
IS GOD MALE?
www.compellingtruth.org/God-male-or-female.html
http://godandscience.org/doctrine/male.html
www.gotquestions.org/God-male-female.html
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1165
WHY DOES GOD SEEM HIDDEN?
www.conversantlife.com/life-with-god/why-does-god-seem-hidden-from-us
www.gotquestions.org/God-hidden.html
www.compellingtruth.org/God-hidden.html
DOES THE FOSSIL RECORD SUPPORT EVOLUTION?
http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-c006.html
www.cecwisc.org/QuestionOfTheMonth/does-the-fossil-record-support-evolution
319

http://creation.com/refuting-evolution-2-chapter-8-argument-the-fossil-recordsupports-evolution
SO, WHAT MAKES THE BIBLE SO SPECIAL?
http://everyschool.com/print/article/so-what-makes-the-bible-so-special
www.josh.org/resources/study-research/answers-to-skeptics-questions/whatmakes-the-bible-so-specia/
http://biblicalreliability.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-makes-bible-so-special.html
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ABORTION?
www.gotquestions.org/abortion-Bible.html
http://carm.org/bible-abortion
http://prolifetraining.com/resources/five-minute-5/
http://strplace.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/answer-every-defense-for-abortionchart-amp-video/
EVIDENCE FOR GOD: BEAUTY
www.evidence-for-god.com/
www.icr.org/Aesthetics
www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2012/03/the-beauty-of-creation
http://godandscience.info/gs/new/beautyguiding.html
IS PORNOGRAPHY THAT BAD?
www.porn-free.org/porn_is_bad.htm
www.marketfaith.org/implications-of-worldview/what-makes-pornography-so-bad/
http://carm.org/pornography
HOW DO I KNOW GODS WILL FOR MY LIFE?
http://christiananswers.net/q-dml/dml-y001.html
www.gotquestions.org/know-God-will.html
www.gotquestions.org/know-God-will.html
IS ALCOHOL BAD? RYAN SNUFFER
www.gotquestions.org/sin-alcohol.html
www.crosswalk.com/1120038/
http://pastorbrett.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/should-a-christian-drink-alcohol/
WHATS THE BIG DEAL WITH GAMBLING?
www.gotquestions.org/gambling-sin.html
www.christianity.com/blogs/al-mohler/a-christian-understanding-of-gambling.html
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=7&article=1251
320

HOW DO WE KNOW JESUS WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN?

https://blog.apologia.com/blog/2011/11/10/how-do-we-know-jesus-was-born-of-a-virgin

www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/virgin.html
www.jashow.org/wiki/index.php?title=How_Do_We_Know_the_Virgin_Birth_Is_True

HOW COULD SATAN FALL IF HE WAS WITH GOD?

www.gotquestions.org/Satan-fall.html
www.gotquestions.org/Satan-defeat.html
http://carm.org/why-did-god-allow-satan-and-angels-to-sin
EVIDENCE FOR GOD: DNA
https://brokenredeemed.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/evidence-for-god-dna
www.allaboutthejourney.org/dna-molecule.htm
www.allaboutthejourney.org/dna-and-computers-video.htm
www.allaboutscience.org/dna-double-helix-video.htm
HOW IMPORTANT IS DARWINIAN EVOLUTION?
www.credomag.com/2012/01/05/how-evolutionary-ethics-influenced-hitler-andwhy-it-matters
http://darwintohitler.com/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_5EwYpLD6A
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mxXICZ9mXo
IN WHAT WAYS DID JESUS FULFILL PROPHECIES?
www.newmediaministries.org/Jesus/Prophecies2_S.html
www.provethebible.net/T2-Divin/D-0401.htm
www.compellingtruth.org/Old-Testament-prophesy-Christ.html
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE?
www.compellingtruth.org/Bible-translations.html
www.gotquestions.org/Bible-translations.html
https://bib.irr.org/faq-why-are-there-so-many-different-translations-bible
HOW DO I TALK WITH SOMEONE OF ANOTHER RELIGION?
www.everyschool.com/how-do-i-talk-with-someone-of-another-religion
http://christiananswers.net/evangelism/methods/home.html
www.livingwaters.com/evangelism
WHATS THE BIG DEAL WITH SCIENTOLOGY?
www.apologeticsindex.org/s04.html
www.equip.org/articles/scientology/#christian-books-2
www.bible-study-lessons.com/Scientology.html
321

