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At the beginning of this program we learned: “People have many reasons for rejecting the Christian faith. Some may admire Christ but dislike His followers. Others find it difficult to accept any faith that claims to be the only way to God. Why would anyone limit themselves to only one of the world’s great religions?” How valid are each of these objections? What is your response to each?
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I think people have a hard time believing in something they cannot see. Jesus performed many miracles in his time and people could see that. He still does today but people dont see HIM doing it. It seems as though many people come up with what they consider logical reasons for things that happen instead of saying it was from God.
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Culture and established ways of thinking. Lack of knowledge or lack of truth .
Each religion has some appeal to people, some as part of the culture, others to fit in, but all seem to draw some type of strength and belief. My feelings are that there is only one God, in 3 persons, God, Christ, holy spirit. And though others feel strongly, none of the others can explain creation. -
Admiring Christ and disliking his followers is a valid argument. Why follow a God whose followers, those that should be “representing him,” give you no reason to want to?
I would point an individual with this dilemma to a fundamental similarity among all humans, we are all imperfect. This makes it all the more beautiful that we have a God who IS perfect. A living example of this perfection, is Jesus. The belief that we too can live a life like Jesus here on earth through the Holy Spirit should be encouraging to any who may be discouraged by imperfect followers of God. Jesus shows us a life on Earth full of love. I would tell that individual that if they experienced an individual who pointed them away from God’s love, then that “Christian” is not truly representing the heart of God, as Jesus did. This would hopefully challenge the reasonings they had created for rejecting Christianity based on imperfect followers. -
His followers are not to be admired; they were sinners and made many mistakes. However, the bible does not mention one mistake that Jesus made. And knowing that Jesus is perfect, still loved, and taught by the disciples is another way to demonstrate His character.
Jesus is the only way to God; he is not saying a religion but the person of Christ. The prophecies in the old testament of the coming of the Messiah were fulfilled with the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is living proof that he is the son of God. -
Followers of Christ are still sinners, albeit saved sinners. There is no claim within the life of a Christian to perfection. After all, that is why we need Jesus and His sacrifice to begin with. However, I find it ironic that people who can reject the Christian faith based on the poor behavior of Christ followers can also bristle at the idea of good people of other faiths going to hell just because they do not believe in Christ. This is to hold some people to a higher standard (Christians, if their religion and relationship with God and the truth is real, then they should be better people) and others to a more relaxed standard (“good” people of other faiths do not deserve eternity in hell, even though there is no such thing as a truly “good” person).
I would consider it wise to limit to oneself to one of the world’s great religions if and when the construction of the religion lays on the shoulder of the creator of the world itself. Additionally, if that religion was constructed by Jesus, well then I would bargain that He has the best understanding of the map to not only traverse the world but also insider knowledge of the path to heaven.
