Truthbomb Apologetics

Are You in the Third Column?

2012-01-20T20:53:00.005-04:00

Greg Koukl explains in Stand to Reason’s first Solid Ground of 2012 that in the years following the 1925 Scopes trial “Christianity lost its claim as a player in the marketplace of ideas.” Then a first column in the fight to defend the Gospel formed. It was made up of men like Norm Geisler, John Warwick Montgomery, Francis Schaeffer, Josh McDowell, and Walter Martin. These men paved the way in bringing Christianity back into the “marketplace of ideas.”

The second column, much bigger than the first, then formed. This column is made up of people like Craig Hazen, Frank Beckwith, William Lane Craig, J.P. Moreland, and Stephen Meyer. This column was influenced either directly or indirectly by the first and is currently equipping Christians to defend classical Christianity and its values. This column has shown that Christianity is still worth thinking about.

The third column has started to form, and it is massive. It is made up of “sharp, committed ambassadors for Christ who are students of those in the first two columns and are grouping up with others of kindred spirit in their local communities. Their names will probably never grace the cover of a book or be in lights on an apologetics conference marquee. Instead, they are foot soldiers with boots on the ground, individually being faithful to defend the Gospel in smaller arenas their Commander in Chief has entrusted to them.”

For those of us in this third column, if you are looking for some encouragement, check out the latest edition of Solid Ground.

Stand firm in Christ,

Chase

84 Confirmed Facts in the Last 16 Chapters of the Book of Acts

2012-01-16T11:30:00.001-04:00

Scholar and historian Colin Hemer has identified 84 facts in the last 16 chapters of the Book of Acts that have been confirmed by historical and/or archaeological research.

They are as follows:

1. the natural crossing between correctly named ports [Acts 13:4-5]
2. the proper port [Perga] along the direct destination of a ship crossing from Cyprus [13:13]
3. the proper location of Lycaonia [14:6]

4. the unusual but correct declension of the name Lystra [14:6]

5. the correct language spoken in Lystra-Lycaonian [14:11]

6. two gods known to be so associated-Zeus and Hermes [14:12]

7. the proper port, Attalia, which returning travelers would use [14:25]

8. the correct order of approach to Derbe and then Lystra from the Cilician Gates [16:1; cf. 15:41]

9. the proper form of the name Troas [16:8]

10. the place of a conspicuous sailors' landmark, Samothrace [12:14]

11. the proper description of Philippi as a Roman colony [16:12]

12. the right location fro the river [Gangites] near Philippi [12:13]

13. the proper association of Thyatira as a center of dyeing [16:14]

14. correct designations for the magistrates of the colony [16:22]

15. the proper locations [Amphipolis and Apollonia] where travelers would spend successive nights on this journey [17:1]

16. the presence of a synagogue in Thessalonica [17:1]

17. the proper term ["politarchs"] used of the magistrates there [17:6]

18. the correct implication that sea travel is the most convenient way of reaching Athens, with the favoring east winds of summer sailing [17:14-15]

19. the abundant presence of images in Athens [17:16]

20. the reference to a synagogue in Athens [17:17]

21. the depiction of the Athenian life of philosophical debate in the Agora [17:17]

22. the use of the correct Athenian slang word for Paul [spermologos, 17:18] as well as for the court [Areios pagos, 17:19]

23. the proper characterization of the Athenian character [17:21]

24. an alter to an "unknown god" [17:23]

25. the proper reaction of Greek philosophers, who denied the bodily resurrection [17:32]

26. Areopagites as the correct title for a member of the court [17:34]

27. A Corinthian synagogue [18:4]

28. the correct designation of Gallio as proconsul, resident in Corinth [18:12]

29. the bema [judgement seat], which overlooks Corinth's forum [18:16ff.]

30. the name Tyrannus as attested from Ephesus in first-century inscriptions [19:9]

31. well-known shrines and images of Artemis [19:24]

32. the well attested "great goddess Artemis" [19:27]

33. that the Ephesian theater was the meeting place of the city [19:29]

34. the correct title grammateus for the chief executive magistrate in Ephesus [19:35]

35. the proper title of honor neokoros, authorized by the Romans [19:35]

36. the correct name to designate the goddess [19:37]

37. the proper term for those holding court [19:38]

38. use of plural anthupatori, perhaps a remarkable reference to the fact that two men were conjointly exercising the functions of proconsul at this time [19:38]

39. the "regular" assembly, as the precise phrase is attested elsewhere [19:39]

40. use of precise ethnic designation, beroiaios [20:4]

41. employment of the ethnic term Asianos [20:4]

42. the implied recognition of the strategic importance assigned to this city of Troas [20:7ff.]

43. the danger of the coastal trip in this location [20:13]

44. the correct sequence of places [20:14-15]

45. the correct name of the city as a neuter plural [Patara] [21:1]

46. the appropriate route passing across the open sea south of Cyprus favored by persistent northwest winds [21:3]

47. the suitable distance between these cities [21:8]

48. a characteristically Jewish act of piety [21:24]

49. the Jewish law regarding Gentile use of the temple area [21:28] [Archaeological discoveries and quotations from Josephus confirm that Gentiles could be executed for entering the temple area. One inscription reads: "Let no Gentile enter within the balustrade and enclosure surrounding the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will be personally responsible for his consequent death."]

50. the permanent stationing of a Roman cohort [chiliarch]at Antonia to suppress any disturbance at festival times [21:31]

51. the flight of steps used by the guards [21:31, 35]

52. the common way to obtain Roman citizenship at this time [22:28]

53. the tribune being impressed with Roman rather than Tarsian citizenship [22:29]

54. Ananias being high priest at this time [23:2]

55. Felix being governor at this time [23:34]

56. the natural shopping point on the way to Caesarea [23:31]

57. whose jurisdiction Cilicia was in at the time [23:34]

58. the provincial penal procedure of the time [24:1-9]

59. the name Porcius Festus, which agrees precisely with that given by Josephus [24:27]

60. the right of appeal for Roman citizens [25:11]

61. the correct legal formula [25:18]

62. the characteristic form of reference to the emperor at the time [25:26]

63. the best shipping lanes at the time [27:5]

64. the common bonding of Cilicia and Pamphylia [27:4]

65. the principal port to find a ship sailing to Italy [27:5-6]

66. the slow passage to Cnidus, in the fact of the typical northwest wind [27:7]

67. the right route to sail, in view of the winds [27:7]

68. the locations of Fair Havens and the neighboring site of Lasea [27:8]

69. Fair Havens as a poorly sheltered roadstead [27:7]

70. a noted tendency of a south wind in these climes to back suddenly to a violent northeaster, the well-known gregale [27:13]

71. the nature of a square-rigged ancient ship, having no option but to be driven before a gale [27:15]

72. the precise place and name of this island [27:16]

73. the appropriate maneuvers for the safety of the ship in its particular plight [27:16]

74. the fourteenth night-a remarkable calculation, based inevitably on a compounding of estimates and probabilities, confirmed in the judgement of experienced Mediterranean navigators [27:27]

75. the proper term of the time for the Adriatic [27:27]

76. the precise term [Bolisantes] for taking soundings, and the correct depth of the water near Malta [27:28]

77. a position that suits the probable line of approach of a ship released to run before an easterly wind [27:39]

78. the severe liability on guards who permitted a prisoner to escape [27:42]

79. the local people and superstitions of the day [28:4-6]

80. the proper title protos tes nesou [28:7]

81. Regium as a refuge to await a southerly wind to carry them through the strait [28:13]

82. Appii Forum and Tres Tabernae as correctly placed stopping places on the Appian Way [28:15]

83. appropriate means of custody with Roman soliders [28:16]

84. the conditions of imprisonment, living "at his own expense" [28:30-31] [1]

With these facts in mind, it seems reasonable to conclude that the author of Acts [who I believe was Luke] was an eyewitness of the events recorded or at the very least had access to reliable eyewitnesses.

It is also of interest that in the Book of Acts, the author records 35 miracles.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

1. The facts are as listed by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek in I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, p. 256-259.

Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? by Mark D. Roberts

2012-01-14T23:28:00.006-04:00

A few years ago Apologetics315 featured an outstanding 30 part series by pastor and author Mark D. Roberts entitled Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable? Roberts later turned this series into his book Can We Trust the Gospels.

This outstanding series deals with important issues such as:

Can we know what the original Gospel manuscripts said?
Are there contradictions in the Gospels?
Did the Gospels writers know Jesus personally?
Do the Gospels reflect the political agenda of the Church?
and more!

To checkout this great series, please see here.

Also, readers may want to checkout our Old and New Testament Research Materials found here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Common Objection #17- "Christianity Demeans Women!"

2012-01-12T23:30:00.001-04:00

It is common for skeptics and critics of Christianity to claim that "Christianity demeans women" or "Christianity seeks to suppress women," but when the facts are considered this is simply not true.

In their book Cracking Da Vinci's Code, scholars James L. Garlow and Peter Jones challenge these oft-repeated notions.

Many are under the false impression that pagan nations of the ancient world affirmed women, while Christianity sought to repress them; however, as Garlow and Jones point out, history tells us another story:

"In Greece, India, and China, women had no rights and were considered the property of their husbands. The Greek philosophers of the day had no higher view of women than did other non-Christians. Aristotle taught that a woman ranked somewhere between a man and a slave. Plato taught that if a man lived a cowardly life, he would be reincarnated as a woman.

In ancient Greece, women-especially wives-were regarded as lowly. A wife was not allowed to leave her house unescorted. She was not allowed to eat or interact with guests in the home, but was consigned to her quarters (gynaeceum). In contrast, a hetaera (mistress) was allowed to accompany a married man in public.

The average Athenian woman had the social status of a slave. Women were not educated, nor were they allowed to speak in public. Silence was considered the great grace of a woman, even at home. Not only were women considered inferior, they were also thought to be the source of evil and were thus not to be trusted." [1]

The authors continue by contending that it was the advent of Christianity that "radically transformed the fate of women."

"Wherever Christianity has been introduced, it has lifted up women, not just in antiquity but even in modern times. Sex-selection infanticide was common in 1880 in pagan China before the influence of Christian missionaries. Girl babies were disposed of as a liability. In the last two centuries, because of Christian influences, the treatment of women worldwide has improved immensely. It was the influence of Christians that helped to abolish China's practice of binding women's feet in order to create the diminutive effect that men found attractive. This dangerous practice had led to gangrene infection, needless amputation, and sometimes even death.

In India, the practice of suttee was ended by the influence of Christianity. A good Hindu wife was expected to follow her husband in death on the funeral pyre, even if she was young with her whole life ahead of her. "Child widows" were also part of the pagan goddess-worshiping Hindu culture. There girls were raised to be temple prostitutes. Amy Carmichael, a Christian, fought to put an end to this practice by rescuing girls from it." [2]

Further, as female apologist Sharon James argues:

"...historically, wherever Christianity has spread, the status of women has improved. Those countries where women are most exploited today are those with the least exposure to the gospel. The Bible teaches that men and women were made equally in God's image [Gn. 1:27-28]

and that all human life is sacred. Christians have been among the first to provide education and other rights for women." [3]

Is seems clear from the above that Christianity has historically affirmed the worth of females.

How are Women Portrayed in the Old Testament?

As Garlow and Jones continue, they point out the numerous places in the Old Testament that women are celebrated and affirmed:

"Esther was courageous to the point of defying the king himself, an action that usually resulted in death. The outcome of her courage was the salvation of an entire race of people [Esther 1-10].

Ruth was loyal, astute, and shrewd. She stayed with her impoverished mother-in-law after the death of Ruth's husband. She humbled herself in order to secure food for herself and her mother-in-law. And she was obedient, marrying a stranger who ended up loving and caring for Ruth and her family [Ruth 1-4].

Deborah was a wife, mother, and judge in Israel [Judges 4].

Proverbs 31 affirms the greatness of women, demonstrating their ability to juggle the amazing pressures as community leaders, businesswomen, wives, and mothers. The chapter exalts the qualities of one whom the Bible portrays as a model woman:

She is skilled with her hands [vv. 13, 19] and her mind [vv. 13-31].
She understands manufacturing [vv. 13, 24]; importing [v. 14]; time management [v. 15]; real estate investing [v. 16]; agribusiness [v.16]; physical workouts [v. 17]; business profit [vv. 16, 18, 24]; a work ethic [vv. 15, 18]; "hands on" labor [v. 19]; welfare and compassion [v. 20]; planning, administration, and organization [v. 21]; and fashion [vv. 21-22].
When she speaks, she is articulate and her speech is content-rich [v. 26].
She is an instructor, a teacher [v. 26].
She is an unashamed homemaker-and a good one [v. 27].
Not surprisingly, she is busy-very busy [v. 27].
She enjoys being a mother and is quite successful in child rearing [v. 28].

Does this sound like a repressed women?" [4] I think not!

How are Women Portrayed in the New Testament?

It can be demonstrated as well that women were held in high esteem by the New Testament authors. Consider the following:

Women were included in the genealogy of Jesus [Matthew 1:1:16]. Unusual, when one understands that a typical lineage at that time would have included only males.
Jesus' very first announcement that He was the Messiah was shared with a woman [Jn. 4:17-26].
When Mary [the sister of Martha and Lazarus] listened to Jesus' teachings [at a time an activity reserved for males] and Martha scurried about fulfilling the "female" role, Jesus affirmed Mary and challenged Maratha [Luke 10:41-42].
In contrast to the custom of the time, a group of women were part of the entourage that traveled with Jesus and other men. These women even supported His ministry financially [Luke 8:1-3].
In the book of Acts, Peter cites an Old Testament scripture saying that both "your sons and daughters will prophesy" [Joel 2:28].
Paul is clear that both male and female have equal standing with Christ. [Galatians 3:28]
Following the often discussed directive "wives, submit to your husbands" [Ephesians 5:22], Paul, only 3 verses later, gives the most difficult assignment any male have ever received: "Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" [Ep. 5:25]. As husbands, we are called to give up our lives for our wives.
Women were the first to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus. This is especially significant when one considers that, according to the customs of that time, women would not have been allowed to testify in court. All of Christianity hinges on this one event, and a woman was chosen for this highest honor. [5]

The Bible also commends specific women for their godly actions and contributions.

Anna [Luke 2:36-38]
Phoebe [Rm. 16:1]
Tabitha or Dorcas [Acts 9:36-41]
Lydia [Acts 16:13-15]
Joanna [Luke 8:3]
Susanna [Luke 8:3]
Mary Magdalene [John 20:11-18]
Lois and Eunice, Timothy's grandmother and mother [2 Timothy 1:5] [6]

Is seems clear that the authors of the New Testament indeed had a very high view of women.

What Contributions have Women made in Church History?

The critics who claim that Christianity demeans women also seem to completely overlook the numerous women who have made significant contributions in Church history. Garlow and Jones report:

Perpetua: This twenty-six-year-old mother of a newborn, along with her servant girl Felicitas, demonstrated unequaled courage as they were martyred for their faith in March 205.
Monica [331-387]: She was the most significant influencer-as mother-on Augustine, one of the most influential persons of Christianity.
Clare: Turning away from wealth to follow Christ, she established in 1212 the "Poor Clares," now located in seventy-six countries.
Catherine of Sienna: Born in 1347, she was an activist, prayer leader, humanitarian, and adviser and counselor to the most powerful political and ecclesiastical leaders.
Katherina von Bora: Without her, Martin Luther could never have become the leader of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s.
Susanna Wesley: The twenty-fifth child in her family, she gave birth to nineteen children, was a brilliant thinker, and theologian, and was the counselor, confidante, and theological mentor of son John Wesley, leader of the massive Evangelical Awakening in the 1700s.
Catherine Booth: A stronger preacher than her husband William, she co-founded with him the Salvation Army in the late 1800s in England.

Far from suppressing or demeaning these women, it seems Christianity empowered them to achieve much that many of us can be thankful for!

How Did Jesus View Women?

We must judge Christianity by it's Christ. It is Him we follow and live for. So, did Jesus hold women in high esteem? As I have demonstrated above [see How are Women Portrayed in the New Testament?] and Marla Alupoaicci contends, He did indeed:

"As God incarnate, He did not demean women. Rather, He powerfully affirmed their worth. He demonstrated love and compassion to women and engaged them in discussions about relationships and other significant issues [Mt. 9:22; Jn. 4:7-29]. In fact, the level of interaction He had with women shocked His disciples and the religious leaders of His day. Jesus Christ valued and affirmed women, and He is our ultimate example." [7]

When one demeans women and attempts to use his Christian beliefs to justify his actions, he is acting in contradiction with the very One he claims to represent.

Conclusion

1. History demonstrates that wherever Christianity has spread, women have been lifted-up and affirmed.

2. Women are celebrated and affirmed in the Old and New Testaments.

3. Women have made significant contributions in Church history.

4. Jesus valued and affirmed women and He is our ultimate example.

5. Whether in history or in modern times, if a person or group has used Christianity justify their demeaning of women, they acted in contradiction with what Christianity teaches. I believe even the atheist would agree that we should not judge a philosophy or worldview by those who abuse it.

To see our answers to other common objections, see here.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

For further research, check out the following:

1. A Complementarian Response to Feminist Theology by Candace Jackson of apologetics.com

2. The Biblical View of Women by Kyle Butt

3. Sexism in the Bible: Is the Bible Sexist? by Richard Deem

4. Audio- Isn't the Bible Sexist and Out of Date? by Amy Orr-Ewing

Resources:

1. James L. Garlow and Peter Jones, Cracking Da Vinci's Code, p. 62-63.

2. Ibid., 63.

3. Sharon James, Does the Bible Demean Women?, The Apologetics Study Bible, p. 730.

4. Garlow and Jones, p. 68-69.

5. Ibid., p. 70-72.

6. Marla Ahupoaicci, Does the Bible Demean Women?, The Apologetics Study Bible for Students, p. 507.

7. Ibid.

Book Review: God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist? by David T. Lamb

2012-01-07T21:00:00.000-04:00

Chapter One: A Bad Reputation

David Lamb has observed that God has a bad reputation in today’s culture. He is often seen as one who gets angry, smiting people for no apparent reason; a cosmic kill joy imposing bountiful amounts of laws upon us, and one who favors one race (the Jews) over all others.

his book, The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins describes the God of the Old Testament in this manner:

“...jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully” (p. 13).