SHOULD ABORTION BE ALLOWED FOR RAPE OR INCEST?

www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/ethics/should-abortion-be-allowed-for-rape-or-incest
http://prolifetraining.com/resources/five-minute-8
http://prolifetraining.com/resources
www.equip.org/articles/abortion-and-rape-answering-the-arguments-for-abortion-rights

ARE UFOS REAL?

www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/theology/are-ufos-real
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/ufo.html
www.academia.edu/7197557/UFOs_ETs_and_the_new_age_a_christian_perspective

WHY DOESNT GOD ANSWER MY PRAYERS?

http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/why-doesnt-god-answer-all-my-prayers/
www.bethinking.org/human-life/why-doesnt-god-answer-my-prayers
http://far-above-rubies-and-pearls.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-doesnt-godanswer-all-prayers.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFdI_A7qbSQ
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT SATAN?
www.godandscience.org/doctrine/who_is_satan.html
www.epm.org/blog/2011/Jun/13/what-does-bible-teach-about-satan
www.openbible.info/topics/satan
WHY WOULD A GOOD GOD SEND PEOPLE TO HELL?
www.christiananswers.net/q-grace/hell-and-god.html
www.gotquestions.org/why-does-God-send-people-to-hell.html
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/why-would-god-send-good-people-to-hell
WAS JONAH REALLY SWALLOWED BY A BIG FISH?
http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t004.html
www.icr.org/article/did-jonah-really-get-swallowed-by-whale
WHAT ABOUT THE CRUSADES?
http://seanmcdowell.org/index.php/apologetics/what-about-the-crusades
http://www.gotquestions.org/christian-crusades.html
www.apologetics315.com/search?q=crusades
SHOULD CHRISTIANS CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/ethics/should-christians-care-about-the-environment

www.godandscience.org/apologetics/environment.html
www.equip.org/articles/christians-and-the-environment-how-should-christians-thinkabout-the-environment/#christian-books-2
322

HOW WERE PEOPLE SAVED BEFORE CHRIST?

http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/how-were-old-testament-saints-saved
http://www.gotquestions.org/before-Jesus.html
http://carm.org/how-were-people-saved-who-died-before-jesus
WHY DO CATHOLICS HAVE MORE BOOKS IN THEIR BIBLE?
www.equip.org/perspectives/the-apocrypha-the-apocryphal-books-of-thecatholic-bible
http://carm.org/apocrypha-it-scripture
www.str.org/articles/the-apocrypha#.VIx2j9LF_E0
IF GOD ALREADY KNOWS WHAT WE NEED, THEN WHY PRAY?
www.gotquestions.org/why-pray.html
www.oneplace.com/ministries/love-worth-finding/read/articles/since-god-knowseverything-why-should-we-pray-9549.html
www.compellingtruth.org/Prayers-supplication-why-pray.html
www.str.org/blog/get-this-prayer-app#.VIx30dLF_E0
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT DEMONS?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/theology/what-does-the-bible-say-about-demons
www.gotquestions.org/demons.html
www.openbible.info/topics/demons
WHY ARE SOME CHRISTIANS HYPOCRITES? RYAN SHARP
http://christianteens.about.com/od/becomingachristian/a/Common-ChristianQuestions-Why-Are-So-Many-Christians-Hypocrites.htm
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/why_are_christians_hypocrites.html
www.gotquestions.org/Christians-hypocrites.html
IF THERE IS SUCH GOOD EVIDENCE FOR GOD, THEN WHY DONT MORE PEOPLE
BELIEVE?
www.apologeticspress.org/apPubPage.aspx?pub=2&issue=792&article=1208
www.compellingtruth.org/scientists-believe-God.html
HOW CAN I MAKE SENSE OF THE TRINITY?
www.str.org/articles/does-the-trinity-make-sense#.VIyGENLF_E0
http://carm.org/trinity-makes-no-sense-it-isnt-logical
www.bible-truth.org/Trinity.html
DID THE APOSTLES REPORT JESUS WORDS ACCURATELY?
http://hcsb.org/b/authorjournal/archive/2012/02/22/did-the-apostles-report-jesuswords-accurately.aspx
323

