The aim is honesty.
Anyway, so I'm talking to a friend of mine. This friend is a Christian and as is common of my Christian friends, we have an unbelieving friend that we don't know how to talk to. I don't understand that really. Whether you believe or not, a person is a person is a person....
Whatever....
So he tells me that he is wondering if he capacity to be rational is slipping because this person is talking to him about this thing and that and he doesn't know how handle what is being said. As a Christian, he feels that he should defend that which he believes in and he is right: he should.
As such, he asked if I thought he was reasonably smart (he is, actually) and how to become more so in order to conquer the questions and the man behind them.
It was at this point, that I had to guide him through some things.
First thing: People, Knowledge, and how to work it all.
I heard it like this, "You can win people. You can win arguments. It is rare if ever you can win both...." That is very true. I encouraged him to choose wisely. In the end, being right doesn't inspire faith. You can't inspire faith with an argument because faith isn't logical. Mind you, faith has logical parts; if you go from one step to the next, you can see how it is formed and where it leads, but it isn't logical. What exactly is logical about a virgin birth, fire coming from the sky, or parting water? Nothing at all. It can't be touched or tasted or smelled or empirically examined in any way at all...
Next thing: The Actual Argument
The actual thing he was wondering about was why Jesus' last words were reported differently in different gospels. Let's review the reported contradictions:
Mark 15:34 :: And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
[BTW, it doesn't report his last words here. It says He cried with a loud voice and gave up the ghost in v.37. smh.]
Matthew 27:46 :: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
[Again, these aren't His last words as you will see in v.50]
Luke 23:46 :: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
John 19:30 :: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Mind you, this is just for your info, but there are so many holes in just raising the question that I'll address in another blog if requested, but honestly the sum up is that the people that reported these events were neither police nor forensic scientists. Just people with a goal to inspire faith in a living God. As with any of these sorts of events, there are bound to be small details that will be overlooked in the interest of making sure the main part of the story is communicated. Again, something to be spoken about at a later time.
Third thing: Encourage Conversation
My friend isn't a person that typically likes to get into debates about things. I agree with him about these things. Especially faith matters. It's not something I believe in debating because I don't believe that conversations about faith are about winning and losing, but about the heart and the soul. That said, my goal whenever these things come up (and my encouragement to my friend about this) is to be knowledgeable enough about the contents of the book to be able to keep conversation open and let God guide from there. That's all that it takes. Open your mouth and let God speak. It's simple, really.
I'm convinced that if more Christians knew how to have a conversation about their faith, people would be more open to hearing about it. We come with facts attempting to crush the opposition not realizing that we're crushing people that we are purportedly called to save. I think we could stand to think that strategy through a little more. Don't get hung up on pride and trying to defend our faith and invest ourselves in... well... people. Maybe if we cared more, we'd get somewhere. *sigh*
Again, read the print:
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
Fourth thing: Don't Fear the Brain
I told my friend this today and I'm telling you: it is possible (and desirable) to be an intelligent Christian. There is no reason to be afraid of knowing. Knowing isn't a problem. God wants us to know things and be wise and be knowledgeable about things. God isn't anti-knowledge.
God isn't anti-knowledge.
God isn't anti-knowledge.
God isn't anti-knowledge.
God isn't anti-knowledge.
He's anti-knowledge that is unprofitable and makes us look good without producing fruit. For those of us wishing to actually engage the world we live in, we'll need to be wise. Not smart, not brainy, but wise. The world already sees us as insanely illogical. I admit that we appear a little illogical as believers, but we knew this one was coming; as it is said:
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18).
That said, being foolish for the sake of what we believe and being stupid are completely different things. To appear foolish, we forsake our own pride. To appear stupid, we close conversation.
Think about it. Tell me what you think.
:: Q-OUT
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