Lamb states that such a vicious evaluation of God demands a response. He states that the Church has not studied and taught portions of the Old Testament that challenge the way we view God, but have merely swept them under the rug and left claims similar to those of Dawkins unanswered. This book is a response to those claims.

Lamb writes:

“I will emphasize aspects of God’s character because the Old Testament repeatedly describes God in this manner. But if I am to be faithful to the whole Old Testament, I will also need to examine other texts, even ones that appear to undermine my arguments…To avoid misrepresenting the Bible, we need to look at many texts, to study passages on both sides of an issue and to read texts within their context. This type of reading will involve work, but the result will be well worth the effort as our understanding of God is profoundly deepened” (p. 17).

Lamb concludes this chapter by making a few points.

1. God is primarily called Yahweh in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament and throughout the book he refers to either one or the other depending on which portion of Scripture he is examining. He absolutely believes in the Triune God and is purely “following the conventions for divine names established in the two testaments” (p. 19). The same will be done in this review.

2. “People who overdichotomize the two testaments seem to forget one important fact: the Bible of Jesus was the Old Testament” and “Jesus used the Old Testament to describe God” (p. 20).

3. The image of God an individual holds affects their relationship with Him, their desire to read Scripture, and what attributes that person thinks His followers should manifest.

Chapter Two: Angry or Loving?

In this chapter, Lamb examines a portion of Scripture that is often used to support the idea of Yahweh being a God of anger (2 Samuel 6:1-8). Here we find that the Israelites have recovered the Ark of the Covenant from the Philistines after losing it in battle. The Ark was being transported back to Jerusalem and a great celebration was taking place. The oxen pulling the cart which held the Ark stumbled and Uzzah took hold of the Ark to steady it. Yahweh struck him dead for doing so and the party ends. Why did Yahweh do this? Was not Uzzah just being helpful? Lamb effectively explains that Yahweh was angry here for three main reasons:

1. The Israelites were not carrying the Ark correctly. Yahweh had made it abundantly clear throughout the law that the Ark was to be carried by the priests on poles through rings on the side of the Ark. Here they are carrying it on a cart despite having done it correctly every time before this incident. Lamb uses a clever analogy to demonstrate that Yahweh is not just being overly particular about transporting the Ark- Just as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission put protocols in place for transporting plutonium, so also, Yahweh put protocols in place for transporting the Ark. The Ark was the symbolic presence of Yahweh among the Israelites. Lamb writes:

“Handling the ark was inherently dangerous, like handling radioactive materials. If people do not use proper precaution when transporting plutonium, people die…God is more powerful than plutonium” (p. 28-29).

2. The decision by the Israelites to transport the Ark on a cart was not only disobedient, it was insulting. As mentioned above, the form of transportation for the Ark that the law prescribed was essentially a litter. This form of transportation was common for royalty in ancient times. “It was important for Yahweh’s symbolic presence to be treated in a royal fashion because he was their God and King” (p. 30).

3. The lack of respect the Israelites were showing towards the Ark was a symptom of their lack of concern for their relationship with Yahweh. Lamb compares the Ark to a wedding ring. The Ark was the symbol of the relationship between Yahweh and His people. He would not tolerate any disrespect towards that symbol.

Lamb concludes from this event “that Yahweh gets mad to protect his law, his honor and his relationship with his people” (p. 33). This reader finds all of these valid reasons for the God of the Old Testament to get angry. Lamb also discusses how Yahweh is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love not only towards the Israelites, but also other nations. Also, he briefly discusses two incidents where Jesus became angry (the “cleansing of the Temple” and when Jesus heals the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath). To top it off, he provides some helpful advice on page 42 when coming upon a difficult passage in the Old Testament:

1. Ask why Yahweh got angry.

2. Read the whole context

3. Have reasonable expectations.

Lamb finishes off the chapter by bringing all of this down to a personal level with the following:

“Is the God of the Old Testament angry? Yes. Is the God of the Old Testament loving? Yes. Is the God of the New Testament angry? Yes. Is the God of the New Testament loving? Yes. Anger and love are not mutually exclusive. Love for people can lead to anger over a broken relationship. Love for people can also lead to anger about injustice. The God of the Old Testament and New Testament is both quick to love and slow to anger (Jas 1:19). And we should be too” (p. 46).

Chapter Three: Sexist or Affirming?

To address the accusation that Yahweh is sexist, Lamb starts off this chapter by going all the way back to the beginning to discuss the creation of Eve and the Fall. From the text in Genesis 1 and 2 we find that women are made in Yahweh’s image and it could be argued that Eve was an improvement upon Adam. Lamb writes:

“I don’t actually think that we should argue for the superiority of women because they…came second, but I do think that an argument for their inferiority based on Genesis 2 is also invalid” (p. 52).

He also explains that the Hebrew world ezer or “helper” found in Genesis 2:18 does not hold the sexist connotations some think that it does. In the majority of the Old Testament, God is the ezer. Just as Yahweh helps his people, the woman helps the man. So, again we see that women are like Yahweh.

Lamb then focuses on the Fall narrative in Genesis 3 to address the cultural perception that this portion of Scripture makes Eve look bad. When the text is studied, it is clear that Adam was standing right next to Eve when she ate the fruit. Thus both the man and the woman look bad in this passage and it could even be argued that Adam’s sin was worse. Lamb continues on in this chapter of Genesis to examine the accuracy of the claim that the curse placed upon the woman is sexist. He sums it up this way:

“The curse on the woman and the curse on the man were not the same, but that doesn’t mean that God was treating the woman in a sexist manner. Unlike curses on the man and the serpent, the woman’s ‘curse’ never actually mentions a ‘curse.’ Her punishment speaks of submission, not oppression. It was not as severe as the man’s curse. And, most significantly, in the midst of these curses, she alone is blessed with a promise” (p. 58).

The author then makes the important point that the negative consequences of the curses are not to be accepted. Yahweh overcame them through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Amen!

He also looks at the incident in Genesis 19:5-11 with Lot and his daughters and a law in Deuteronomy 22:28-29, that states that after a woman who is not engaged is raped she is to become the wife of her rapist, and brilliantly answers the claims of sexism. Finally, Lamb provides several examples in the Old Testament where women are influential (Judges 4; 1 Samuel 25; 2 Samuel 13; 2 Samuel 20:14-22; Ruth; Esther) and examples in the New Testament in which Jesus interacts with women (John 4; 20:11-18; Mark 5:33-34; 7:26-29), tells stories in which a woman is the hero (Luke 15:8-10; 18:1-8), and affirms women (Luke 10:38-42; Mark 12:43-44; 14:3-9).

Lamb closes the chapter by stating that sexism in society and the Church are factors contributing to the perception that the God of the Old Testament is sexist and by providing three suggestions for men found on page 68:

1. Women are made in the image of Yahweh. Listen to them and learn about Yaweh from them.

2. Follow the example of Yahweh and Jesus by affirming women whenever possible.

3. Talk and write about sexism.

Is Yahweh sexist or affirming? Lamb gives a huge affirmative for affirming. And this reviewer agrees.

Chapter Four: Racist or Hospitable?

Again, Lamb begins this chapter “in the beginning” by looking at Genesis to address the view that Yahweh is racist. He writes:

“God created man and woman in the image of God and then commanded them to multiply and fill the earth (Gen 1:26-28), and over time groups of peoples and nations were eventually created, all of which reflect the divine image” (p. 72)

In the end, all nations are related to each other and this process of populating the earth was established by Yahweh. This reviewer also appreciated this statement Lamb makes regarding genealogies in the Bible:

“Why does the Bible waste so much ‘prime real estate’ on genealogy? Because race is important to God. The main message communicated through these ‘boring lists of names’ is that God is interested in where peoples and nations came from” (p. 73).

Lamb then discusses the curse Noah placed upon Canaan in Genesis 9:18-27. After the flood, Noah plants a vineyard, gets drunk, and then lies down in his tent naked. He is seen in this state by his son Ham who then tells his other brothers, Japheth and Shem, who in turn quickly and subtly cover up their father. When Noah finds out what happened, he gets mad at Ham and curses his son Canaan. This curse was used by some nineteenth-century Christians to justify slavery as Ham’s descendents were generally thought to be Africans. He provides three points in refutation:

1. The unusualness of the story makes it impracticable to postulate any ongoing repercussions outside of one generation of Noah’s sons.

2. The curse was not spoken by Yahweh, but by Noah

3. The curse focused on Canaan, not Ham or all of his sons. Canaan’s descendants were the people the Israelites encountered in the land of Canaan. So this curse is actually a foreshadowing of the conflict between Israel and the Canaanites.

A discussion of the Canaanites genocide is where Lamb then turns. He expounds on it in greater detail in chapter five, however here he writes:

“The major point of similarity between the biblical conquest narratives and those of their neighbors is the hyperbolic language. The hyperbolic nature of the two Joshua texts can be seen when they are examined alongside other texts. While Joshua 10:40 and Joshua 11:12-15 speak of everyone being destroyed, elsewhere in Joshua and Judges a different perspective is given. These other texts repeatedly state that the Israelites did not kill all the Canaanites; they can’t even drive all of them out of the land (Josh 13:1-6; 15:63; 17:12; Judg 1:19-34). The book of Joshua even refers to foreigners not just living among the Israelites but also participating in the covenant renewal ceremony (Josh 8:33, 35). To reconcile these two divergent perspectives on Israel’s conquest, a nonliteral reading of the texts that speak of ‘all’ people being destroyed is required” (p. 77).

Lamb then goes into a wonderful discussion on promise and punishment. The land of Canaan was promised to the Israelites by Yahweh and their acts were not one of conquest, but of regaining what was rightfully theirs. They had lived there before. He also explains that Yahweh punished His people as well as the Canaanites and intended on blessing all nations through Israel. Lamb asks the obvious question: If Yahweh were racist why would these things be so?

He briefly discusses laws concerning sojourners which instructed Israel to treat them equally (Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 9:14; 15:15-16) and to love them (Deuteronomy 10:17-19) and then gives an example of these being demonstrated by a slave girl, Elisha, and Yahweh in the healing of Naaman the Syrian general (2 Kings 5:1-4, 9-15).

Finally, as if all this were not enough to clear the charge against Yahweh as racist, Lamb presents the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-6. He explains that four women are mentioned in this genealogy all of whom are foreigners. Tamar and Rahab were Canaanites, Ruth was a Moabite, and Bathsheba was probably a Hittite. If Yahweh were racist, “he wouldn’t welcome foreign women into his family and then have them listed prominently in his son’s family tree” (p. 87)

To end the chapter, Lamb discusses the Samaritan parable found in Luke 10:29-37 and how the church needs to engage the topic of racism, confront it, and embrace those of different racial and ethnic backgrounds just as Jesus did by telling this parable. If more Christians did this “there would be more Christians” (p. 92).

Is Yahweh racist or hospitable? Lamb excellently demonstrates that He is hospitable and this reader is persuaded.

Chapter Five: Violent or Peaceful?

In this chapter, Lamb deals with bear attacks, Canaanite slaughters, and the death penalty. However, he makes an important point before diving into the discussion. Simply because something is recorded does not mean it is being glorified. He then proceeds to examine 2 Kings 2:23-25.

In this passage of Scripture, Elisha is taunted by a group of boys who in turn curses them in the name of Yahweh. A couple of she-bears appear and maul 42 of the boys. Why were these boys dealt with so harshly for teasing Elisha? Lamb provides three points from a post he sent to an atheist blog that commented on the passage:

1. There are two Hebrew words for boys in the passage: qatan in verse 23 and yeled in verse 24. Both of these words can mean “boy,” “young boy,” or even “adolescent” or “older teenager.” Based on the text, Lamb states it is reasonable to assume that this was a group of teenagers (for a group of younger children this large would unlikely be hanging outside of town without adult supervision) and that Elisha was in danger.

2. “While in our 21^st-century, Western mindset it may seem like Elisha was overreacting, within his cultural context his behavior was justified” (p. 97).

3. Looking at the broader context of 2 Kings it is clear that the ministry of Elisha was one of mercy and peace. Lamb says we should give him “the benefit of the doubt” in light of all of his other deeds (p. 98).

He wraps the discussion of this passage up with more observations that I think further alleviate concerns regarding Elisha’s and Yahweh’s character:

-It is not explicitly stated that the boys are killed.

-Some manuscripts of the Septuagint record that the boys also threw stones at Elisha

-Elisha was acting in self-defense

-Yahweh was sending a message that Elisha would have divine protection. He wanted Elisha’s “ministry of compassion” to continue (p.99).

Lamb continues on by discussing the violence of the Canaanite conquest in more depth than the previous chapter.

Five points arise from this discussion:

1. The Canaanites were being punished for their wicked and violent behavior.

2. Israel was not trying to expand an empire at any cost (as the Canaanites were); they were trying to restore a home in the land of their fathers.

3. Yahweh waited until the entire period of Israel’s bondage in Egypt was finished to punish the Canaanites. This was plenty of time for them to repent.

4. The conquest of the Canaanites was not unusual in the ancient Near East. Conquered nations were typically killed or enslaved.

5. The killing was probably limited and localized. Only a few texts mention widespread destruction while the majority of them mention many Canaanites still in the land.

Lamb then goes on to discuss a divinely initiated slaughter in 2 Kings 19:35, the need for justice to be “simple, swift, and straightforward” in ancient Israel, and 2 Kings 6:14-23, where Yahweh brings peace instead of violence (p. 104). He concludes the chapter by giving examples in the New Testament of how Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) and that we are to promote peace as He and Yahweh do.

Is Yahweh violent or peaceful? Lamb effectively demonstrates that Yahweh is both, but violent only when the wicked need to be punished and the weak protected.

Chapter Six: Legalistic or Gracious?

As the author continues, he again turns to Genesis in this chapter to look at the first commands Yahweh gives to Adam and Eve. They are, essentially, have sex and eat! Right off the bat, Lamb displays the goodness and generosity of Yahweh. So how did Yahweh become viewed as a party pooper? The temptation of Satan. Lamb discerns two lessons from the Fall story:

“First, temptation questions the goodness of God’s commands. Second, sin results from perceiving God not as good, generous and gracious, but as mean, stingy and legalistic. A proper understanding of God and his laws is, therefore, vital to resist temptation and avoid sin” (p. 120).

He also comes to a very thoughtful conclusion: “God’s actions define his character, not popular perceptions of his actions” (ibid).

Lamb then examines three “types” of laws found in the Old Testament: many laws, random laws, and harsh laws. To address the concern that there are too many laws, he simply makes a comparison:

“Old Testament law codes are actually concise compared to modern law codes. We’ve all seen images of a lawyer’s office: four walls, each wall lined with ten shelves, each shelf containing a hundred books, each book with thousands of laws, cases and precedents. Yahweh’s laws don’t even fill up one book” (p. 122).

Lamb examines a law found in Deuteronomy 22:9-11 that seems random for it commands that clothing made of wool and linen woven together must not be worn. He states that “these types of laws are culturally specific, addressing particular problems from their context” (p. 124). To give an example of this, he states that advice to men to not buy Sports Illustrated in early February and to avoid the red-light district given in a sermon today would not make sense thousands of years from now.

He then looks at an incident in Numbers 15:32-36 in which a man is stoned to death for gathering sticks on the Sabbath as the law commanded. This seems rather harsh. Lamb writes:

“The supposedly innocent stick gatherer would have known that he was committing a crime with a punishment of death. Everyone else knew what he was doing was wrong. His decision to blatantly disobey the word of Yahweh was an act of distrust and rebellion, and Yahweh decided not to be lenient at this point, lest a precedent be set for disobedience…he clearly wasn’t trusting God to provide for him…considering he had been supernaturally fed with manna every day since they left Egypt” (p. 126).

The author then echoes what he said earlier in the chapter about a proper understanding of God’s laws by briefly discussing Psalm 119 and how the whole psalm is about the crazy love the psalmist has for Yahweh’s laws. The psalmist knew following them would bring him into a deeper relationship with Yahweh.

The chapter begins to close with an examination of Mark 2:23-3:6 in which three actions take place on the Sabbath: Jesus’ disciples pluck grain, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, and the Pharisees plot to kill Jesus. Lamb writes:

“The sabbath law is meant to guarantee restoration and rest, and Jesus wants to uphold that law for the sake of this man, even though his action will serve as a catalyst for a process that will culminate in his own death. The legalism of the Pharisees lead them to want to deprive the disciples of food, the man of healing and Jesus of life. Jesus is essentially risking his life here to make the point that God’s laws are designed to bless people. Jesus is not a legalist and neither is Yahweh” (p. 131).

The reoccurring question is effectively answered.

Lamb closes the chapter by swiftly tackling the three forms of legalism: 1) God’s laws are a way to earn salvation 2) God’s laws are viewed as a means of repayment to God 3) God’s laws are viewed as simply a duty or obligation.

Chapter Seven: Rigid or Flexible?

In this chapter, Lamb explains that the subject of divine changeability centers on the Hebrew word naham which has three meanings: to relent or change one’s mind, to regret, and to show compassion. And the context usually makes it clear which meaning naham is referencing. He focuses on texts that contain the first meaning as it implies mutability. There is also a sidebar that summarizes all of the naham references.

Lamb then identifies four primary Old Testament texts that speak of the immutability of Yahweh: Number 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Psalm 110:4, and Malachi 3:6. The passage in Malachi does not use naham however. He writes:

“The main point that these texts are making is not simply that God is unchangeable, but that God is unchangeable about his commitment to bless his people” (p. 139).