http://readingacts.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/are-these-really-the-words-of-jesus
www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-alone.html
IS IT OKAY TO HAVE DOUBTS?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/theology/is-it-okay-to-have-doubts
http://vimeo.com/93857093
www.reasonablefaith.org/christian-doubt
DOES THE BIBLE CONTAIN ERRORS?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/bible/does-the-bible-contain-errors/
www.gty.org/resources/bible-qna/BQ073112/Does-the-Bible-Contain-Errors
www.ucg.org/booklet/bible-true/bible-and-you/does-bible-contain-errors
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT ANGELS?
http://christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t005.html
www.gotquestions.org/angels-Bible.html
www.christforums.org/forum/10-apologetics-and-theology/238-what-does-thebible-teach-about-angels
HOW DO I KNOW JESUS EVEN EXISTED?
https://brokenredeemed.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/how-do-i-know-jesus-evenexisted
www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-exist.html
www.reasonsforgod.org/the-best-reasons/did-jesus-exist/
WHATS THE PROBLEM WITH JUDGING OTHERS?
www.gotquestions.org/do-not-judge.html
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/why_are_christians_judgmental.html
www.openbible.info/topics/judging_others
DID JESUS REALLY RISE FROM THE DEAD?
www.str.org/articles/did-jesus-really-rise-from-the-dead#.VI-3LtLF_E0
http://gracebts.com/apologia/the-resurrection-of-jesus
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Gl-TPTxX8&list=PL925D60A5D4241319
WHAT DO MORMONS BELIEVE?
www.mrm.org/what-mormons-believe
www.gotquestions.org/Mormons.html
http://carm.org/mormonism
www.alwaysbeready.com/mormonism?id=97

324

IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY?

www.str.org/articles/is-jesus-the-only-way
www.rationalchristianity.net/only_way.html
www.josh.org/resources/study-research/answers-to-skeptics-questions/why-isjesus-the-only-way-to-god
www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-only-way.html
DID JESUS CLAIM TO BE GOD?
http://bobsiegel.net/articles/2008/04/did-jesus-really-claim-to-be-god
www.compellingtruth.org/Jesus-claim-God-deity-biblical.html
www.josh.org/resources/study-research/answers-to-skeptics-questions/did-jesusclaim-to-be-god
ARE THERE LOST GOSPELS THAT WERE LEFT OUT OF THE BIBLE?
www.thinkchristianly.org/what-are-the-lost-gospels-and-were-they-left-out-of-thebible
www.cbn.com/spirituallife/BibleStudyAndTheology/perspectives/carpentermissinggospels_bock.aspx
http://carm.org/are-these-lost-books-bible
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
www.gotquestions.org/who-Holy-Spirit.html
www.everystudent.com/forum/hspirit.html
http://christianity.about.com/od/topicalbiblestudies/a/whoisholyspirit.htm
www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/who-or-what-is-the-holy-spirit-a-bible-study
CAN SOMETHING BE TRUE FOR YOU, BUT NOT TRUE FOR ME? DILLON
BURROUGHS
http://nightmare2atheists.wordpress.com/category/true-for-you-but-not-true-for-me
www.thewhyman.jesusanswers.com/photo6_1.html
www.mtio.com/articles/aissar23.htm
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/youth-culture/true-for-you-but-not-true-for-me
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF JESUS?
www.josh.org/resources/study-research/answers-to-skeptics-questions/whatabout-those-who-have-never-heard-about-jesus
www.gotquestions.org/never-heard.html
www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=423
DONT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS JUST REFLECT WHERE ONE WAS RAISED?
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2010/02/common-objection-if-you-were-born-in.html

http://kelvinho-kh.blogspot.com/2012/01/dont-religious-beliefs-just-reflect.html
325

