A few years ago, I began examining and scrutinizing the Christian faith out of necessity. I had experienced a shocking loss. Everything I had been taught came into question. I found myself stumbling around wondering about the truth of my belief. Could Christianity hold up to the facts? If it couldn’t, I was ready and willing to leave it all behind. However, to my surprise, I found that the faith did have answers. The answers were not just talking heads telling you to believe and trust harder. I quickly learned the fathers of the faith were respected, well educated, and astute theologians. Their thoughts were deep, sophisticated, and unashamed of the truth.
I also began reading the Bible correctly. I wasn’t looking for out-of-context scripture to support my own thoughts. I no longer came up with lessons based around my own thinking. I allowed the text to confront me in its own context and it was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. From the historical brilliance of Luke to the philosophical significance of the Pauline writings, the Bible offered a treasure trove of truth.
The last four blogs have briefly explored the flaws found in an atheistic worldview, but can Christianity hold up to the same scrutiny? Let’s take a look at how Christianity handles the same facts atheism handled so poorly.
First, let’s look at the Christian response to the beginning of everything. An overwhelming majority of scientist agree that the universe had a beginning point. The Christian faith makes the case that the universe was created ex-nihlo (out of nothing) by the one true God. If true, this would explain why the universe is expanding from a beginning point of nothing.
Additionally, the Christian faith supports the claim that order and beauty are found in nature. Nature and the cosmos are indeed the workings of a mind. This also would explain humanity’s desire to explore and discover truths about the natural world.
Lastly, the Christian God claims to have created space and time. This is very significant for the Christian worldview on a philosophical level. If this is true, God is not bound by the problems of infinite regress. God, standing above space time, is greater than and separate from creation. This distinction between God and creation is vital to understanding the God of the Bible. Creation, with this distinction, in turn gives humanity a glimpse into the glory, power, and nature of God. It seems from this evidence that Christianity handles the first stubborn fact quite nicely.
The second stubborn fact Christianity can handle is humanities’ sense of morality. Christianity claims that there is indeed a Moral Law that exists above human invention. Apologists for ages have made the case that if objective moral truth exist there must be a moral law giver. C.S. Lewis stated, “The Law of Human Nature, or of Right and Wrong, must be something above and beyond the actual facts of human behavior” (Lewis, 21).
The Christian faith explains that the moral law is written on the hearts of all people in Romans 2:15. This clearly explains the reason why humanity shares basic concepts of morality across all cultures like justice, honesty, selflessness, and integrity. Christianity provides the best possible measuring stick for morality, a God that existed prior to space time and created all space time.
Lastly, when speaking about the moral law, I am often asked the question, “Is something good because God wills it, or is it good apart from God.” This is a question asked of theologians for centuries. On the surface the question seems like a major problem for the Christian. If something is good because God wills it, then it is arbitrary. If something is good outside of God, then the moral law stands above God. However, the Christian response is relatively simple looking at the biblical text. The moral law is a reflection of God’s very nature. The moral law is rooted in the nature of God. It is not simply good because God has willed it, nor is something good apart from God. In His nature is the measuring stick of good humanity yearns to understand.
The final stubborn fact Christianity must address is the idea of human purpose. As we have discovered in the previous blogs, humanity needs purpose to continue to exist. Christianity provides a comprehensive foundation for human purpose. The Bible tells us that humanity is made in the image of God, giving humans inherent value. Christianity tells us that relationships are ordained by the Creator of the universe. The faith also explains humanities’ need to explore, discover, and learn. God commanded the first humans to rule over the earth and be curators for creation in Genesis 1:26-28.
Lastly, Christianity gives its adherents hope for the future. A future where creation is set right. A future with eternity with the Creator. This hope is brought to fruition in the life, death, and resurrection of God’s own son. The value and purpose of humanity must indeed be great for the Creator of the universe to humble himself and die for His own creation. It seems the Christian faith answers the difficult facts that atheism cannot explain with grace, love, and mercy. During my search for answers I rediscovered the faith of my childhood, I rediscovered the peace only the one true God could give, and I rediscovered my purpose in life. Christianity is much more than what many people hear from the pulpit on Sunday mornings. Christianity is about following the truth and the truth happens to be the person of Jesus Christ, the King.
Bibliography
Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1952.