Yet he also recognizes many texts in which Yahweh relents: Exodus 32:14; Numbers 14:20; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Psalm 106:45; Jeremiah 15:6, 18:10, 26:3, 13, and 19, 42:10; Amos 7:3 and 6; Joel 2:13-14; Jonah 3:10, 4:2. In each of these texts, pending judgment and repentant sinners exist. And from these texts Lamb states that we can see that Yahweh “is predictably flexible, constantly changeable and immutably mutable…in regard to showing mercy toward repentant sinners” (p. 147).

Mark 7:24-30 is also discussed by Lamb in this chapter. In this passage of Scripture a Gentile woman asks Jesus to remove an unclean spirit from her daughter. Jesus responds by telling her it is not right to take the children’s (the Jews’) bread from the table and give it to dogs (the Gentiles). The woman responds by saying that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. As a result of her statement, Jesus changes his mind and heals her daughter.

Is Yahweh rigid or flexible? According to Lamb he is both. Within the chapter he states that when faced with such a seemingly contradictory statement there are three routes we can take: to ignore one of the characteristics; to rationalize that even though Scripture ascribes both of these attributes to Yahweh he is actually only one of them; or to work to understand how they correlate with each other. The author and this reviewer take the third option, because it is clear, once again, that context is the key to understanding Scripture. He ends by saying that Christians “need to teach not only about divine immutability but also about divine flexibility” (p. 151).

Chapter Eight: Distant or Near?

The first several pages of this chapter discuss the psalms, specifically the lament psalms which account for over 40 percent of them. These are passages in which the psalmist cries out to God asking, “Where are you at?” and “Why is this happening?” Lamb writes:

“God apparently thought it was good for the writers of Scripture to express their honest questions about his apparent absence. God gave laments to his people as a way to pray in the midst of pain. Jesus even modeled appropriate use of a lament (Ps 22) by showing how relevant it was to his own crisis as he was dying on a cross…As we follow the pattern of the lament-from doubts and despair to prayer and petition-we eventually arrive at a place of hope, trust and praise” (p. 157).

Lamb goes on to show how throughout the Old Testament, Yahweh:

-Speaks to His people: “In the English Standard Version of the Old Testament, the phrase ‘The LORD said’ appears more than 250 times. ‘Thus says the LORD’ appears more than 400 times” (p. 166). Yahweh speaks the world into creation and blessing to Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:28). He “spoke directly to the patriarchs and later to his people through Moses, judges, kings and the prophets. He spoke through prophecies, visions, dreams (Gen 28:12; 37:5-10; Joel 2:28) and even a talking donkey (Num 22)” (ibid).

-Walks with His people: Yahweh walked with Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:7, 21-22; 3:8), ate a meal with Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:1-15), and even had a wrestling match with Jacob (Genesis 32:24-32).

-Dwells with His people: At Sinai, Yahweh tells the Israelites he will dwell with them (Exodus 29:45). While Solomon was constructing the temple, Yahweh told him He would dwell with them forever (1 Kings 6:13). Yahweh consistently says “I am with you” as Israel is rebuilding the temple (Haggai 1:12-2:5).

Lamb also reminds us in this chapter that one of the names of Jesus is “God is with us” (Immanuel, Matthew 1:23). He goes on to talk about how tax collectors and sinners drew near to Him and ate with Him (Luke 15:1-7) because He was approachable. He concludes the chapter by saying that Christians often do not attract people like Jesus did and that they need to do a better job of reaching out to the marginalized of society.

Is Yahweh distant or near? The author did very well showing that He is near.

Epilogue

Here, Lamb briefly summarizes each chapter and explains that this book is fundamentally about God’s nature. He goes on to say that it is important to think about the nature of God because it affects how we relate to Him. He writes:

“Instead of ignoring passages that seem to portray Yahweh negatively, we need to study them, discuss them and teach them to gain understanding. While all our questions may never fully be answered, we will find that Yahweh and Jesus can be reconciled and that the God of both testaments is loving. He affirms women, is hospitable toward foreigners and brings peace, not a sword. He is not legalistic but gracious, not rigid but flexible, and not distant but near” (p. 178-179).

He ends the book by adding three more attributes of God to the list: fascinating, relational, good.

There are also discussion questions for each chapter after the Epilogue, making this a perfect book for group study.

Conclusion

David Lamb’s examination of difficult passages in the Old Testament is easy to read and full of wit. And yet this reviewer can sense his deep respect and love for the Old Testament. The book alleviated the struggles I had with certain passages in the Old Testament and reiterated for me that only a thorough study of Scripture will bring us into a deeper understanding of God and a deeper relationship with God.

Thanks to Intervarsity Press for the review copy.

Stand firm in Christ,
Chase

Counterpoints: John Loftus and Frank Turek on the Death of Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-23T15:22:00.004-04:00

John Loftus: "Many Christians are thinking he’s burning in hell. Some others may even say this. But it is a disgrace to humanity to even think this abhorrent thought about such a brilliantly good man...this statement burns me up to no end. It is more repulsive than any thought I can conceive...may his memory live on. He has changed the world for the better." [1]

Frank Turek: "There is no one with whom I disagreed more who I admired so much. I don’t see how anyone who knew Christopher Hitchens could think that a man with such admirable qualities and talents was nothing more than a collection of chemicals– the product of unexplained random processes. Christopher’s intellect, wit, courage, and passion are evidence to me of a Divine Being– a Divine Being who loves human freedom so much that He would even allow the gifts He bestows to be used against Him." [2]

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

A Note Readers:

Although I disagreed with many of Hitchens' views, I did admire his willingness to take on all comers and his story telling abilities. The goal of this post is simply to contrast the views of a Christian and an atheist on the death of a well-known individual. No disrespect toward Mr. Hitchens or his family is intended.

Resources:

1. http://freethoughtblogs.com/loftus/2011/12/16/christopher-hitchens-is-now-burning-in-hell/
2. http://www.crossexamined.org/blog/?p=258

From the Cradle to the Cross...

2011-12-21T23:57:00.016-04:00

What the Child has done for those who receive His pardon...

For those who are new to the blog, welcome to Truthbomb Apologetics!

My life has been dramatically impacted and deeply changed by the ancient thinker, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus made numerous spiritual claims and I came to the conclusion at the age of 25 that His claims were true. I have written about just some of the reasons I believe Christianity is true here.

I was not always a believer. It was after seeking God and finding Him through both experience and intellectually inquiry that I became a follower of Jesus. As I reflect upon that time, I realize that while I believed it was I who was seeking God, it was really God that was seeking me.

However, perhaps you have questions? The goal of this post [and this blog] is to aid the sincere seeker in examining the claims of Christianity and to encourage you, if you haven't before, to take the claims of Jesus of Nazareth seriously.

What follows are answers to important questions about Christianity:

What is the Gospel and how can I be Saved? Click here

Did Jesus Really Exist? Click here

Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin? Click here

Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven? Click here

Is there any Evidence that Jesus actually rose from the dead? Click here or here

Aren't there Naturalistic Explanations to explain Jesus' resurrection? Click here

Aren't Miracles Impossible? Click here

Isn't the Bible Unreliable? Click here

Isn't the God of the Bible a "Moral Monster?" Click here or here

What is the Biblical Definition of Faith? Click here

For more of our answers to frequently asked questions, please click here or feel free to explore the blog. And for those who may have questions about Christmas, check out this post.

Jesus died on a Roman cross for your sins so that your could be made righteous before God. He took the penalty for your sins so that you could be pardoned. The Bible says that salvation is a "free gift" [Ep. 2:8] and that "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" [Romans 10:9]. I implore you to consider doing so today...if what Jesus said was true, your acceptance or rejection of this message will decide where you spend eternity.

Are you still not sure? Check out this video- What Happens After You Die?

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Christmas Resources from GotQuestions.org

2011-12-17T22:00:00.001-04:00

Here are some helpful and thought provoking articles dealing with Christmas from GotQuestions.org:

Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

What is the True Meaning of Christmas?

How Should Christians Respond to the "War on Christmas?"

Do some Christmas Traditions have Pagan Origins?

Should we have a Christmas Tree?

Does Giving Gifts take away from the True Meaning of Christmas?

Why is the Virgin Birth so Important?

Was Jesus born on December 25th?

What does the Bible say about the Three Wise Men?

What Should Parents tell their children about Santa Claus?

What is an Advent Calendar? How does it relate to Christmas?

What was the Star of Bethlehem?

Does Luke's Claim that Jesus was born in Bethlehem at the time of Quirinius census match the historical record?

Why did the Maji bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus?

Is it wrong to say "Xmas" instead of 'Christmas?"

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Christmas Resources from Lee Strobel

2011-12-16T21:19:00.010-04:00

For those who do not receive Lee Strobel's monthly newsletter, I would strongly encourage you to consider signing up for it here. I have been very pleased with the content in the letters since signing up.

In this month's newsletter, Strobel tackles some relevant Bible questions and includes some excellent resources for the Christmas season.

Lee answers the questions- 1) When was Luke written? 2) Why is a Verse Missing in Matthew?- and you can find his responses here.

Further, he highlights the following articles:

12 Reasons for Christmas

Top 5 Christmas Myths

Again, to sign-up for Lee's newsletter, go here.

To explore more of Lee's works, checkout his website found here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

One Minute Apologist Interviews with Dr. Richard Howe

2011-12-10T00:05:00.005-04:00

1. What is a Cult?

2. World Religion or a Cult?

3. Are Mormons Christians?

4. What Do Mormons Believe?

For more of Dr. Richard Howe's work, go here.

For more resources on Mormonism check out our Apologetics Arsenal.

Enjoy!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Article: What is the Truth About the Date and Origin of Christmas? by Jim Wallace

2011-12-04T22:11:00.003-04:00

The forthcoming holiday season provides followers of Christ with an excellent opportunity to share the gospel with friends and family.

Here at Truthbomb Apologetics, we desire to equip you to intelligently and winsomely discuss the evidences for Christianity with precision and grace.

Last year, we offered this post that boasts numerous Christmas Research Materials.

In this post, we feature an excellent article by Jim Wallace of PleaseConvinceMe.com that addresses the questions:

So, when exactly was Jesus born?
So, why do we celebrate Christmas on the 25th?

You can checkout the article here.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Counterpoints: Richard Dawkins and David T. Lamb

2011-11-29T21:08:00.008-04:00

Richard Dawkins: "The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." [1]

David T. Lamb: "While I applaud Dawkins for bringing these problems into the open for discussion, I don't agree with his conclusions. He simply isn't reading his Bible well." [2]

Forthcoming- A review of God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist? by David T. Lamb

Stand firm in Christ,

Chase

Resources:

1. Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, p. 51
2. David T. Lamb, God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist?, p. 16

Article: Do All Religions Lead to God? by Aaron Brake

2011-11-21T22:23:00.004-04:00

Aaron Brake of Apologetic Junkie has written an excellent article dealing with the question Do All Religions Lead to God?

You can check it out here.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Article- Stephen Law's "Evil God" Argument by Luke Nix

2011-11-20T12:30:00.002-04:00

Luke Nix of Faithful Thinkers has written an interesting post addressing the "Evil God" argument used by Stephen Law in his recent debate with Dr. William Lane Craig.

You can find the article here.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Article: 15 Ways to Detect Nonsense by Apologetics315

2011-11-16T21:35:00.003-04:00

Brian Auten of Apologetics315 has posted an outstanding article entitled 15 Ways to Detect Nonsense.

Check it out here.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Book Review- The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is by N.T. Wright

2011-11-15T13:43:00.009-04:00

In this book, as the title says, Wright sets out to rediscover who Jesus was and who He is. He writes:

"If even in a human relationship of knowledge and love there can be misunderstandings, false impressions, wrong assumptions, which need to be teased out and dealt with, how much more when the one to whom we are relating is Jesus himself" (p. 14).

Indeed, for the Christ follower, the desire to know more about Jesus will not be satiated until He is met face to face.

So, Wright presents a twofold challenge. He invites the reader to join the quest of looking at Jesus in a new light (through the lense of first century Judaism) and then use that new understanding of Him as a model of what the church is to be for the
world in the 21^st century.

He undertakes this quest by exploring the following questions found on page 33:

1. Where does Jesus belong within the Jewish world of his day?

2. What, in particular, was his preaching of the kingdom all about? What was he aiming to do?

3. Why did Jesus die? In particular, what was his own intention in going to Jerusalem that last fateful time?

4. Why did the early church begin, and why did it take the shape it did? Specifically, of course, what happened at Easter?

5. How does all this relate to the Christian task and vision today?

Answering the Questions

1. Where does Jesus belong within the Jewish world of his day?

I believe Wright sums up the answer to this question with the following statement:

"His place there...was the place of a prophet, warning that Israel’s present course was leading to disaster and urging a radical alternative upon her" (p. 73).

Israel was reading the wrong story and had lost sight of its purpose to which Jesus was calling them back to. Wright states:

"The story was never about Israel beating up her enemies and becoming established as the high-and mighty master of the world. It was always the story of how the creator God, Israel’s covenant God, would bring his saving purposes for the world to birth through the suffering and vindication of Israel” (p. 161-162).

2. What, in particular, was his preaching of the kingdom all about? What was he aiming to do?

Jesus was proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. Wright lays out the main thrusts of this kingdom-message:

- The End of Exile: The parable of the sower in Mark 4:1-20 and the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 offer a few examples where Christ was saying Israel’s exile was ending.

- The Call of the Renewed People: Jesus was “telling his hearers to give up their agendas and to trust him for his way of being Israel, his way of bringing the kingdom, his kingdom-agenda” (p. 44). Jesus was reconstituting Israel around Him as seen in the summoning of the twelve, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, and his radical acceptance and forgiveness.

- Disaster and Vindication:

Jesus announced…"that God’s judgment would fall not on the surrounding nations but on the Israel that had failed to be the light of the world. Jesus himself and his followers…were now the true, reconstituted Israel. They would suffer and suffer horribly, but God would vindicate them" (p. 49).

This is seen in Luke 19:41-44 and Mark 13 and its parallels in Matthew 24 and Luke 21.

Wright goes on to explain that Jesus attacked the symbols of the second-Temple Jewish worldview as obsolete, and having no place in the kingdom of God. In fact the symbols were being “redefined in and around him and his work” (p. 55). He also makes the following very clear:

"Jesus’ clash with the Pharisees came about…because his kingdom-agenda for Israel demanded that Israel leave off her frantic and paranoid self-defense, reinforced as it now was by the ancestral codes, and embrace instead the vocation to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth" (p. 57).

Wright’s thorough description of each of these symbols and the symbols Jesus replaced them with gives this reader a better sense of how radical Jesus was to the first century Jews who heard Him.

3. Why did Jesus die? In particular, what was his own intention in going to Jerusalem that last fateful time?

Wright sums up the answer to this question by repeating what he has written elsewhere for he feels he can do no better and this reader does not intend to sum it up any better either:

"Jesus’ underlying aim was based on his faith-awareness of vocation. He believed himself called, by Israel’s god, to evoke the traditions which promised YHWH’s return to Zion, and the…traditions which spoke of a human figure sharing the divine throne; to enact those traditions in his own journey to Jerusalem, his messianic act in the Temple, and his death at the hands of the pagans (in the hope of subsequent vindication); and thereby to embody YHWH’s return" (p. 121).

4. Why did the early church begin, and why did it take the shape it did? Specifically, of course, what happened at Easter?

Wright tackles this question in chapter six of the book by presenting a historical argument for the resurrection of Jesus that this reader finds very impressive. I will not explain it in this review as I encourage that it be read in full. As a teaser, however, it is based on 1 Corinthians 15 and the expectations of first century Jews.

The answer to the question though is the resurrection from the dead of all creation sparked by the resurrection of Jesus.

5. How does all this relate to the Christian task and vision today?

As I was reading through the last chapter of the book that addresses this question, I was reminded of the call philosopher John Mark Reynolds places upon Christians to engage culture by creating and building beauty. Wright is calling us to the same and further proposes that Jesus’ resurrection was the beginning of the new world which all creation has been groaning for since the Fall and that “everything done on the basis of Jesus’ resurrection and in the power of the Spirit already belongs to that new world” (p. 180).

Wright calls followers of Christ to build a new world through the Spirit. A world that is founded on Jesus. A world that, because of Jesus and His resurrection, has already arrived.

Conclusion

If you are looking to understand Jesus as He would have been understood by His Jewish contemporaries, this is a excellent book to read. I am now more able to look at what Jesus said and did in the Gospels through the eyes of a first century Jew. And if you want a better understanding of the full impact of how Jesus’ death and resurrection was the culmination of history (God’s story), again, this book is worth reading. This understanding adds to this reviewer’s insight into the absolute uniqueness of the God of Israel.

DVD Review

The book also comes with a DVD in which Wright explores the concept of resurrection in the ancient world. Wright discovers that a man rising bodily from the dead was unheard of before the first century. In the ancient world death was permanent. Death was a door that opened to a spirit world, a door that could not be opened again by the one who had gone through it. He goes on to state that even though the Jews believed in a bodily resurrection, this belief correlated with the end of the world. Wright concludes that the bodily resurrection of Jesus is the best explanation for a group of first century Jews (the early Christians) proclaiming Jesus had risen bodily from the dead in the present world. This reviewer found that the DVD further solidified Wright's historical argument for the bodily resurrection of Jesus found in the book.

Thanks to Intervarsity Press for the review copy.

Stand firm in Christ,
Chase

One Minute Apologist Interviews with Dr. Gary Habermas

2011-11-13T22:40:00.006-04:00

1. Should Christians Be Surprised by Suffering?

2. Does the Bible Always Promise Escape from Suffering?

3. Were 1st Century Christians Delivered Suffering?

4. How Do We Suffer Well?

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Chapter One Review: The Resurrection of Jesus- A New Historiographical Approach by Mike Licona

2011-11-08T17:30:00.003-04:00

It is with great enthusiasm that I begin this chapter-by-chapter review of Mike Licona's latest book. This volume has already earning marked praise from numerous scholars and apologists such as Craig S. Keener of Palmer Theological Seminary who writes:

"This book is the most thorough treatment on the resurrection and historiography to date."