www.everyschool.com/dont-religious-beliefs-just-reflect-where-one-was-raised
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM?
www.gotquestions.org/difference-Christianity-Judaism.html
www.christchurchcentralsheffield.co.uk/tough-questions/whats-the-differencebetween-christianity-and-judaism
www.diffen.com/difference/Christianity_vs_Judaism
IS HOMOSEXUALITY NATURAL?
www.thinkchristianly.org/part-8-answering-the-toughest-questions-abouthomosexuality-with-alan-shlemon
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2013/11/video-are-people-born-gay-or-not-by.html
www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/homosexuality-know-the-truthand-speak-it-with-compassion-11606976.html
HOW CAN A PERSON GET INTO HEAVEN?
www.mrm.org/get-into-heaven
http://jesus-is-savior.com/how_to_be_saved.html
www.jesus-is-lord.com/2_heaven.htm
HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT I AM SAVED?
www.jesus.org/following-jesus/repentance-faith-and-salvation/how-can-i-be-sureim-saved.html
www.cuttingedge.org/salvation.html
www.thebiblechristian.com/?p=3945
http://so4j.com/how-can-i-know-i-am-saved
DOES WHAT I THINK REALLY MATTER?
www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/does-it-matter-what-i-think-kevin-hoddinottsermon-on-apologetics-general-36042.asp
http://thechristianforum.org/2014/05/it-doesnt-really-matter-what-you-thinktruthexists
http://dougbrittonbooks.com/onlinebiblestudiestemptationandovercomingsin/purelife-guardyourthoughtlife.php
WHY SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL MARRIAGE TO HAVE SEX?
www.soencouragement.org/nosexbeforemarriage.htm
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/sex/answers-to-tough-questions-about-sex
http://powertochange.com/discover/sex-love/dynamicsex/
HOW DO WE KNOW THE BIBLE INCLUDES THE RIGHT BOOKS?
www.thinkchristianly.org/how-do-we-know-the-bible-includes-the-right-books/
326

http://thetruth-blog.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-do-we-know-66-books-in-bible-are.html
www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/theology/04canon.html
IF GOD MADE EVERYTHING GOOD, WHY SHOULDNT I SMOKE POT?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/ethics/if-god-made-everything-good-whyshouldnt-i-smoke-pot/
www.godandscience.org/doctrine/marijuana.html
www.relevantmagazine.com/current/nation/should-christians-smoke-pot-or-not
WHAT ARE THE CRUCIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MUHAMMAD AND JESUS?
www.godresources.org/compare-jesus-muhammad/differences-jesusmuhammad.shtml
www.equip.org/article/muhammad-messiah-comparing-central-figures-islamchristianity/#christian-books-3
www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/Jesus-Muhammad.htm
IS THERE EVIDENCE FOR LIFE AFTER DEATH?
www.equip.org/articles/is-there-evidence-for-life-after-death
http://discoveryseries.org/ten-reasons/in-life-after-death
www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2461227/posts?page=20
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RELATE TO CULTURE?
http://jameseckman.blogspot.com/
http://kelvinho-kh.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-should-christian-relate-toculture.html
http://life.biblechurch.org/slifejom/corporate-publications/599-christians-andculture-tim-keller.html
www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/book/e/21/t/culture-and-the-christian.aspx
WHAT MAKES CHRISTIANITY UNIQUE?
www.christianministriesintl.org/articles/What-Makes-Christianity-Unique.php
www.everyschool.com/print/article/what-makes-christianity-unique
www.gotquestions.org/Christianity-unique.html
www.comereason.org/what-makes-christianity-unique.asp
http://impactapologetics.com/world-religions-what-makes-jesus-unique-mp3/
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DENOMINATIONS?
www.gotquestions.org/denominations-Christian.html
www.gotquestions.org/so-many-religions.html
http://compellingtruth.org/so-many-religions.html
www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-r006.html
327

HOW DO I SHARE MY FAITH?

