Why I Am A Christian

“You can leap boldly in it if you want to, but you don’t have to,” Craig Hazen

In the early 2000’s when I was still en route to becoming a professional journalist, I worked for a news service and wrote several stories. In one of these stories, I investigated claims by residents of a river floodplain in Michigan who alleged they had developed different types of cancer due to toxins being released in the water by a nearby chemical company. They asserted that this company haphazardly, and regularly, dumped harmful pollutants into the water where they fished and used throughout their homes. On the other hand, the chemical company stayed mum on the subject, declining to comment. But since silence doesn’t necessarily equal guilt, I had to dredge further to help uncover the truth through interviews, documents, and data.

We aren't all journalists, detectives, or lawyers, employed in a profession where investigation is a necessity. But we all have engaged in some sort of fact-finding mission(s) to uncover truth. Whether it’s sifting through the latest political banter near election time to determine the candidate you would vote for, researching a doctor for health needs, or spouting out stats in a sports debate to determine the best player, truth is at the crux of our everyday lives.

This is why I’m a Christian. I believe Christianity - and subsequently, its claims - is the truth. I believe it corresponds to reality, and the more I investigate its claims, the more reasonable its declarations become. There are many layers to this truth, but for this post I’ll only unpack three*:

 God’s Resplendent Painting

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1 ESV)

Like most people, I’m usually so consumed with the hustle and bustle of everyday life that “stopping and smelling the roses” seems like just another task on the day’s to-do-list. In the summer of 2013, I had a chance to indulge this need by enjoying a peaceful hike in Canada. I was enamored at the splendor of nature. The luscious trees, the calming streams, the pure air . . . the entire ambiance was so beautifully picturesque. At one point, the group stopped near a clearing on the top of a hill which overlooked miles of peaks and valleys. It was too perfect. Too arranged. It felt like I was glaring at a canvas painted by Picasso.

Nature proclaims evidence of God. Its exquisiteness, vastness, its purposed design all strongly suggests a Purposeful Designer. As expressed in the Psalms quote, this scenic landscape that surrounds us did not come together merely by chance, but by his handiwork. 

The existence of a transcendent Creator is usually expressed in a comparable deductive argument:

Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
(Principle of Causality)
The universe began to exist.
(Scientific evidence supports this claim)
Therefore, the universe has a Cause. 
(naturally follows the previous points)
This Cause must be Eternal and Uncaused.
(it logically can't have a cause)
This Cause is God.

(eternality and being uncaused are traits of deity)

(This logical formulation would, of course, have to be explained more deeply, but for the purpose of this general post laying out the argument suffices.)

Also, here's a couple quick scientific reasons that suggest the Universe was created (and therefore, had a Creator):

• The second law of Thermodynamics
• The expanding universe
• Radiation Echo
• Philosophy of Infinite Regression

A Testable Belief?

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14 ESV)

Months ago some of my friends were discussing some stats of players from a previous NFL season. One person’s confidence was so strong that he engaged in quite the hyperbolic statement, stating, “I’d bet my life that I’m right. Check the website for the stats.”

While we recognize his obvious over emphasis, the fact that he was confident and willing to put his belief to the test spoke volumes. In a similar vein, Christianity humbly boasts a confidence that most (if not all) other world religions don’t. Christianity is actually testable. It is buttressed by mounds of objective evidence. Whereas, for example, Buddhism is subjective and therefore not objectively testable. Its truth is only based on personal preferences/experiences of the subject. In fact, Paul (apostle who was once a fierce persecutor of Christians but was drastically transformed by a personal encounter with Jesus post resurrection) proclaimed the quote from 1 Corinthians above so people could know that evidence can be given to corroborate the claims of the Christian faith.

               

   oThe Bible is historically verifiable. Its books were subjected to particular tests before inclusion into the canon, and to this day are meticulously critiqued. Also, there’s by far more copies of the text than any other work from antiquity!

o   The central theme of the Bible, Christ’s historical resurrection, is also testable. A string of evidences from the Bible and outside secular sources makes strong proof claims for the prophesied death and resurrection of Christ. This includes personal accounts, verification of death and burial, eyewitness encounters of his physical body post resurrection, etc.

o   God’s objective moral law claims correspond to reality and our inherent feelings of right and wrong. Without this objective measure we have relativism (the belief that what is right is dependent upon the subject). “It is after you have realized that there is a Moral Law, and a Power behind that law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power – it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

o   The Bible’s statements about sin, our fallen condition, and the presence of evil in this realm also are consistent with the world we live in.

    

    A Changed Me

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Although this point is listed last, its importance shouldn't be diminished. When the gospel was proclaimed in Biblical terms, the Apostles didn't start by just saying that the reason Christianity is true it because it changed them or they feel it’s right. Instead, they gave evidence and reasons as to why Jesus Christ is the Son of God, about His death by crucifixion and miraculous resurrection, promises through the prophets, etc . . . and these facts (along with the power of the Holy Spirit)  transformed them (Acts 4:33; 5:42; 8:5; 8:35; 9:20; 9:22; 17:2-3; 18:5; 18:28; 28:30-31; Rom. 1:14; Rom. 10:9; 16:25-27; 1 Cor. 2:2; 15:1-8; Phil. 2:9-11).

Similarly, Christ has changed me. He has renewed my mind, invigorated my strength, changed my heart, and is steadily conforming my desires to His will. No longer am I shackled in the false pretenses of sin and selfishness, but am freed and at peace through faith in Christ (Phil. 4:7). No longer am I marked by living in continuous, deviate rebellion to God’s laws, but have been made stronger through obedience. The Christian life is not easy, but the joy through the assurance of salvation that accompanies it is indescribable.

         To Readers

If you’re an atheist, agnostic, believer of a different faith, or just a curious seeker, I implore you to think about some of the reasons I’ve given for Christianity, and begin to explore them further. Because the truth is, if Christianity is true, than it has huge implications on your life and your worldview. But on the other hand if it’s false then we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Cor. 15:19). 

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” (C.S. Lewis)

But let me give you one bit of advice before beginning your search. LET THE EVIDENCE SPEAK FOR ITSELF. Don’t begin with presuppositions. For example, if you begin your research of Christianity denying the possibility of the supernatural, it will be very difficult to get to a clear answer, especially if you’re denying the question you’re seeking to answer (For more on this check out Cold Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace). I hope and pray you discover the truth.

For my fellow Christians, I hope this post (and the ones to follow) help to remove any doubt, encourage, and strengthen your faith in Christ. I probably run into more Christians who don’t know why they believe what they believe, and Christ NEVER promoted such declarations. 1 John 5:13 states, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you many know that you have eternal life.” Our faith is rooted in the promises of God, who has shown throughout the Bible that He is the one, only, and true God. I pray, brothers and sisters, that you be strong, confident, and respectfully bold when discussing your Christian convictions and trying to bring others to Christ.

*Please understand that this post is not meant to be a comprehensive examination of the reasons for God and Christianity, but a general summation of a few points. More thorough posts will be written on various arguments at later dates.