Introduction

Licona begins by conceding that when scholars have researched the historical account of the resurrection in the past, they have often come to very different conclusions on a number of issues. However, unlike many skeptics and critics, Licona is careful not to jump to the conclusion that no accurate portrait of the historical Christ can be uncovered.

On the contrary, the fact that numerous portraits of the historical Jesus exist only serves to drive Licona to ask more questions.

He writes:

"What approach should be taken for an investigation involving the historicity of the resurrection? When writing on the resurrection of Jesus, biblical scholars are engaged in historical research. Are they doing so without adequate or appropriate training? How many have completed so much as a single undergraduate course pertaining to how to investigate the past? Are biblical scholars conducting their historical investigations differently than professional historians? If professional historians who work outside of the community of biblical scholars were to embark on an investigation of the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, what would such an investigation look like?" [p. 19]

And as a result, Licona has written a book on the topic of the resurrection that is fresh and ground-breaking.

Licona writes:

"So how does my research differ from previous treatments? In the pages that follow I will investigate the question of the historicity of Jesus' resurrection while providing unprecedented interaction with the literature of professional historians outside of the community of biblical scholars on both hermeneutical and methodological considerations." [p. 20]

The Introduction concludes with Licona's summarizing the content of each chapter.

Chapter 1- Important Considerations on Historical Inquiry Pertaining to the Truth in Ancient Texts

This chapter begins by the author clarifying some key terms that will be used throughout the remainder of the book.

Most importantly:

History- past events that are the object of study [p. 30]

Historiography- matters in the philosophy of history and historical method [p. 31]

This reader was very impressed with the scope of topics that Licona was able to address in this first chapter. Anyone who has discussed the resurrection with a skeptic will surely appreciate Licona's points addressing questions such as:

Is History Knowable?
Isn't History Always Written by Winners?

Further, whenever discussing the problem of the historical resurrection, the topic of pre-suppositions [or "horizons," as Licona calls them] inevitable comes up. Licona's contribution to horizons and how the historian can successfully "transcend" them is invaluable material that this reader will continually reference in the future. In my opinion, this section of the book alone is worth it's price!

With candid transparency, the author acknowledges that the historian is challenged by their horizon. However, Licona proposes "six tools that, when combined, can be effective guides that bring us closer to objectivity."

These tools are:

Method
The historian's horizon and method should be public.
Peer pressure
Submitting ideas to unsympathetic experts
Account for the relevant historical bedrock
Detachment from bias

With these tools in the historian's tool belt, Licona contends that:

"Historians should search for evidence inconsistent with the preferred hypothesis before being willing to assert its truth. They should force themselves to confront data and arguments that are problematic to their preferred hypotheses. Historians must allow themselves to understand and empathize fully with the horizon of the author/agent and, furthermore, allow themselves to be challenged fully by that horizon to the point of conversion. They must achieve full understanding of and empathy for the opposing view. When this is maintained during an investigation, the historian is close to transcending her horizon. While full detachment may be unattainable, temporary detachment is attainable to some degree and provides value." [p. 60-61]

The author is not naive about the impact one's horizons can have on their historical inquiry, but argues persuasively that the historian can transcend their horizons for the sake of an accurate conclusion.

The chapter continues with Licona explaining the role of consensus in historical inquiry. Here, this reviewer appreciated how the author explained when a consensus is valuable, when it is not and the various limits a consensus can have on establishing a respected position.

Postmodern history, and it's main proponents, are then taken to task with professional courtesy. Licona examines "the reasoning and conclusions of the three foremost postmodern historians: Hayden White, Frank Ankersmit and Keith Jenkins." [p. 71] Then continues by revealing the numerous problems with Postmodernist History.

As he writes:

"As postmodern historians have referred to "the death of history," realist historians, which are by far the majority, feel justified in proceeding, though with caution. If history is truly dead, there are no means by which historians can distinguish fact from fiction and no way of weighing the plausibility of numerous hypothesis. Indeed, there are other consequences that are difficult for postmodernists to live with if their view of knowing the past is correct, such as a collapse of the legal system. Moreover, the arguments of postmodern historians are often self-refuting since they involve reasons for why we can know that we cannot know." [p. 126]

Next up is the consideration of "What is Truth?" The author explains that because of the challenges presented by postmodernists, realist historians (the majority) would do well to revisit the foundation of their views which includes the nature of truth itself. Two views of truth are considered here: a) correspondence theory of truth- for our descriptions of the world around us to be true, they must correspond to its conditions b) coherence theory- a proposition is true when all of its components cohere with other propositions believed to be true.

As the chapter progresses, Licona then examines the question, "What is a Historical Fact?" I appreciated the author giving attention to this oft overlooked question and found his definition of a historical fact satisfactory and fair:

"Richard Evans defines a historical fact as something that happened and that historians attempt to "discover" through verification procedures." This is the definition I hold and will use throughout this volume." [p. 93]

As the chapter continues, Licona takes an in-depth look at historians and what they actually do. The author tackles the tough questions of history head-on such as:

Who Shoulders the Burden of Proof in Historical Inquiry?
Is History a Science?
What do Historians Do?

I must admit that this first chapter is simply a delight to read. One gets that the feeling that they are participating in an Ancient History 101 class with a very thorough instructor.

As the chapter nears closing, the author examines to methods historians use in their inquiries: 1) Arguments to the Best Explanation 2) Arguments from Statistical Inference. Here, the author maps out both approaches, explaining both their strengths and weaknesses, then explains for the question of Jesus and His Resurrection from the dead, he will argument to the best explanation.

The chapter ends with an excellent summary and conclusions.

I believe the closing of this first chapter demonstrates another reason why Mike Licona's investigation into the resurrection is unique among his other works on the topic. The author explains that he has done his best to "transcend" his horizons and look at the question of the resurrection as objectively as possible. Further, he admits to going through periods of serious doubt and struggle throughout his investigation. He even goes as far as to admit that for him to conclude that the resurrection did not happen would in fact be "embarrassing."

However, he is determined not to allow these facts to hinder his inquiry:

"Because of the position I have taken in previous work, I would experience a bit of personal embarrassment if I were to arrive at the more modest conclusion of a historical question mark. I would also most likely disappoint two scholars who have not only been very influential in my life but have also become close friends: Gary Habermas and William Lane Craig. Even given all this, I am convinced that my interest in truth supersedes my fear of embarrassment and disappointment. If the resurrection of Jesus could not be confirmed historically, my specifically Christian faith could still survive. But a disconfirmation of the resurrection would lead me to abandon it...all historians of Jesus have something on the line in this discussion. Now that I have reported my experiences and laid bare my hopes, readers may assess the following discussion in terms of my approach and whether it was created, consciously or unconsciously, to achieve the results I desire rather than being a genuine attempt to conduct an objective historical investigation." [p. 132]

Conclusion

The first chapter of Mike Licona's The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach is mind food, plain and simple. This reviewer found Licona's approach transparent, thorough and concise. I can say with confidence that I now better understand just what history can and can not tell us, the job of the historian and what methods are best for historical inquiry.

I enjoyed this first chapter so much that I simply can't wait to being chapter 2 that deals with History and Miracles.

Many thanks to Intervarsity Press for the review copy.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Forthcoming: A review of Chapter 2- History and Miracles.

Article: Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? by Mike Licona

2011-11-07T20:30:00.001-04:00

This article was taken directly from the Apologetics Study Bible for Students:

Science has taken us to the moon, allowed us to see DNA, and show us that people who are assuredly dead do not return to life by natural causes. Since the apostle Paul wrote that Christianity is a false religion if Jesus was not resurrected (1 Co 15:17), has science disproved Christianity? Is there any good evidence that Jesus' resurrection actually occurred? Despite the hesitation of skeptics concerning the four Gospels, nearly all Bible scholars are confident that there are at least three sure facts concerning what happened to Jesus.

1. Jesus was crucified on the orders of the Roman governor and died as a result.

2. Jesus' disciples honestly believed that He rose from the dead and appeared to them beginning on Sunday morning.

3. A sworn enemy of the Christians named Saul (later called Paul) had an experience that he believed was an appearance of the risen Jesus, prompting him to become a Christian. This would be similar to Jesus appearing to a Muslim who then leaves Islam and becomes the next Billy Graham! Saul become the opposite of what he'd been because of the risen Jesus (see Ac 9).

Unbelieving scholars form theories that attempt to explain away the above facts. Some used to claim that Jesus' disciples lied about the resurrection appearances or that the reports of Jesus' resurrection were legends that developed over time. But once the second fact above was admitted, that Jesus' original disciples sincerely believed He had risen and appeared to them shortly after His death, the legend and fraud theories fell apart. Today they have been largely abandoned.

Now the theory most commonly held by non-Christian scholars is that the appearances of the risen Jesus were hallucinations resulting from the disciples grief over Jesus' death. But this theory does not explain the third fact (Saul's conversion experience) since, rather than grieving over Jesus' death, he hated Jesus so much that he arrested and killed Christians. And while a hallucination could conceivably explain an appearance of Jesus to an individual like Peter (Lk 24:34; 1 Co 15:5), it does not explain the appearances to Jesus to groups, such as the Twelve, more than 500 at one time, and to all of the apostles when they were together (1 Co 15:5-7). Why not? Hallucinations are like dreams. Just as a friend cannot actually join you in one of your dreams, friends cannot join others in their hallucinations.

In contrast to the theories of skeptics, Jesus' genuine resurrection from death explains how Jesus' devastated disciples and, later on, one of the his best-know enemies, came to devote their lives to proclaiming that Jesus had risen from the dead. By far, this is the best explanation of the three commonly accepted facts listed above.

So, while science has proved that the dead do not return to life by natural causes, historical investigation suggests that Jesus rose supernaturally three days after His execution. Since there are many religions competing for your devotion, Jesus' resurrection verifies that His promises are words upon which you can bet your life and soul.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad A. Gross

For more of Mike Licona's work, see here.

John Mark Reynolds and Objective Beauty

2011-11-05T20:00:00.003-04:00

If you have not heard philosopher John Mark Reynolds, you should make a point to do so. During a conference I attended a few weeks ago at Mt. Airy Bible Church, Dr. Reynolds argued that beauty was objective. I found the arguments fascinating.

In this post, I want to highlight a 5 article series in which Dr. Reynolds outlines his case for objective beauty.

1. What my Nana Taught Me! Beauty matters!

2. Beauty in a Cynical Age

3. Beauty and Rat House

4. Beauty and the Abbotsford

5. Beauty and the Bible

Enjoy!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Counterpoints: Richard Dawkins and C.S. Lewis

2011-10-29T20:55:00.006-04:00

Richard Dawkins: "The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference." [1]

C.S. Lewis: "If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning." [2]

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Resources:

1. Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden, p. 55.

2. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Interview: Chad Gross Drops Truthbomb on Maryland

2011-10-28T20:48:00.004-04:00

Here is an interview I did with Joel Furches of the Jarrettsville Christianity Examiner entitled "Chad Gross Drops Truthbomb on Maryland."

You can find it here.

Enjoy!

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Helpful Resources from Truthbomb Apologetics

2011-10-25T18:25:00.006-04:00

For those not familiar with Truthbomb Apologetics, we wanted to highlight some of our features that could prove helpful to you.

1. For those just getting started in apologetics, you may want to check out our Apologist's Quiver.

2. For those who enjoy reading, you should visit our Free Apologetics E-book Library that features a large variety of free texts on topics such as theology, philosophy and more.

3. If you are looking for information on a certain worldview, religion or cult, checkout our Apologetics Arsenal.

4. You may find an answer to a question by checking out our growing collection of answers to Common Objections.

5. Finally, if you are looking for answers to questions raised about the Christian faith by well known skeptics, atheists and unbelievers, you should visit our Responses to Notable Skeptics.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

One Minute Apologist Interviews with Mike Licona

2011-10-23T18:05:00.007-04:00

1. The Resurrection

2. The Bible vs. Qur'an

3. Biased Gospels?

4. Contradictions in the Bible?

5. Who is Bart Ehrman: Part I

6. Concerns with Bart Ehrman: Part II

7. Advice to Study with an Open Mind

8. Can We Know Who Wrote the Gospels?

9. What if Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John didn't write the Gospels?

10. How Many Letters did Paul Write?

11. To What Extent Did Paul Utilize Secretaries?

12. Tips for Having Discussions with Unbelievers

13. Oral Tradition and Gospel Reliability

14. Eyewitness Testimony in the Gospels

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Lecture: William Lane Craig presents "The Evidence for God"

2011-10-22T10:31:00.003-04:00

Here is a video of a lecture that Dr. William Lane Craig gave at Imperial College on October 18, 2011 entitled The Evidence for God.

For more resources by Dr. Craig, please see here.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Why Is God Not a Possibility?

2011-10-10T20:00:00.001-04:00

As someone interested in apologetics, Chad asked me if I would be able to occasionally write posts for the blog. As you can see from the words you are now reading, I gladly accepted.

An article posted on 27 September on the Washington Post "On Faith" blog entitled, 'Atheism is cool’ says Archbishop of Canterbury, discussed the growing popularity of atheism due to the failure of the religious to appear rational before a questioning world for holding the beliefs that they do. So, I posted a response to the article to demonstrate that Christianity has a rational voice. I provided a brief version of the Cosmological Argument- meaning that evidence suggests that the universe, all space, time, and matter, had a beginning out of nothing. Therefore, something supernatural and eternal must be in place in order for the universe to exist and that God fits both of these attributes.

As a side note, I also posted the Minimal Facts argument for the resurrection of Jesus and few commented on that and none refuted any of the facts presented. In response to my post, one blogger asked, “Why is God the best explanation for the beginning of the universe?”

Another blogger posted a YouTube video of Lawrence Krauss giving a lecture on Quantum Mechanics and essentially said, “Here is your evidence for how the universe came from nothing.” Quantum Mechanics still admits a beginning and in a debate Dr. Krauss had with Dr. William Lane Craig in March Dr. Krauss kept asking the question, “Why does a beginning to the universe point to God?” In my limited experience discussing the origins of the universe with atheists, it seems that similar versions of this question pop up. The question I pose in response is this: Is God not a possibility? Dr. Craig, myself and other proponents of Christianity consider possibilities such as Quantum Mechanics. Why does it seem that atheists do not even want to consider God a possible cause of the beginning of the universe even after being presented with evidence that He is one? I have my thoughts. What do you the readers think?

Chase Deener

Video: Dr. J.P. Moreland- "Arguing God from Moral Law?"

2011-10-01T22:05:00.005-04:00

For those not familiar with Closer to the Truth, it's a great place to watch interviews with scholars, scientists, and philosophers of all stripes on questions concerning the cosmos, consciousness, and God.

In this video, Dr. J.P. Moreland discusses the relationship between God and morality.

You can watch it here.

Enjoy!

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

One Minute Apologist Interviews with Dr. William Lane Craig

2011-09-30T17:51:00.008-04:00

1. What is the Euthyphro Dilemma?

2. What makes a Deductive Argument?

3. What if an Atheist Denies One of Your Premises?

4. What is the Moral Argument for God's Existence?

5. Are Morals the Result of Moral Conditioning?

6. Argument of Evil & Suffering against the Existence of God?

7. Pluralism vs. Particularists?

8. Are Religious Pluralists Particularists?

9. What is the Ontological Argument?

10. The Genetic Fallacy?

11. What is the Kalam Cosmological Argument?

12. Leibniz's Argument for the Existence of God

13. What is the Fine-tuning Argument for the Existence of God?

14. Argument Ad Hominem

For more of Dr. Craig's work, see here.

For more from the One Minute Apologist, see here.

Enjoy!

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Apologetics Ministries in Maryland?

2011-09-26T20:35:00.003-04:00

Hello Readers,

First off, I just want to start off by thanking each of you for your readership. Admittedly, our posting has been sporadic as of late due to personal scheduling challenges. My apologies.

However, I have been invited to do an interview this week about Truthbomb Apologetics and other apologetics ministries in Maryland. Here is where you come in- if you are aware of any solid apologetics ministries in Maryland, please share via the comments. I would like to use the interview to promote sound apologetics ministries in the area.

Thank you so much for your help!

Godspeed,

Chad

Remember...

2011-09-11T15:40:00.003-04:00

Videos: Dr. Gary Habermas on What Jesus Said...

2011-09-05T20:40:00.004-04:00

Philosopher and resurrection expert Gary Habermas was recently featured on the Day of Discovery Series titled What Jesus Said.

The following are 4 videos of Dr. Habermas from the series:

1. What Jesus said about the Resurrection, Pt 1

2. What Jesus said about the Resurrection, Pt. 2

3. What Jesus said about Who He Is

4. What Jesus said about following Him

As Dr. Habermas' site notes:

"These are very large files that we are not able to divide or compress any further. We suggest that you download the files and watch them on your computer as two separate steps. To do this, right click (PC) or click hold (Mac) and select the option to save the file from the resulting pop-up menu. The download time will vary depending on the speed of your internet connection."

Enjoy!

To learn more about Dr. Habermas, go here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Some Articles on the "Problem" of Adam and Eve

2011-09-05T00:08:00.005-04:00

Due to certain groups such as Biologos and others, many even within evangelical circles are questioning the historicity of a literal Adam and Eve. Are there any good reasons to believe that Adam and Eve actually existed and that the biblical account in Genesis gets it right? I believe so and what follows are a few articles that serve to make a case for a literal Adam and Eve and further challenge some common evolutionary assumptions.