www.churchleaders.com/youth/youth-leaders-blogs/138405ten_reasons_i_love_sharing.html
www.christianpost.com/news/5-ways-to-inspire-your-teenagers-to-share-thegospel-97281/
www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Stier_1_15_07
www.dare2share.org/worldviews/buddhists/
www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/faithandlife/devotionals/17.10.html
www.simplyyouthministry.com/resources-curriculum-small-groupsevangephobia.html
HOW CAN JESUS BE GOD AND MAN?
www.gotquestions.org/hypostatic-union.html
http://carm.org/jesus-two-natures
www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-can-jesus-be-god-and-man
IF GOD MADE THE UNIVERSE, THEN WHO MADE GOD?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/apologetics/if-god-made-the-world-then-whomade-god
http://christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c039.html
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/who_created_god.html
http://carm.org/who-made-god-richard-dawkins
ARENT ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY THE SAME?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/apologetics/arent-all-religions-basically-the-same
www.bethinking.org/is-christianity-the-only-way/q-dont-all-religions-basicallyteach-the-same-thing
http://apologeticjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/08/do-all-religions-lead-to-god.html
WHAT DO BUDDHISTS BELIEVE?
www.christianministriesintl.org/articles/What-Do-Buddhists-Believe.php
www.compellingtruth.org/what-is-Buddhism.html
www.gotquestions.org/buddhism.html
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD INSPIRED THE BIBLE?
www.gotquestions.org/Bible-inspired.html
www.compellingtruth.org/Bible-inspired.html
www.bethinking.org/is-the-bible-reliable/q-what-does-it-mean-the-bible-is-inspired

328

CAN GOD MAKE A ROCK SO BIG THAT HE CANT LIFT IT? ALEX MCFARLAND
www.alexmcfarland.com/Can-God-Make-A-Rock-So-Heavy-that-He-Could-NotL.html
http://carm.org/questions/about-god/can-god-make-rock-so-big-he-cant-pick-it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jRMWKz4hbw
DOES THE BIBLE ENDORSE SLAVERY?
http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/201104/201104_108_NT_slavery.cfm
hwww.apologetics315.com/2011/09/slavery-in-bible-articles-audio.html
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/slavery_bible.html
WHAT IS THE CORE OF THE BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW?
www.compellingtruth.org/Christian-worldview.html
http://carm.org/what-are-some-christian-worldview-essentials
www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/christian-worldview/why-is-a-christianworldview-important/why-your-worldview-matters
DO CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS WORSHIP THE SAME GOD?
www.str.org/articles/do-christians-and-muslims-worship-the-same-god
www.answering-islam.org/authors/clarke/worship_same_god.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n52BzWKLn9g
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH REINCARNATION?
www.gotquestions.org/reincarnation.html
www.watchman.org/articles/new-age/does-the-bible-teach-reincarnation
http://whataboutjesus.com/ressurection/afterlife-series/does-bible-teachreincarnation
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/reincarnation.html
CAN PEOPLE WHO COMMIT SUICIDE GO TO HEAVEN?
www.godandscience.org/doctrine/christians_who_kill_themselves.html
http://christiananswers.net/q-dml/suicide-and-heaven.html
www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/can-a-christian-commit-suicide-and-still-besaved-a-biblical-analysis
SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE TOLERANT?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e28x8N_T1tc
www.thinkchristianly.org/are-christians-intolerant-should-they-be/
www.compellingtruth.org/tolerance-Christian.html
www.gotquestions.org/tolerance-Christian.html

329

WHAT IS APOLOGETICS?
www.apologeticsindex.org/373-apologetics
www.gotquestions.org/Christian-apologetics.html
http://carm.org/apologetics
IS THE NEW TESTAMENT RELIABLE?
http://carm.org/manuscript-evidence
www.josh.org/resources/study-research/answers-to-skeptics-questions/hasntthe-new-testament-changed
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfCWFix43E0
IS CHRISTIANITY A COPYCAT RELIGION?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/apologetics/is-christianity-a-copycat-religion
http://carm.org/christianity/bible/doesnt-religion-mithra-prove-christianity-false
http://creation.com/pagan-copycat-thesis-refuted
www.tektonics.org/copycat/pagint.php
ARE THE TEACHINGS OF JEHOVAHS WITNESSES COMPATIBLE WITH THE BIBLE?
www.seanmcdowell.org/index.php/cults-religions/are-the-teachings-of-jehovahswitnesses-compatible-with-the-bible/
www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-r005.html
http://wit.irr.org/four-dangers-of-jehovahs-witnesses
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT PURGATORY?
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/what-does-the-bible-say-about-purgatory/
www.compellingtruth.org/purgatory.html
www.equip.org/article/is-purgatory-a-biblical-concept
WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE?
http://everyschool.com/what-is-heaven-like
www.everystudent.com/forum/heaven2.html
www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-heaven-like11636670.html
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCC4D03ED733C539E

