Different Viewpoints For Christian Evidences
Introduction
Christian evidences seek to answer at least the following two questions:
-“Is there a God?”
-“Is the Bible God’s infallible message for us?”
People tend to take one of at least two different viewpoints to these questions. People can generally be classified as a doubter or believer. Both of these types may approach these questions objectively, requiring evidence upon which to base their convictions and faith. However, because of their prejudices and preconceived ideas, people representing these two types may require different amounts and types of evidence.
The Viewpoint of the Believer
Some people were raised in Christian homes, and they were taught and convinced, since they were little children. Such people, who were surrounded with excellent examples and able teachers, might develop an early understanding, appreciation, and belief of God and the Bible, long before they are able to conduct and independent investigation. Living in a world of sin, these people will eventually be pressured to defend their faith, if they not have been preemptively challenged by themselves or their loved ones. At this point, the believer seeks to challenge and verify his faith, transitioning from an inherited faith to a chosen faith. These people fall into a unique category. They already have a significant understanding of God and the Bible. Therefore, they have a unique opportunity to ground their faith.
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:1-3
Such people, who already have “inside” information and experience with God and His Word, can strengthen their faith based on their experience. They know God is true, because they have “tasted… the pure milk of the word”, and they have already witnessed or possibly experienced the regenerating effects of salvation, “that the Lord is gracious”. These people can be comforted and motivated by what they have experienced; however, this experience is difficult to share. It is intended to remind and strengthen the believer, not convert the unbeliever. It serves as a defense and evidence to the growing Christian, not the doubting or unbelieving, since they have not yet met the terms of this verse, to have already and actually “tasted that the Lord is gracious”.
Admittedly, the Scriptures seem to offer another short-cut to substantiating our faith, if we take the following verse out of context:
“If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” John 7:17
Too often today, people seek to persuade and evangelize through purely emotional appeals. Unbelievers and doubters are told, “You have to want to believe.” “You have to feel it in your heart.” “Search your heart, and you will know it is true.” Such language presupposes a common ground and conviction. It pleads for the listener to act upon what is already jointly known and accepted but repressed by the hearer. If we put the above verse in its proper context, we can see that Jesus was provoking just such a people:
But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast. … Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews. Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” John 7:10-19
Jesus was admonishing a group of Jews, who had already received, accepted, and adopted the Law of Moses. Jesus challenged their unbelief of Him by challenging their consistency, honesty, and integrity in fully accepting God’s Word. They had already accepted the truth, which testified of Jesus in prophecy (John 5:31-40); however, they had rejected the truth and repressed it through their own “hardness of heart” (Luke 24:25-27; John 5:40; 10:27). Therefore, only when dealing with people who share a common faith in God, Jesus, and His Word, may we make an emotional appeal to their heart to openly embrace what they already know. If this common ground it is not established, then it must first be built before such an appeal can be made effectively upon it.