The Problem of Adam and Eve by Jim Wallace

Speaking of Adam and Eve by Dr. Fazale Rana

Bioinformatics and a Literal Adam and Eve by Dr. Patricia Fanning

For more resources dealing with this topic, go here.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Voice of the Martyrs

2011-09-04T22:34:00.004-04:00

We here at Truthbomb Apologetics encourage everyone to get informed and pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world at Voice of the Martyrs.

Sign-up for their free monthly newsletter here.

Request a free copy of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand's book Tortured for Christ here. To learn more about Pastor Wurmbrand visit here.

To find out more about how you can get involved, go here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Article: Why is the New Testament Silent on Slavery- or is it? by Paul Copan

2011-08-31T22:08:00.004-04:00

Philosopher Paul Copan, author of Is God a Moral Monster?, has recently released an essay entitled Why the New Testament is Silent on Slavery- or is it?

You can check it out here.

For more resources from Copan, go here.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Conference: Reason, Relevance, and Religion- Looking at Christianity's Place in Today's Culture at Mt. Airy, Maryland

2011-08-21T21:45:00.003-04:00

Fall 2011 MABC Apologetics Conference - Mount Airy, Maryland

When you boil it down, isn't Christianity really about blind faith and mystery? That's certainly what we hear the world saying through every vehicle of the media. But it turns out to be the furthest thing from the truth. In this fast-paced and stimulating conference, some of the leaders in Christian thinking and philosophy will demonstrate that Christianity is really all about KNOWLEDGE! As the Apostle John said, we can "KNOW the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). The very best scholarship and thinking in history, philosophy, science, and cultural studies point to the truth of the Christian worldview. This conference will help equip you to make your case for Christ in a hostile world.

Free Kick-Off

Apologetics and Evangelism in a Skeptical Age
Thursday, October 6 7:00 - 9:30 pm with Craig Hazen

Conference Sessions: October 7-8

Join us for cutting-edge plenary sessions on basic apologetics and communicating your ideas with impact. Plus a fantastic slate of break-out sessions just before the lunch break.

Is the Bible Intolerant with Brett Kunkle Friday, October 7 7:00 - 9:30 pm

Finding Christ in Culture with John Mark Reynolds Saturday, October 8 9:00 am - 11:20 pm

Evidence for the Resurrection with Gary Habermas Saturday, October 8 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Saturday Break Out Sessions: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Marvin Patrick:"Answering Jehovah's Witnesses"

Steve Schrader:"Answering Mormonism"

Nabeel Qureshi: "Answering Islam"

Greg Gannsle: "Why Christianity Makes Sense"

For more information, and to register, see here.

Mt. Airy always does an excellent job with their conferences. We hope to see each of you there!

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Human/Ape Common Ancestry- Follow the Evidence!

2011-08-18T22:00:00.001-04:00

I am continually taken a back by the free ride skeptics and atheists are many times given when it comes to their often touted claim that genetic similarities between humans and apes demonstrate that Neo-Darwinism is surely true.

For example, in Christopher Hitchens' much published debate with philosopher/theologian William Lane Craig, Hitchens made a sweeping statement regarding the genetic similarties in humans and apes as if this is powerful evidence for Darwinian evolution. Is that truly the case?

You decide...

Checkout these articles and be bold enough to follow the evidence wherever it leads!

Is there perhaps an alternative point of view? If so, are you willing to consider it?

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

The Four Functions of Apologetics by Kenneth Boa

2011-08-13T20:29:00.003-04:00

As I was reading through an article this evening entitled What is Apologetics? by Kenneth Boa, I found these brief paragraphs helpful in addressing the often asked question, "What is the purpose of apologetics?"

Although Boa concedes that not everyone agrees that apologetics involves all four of these functions, I found them helpful in clarifying what one can aim to accomplish using apologetics.

Boa writes:

"The first function of apologetics may be called vindication or proof, and involves marshaling philosophical arguments as well as scientific and historical evidences for the Christian faith. The goal of this function is to develop a positive case for Christianity as a belief system that should be accepted. Philosophically, this means drawing out the logical implications of the Christian worldview so that they can be clearly seen and contrasted with alternate worldviews.

The second function is defense. This function is closest to the NT and early Christian use of the word apologia, defending Christianity against the plethora of attacks made against it in every generation by critics of varying belief systems. This function involves clarifying the Christian position in light of misunderstandings and misrepresentations; answering objections, criticisms, or questions from non-Christians; and in general clearing away intellectual difficulties that nonbelievers claim stand in the way of their coming to faith.

The third function is refutation of opposing beliefs. This function focuses on answering the arguments non-Christians give in support of their own beliefs. Most apologists agree that refutation cannot stand alone, since proving a non-Christian religion or philosophy to be false does not prove that Christianity is true. Nevertheless, it is an essential function of apologetics.

The fourth function is persuasion. By this we do not mean merely convincing people that Christianity is true, but persuading them to apply its truth to their life. This function focuses on bringing non-Christians to the point of commitment. The apologist's intent is not merely to win an intellectual argument, but to persuade people to commit their lives and eternal futures into the trust of the Son of God who died from them." [1]

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

1. Kenneth D. Boa, What is Apologetics?, The Apologetics Study Bible, p. xxv.

Common Objection #16 - "We know nothing about Jesus outside of the New Testament."

2011-07-19T20:00:00.003-04:00

Critics often claim that we know nothing about Jesus outside of the New Testament. I believe this claim is often the result of assumption and not investigation.

What follows is a summary of the data we have regarding Jesus outside of the New Testament from non-Christian sources.

There exist 17 known non-Christian sources that were written within 100-150 years of Jesus life which is excellent for ancient history. [1]

They are as follows:

Ancient Historians

Tacitus
Suetonius
Josephus
Thallus

Government Officials

Pliny the Younger
Emperor Trajan
Emperor Hadrian

Other Jewish Sources

The Talmud
Toledoth Jesu

Other Gentile Sources

Lucian
Mara Bar-Serapion

Gnostic Sources

The Gospel of Truth
The Apocryphon of John
The Gospel of Thomas
The Treatise on Resurrection

Other Lost Works

Acts of Pontius Pilate- recorded as actual documents by Justin Martyr (ca. AD 150) and Tertullian (ca. AD 200). Both agree that it was an official document of Rome.

Phlegon- Phlegon’s work is not longer in existence and we depend on others for our information. [2]

What facts about Jesus do these ancient non-Christian sources report?

Here are just 12 of them:

1. Jesus lived during the time of Tiberius Caesar.
2. He lived a virtuous life.
3. He was a wonder-worker.
4. He had a brother named James.
5. He was acclaimed to be the Messiah.
6. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
7. He was crucified on the eve of the Jewish Passover.
8. Darkness and an earthquake occurred when he died.
9. His disciples believed he rose from the dead.
10. His disciples were willing to die for their belief.
11. Christianity spread rapidly as far as Rome.
12. His disciples denied the Roman gods and worshiped Jesus as God. [3]

Please note that these facts are completely consistent with what the New Testament documents report concerning Christ.

Conclusion

From these non-Christian sources, we know more than 60 facts of the life of Jesus from outside the New Testament.

For those interested in examining more of these facts, please see here.

For readers interested in exploring the historical evidence for Jesus more in-depth, I recommend Gary Habermas' The Historical Jesus and/or Mike Licona's The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach.

To view the other common objections we have dealt with, go here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Resources

1. Dr. Gary Habermas, Lecture: The Historical Jesus, Biola University.
2. Dr. Gary Habermas, The Historical Jesus, p. 187-228.
3. Norman Geisler and Roman Turek, I Don’t have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, p. 222-223.

Book Review: “O” God: A Dialogue on Truth and Oprah’s Spirituality by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett

2011-07-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

No one can deny the powerful international influence that Oprah Winfrey has had on millions of people and her influence continues to grow. Whether through her website, magazine or recently ended talk show, Oprah is arguably one of the most influential women in history. To her credit, Oprah in many ways has used her celebrity and financial success to help scores of people around the world.

However, just assuredly as Oprah has used her fame and fortune to help those less fortunate, she has also used her persuasion as a sort of pulpit, preaching “strange doctrines” to millions of sincere viewers around the world. She has gone from being a simple talk show host to a spiritual guru of sorts, raising questions about the character of the biblical God, salvation through Jesus Christ alone and the very reality of sin.

In their book, “O” God: A Dialogue on Truth and Oprah’s Spirituality, authors Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett address many of the questions raised by Oprah and the various teachers she promotes.

As the authors explain:

“As Christian apologists who believe that salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone, we wanted to create a fictional, almost Socratic dialogue that would cover many of the themes of Oprah Winfrey’s spiritual teaching in recent years.” [p. 9]

The result is an short (117 p.), easy-to-read book that tackles the intellectual issues raised by Oprah’s spiritual teachings with an inside look at how the teachings of Oprah, when practically applied to one’s everyday life, can have very real, and sometimes very sad, consequences.

The book is arranged in 11 short chapters with the content centered on the dialogue of two female graduate students.

What I Appreciated

One of the elements of the book that this reader greatly appreciated was while McDowell and Sterrett clearly take issue with Oprah’s spiritual beliefs and the teachers she promotes, they do not attack Oprah on a personal level. Clearly, the intent of this book is to evaluate the truthfulness or falsehood of Oprah’s spiritual beliefs and the numerous teachers see has supported and this is done so with the utmost respect. Apologists should take note that when addressing one’s view, it is the belief and not the believer that should be dealt with.

I also enjoyed the manner in which McDowell and Sterrett dealt with issues raised by the dialogue in the book with easy-to-understand examples and illustrations that someone unfamiliar with apologetics “lingo” can clearly understand and apply to their own thinking.

Finally, this reviewer liked how the authors cleverly built a case for the truth of Christianity while addressing the issues raised by Oprah and her teachings.

The Content

Those familiar with Oprah’s teachings over the years will not be disappointed by the issues McDowell and Sterrett take aim at. After I finished the book, upon reflection, I could not think of one issue that Oprah has questioned in the media or one teacher she has endorsed that was not addressed directly or indirectly.

Issues addressed by McDowell and Sterrett include:

Is the God of the Bible a jealous God?

Can’t there possibly be more than one way to heaven?
Oprah’s Tolerance
Should we lose religion all together?
The teachings of Eckhart Tolle and the nature of truth
Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret
The Nature of God- theism, polytheism, or pantheism?
Is Jesus “the Jesus of Christ-consciousness” or the Jesus of the New Testament?”
What happens to the soul and body after death?
How can people experience the love of God through Jesus?

As well as addressing these critical issues, McDowell and Sterrett also clearly communicate what it means to truly be saved and know Jesus Christ as Lord.

Conclusion

This reviewer enjoyed “O” God: A Dialogue on Truth and Oprah’s Spirituality and I believe the book to be an ideal tool for reaching out to those who have been taken in by Oprah’s preaching and the different teachers and books she has promoted. Furthermore, the discussion questions for each chapter included in the back of the book make the it an ideal resource for a small group or Bible study.

Apologists will find the book helpful as it models an excellent manner to communicate with those who have questions about the variety of issues raised by Oprah and the teachings she endorses.

I encourage readers and seekers of truth to check out “O” God: A Dialogue on Truth and Oprah’s Spirituality and to those who have friends or family who have been swayed by Oprah’s preaching, this is the ideal book to read through with them and discuss.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Counterpoints: Richard Dawkins and Pastor Richard Wurmbrand

2011-06-23T13:56:00.004-04:00

Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion:

"What matters is not whether Hitler and Stalin were atheists, but whether atheism systematically influences people to do bad things. There is not the smallest evidence that it does." [p. 273]

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand recalling his imprisonment under Communist rule in his book Tortured for Christ:

"The cruelty of atheism is hard to believe. When a man has no faith in the reward of good or the punishment of evil, there is no reason to be human. There is no restraint from the depths of evil that is in man. The Communist tortures often said, "There is no God, no hereafter, no punishment for evil. We can do what we wish." I heard one torturer say, "I thank God, in whom I don't believe, that I have lived to this hour when I can express all the evil in my heart." He expressed it in unbelievable brutality and torture inflicted on prisoners." [p. 36]

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

A Positive, Testable Case for Intelligent Design by Casey Luskin

2011-06-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

In this featured article, Casey Luskin argues that Intelligent Design is a scientifically testable hypothesis.

In the process, Luskin also deals with many of the misunderstandings some have in regard to Intelligent Design such as:

"The Intelligent Design hypothesis is untestable by science, exactly because we can never empirically know or understand the actions of God or any other Intelligent Designer."

"Predictions made by ID proponents cannot be tested."

"Intelligent Design is a science stopper."

You can check out the article here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Book Review- The Passionate Intellect: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind by Alister McGrath

2011-06-08T10:00:00.003-04:00

In The Passionate Intellect author and public intellectual Alister McGrath sets out to both defend and elevate what he calls "mere theology."

McGrath writes:

"By 'mere theology,' I mean the basic themes that have characterized the Christian vision of reality down the ages."

The result is a hard-hitting, well thought out book that leaves little question, regardless of your worldview, that theology is something worth thinking about.

The Passionate Intellect is comprised of eleven chapters based on previously unpublished lectures and addresses, given in various North American and European locations over a two-year period from late 2007 to late 2009. The book is arranged thematically. Its first six chapters deal with the purpose, place and relevance of Christian Theology. The remaining chapters deal with the importance of engaging the culture with the gospel message, how Christianity interacts with modern science and why the media named "new" atheism is not really new at all. [p. 12-15]

Introduction

From the opening paragraph, McGrath zeros in on his two-fold purpose for writing this piece:

"Christian theology is one of the most intellectually stimulating and exciting subjects it is possible to study, rich in resources for the life of faith and the ministry of the church. It has the capacity to excite, inspire and illuminate the human intellect, giving it a new passion and focus. Affirming and celebrating the intellectual resilience and vigor of faith is not about downplaying, still less denying, its many other aspects- such as the nurturing of a relationship with God, sustained by prayer, reflection and adoration. This book may be seen both as an intellectual defense of the place of theology in the Christian life, and as a plea for the Christian church to take the life of the mind seriously, especially in the light of contemporary public debates." [p. 7]

The author further explains his goal in defending and expounding "mere theology," a phrase in which McGrath admits he "shamelessly" has borrowed and adapted from the late C.S. Lewis:

"My concern here is to focus on the positive role of theology in shaping, nourishing and safeguarding the Christian vision of reality, and applying it to the challenges and opportunities that Christians face today." [p. 8]

Professor McGrath finishes the introduction with a brief preview of each forthcoming chapter.

Chapter 1- Mere Theology: The Landscape of Faith 1

As one reads through The Passionate Intellect, it is clear that McGrath views theology as something vital to one's relationship with God.

He writes:

"Our faith can be deepened and our personal lives enriched through theological reflection." [p. 19]

However, McGrath is not naive and acknowledges that theology has developed a bad reputation among some churches and church leaders over the last few decades:

"For some Christian leaders theology is irrelevant to real life. It is about retreating into ivory towers when there are more pressing things to worry about." [p. 20]

But as the author goes on to point out, practiced properly theology should be nothing of the kind:

"Yet rightly understood, theology is about enabling informed Christian action. It makes us want to do things, and do them in a Christian way. It helps us to make judgments about how best to act; it encourages us to engage with the real world." [p. 20]

McGrath closes out this chapter by demonstrating how the Body of Christ needs theology to give a comprehensive, critical account of faith and then explains each of the three major sources of theology: The Bible, Reason and Tradition.

Chapter 2- Mere Theology: The Landscape of Faith 2

McGrath continues to build on the themes addressed in the first chapter, specifically engaging the reader into a discussion about the role of the theologian in the local church setting and culture.

Moreover, the author addresses the link between theology and worship.

Chapter 3- The Gospel and the Transformation of Reality: George Herbert's "Elixir"

Using the theological "richness" found in the poetry of George Herbert, McGrath explains how theology provides us with a framework to see reality in a certain way while simultaneously capturing our imaginations and transcending the boundaries of reason. Further, the author argues that theology transforms our perceptions in the world thus directly impacts our actions within the world.

Chapter 4- The Cross, Suffering, and Theological Bewilderment: Reflections on Martin Luther and C.S. Lewis

In this chapter, McGrath calls upon his own past experiences and the works of notable writers C.S. Lewis and Martin Luther to explore the so-called problem of suffering and the ability of the Christian worldview to address it.

He writes:

“Lewis’s emphasis on the sense-making capacity of faith can perhaps too easily be misunderstood to mean that the Christian sun illuminates every aspect of the landscape so that no shadows remain. Luther reminds us that many aspects of that landscape remain shrouded in darkness, and that many find themselves called to walk in those shadowlands. Lewis is right: theology gives us a lens through which we can interpret the world, making sense of its ordering and its enigmas. Luther is also right: theology enables us to journey through darkness and despair. Its lens may sometimes yield a picture that appears quite out of focus, but not being able to view a picture clearly does not mean there is no picture to see.”
[p. 68]

This reviewer was impressed with the author’s ability to write about the problem of suffering in a manner that proved to be both intellectually and emotionally satisfying while highlighting Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

Chapter 5- The Theater of the Glory of God: A Christian View of Nature

The author challenges the reader in this chapter that it is the Christian view of the world that best “fits” what we actually observe around us. Moreover, not only does the Christian faith “offer an approach to nature that is grounded in its empirical reality but transcends the empirical.” [p. 82]

Ultimately, McGrath contends, it is the Christian worldview that aids us in interpreting nature properly.

Chapter 6- The Tapestry of Faith: Theology and Apologetics

In this chapter, McGrath reminds the reader that “the Christian faith can be viewed as a tapestry, in which a series of threads are woven together to yield a richer, more complex whole” [p. 89] and that a theology that informs one’s apologetic approach is vital in helping others understand the truth of the gospel message. Further, one must not only communicate the fullness of the gospel, but also consider the audience one is speaking with.