330

APOLOGETIC STUDY BIBLE - QUESTIONS (NON-STUDENT VERSION)

Similar to the Apologetic Study Bible for Students, the following is
the list of questions which are in the non-student edition of the Apologetic
Study Bible. As many of the questions are the same, Ive only included
the list and not the links. If you are interested, you can search for answers
to these questions as I did for the questions from the student edition.
CAN WE STILL BELIEVE IN DEMONS TODAY?
WHAT IS APOLOGETICS?
HOW CAN MODERN MEDICINE RELATE TO THE OLD TESTAMENT?
IS THE NEW TESTAMENT TRUSTWORTHY?
ARE THE TEACHINGS OF JEHOVAHS WITNESSES COMPATIBLE WITH THE
BIBLE?
THE TRINITY: IS IT POSSIBLE THAT GOD CAN BE BOTH ONE AND THREE?
DOES SCIENCE SUPPORT THE BIBLE?
CAN A CHRISTIAN HAVE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION?
HOW CAN JESUS DEATH BRING FORGIVENESS?
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THERE IS A PURGATORY?
IS MORMONISM COMPATIBLE WITH THE BIBLE?
IS GOD A MALE?
INTELLECTUALS WHO FOUND GOD
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT CHRIST?
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RELATE TO THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT?
ARE THE DAYS OF GENESIS TO BE INTERPRETED LITERALLY?
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF THE EARTH
CONTROVERSY?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ABORTION?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT EUTHANASIA?
ISNT LOGIC ARBITRARY?
WAS ISRAELS RELIGION UNIQUE IN ITS ANCIENT CONTEXT?
CAN BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY BE TRUSTED?
CAN GODS ACTIONS BE DETECTED SCIENTIFICALLY?
IS PSYCHOLOGY BIBLICAL?
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RELATE TO CULTURE?
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT?
CAN SOMETHING BE TRUE FOR YOU AND NOT TRUE FOR ME?
WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE OTHERS?
ISNT THAT JUST YOUR INTERPRETATION?
BUT ISNT CHRISTIANITY INTOLERANT?
DOES THE MORAL ARGUMENT SHOW THERE IS A GOD?
WHAT IS NATURAL LAW?
HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BIBLE?

331

DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT MISQUOTE THE OLD TESTAMENT?