What this reader most appreciated about this chapter was the author’s willingness to remind the reader that apologetics must be more than simply winning arguments. For apologetics to be most effective, surely arguments must be presented rigorously and preciously, but there must be more to it than this.

McGraths writes:

“True apologetics engages not only the mind but also the heart and the imagination, and we impoverish the gospel if we neglect the impact it has on all of our God-given faculties.” [p. 88]

Apologists would do well to read and apply the challenges Professor McGrath sets forth in this chapter and to remember his potent words- “There are many times when it is just as important to show that Christianity is real as it is to show that it is true.” [p. 96]

Chapter 7- The Natural Sciences: Friends or Foes?

McGrath’s main aim in this chapter is to explore the claim that the natural sciences contradict or are at odds with religion.

It is here that the reader learns of the author’s accent to atheism as a young man, viewing God as a “baleful relic of the past.” [p. 102] I couldn’t help but to think of the writings of Oxford Professor Richard Dawkins as McGrath described his once held atheistic views:

“However, I remained obstinately convinced that the metaphysical severity and existential dreariness of this position were confirmations of its truth. Nobody would believe this morose and morbid stuff because it was attractive; therefore they believed it because it was right. It was axiomatic that science demanded atheism, and I was willing to be led wherever science took me.” [p. 103]

The author goes on to explain that after reading the works of writers such as Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn he realized that perhaps there was more to the world than what a few decent experiments could teach him. He began to understand that “one can be a ‘real’ scientist with or without being committed to any specific religious, spiritual or anitreligious view of the world.” [p. 105]

Ironically, it seems that it was McGrath’s discovery that there were other ways of viewing nature than atheism that allowed him to open his mind to other possibilities. This, ultimately, as the author explains in detail, led to him becoming a Christian and a theologian.

It is at this point McGrath takes aim at Richard Dawkins’ repeated assertion that science and faith are enemies and that scientists who believe in God are a type of “traitor.”

This reader appreciated the author’s eloquent mix of gentleness and boldness throughout the book. While systemically dismantling many of the main claims made in Dawkins’ The God Delusion, McGrath manages to do so with a gentleman's tone.

Examples of this include:

Dawkins’ claim that religion and science are at war:

“Historians of science have long since discredited this “warfare” model of he relation of science and religion, as well as most of the alleged evidence in its support, pointing out that the truth is far more complex than this simplistic stereotype suggests. Yet it seems to be integral to Dawkin’s defense of is atheism in The God Delusion. Surely it’s time for the new atheism to move on and catch up with current scholarship.” [p. 110]

Dawkins’ claim that science support or promotes atheistic conclusions:

Here, McGrath masterfully points out that the real problem with science and religion is not with the scientific evidence itself, but “has to do with the smuggling in of atheist metaphysical assumptions, which the sciences themselves neither demand nor legitimate.” [p. 113]

Dawkins’ claim that belief in God is caused by “memes:”

The author argues that Dawkins’ idea of “memes,” while being accepted and presented as scientific orthodoxy by Dawkins himself and some of his peers (Daniel Dennett) utters fails in explaining anything useful and ultimately proves to be nothing more than a metaphysical assertion.

As Dr. Bruce Edmonds puts it (whom Dr. McGrath quotes):

“[Memetics] has been a short-lived fad whose effect has been to obscure more than it has been to enlighten. I am afraid that memetics, as an identifiable discipline, will not be widely missed.” [p. 118]

I was impressed with McGrath ability to convincing argue that science is not an enemy of faith.

Chapter 8- Religious and Scientific Faith: The Case for Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species

In this chapter, the author addresses the complex legacy of Charles Darwin on both science and religion.

As this reviewer read through this chapter, I could not help but to be impressed with Charles Darwin’s work as a scientist and his openness to revising his work when the evidence demanded it. Further, scientists will appreciate McGrath’s mini-history of the scientific method and whether or not predictive potential is a necessity in considering a hypothesis worth pursuing.

McGrath goes on to explain in detail the relationship between Darwin’s theory of natural selection, the scientific method, and Darwin’s belief that his hypothesis offered the “best explanation” of nature’s observable evidence. Moreover, the reader is given an inside look at Darwin’s religious beliefs and how he came to hold them.

This chapter gave this reviewer a deeper appreciation for Charles Darwin and his contributions to science.

Chapter 9- Augustine of Hippo on Creation and Evolution

One of the most fascinating points the author makes in this chapter relates to how the early Christian Bible Scholar, Augustine of Hippo, understood and interpreted the six days of creation.

In short, Augustine was not a young-earth creationist. Building on this point, McGrath writes:

“Augustine interpreted Scripture a thousand years before the “Scientific Revolution” of our modern period and fifteen hundred years before Darwin’s Origin of Species. There is just no way Augustine can be considered to have “accommodated” or “compromised” his biblical interpretation in order to fit in new theories about the big bang or natural selection. He set out to interpret Scripture on its own terms, faithfully and carefully. In fact, he even criticized those who tried to adapt their biblical interpretation to the latest scientific theories. The important thing was to let Scripture speak for itself.” [p. 139-140]

Augustine’s ultimate goal, the author reports, was to answer the question, “What way of articulating the doctrine of creation make sense of all the biblical statements on the matter and not simply the first chapter of Genesis?” [p. 143]

McGrath goes on to defend the right of the church to interrupt the six days of creation in different manners.

This reader appreciated McGrath’s willingness to challenge the assumption that every old-earther must be “accommodating” in some manner. I believe this view to be false. However, I would have appreciated it if McGrath would have argued for a theistic evolutionary interpretation of Genesis instead of simply hinting at it.

Chapter 10- Does Religion Poison Everything?: The New Atheism and Religious Belief

The New Atheism insists that “religion is intrinsically and necessarily dangerous, poisonous, and evil.” [p. 148] Moreover, the author admits that this is the objection that seems to have gained the most “cultural traction. In this chapter, McGrath demonstrates that is not the case. Not only does he take issue with this popular claim, but he goes on to defuse much of the popular rhetoric used by such authors as Christopher Hitchens.

The author writes:

“…based on the surveys of every known case of suicide bombing since 1980, religious belief of any kind does not appear to be either a necessary or a sufficient condition to create suicide bombers. The infamous “suicide vest,” for example, was invented by Tamil Tigers back in 1991, leading to a large number of suicide attacks from this ethnic group…analysis of the evidence suggests that the fundamental motivation for suicide bombings appears to be political, not religious…” [p. 153]

So much for Hitchens’ claim that suicide bombings are entirely faith-based!

This reviewer was impressed throughout this chapter with the author’s ability to dismantle the shallow arguments of the new atheists while simultaneously asking all the right questions:

“Why is it that so many atheists apply moral standards to their critique of relgion that they seem reluctant to apply to atheism itself? It has often been pointed out that the new atheism applies one set of evidential criteria to its own beliefs and a more rigorous and demanding set to those of its opponents. Is the same also true of its moral critiques of religion?” [p. 161]

Other topics dealt with in this chapter include atheist violence, the problem of human nature, and “the Brights.”

Chapter 11- Atheism and the Enlightenment: Reflections on the Intellectual Roots of the New Atheism

As the book comes to a close, McGrath briefly points out some of the major problems with the historic Enlightenment period and further demonstrates why atheists such as Paul Kurtz and Christopher Hitchens are mistaken in believing that a return to Enlightenment ideas would be useful or even possible.

Some of the major themes dealt with in this chapter are the limits of reason, what history teaches us about the Enlightenment period, and the apparent return of the idea of transcendence within different cultures around the world; even those cultures who seek to suppress any talk of transcendence or “God talk” as harmful.

Conclusion

The Passionate Intellect is appropriately titled because it is written by someone who possesses preciously that. One senses in some parts of the book that Professor McGrath is almost pleading with his fellow believers to realize the importance and relevance of theology and the role it plays in culture and to engage themselves in studying it.

This reviewer highly recommends this book to those seeking to understand the importance and practicality of theology and for those who want a sound critique of the shaky pillars that the New Atheism is built on.

Moreover, those already passionate about theology will find the book a pure delight.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Featured Resource- Jesus.org: Your Questions. Real Answers.

2011-05-26T15:08:00.006-04:00

Do you have questions about Jesus Christ? Jesus.org offers real answers to some of the toughest questions about Jesus and his life, death, and resurrection.

It features notable theologians and authors such as Alistair Begg, Albert Mohler, R.C. Sproul, Greg Koukl and more!

Much of the content deals with common objections that are often brought up by unbelievers and cultists.

Categories include:

Birth of Jesus

Life of Jesus

Death and Resurrection

Early Church History

Is Jesus God?

Following Jesus

Check out Jesus.org for great answers to some of the most important questions you will ever ask or be asked!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Is Judgment Day May 21, 2011? A Response to Harold Camping's Prediction by Charlie Campbell

2011-05-11T23:31:00.002-04:00

During an apologetics conference I attended this past weekend, a few of the speakers made reference to a gentlemen who was predicting that Jesus Christ was returning to earth on May 21st, 2011. Honestly, I didn't give the matter much thought until a friend recalled the date when I told him I was preaching at our local church on May 22nd, 2011. I jokingly told him that I wouldn't need to prepare and thought nothing more of it.

Then this evening, as I was driving to my Mom's house for a visit, I actually drove by a sign that looked something like the one pictured here informing drivers that "Judgment Day is coming May 21, 2001."

After doing a little research I found out that the gentlemen making this prediction is named Harold Camping and he apparently made the same type of prediction in 1994! Needless to say, he was wrong.

Charlie Campbell of Always Be Ready Ministries has written a response to Camping and his followers that can be found here.

As for me, I would only like to highlight the fact that it was Jesus who said:

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42)

"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:44)

And, as if that wasn't enough, He also said, in regard to His coming:

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matthew 24:36)

I'm fairly sure that the Father hasn't let Harold Camping in on the date...I think I'll go ahead and prepare my sermon.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

*Scriptures taken from the English Standard Version

A Sincere Question about Intelligent Design and Science

2011-05-01T20:26:00.001-04:00

Question

Why is it permissible from a scientific standpoint for thinkers such as Richard Dawkins or Stephen Hawking, based upon empirical data and observations, to infer that the design we observe in nature is an illusion, but when thinkers such as William Dembski or Robin Collins make inferences, based upon empirical data and observations, that the design is a reality, they are being unscientific?

Please feel free to share your answers via the comments.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

7 Things Worth Knowing about Intelligent Design

2011-04-30T21:57:00.005-04:00

According to the theory of Intelligent Design, it is possible to infer from empirical evidence that some features of the natural world are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than unguided processes. The “ID movement,” as it is sometimes called, is quiet recent. It originated with the publication of several books between 1984 and 1992 and a small meeting organized by Berkeley law professor Phillip E. Johnson near Monterey, California, in 1993.

Jonathan Wells, a key figure in the ID movement and author of the famed Icons of Evolution, notes seven things about ID worth knowing:

1. The word “intelligent” emphasizes that “design” in this case is not just a pattern, but a pattern produced by a mind that conceives and executes a plan. Any natural causes involved are guided by intelligence. Writing a meaningful paragraph on a computer depends on various physiological, mechanical, and electronic processes, but without a mind directing them they would not produce the paragraph.

2. ID is not a substitute for ignorance. If we don’t know the cause of something that does not mean it was designed. When we make design inferences- and all of us make them every day- we do so on the basis of evidence; the more evidence, the more reliable the design inference.

3. ID relies on scientific evidence rather than on Scripture or religious doctrines. It is not biblical creationism. Intelligent Design makes no claims about biblical chronology, and biblical creationists have clearly distinguished their views from ID. A person does not even need to believe in God to infer intelligent design in nature; otherwise, prominent atheist Anthony Flew could not have been persuaded that the evidence in nature points to design.

4. ID does not tell the identity of the designer. Although most proponents of ID believe that the designer is the God of the Bible, they acknowledge that this belief goes beyond the scientific evidence. Thus ID is not the same as nineteenth-century natural theology, which reasoned from nature to the attributes of God. Instead, ID restricts itself to a simple question: does the evidence point to design in nature? The answer to this question- whether yes or no- carries implications for religious belief, but the question can be asked and answered without presupposing those implications.

5. ID does not claim that design must be optimal; something may be designed even if it is flawed. When automobile manufacturers recall defective vehicles, they are showing that those vehicles were badly designed, not that they were undesigned.

6. ID is compatible with some aspects of Darwinian evolution. ID does not deny the reality of variation and natural selection; it just denies that those phenomena can accomplish all that Darwinists claim they can accomplish. ID challenges only the sufficiency of unguided natural processes and the Darwinian claim that design in living things is an illusion rather than a reality.

7. ID can apply on two different levels. Design may be detectable in specific features of living things, but it may also be detectable in natural laws and the structure of the cosmos. Most people who consider themselves ID advocates maintain not only that design is empirically detectable in the cosmos as a whole, but also that some features of the natural world (such as the shapes of rocks and cliffs) are not designed in the same sense that other features (such as the information in DNA) are designed. [1]

For those interested in learning more about ID, go here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Resource:

1. Taken and slightly modified from Jonathan Wells, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design, p. 7-9.

Happy Resurrection Day from Truthbomb Apologetics

2011-04-23T22:28:00.006-04:00

Hello Everyone!

We here at Truthbomb Apologetics just wanted to wish you a Happy Resurrection Day! For those interested in learning more about the claims of Jesus Christ and the historical evidence for His resurrection from the dead, we encourage you to visit our Resurrection Research Links.

This page includes articles, audio, debates, and videos dealing with numerous topics that relate to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Further, these resources include some of the top scholars in the field including Gary Habermas, Mike Licona, N.T. Wright, and Dr. William Lane Craig.

You can check it out here.

Have a blessed day! He is risen!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Book Preview: The Ambition by Lee Strobel

2011-04-20T20:33:00.003-04:00

Lee Strobel, author and speaker, has recently released his first fiction book entitled The Ambition.

Strobel writes:

"I’m excited to enter the realm of fiction with my thriller, The Ambition, an intricate tale of power, politics and payoffs in a suburban megachurch, a big-city newspaper, and the shadowy corridors of political intrigue. Deception and ambition collide in this edgy story inspired by my years as a Chicago reporter.

“Completely riveting,” said one New York Times best-selling author."

You can order your copy here.

Hear an interview with Strobel here.

To learn more about Strobel and his ministry, go here.

Finally, you can subscribe to Lee Strobel's monthly newsletter here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Article: How Could God Command Killing the Canaanites? by Paul Copan

2011-04-15T22:40:00.005-04:00

In this featured article, philosopher and apologist Paul Copan addresses the question, "How Could God Command Killing the Canaanites?"

Copan explains his intent in writing the article:

"I have written a book on Old Testament ethics (Is God a Moral Monster? — forthcoming with Baker), including four chapters on the Old Testament and violence. I can only here briefly summarize my response to this perennially perplexing question. Keep in mind that I am offering an alternative to the Sunday School version of the Canaanite question.2 First, I will make a few introductory remarks. Then I will sketch out the key points as a preview of the warfare discussion in my forthcoming book."

You can read the entire article here.

For those interested in Is God a Moral Monster?, see here.

You can examine more of Copan's work here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Article: Was the New Testament Influenced by Pagan Religions? by Ronald Nash

2011-04-13T20:09:00.003-04:00

In this featured article, Ronald Nash addresses the question Was the New Testament Influenced by Pagan Religions?

Summary

Many Christian college students have encountered criticisms of Christianity based on claims that early Christianity and the New Testament borrowed important beliefs and practices from a number of pagan mystery religions. Since these claims undermine such central Christian doctrines as Christ's death and resurrection, the charges are serious. But the evidence for such claims, when it even exists, often lies in sources several centuries older than the New Testament. Moreover, the alleged parallels often result from liberal scholars uncritically describing pagan beliefs and practices in Christian language and then marveling at the striking parallels they think they've discovered.

Checkout the article here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

VERITAS EVANGELICAL SEMINARY Apologetics Conference

2011-04-13T19:52:00.004-04:00

When?

May 6, 2011 6:00pm – 9:30pm
May 7, 2011 9:00am – 5:00pm

Where?

Mount Airy Bible Church
16700 Old Frederick Road
Mount Airy, MD 21771
410-489-4321
Website

Featured Speakers

Norman Geisler - 2 Lectures: From Evangelical to Agnostic: The Error's of Bart Ehrman &
Pluralism: Is Jesus the Only Way to God

Ron Rhodes - 2 Lectures: Responding to Brian McLaren and the 'New Kind of Christian' & 10 Keys to Answering Cultists at Your Door

Ed Hindson -2 Lectures: 5 Reason Why I Believe We are in the End Times & The Case for the Reliability of the Old Testament

Ergun Caner - 2 Lectures: Why I Am Not a Muslim & The Secret of Islam

Joseph Holden- Archaeology & the Bible: What Stones Tell Us About the Reliability of Scripture

***May 6-7 Conference in Mt. Airy registration is now open. To register, go here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Note: Truthbomb Apologetics does not necessarily endorse all of these speakers.

Dr. William Lane Craig Goes Head-to-Head with The Four Horsemen of the New Atheism

2011-04-09T21:43:00.009-04:00

Dr. William Lane Craig has now crossed swords with each of the "Four Horsemen" of the New Atheism in some form or another.

Craig recently debated Sam Harris on the topic of Is Good from God?

The audio can be found here. The debate site is here.

Further, a transcript of the debate can be found here.

Dr. Craig has also debated Christopher Hitchens. Information regarding that debate can be found here.

Dr. Craig discusses this debate here.

He has participated in a debate with Richard Dawkins on the topic of Does the Universe Have Purpose?

That audio can be found here.

Finally, Craig has interacted with Daniel Dennett and his arguments and you can listen to that audio here.

I encourage our readers to see how Dr. Craig fairs as he goes head-to-head with the best the New Atheism has to offer.