WHY WOULD A GOOD GOD SEND PEOPLE TO AN EVERLASTING HELL?
ARENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS JUST REFLECTING WHERE ONE WAS RAISED?
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH REINCARNATION?
IF GOD MADE THE UNIVERSE, WHO MADE GOD?
HOW DOES CHRISTIANITY RELATE TO OTHER EASTERN RELIGIONS?
DID JESUS REALLY RISE FROM THE DEAD?
HOW CAN THE BIBLE AFFIRM BOTH DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY AND HUMAN
FREEDOM?
DOES THE DESIGN ARGUMENT SHOW THERE IS A GOD?
HOW CAN WE KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL?
WHY SO MANY DENOMINATIONS?
DOES THE BIBLE REALLY CONTAIN NO ERRORS?
DOES THE BIBLE AFFIRM OPEN THEISM?
HOW CAN GOD HAVE ALL POWER AND BE LOVING AND YET THERE BE EVIL?
DOES THE BIBLE SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A JUST WAR?
HOW CAN WE KNOW THE BIBLE INCLUDES THE CORRECT BOOKS?
HAS THE BIBLE BEEN ACCURATELY COPIED THROUGH THE CENTURIES?
CAN RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE SHOW THERE IS A GOD?
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RELATE TO THOSE IN NON-CHRISTIAN MOVEMENTS
AND RELIGIONS?
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN UNDERSTAND POSTMODERNISM?
HOW DOES CHRISTIANITY RELATE TO BAHAI?
ARE JESUS CLAIMS UNIQUE IN THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD?
WHAT ABOUT HOLY WAR?
WHY THE DISCIPLES CONVICTION THEY SAW THE RISEN JESUS ESTABLISHES
THE HISTORICITY OF THE RESURRECTION?
IS THE TRANSFORMATION OF JESUS DISCIPLES DIFFERENT FROM THE
FOUNDERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS?
CAN NATURALIST THEORIES ADEQUATELY ACCOUNT FOR THE
RESURRECTION?
ARE BIBLICAL MIRACLES IMITATIONS OF PAGAN MYTHS?
HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT RELATE TO EVIDENCE FOR CHRISTIANITY?
WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN THINK ABOUT NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES?
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN DEAL WITH DOUBT?
IS THERE EVIDENCE FOR LIFE AFTER DEATH?
ARENT ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY THE SAME?
HOW DOES THE BIBLE RELATE TO JUDAISM?
IS BEAUTY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER?
DOES THE BIBLE DEMEAN WOMEN?
EVOLUTION: FACT OR FANTASY?
IS THE OLD TESTAMENT TRUSTWORTHY?
DIDNT THE CHURCH OPPOSE GALILEO?
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THE ABUSE OF NATURE?

332

DOES THE BIBLE AFFIRM THAT ANIMALS HAVE RIGHTS?

JUST WHAT IS DIVINE REVELATION?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT GOD INSPIRED THE BIBLE?
WHY DOES GOD HIDE HIMSELF?
ARE BIBLICAL GENEALOGIES RELIABLE?
IS THE BIBLE SEXUALLY OPPRESSIVE?
DOES THE BIBLE PROVIDE GUIDANCE REGARDING HUMAN CLONING?
COULD THE GOSPEL WRITERS WITHSTAND THE SCRUTINY OF A LAWYER?
DOES THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT SHOW THERE IS A GOD?
DOES THE ARGUMENT FROM MIND SHOW THERE IS A GOD?
HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RELATE TO A SCIENTIFIC NATURALIST?
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THAT HUMANS ARE MORE THAN THEIR BODIES?
HOW DOES ONE DEVELOP A CHRISTIAN MIND?
WHAT ARE THE LAWS OF LOGIC?
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE?
MORE EVIDENCE FOR LIFE AFTER DEATH
WHAT ARE SELF-DEFEATING STATEMENTS?
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ANNIHILATIONISM?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS?
WHAT IS A WORLDVIEW?
ARE MIRACLES BELIEVABLE?
ARENT THE GOSPELS THE PRODUCT OF GREEK THINKING?
THE INCARNATION: IS IT POSSIBLE THAT GOD COULD BECOME MAN WITHOUT
CEASING TO BE GOD?
HOW DOES THE BIBLE RELATE TO ISLAM?
DOES THE BIBLE PROVIDE ETHICAL GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESS?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY?
DOES THE BIBLE PROVIDE GUIDANCE REGARDING GENETIC ENGINEERING?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH ABOUT ANGELS?
ARE SCIENTOLOGY AND THE BIBLE COMPATIBLE?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY JESUS IS MESSIAH?
DONT CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES IMPOSE THEIR CULTURE ON OTHERS?
HAS CHRISTIANITY BEEN A BAD INFLUENCE ON HISTORY?
HAS HISTORICAL BIBLICAL CRITICISM PROVEN THE BIBLE FALSE?
ARE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE COMPATIBLE?
CAN GOD MAKE A STONE SO BIG HE CANT LIFT IT?
CAN THE GOSPEL BE PRESENTED ACROSS CULTURES?
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THAT EVERYONE WILL BE SAVED?
WHAT ABOUT GOSPELS NOT IN OUR NEW TESTAMENT?
IS THE OLD TESTAMENT ETHICAL?
HOW DOES CHRISTIANITY RELATE TO HINDUISM?
HOW DOES CHRISTIANITY RELATE TO BUDDHISM?

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