As always, thanks to Apologetics315 for all the great audio!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Debate Video and Audio: Is There Evidence for God? with Dr. William Lane Craig and Lawrence Krauss

2011-03-31T15:06:00.009-04:00

Last evening, Wednesday, March 30, 2011, Dr. William Lane Craig debated Dr. Lawrence M. Krauss on the topic, "Is there Evidence for God?"

You can watch the video of the debate here.

Apologetics315 has made the audio available here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Apologetics315 Interview: Former Atheist Richard Morgan

2011-03-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Brian Auten of Apologetics315 has continued his weekly interviews with various Christian apologists and thinkers. For a complete list of his past interviews, see here.

Recently, he interviewed former atheist Richard Morgan.

Brian explains:

"Today's interview is with Richard Morgan, a former atheist who found salvation in Jesus Christ. His testimony is fascinating, as part of his conversion story came about through his interactions on the Richard Dawkins website discussion boards. He has appeared on the Unbelievable? Radio program (here / MP3). He talks about his background, how he arrived at atheism, how he viewed God, his encounters on the RD forums, and his conversion to Christianity. He also offers some words of insight for Christians and atheists."

You can read his story in this PDF.

The full Interview MP3 Audio is here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Article: Is God Imaginary? by gotquestions.org

2011-03-23T14:30:00.001-04:00

I receive various emails and comments regarding different websites on the Internet. Recently, a website was brought to my attention entitled God is Imaginary. As someone who considers the question of God's existence or non-existence to be of utmost importance, I visited the site and was disappointed at what I found.

Most of the so-called "proofs" of God's non-existence lacked any type of formal argumentation and are nothing more than what I have dubbed in the past "Cookie Monster" objections.

Got Questions? has written an article that responds to this website that I felt was worth highlighting.

They write:

"Addressing each of the 50 points is unnecessary as it doesn’t matter if the site had 50,000 “proof” points against God; all one needs to do is use a logical, rational, and reasonable argument to show that God does indeed exist and every point becomes irrelevant. It is telling and interesting that godisimaginary.com focuses so much of its time on red herrings of issues with prayer and why God won’t do tricks upon request, and ignores the primary question of philosophy and religion: “Why do we have something rather than nothing at all?”

I encourage our readers to check out the entire article here.

Further, the audio is available here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Resource: The Failed Atheist

2011-03-21T20:27:00.003-04:00

The Failed Atheist is a blog maintained by Dan Rodger. Rodger shares a bit about himself on his blog:

"Even though atheists may not like it when people say it, I'm a former atheist. Although I wasn't a Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens type figure, none the less I didn't believe in God, and thus lived in a way which was consistent with me being captain of my ship. Perhaps I'm just not as clever as the New Atheists but I like to think that I hold truth to be something as important and my intellectual integrity simply won't allow me to ignore Jesus and embrace a god-less world-view that I doubt exists."

I encourage our readers to checkout Dan's blog where he offers varies thoughts, articles, and other resources dealing with various topics.

As Dan says, "I'm almost an Atheist.... I just believe in one more God than you do."

Dan's blog is also included in our An Apologetics Arsenal located here.

Enjoy!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Love Wins- Resources Dealing with Rob Bell's New Book

2011-03-18T18:07:00.022-04:00

I have always had a hard time taking Rob Bell seriously. If you have seen his videos, you are familiar with the scenario: Bell is usually sitting on a park bench, wearing trendy clothes and doing his best to sound cool and cutting-edge. However, within the style exists little substance and the Jesus that Bell seems to put forth reminds me of the little "Buddy Jesus" from the movie Dogma that one can purchase and stick to their dashboard.

Bell does, however, have the ability to get the evangelical community fired-up. While the likes of Dawkins, Hitchens, and Harris travel around the world doing their best to trounce anything to do with Christ or God, Bell releases a book that promotes universalism and suddenly the entire body of Christ is ready for a fight. And while I applaud that, I have to ask myself why more of us don't care about these types of issues all the time and not just when folks such as Bell spout their usual non-sense.

My purpose in this post, and the one's forthcoming, is to provide resources for those looking to address the many questions raised by Bell in his new book.

They are as follows:

Articles

Love Wins- A Review of Rob Bell's New Book by Tim Challies

We Have Seen This All Before: Rob Bell and (Re) emergence of Liberal Theology by Albert Mohler

God Is Still Holy and What You Learned in Sunday School is Still True: A Review of "Love Wins" by Kevin DeYoung

The Blood-Drained Gospel of Rob Bell by Russell D. Moore

Rob Bell's Velvet Hell? Albert Mohler, Others Speak on How Love Can Truly Win by Eryn Sun, Christian Post

A Question for Rob Bell: Who's God Rose from the Dead? by Mary Jo Sharp

Rob Bell: "Evangelical and orthodox to the bone?" Hardly. by John MacArthur

Rob Bell: "A Brother to Embrace or a Wolf to Avoid?" by John MacArthur

Is Rob Bell Teaching Universalism? Are People Saved After Death?"- by Matthew Slick

Resources on Rob Bell and Hell by Apologetics315

God Wins: A Critique of Rob Bell's Love Wins by Patrick Zukeran NEW!

Video

Rob Bell Interviewed on MSNBC

As more resources become available, we will be sure to add them. If you know of any that you think would prove helpful, please share them via the comments!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Video: Does Truth Exist? by Dr. Frank Turek

2011-03-08T19:39:00.005-04:00

In this brief video(5:01), Dr. Frank Turek discusses the question Does Truth Exist?

To learn more about Dr. Turek and his ministry, go here.

Enjoy!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Resource: Answers for Atheists

2011-02-21T21:50:00.005-04:00

The authors of the excellent apologetics website PleaseConvinceMe.com have recently created another great resourse Answers for Atheists. This website offers "brief answers to the most common atheist objections to the Christan Worldview."

The resources include:

The Problem of Evil

The Evidence of God

The Exclusivity of Christianity

The Nature of God

The Nature of Jesus

The Reliability of the Bible

We encourage our readers to checkout Answers for Atheists.

Finally, we have also added this great resource to our Apologetics Arsenal with you can checkout here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Reasonable Faith Podcast with Dr. William Lane Craig: Has Hawking Eliminated God?

2011-02-09T16:01:00.007-04:00

A few months ago Stephen Hawking's book The Grand Design made quite a splash in the media when Hawking proclaimed that scientific laws alone were sufficient to explain the origin of the universe.

In these two pod casts, Dr. William Craig discusses Hawking and Mlodinow's book.

Part 1- Has Hawking Eliminated God?

Part 2- Has Hawking Eliminated God?

Dr. Craig discusses:

Hawking's claim that philosophy is dead.
The scientific evidence in the book.
Hawking's conclusions about God.
Hawking and Mlodinow's anti-realism
The Multi-verse Theory

We also added these pod casts to our Responses to Notable Skeptics Resource Page.

Enjoy!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Book Review: Did the Resurrection Happen...Really? by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett

2011-02-05T15:00:00.006-04:00

Win a Copy!: Moody Publishers has kindly provided a free copy of Did the Resurrection Happen...Really? for Truthbomb Apologetics to give away. All you have to do to enter the random drawing is to leave a comment on this post!

Drawing ends February 11, 2011.

Introduction- About the Books

The Coffeehouse Chronicles by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett with Moody Publishers, a series of three apologetics novellas, each tackling a different issue that most Christian students will struggle with during their college years. They are set in the modern day and portray real, believable students as they engage in genuine dialogue concerning three questions:

Is the Bible True...Really?
Who is Jesus...Really?
Did the Resurrection Happen...Really? [1]

General Reflections

Much like it's predecessors, Did the Resurrection Happen...Really? contains easy-to-understand arguments that are logical and compelling. The purpose of this book is to examine the question of Jesus' resurrection from a historical perspective. McDowell and Sterrett do a great job of once again providing convincing argument in an absorbing story.

Further, if followers of Christ are looking for arguments that are straightforward and ideal to memorize for witnessing, these books are a great place to start.

McDowell and Sterrett also succeed in challenging the Christian to be ready to defend his or her faith. Moreover, the reader gets an inside look at what type of impact a confident, well-learned Christian can have on other believers around them.

For example, Susan Peterson, the wife of Dr. Peterson, a professor on campus, says to Mina:

"And Mina, the world needs more people like you. You didn't just live out your faith- you provided good, solid answers for Nick, who was then able to influence my husband. You know, there are so many Christians who claim to love God with their whole hearts, but they are intellectually lazy, shallow in their faith, and too timid to speak up about what they believe. They never provide any good reasons for what or why they believe. I know about this because I was one of them. Mina, the way you love Christ with both your heart and mind has challenged me" [p. 79-80].

This reader found himself agreeing with Mrs. Peterson and wondering why we as Christians don't take more advantage of the vast body of evidence we possess.

The Story

A school shooting has claimed the lives of nine students on campus. The event has rocked the foundations of the school and the reality of death and evil has been brought to the forefront of everyone's minds.

Dr. Peterson, and his wife Susan, are devastated by the event and are left to wrestle with the question,"Why?" Atheist Brett and his friend Steve realize that if the resurrection really did happen, then it has obvious ramifications for their lives. They begin to seriously research the topic at the campus library and are surprised at some of the information they discover. Lauren, an atheist, seems to acknowledge the veracity of Christian evidences, but continues to resist the conclusion that Jesus really did rise from the dead.

Dr. Gary Habermas is giving a lecture on Easter Sunday on the topic of Jesus' Resurrection at a church near campus that Dr. Peterson attends. Brett, Steve and Lauren, along with numerous others, are in attendance and all of this accumulates to a very memorable conclusion.

The Core Arguments

It was the Apostle Paul that wrote:

"...and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" [1 Corinthians 15:17].

and in doing so, he offered a way in which inquirers can objectively examine whether or not the Christian faith is for real. This is a very unique aspect of the Christian faith and is the heart of Did the Resurrection Happen...Really?

Those who are familiar with Dr. Gary Habermas' work and his minimal facts argument for the historical resurrection will be delighted to learn that it is this argument that much of the book centers around.

In the first half of the book, the discussion works through several theological issues such as:

"How Can We Be Sure There is a Heaven?"
"Why Did Jesus Have to Die?"
"Can I be a Christian without Believing the in the Resurrection?"
"Did Jesus Predict His Death and Resurrection?"

Having settled these issues to most everyone's satisfaction, the topic of discussion becomes, "What is the best explanation of the historical evidence we have surrounding Jesus' life, death, and resurrection?"

Those familiar with the many common objections aimed at the resurrection will be pleased to learn that McDowell and Sterrett address and effectively answer objections such as:

"Maybe Jesus Survived the Crucifixion as Muslims Claim."
"Perhaps the Disciples were simply Hallucinating."
"Maybe the Disciples Faked Jesus' Resurrection." (Conspiracy Theory)
"What about Christianity and Pagan Mythology?"
"What about James Cameron and the Lost Tomb?"

Throughout the book, as these objections and more are addressed, the authors expand on and provide a case for the minimal facts as presented by Habermas. Further, the expertise of such notable scholars as J.P. Moreland, William Lane Craig and N.T. Wright are also called upon.

Conclusion

I confess that sometimes apologetic literature can be difficult to get through, especially when one isn't familiar with the numerous arguments for the existence of God, the reliability of the Bible, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The beauty of Did the Resurrection Happen...Really? and the two books that precede it, is that they succeed in addressing and answering numerous popular and academic objections to the Christian Worldview in a way that it simply and concise.

A Final Note

At the core of each of these short books is a desire to demonstrate the validity of the Christian Faith in an easy-to-understand manner so that young people can be assured that their faith rests upon sound evidential grounds. It is a well-documented fact that we in Christendom are losing our youth by the masses once they attend college. This ought not be. As these short novellas demonstrate, apologetics can be the catalyst in drawing someone to the foot of the cross.

I encourage readers to take advantage of these wonderful resources and to obey Jesus Himself who said:

'You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment' [Matthew 22:37].

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Resource:
1. http://www.theworldsbiggestcoffeehouse.com/book-series/series-overview/

Book Review: Who Is Jesus...Really? by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett

2011-01-29T18:30:00.000-04:00

Win a Copy!: Moody Publishers has kindly provided a free copy of Who Is Jesus...Really? for Truthbomb Apologetics to give away. All you have to do to enter the random drawing is to leave a comment on this post!

Introduction- About the Books

The Coffeehouse Chronicles by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett with Moody Publishers, a series of three apologetics novellas, each tackling a different issue that most Christian students will struggle with during their college years. They are set in the modern day and portray real, believable students as they engage in genuine dialogue concerning three questions:

Is the Bible True...Really?
Who is Jesus...Really?
Did the Resurrection Happen...Really? [1]

General Reflections

Who Is Jesus...Really? by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett is the second book of these easily devoured novellas aimed at addressing common spiritual questions. This reader felt that McDowell and Sterrett once again succeeded in combining a great story with a persuasive array of arguments in this fictional dialogue that mostly zeroed in on the question, "Who is Jesus Christ?"

Obviously, this book would be a great resource to get into the hands of someone who has sincere questions about the identity of Jesus; however, I must confess that what I have enjoyed most about all three of these books [A Review for Did the Resurrection Happen...Really? will be up in one week from today] is the manner in which the authors write their Christian characters.

Jamal Washington, Nick and Mina realize the importance of understanding what they believe and relish in sharing it with others. These characters are not only excited to tell others about Jesus because of what He has done for them personally, but through intellectual inquiry they have tested the claims of Christ and found them to be true! The result? They are anxious to share this truth with whomever will listen and aren't afraid to be asked tough questions about their convictions. Throughout the book, I found myself thinking, "What if there were more Christians like this? What impact would this have on our culture? Our churches?"

So, while this book effectively provides answers for the sincere skeptic, it also presents very intellectually sharp role models to challenge the follower of Christ.

The Story

Nick's faith has survived the many tests from the first book and he is now actively involved in a campus ministry that encourages other believers to sincerely follow Christ in their daily lives. Jamal Washington, Dr. Peterson's assistant and former college football star, has made quite a name for himself on campus after teaching a few classes on the reliability of the New Testament in Dr. Peterson's absence. And one of Nick's close friends, Andrea, has become a confessing atheist.

After a particularly rowdy I Am Second bible study that Nick is leading, he befriends a fellow student and atheist, Brett. Brett is skeptical of Christianity and isn't even sure that a historical person by the name of Jesus Christ ever existed, but is curious. As a result, Nick invites Brett, Andrea, and a few others to meet with Jamal and Mina, a law student, to discuss some of Brett's questions about Jesus. Brett agrees and so the dialogue begins.

Meanwhile, some changes have been going on in the life of Dr. Peterson and his wife, Susan. Since the death of his sister, he has started to reconsider heaven and life after death and this leads him to investigate the question of Jesus' deity once more.

Then, Dr. Peterson announces that he is going to give a lecture entitled Did Jesus Claim to be God? What will his conclusion be?

The Core Arguments

This book was clearly written with the media titled "New Atheists" in mind. Numerous arguments that have been brought forth recently in titles such as The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and Why God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens are addressed and dealt with in it's pages.

While the first book mainly focuses on the reliability of the Bible throughout, Who Is Jesus...Really? tackles a nice collection of common objections before really diving into the question of Jesus' identity. McDowell and Sterrett do a great job in the book of "clearing away the clutter" so that they question of Jesus' identity can be clearly looked at. Some of the popular objections dealt with are:

"Jesus Never Existed!"
"Religion is Evil!"
"We Should Embrace Science, Not God!"
"Christianity doesn't value human life- it disgraces women and always has."
"What about Christians and slavery?"

These objections are dealt with in a short, convincing manner, using rigorous logic and verifiable history. This reader fully admits that these types of arguments can never be fully answered using a few short quips; however, the authors do a great job of dealing with the core of each of the above arguments while demonstrating that there is more to the story than Hitchens, Dawkins and company would have their numerous followers believe.

Having already provided a persuasive case for the reliability of the New Testament in the first book, and then removing some possible roadblocks in the first half of the second, the authors then begin uncovering the historical Jesus.

Through a fictional debate featuring Jamal Washington and a lecture given by Dr. Peterson, McDowell and Sterrett address the following issues pertaining to the historic Christ:

The earliest sources we have for Jesus' life
How early does the testimony of the resurrection appear?
David Hume and the Impossibility of Miracles
How early did the belief Jesus was God appear?
Who Did Jesus Believe Himself to Be?

This reader was impressed with the documentation and scholarly quotes provided to sustain the pillars of the arguments presented and also was once again pleased to see that this work was fresh and new.

Not only are academic arguments attended to in Who Is Jesus...Really?, but throughout the authors seem to call upon their own observations to make numerous valid points. An example of this is when Nick's friend Jessica, a fellow believer, shares the following observation:

"You know, the very name of Jesus seems to bother people. It makes them uncomfortable, or angry, or both. So many of the girls try to change the subject when He comes up. It seems like you can talk about Buddha, Muhammad, or Confucius all day and people don't get upset, but mention Jesus and it's all over. Why don't the others offend people the way Jesus does?" [p. 71]

While I admit that this is far from qualifying as a formal argument, it certainly seems to have a ring of truth to it.

Conclusion

Who is Jesus...Really? is like it's predecessor in the fact that it is packed full of easy to understand, well researched answers to many popular objections heard on college campuses and internet chat rooms. Whether dealing with the New Atheists or the fallacious claims of Dan Brown, this little book packs a powerful punch!

Moreover, this book differs from it's predecessor in that it deals with a wider array of objections that attend to various topics. A consequence of this is perhaps the book may seem to jump around in the beginning, as one of the characters even admits, but regardless this reader is confident in saying that the book more than adequately answers the question Who is Jesus...Really?

If you or someone your know is interested in exploring the historical record as it pertains to Jesus Christ, this little book is a informative, entertaining place to start!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Resource:
1. http://www.theworldsbiggestcoffeehouse.com/book-series/series-overview/

Book Review: Is the Bible True...Really? by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett

2011-01-22T16:00:00.002-04:00

Win a Copy!: Moody Publishers has kindly provided a free copy of Is the Bible True...Really? for Truthbomb Apologetics to give away. All you have to do to enter the random drawing is to leave a comment on this post!

The drawing is opened until Friday, January 28, 2011.

Introduction- About the Books

The Coffeehouse Chronicles by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett with Moody Publishers is a series of three apologetics novellas, each tackling a different issue that most Christian students will struggle with during their college years. They are set in the modern day and portray real, believable students as they engage in genuine dialogue concerning three questions:

Is the Bible True...Really?
Who is Jesus...Really?
Did the Resurrection Happen...Really? [1]

General Reflections

Is the Bible True...Really? by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett is a unique apologetic resource because this short book succeeds in weaving an excellent, fast-paced fictional dialogue around a vast assortment of sound apologetic arguments for the reliability of scripture. Furthermore, this reader found the characters in the story, regardless of their worldview, to be accurately presented and likable. No matter what one's convictions may be, readers will have no problem finding a character that they can relate to.

This reader also appreciated how the life of the mind and the role it plays in the Christian faith was spotlighted throughout the book. Not only are skeptical arguments dissected throughout, but Christians are also repeatedly challenged to understand what they believe and why they believe it.

The Story

Nick, a freshmen at Opal University, is sitting in his Religious Studies Class listening to his Professor, a well-known skeptic, present a lecture on the reliability of the New Testament. Suddenly, Nick begins to feel very uncomfortable about the material Dr. Peterson is presenting and he [Nick] is unprepared for what he is hearing. The content of his Professor's lecture certainly doesn't match-up with what Nick was taught by his Pastor growing up.

Dr. William Peterson, a renowned expert on ancient textual criticism, states:

"Here are the facts that leading scholars all across the country agree upon. We don't even have the words that these fundamentalist Christians tell us God inerrantly inspired. That's right. All we have are words copied by scribes- sometimes correctly but certainly not always. We have error-ridden copies that are centuries removed from the originals and different from them in thousands of ways" [p. 10].

Nick, like many well meaning Christians, decides that he must set the record straight and take a stand for Jesus. During class he declares, "That's not true! How dare you question God's Word...I accept it as the Word of God by faith!...Also, the Bible says, 'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that everyone will always be prepared to give an answer'...I experience the presence of Jesus in my life everyday..." [p. 11-12].

The professor, himself a former evangelical Christian, is patient with Nick and challenges him to give evidence that would contradict the professor's claims. Nick is unable to do so and so begins a personal struggle in Nick's life that his faith may or may not withstand.

Nick decides to turn to his former youth pastor for guidance and answers to the questions that are now beginning to plague him. However, much to his surprise, he finds that the youth pastor can offer him nothing but slogans and assurance that "all you need to have is faith." Meanwhile, Dr. Peterson seems to have real answers to real questions and even befriends Nick and his girlfriend!

By a few "chance" meetings, Nick befriends some tough minded followers of Jesus Christ who are about to demonstrate that perhaps Nick has only been hearing one side of the story.

The Core Arguments

McDowell and Sterrett do a great job in this book addressing many of the arguments that have been made popular on university campuses around the United States. Examples are as follows:

Did Christianity Borrow from Pagan Mythology?
What about the Zeitgeist video on youtube?
When was the Old Testament and New Testament "put together?"
What about Bart Ehrman and Misquoting Jesus?
What about the "mistakes" in the Bible?
What about the other gospels?

This reader was pleasantly surprised to find these topics dealt with in an in-depth, fair-minded manner.

When I began reading this book, I was skeptical that the arguments therein would simply be repackaged arguments from McDowell's prior apologetic works; however, this is not the case. I was delighted to find that McDowell and Sterrett obviously have made it a point to interact with some of the best scholars in New Testament criticism today, past and present, throughout the text. Names such as William Lane Craig, Daniel Wallace, Bruce Metzger and John Warwick Montgomery as just some of the names that are referenced. Further, the arguments of New Testament Scholar Bart Ehrman are accurately presented and soundly dealt with.

Conclusion

As mentioned before, this brief text succeeds in addressing numerous popular arguments made by the so-called Internet skeptics, as well as arguments put forth by many popular works today, such as the works of Robert Price and Bart Ehrman, who's arguments have persuaded many university students to doubt, or even give up, their Christian beliefs.

Those who would benefit from reading this book are:

College students who want to bolster their faith or who may be doubting.
Anyone who has questions about the reliability of Scripture and how we got our Bible today.
Those troubled by the skeptical claims of Bart Ehrman, the Jesus Seminar, or Internet skeptics
Anyone who enjoys a fun investigative story

Is the Bible True...Really? by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett is a treasure chest full of remarkably concise, easy-to-understand arguments for the reliability of Scripture. Regardless if you are a seeking skeptic, seasoned apologist, or a new believer, I strongly encourage you to read this book and be challenged.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Resource:
1. http://www.theworldsbiggestcoffeehouse.com/book-series/series-overview/

Note to Readers: We will be reviewing the next two books in this series and giving one of each away in the coming weeks so keep watching the blog for reviews and details! We appreciate your readership!

Article: Are Christians Biased in their Reasoning?

2011-01-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today's featured article comes from PleaseConvinceMe.com and deals with the topic of bias.

The article is titled Are Christians Biased in their Reasoning?

They write:

"And, of course, non-believers will claim that theists are already predisposed (biased) toward a theistic conclusion before they even look at the evidence! They will tell us that because we already believe that there IS a God, we are too biased to examine the evidence fairly. Well, let’s be clear about something. As a believing Christian, I certainly have a point of view, no doubt about it. But is it possible for me to examine a particular set of evidences fairly? Of course it is! Don’t be fooled into thinking that you, as a Christian, are the only person with a point of view. Each and every one of us has a point of view from which we look and examine the world. Yet each of us has the capacity to judge the evidence fairly if our point of view does not ELIMINATE certain forms of evidence from consideration before we even begin. After all, juries are formed everyday in our legal system. People who hold a variety of viewpoints are assembled to make life and death decisions in court cases because the attorneys and judges are convinced that in spite of their views, they will be able to judge the evidence fairly. And that is exactly what happens everyday in courtrooms across America. Bias has nothing to do with holding a point of view. Bias occurs when your viewpoint eliminates certain forms of evidence and evidential conclusions before you even begin the investigation."

To checkout the entire article, click here.

I encourage our readers to checkout the wealth of resources found at PleaseConvinceMe. com such as:

Hot Topics

Podcast

Blog

Videos

Radio

Training

Academy

And more!

Be sure to check out this great resource!

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Required Reading for Pastors, Church Leaders, All Who Claim the Name of Jesus Christ

2011-01-05T16:18:00.006-04:00

The Christian Apologetics Manifesto: Seventeen Theses by Doug Groothuis

Although this piece from Doug Groothuis is somewhat dated, I believe it's time for a refresher.

We ignore him at our peril.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Article: If You Cannot Scientifically Prove Your Belief, Is It Meaningless? by Paul Copan

2011-01-02T17:31:00.003-04:00

In this featured article, philosopher Paul Copan addresses the questions:

What is science?
How should Christians respond to scientism?
Are God and science really opposed to each other?

You can check it out here.

This article provides the reader with a mature look at the relationship between science and Christianity.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Article: Faith and Facts by Greg Koukl

2010-12-28T11:12:00.002-04:00

What is a good definition of biblical faith? How does it relate to science? What is the relationship for the follower of Christ between faith and facts?

In this article, Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason considers these questions. You can find it here.

I encourage our readers to checkout more resources from Koukl and company here.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

The Usual Suspects- Responses to "Notable" Skeptics

2010-12-27T15:00:00.009-04:00

This is a page designed to offer various critiques and answers to the arguments offered up by opponents of Christianity. I will be adding more names to the list. If you have a specific skeptic that you think should be included or an excellent response to one already on the list, please let me know via the comments.

Dan Barker

Answers to Dan Barker's Bible Quiz by J.P. Holding

Answer to Dan Barker's Easter Challenge by Dr. Gastrich

Barker's Blunders: A Response to Dan Barker's "Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?" by David Wood

Dan Barker's Losing Faith in Faith: A Critique by J.P. Holding

Dan Barker's 30 Questions by Dr. Gastrich

Dan Barker vs. Mike Licona (2003 Video)

Taming Bible "Discrepancies" by Rachel D. Ramer- This article will aid readers in understanding Barker's brand of Bible reading.

Various Essays by Mariano Grinbank of True Freethinker

Richard Carrier

Do No Miracles Today imply None in the Past?: A Critique of Richard Carrier's methodology by Amy Sayers

Good 'n' Senseless without God: A Critical Review of Richard Carrier's new book, Sense and Goodness without God by David Wood

Is Atheism a Safe Bet? by Amy Sayers; here Sayers responses to Carrier's attack on Pascal's Wager

Mike Licona vs. Richard Carrier (2010 Video)

Richard Carrier: Equal to Aristotle? by David Wood

Richard Carrier vs. William Lane Craig Audio Debate- This debate says a lot!

The Problem with Miracles by Kyle Butt

The Real Jesus: A Brief Portrait by Amy Sayers

Two Ancient Teachers, Two Bad Analogies by Amy Sayers

Richard Dawkins

A Review of The God Delusion by Bede

Comparing Dawkins' Blind Faith with Flew's Evidence by Peter S. Williams

Darwin's Rottweiler and the Public Understanding of Scientism by Peter S. Williams

Dawkins' Central Argument Once More by William Lane Craig

Debunking Dawkins: The God Delusion by Rich Deem

Has Science Eliminated God? Richard Dawkins and the Meaning of Life by Alister McGrath [transcript and audio available]

Reflections on Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker by Dallas Willard

Richard Dawkins' Argument for Atheism in The God Delusion by William Lane Craig

Some Thoughts on Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion by P.M. Doyle

The Dawkins Confusion by Alvin Plantinga

The Dawkins' Delusion by Alister McGrath [Article summary of his book]

The Delusion's of Richard Dawkins by Peter Harrison

The Devil's Chaplain by Stephen Barr

The Storyteller and the Scientist by Phillip E. Johnson

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Richard Dawkins' Failed Rebuttal of Natural Theology by Peter S. Williams

What would God say to Richard Dawkins? by Melvin Tinker (Audio)

Audio Talk

More rebuttals of Dawkins' work can be found here and here.

Daniel Dennett

Daniel Dennett Hunts the Snark by David B. Hart

God, Naturalism, and the Foundations of Morality by Paul Copan

In Defense of Theistic Arguments- William Lane Craig critiques Dennett's arguments against theism (audio)

Earl Doherty

A Short Review of The Jesus Puzzle by Christopher Price

Earl Doherty and Apostolic Tradition by Christopher Price

Earl Doherty, the Jesus Myth, and Second Century Christian Writings by GakuseiDon

Earl Daherty's use of the Epistle to the Hebrews by Christopher Price Part I Part II

Earl Doherty use of the phrase "According to the Flesh" by Christopher Price

Mike Licona responses to Earl Doherty (Deals with Flemming's film, The God Who Wasn't There)

The Myth Makers: A Review of Doherty's The Jesus Puzzle by Roger Pearse

Bart Ehrman

A Response to Bart Ehrman by Thomas Howe [PDF]

Audio of Mike Licona Responding to Bart Ehrman by Apologetics315 [47 minutes]

Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus: An Analysis by Peter J. Williams; other materials here offered that deal with Ehrman's arguments

Debate on the NT Documents between Bart Ehrman and Peter Williams

Ehrman Project- This site provides responses to Ehrman's provocative conclusions

Losing Christianity: A New Testament Scholar's Fall from Faith by Stephen J. Bedard

Misquoting Jesus: Does Bart Ehrman Prove that the New Testament is Corrupt? by Daniel McCarthy

Misunderstanding Christianity: Do Scribal Changes really Matter and Why? (A Response to Bart Ehrman by H.L. Nigro

Review of Bart Ehrman's Book: "Forged: Writing in the Name of God" by Mike Licona NEW!

Brian Flemming

A Review of The God Who Wasn't There by Mike Licona

The Argument that Wasn't There by Melinda Penner

Sam Harris

Among the Unbelievers: The Tedium of Dogmatic Atheism by Christ Lehman, Reason Magazine

Philosopher Sam Harris?- Current Events Audio Blog with William Lane Craig

Sam Harris' Faith in Eastern Spirituality and Muslim Torture by John Gorenfield

Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation: Answer Key by J.P. Holding

Stoning and Cherry Pickers by Mariano Grinbank

The End of Faith-a review by Peter Hartwell

The Faith of Disbelief by Dennis Prager

The Undeluded Truth? by Ravi Zacharias

Stephen Hawking

As a Scientist I'm Certain that Stephen Hawking is Wrong. You can't Explain the Universe without God by Professor John Lennox NEW!

Has Science Eliminated God? with Dr. William Lane Craig (mp3s)
Part I Part II

Hawking and the Grand Designer MP3 by Peter S. Williams NEW!

Why Stephen Hawking is Wrong about God not Creating the Universe by Rich Deem NEW!

Christopher Hitchens

A Chapter by chapter critique of Hitchens' God is Not Great by Douglas Wilson [Be sure to start at 31 and work your way backwards]

Atheism Ranting: The Pity and Poverty of Modern Anti-Theism by John Mark Reyonolds

Hitchens Doesn't have the Goods by Stand to Reason

Hitchens vs. Hitchens by Peter Hitchens

Is Christianity Good for the World? A discussion between Douglas Wilson and Christopher Hitchens hosted by Christianity Today

John Loftus

Another Failed Argument from Evil by Mary Jo Sharp

Loftus: Apologist to Atheist by Norm Geisler

The Will to Disbelieve: A Critical Review of the Loftus-Wood Debate

Elaine Pagels

Beyond Credibility: A Critical Review of Elaine Pagels' Beyond Belief by Sophia De Morgan

Gnostic Gnonsense: A Critical Review of Elaine Pagels' The Gnostic Gospels by Sophia De Morgan

What about the Gospel of Thomas?: A 14 minute video debate between Mike Licona and Elaine Pagels

Jesus Seminar

Darrell Bock on the Jesus Seminar(MP3 Audio) by Apologetics315

Five Gospels, but No Gospel: Jesus and the Seminar by N.T. Wright [PDF]

Marcus Borg: a Critique by J.P. Holding

Rediscovering the Historical Jesus: Presuppositions and Pretensions of the Jesus Seminar by William Lane Craig

Response to J.D. Crossan: Doing Justice to Jesus by N.T. Wright

The Jesus Seminar by Jimmy Williams

The Jesus Seminar and the Gospel of Thomas by James White

The Jesus Seminar and the Public: Take Another Look by Darrell Bock

The Jesus Seminar Under Fire by Greg Koukl

Unmasking the Jesus Seminar by Mark D. Roberts

William Lane Craig vs. Marcus Borg: The Resurrection(MP3 audio) by Apologetics315

Michael Shermer

A Summary Critique: Why Science Can't Explain Morality by Paul Copan- Book review of The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Care, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule

Michael Shermer and Ben Witherington Discuss the Gospels by Mariano Grinbank

Michael Shermer- The Moral Argument for Embarrassment by Mariano Grinbank

Michael Shermer, "Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against ID" (Lecture) Corrected by Doug Groothuis

Shermer's Chivalry by Mariano Grinbank

Shermer's Conflicted Message by Casey Luskin

John Shelby Spong

Debate: William Lane Craig vs. John Shelby Spong: Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Audio Video

John Shelby Spong's Liberating the Gospels: A Critique by Brent Hardaway

John Shelby Spong's The Sins of Scripture: A Critique by JPH

Spong Kong Phooey by Brent Hardaway

What is Wrong with Bishop Spong? by Michael Bott and Jonathan Sarfarti

Farrell Till

Farrell Till Exposed: A Response to Ferrell Till's Take on Prophecy by Firebranded

Firebrand's Answer to Till, Part 2

The Resurrection of Osiris According to Farrell Till by Mark Mcfall

G.A. Wells

A Summary Critique: Questioning the Existence of Jesus by Dr. Gary Habermas

Who is G.A. Wells? by Gregory S. Neal

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Note to Readers: The use of the film The Usual Suspects is simply for creative fun! This is not meant to imply anything about skeptics themselves.

Scholars and Apologists Weigh in on the First Christmas

2010-12-08T22:15:00.010-04:00

Here is a collection of Research Materials for Christmas:

Articles

Star-Studded Wise Men: Rethinking the Christmas Story by Ben Witherington

The First Christmas: Myths and Reality by Paul Copan

The Birth of God by William Lane Craig [You will have to login at Reasonable Faith to view this one; it's free!]

The Virgin Birth by Norman Geisler

It's a Wonderful Story...and so MUCH MORE! by Chad A. Gross

The Date of Christmas: In the Summer? by Darrell Bock

Various Articles [Christmas Resources] by Greg Koukl

Videos

Answering Common Objections at the Christmas Holiday featuring Lee Strobel, Mark Mittelberg

Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin featuring Lee Strobel, Mark Mittelberg

Witness Materials

Christmas Card Captions by Greg Koukl

Six Ways Satan is Stealing Christmas by John MacArthur

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

HT: Apologetics315

Flatland Apologetics: Taking the Negative View by Shelby Cade

2010-12-07T22:28:00.002-04:00

Shelby Cade of Flatland Apologetics has written a great post dealing with skepticism and atheism.

Cade writes:

"Atheism and skepticism have nothing to offer when it comes to evidence, but they do have plenty to say contra theism and the Christian worldview. In fact, skeptics can't say anything of note, so why should they be taken seriously? Skepticism is self defeating as a worldview, because the battle cry of skepticism (It is true that we need to be skeptical) espouses nothing more than relativism."

I encourage our readers to checkout the post in it's entirety here.

I would also encourage you to explore Flatland Apologetics.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad