Category Archives: Apologetics

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How Do We Know Matthew Was the Author of the Gospel of Matthew?

3 Reasons Why Matthew Was Not A Forgery of the Early Church

We live in a culture that has questions about the Bible. And that’s OK–because questions, if the goal is truth, will lead to a stronger faith. I have seen this time and again. (But how we question the Bible is critically important)

But as Christians we also are called to respond to challenges which threaten to undercut our faith (Jude 3; 1 Peter 3:15). And in case you haven’t noticed, the Bible is a BIG target so there are lots of challenges!

The Skeptical Challenge of the Authorship of the Gospels

Skeptics like to raise doubts and new “hidden” or “lost” information about the Gospels. Why? Because that is (more…)

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Why History Matters To The Christian Faith

3 Reasons Every Young Person Needs To Know

Did the events recorded in the pages of Scripture really happen in history? And does it matter? The short answer is…Yes and Yes! BTW the longer answer is still yes and yes…but this is a blog, not a book 😉

3 Reasons Why History Matters To Faith

Here are 3 reasons why history matters to the Christian faith.

(1) Biblical faith is not blind faith. Reason and evidence play an important role in the life of faith. God created us as rational beings with the capacity to weigh evidence and draw conclusions about what we are experiencing. We are called to give reasons for faith (cf. 1 Peter 3:15-16).

(Image: The Pool of Siloam, rock-cut pool on the southern slope of the City of David, the archaeological site of Jerusalem, Israel cf. John 9:6-7)

I for one am so encouraged that when John the Baptist struggled with doubt and sent his disciples to Jesus to inquire if he truly was the long awaited Messiah that Jesus didn’t respond with (more…)

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What is Naturalism?

Reality Testing Worldviews

Ideas matter. And it’s important to “reality test” worldviews because too much is at stake. How does Naturalism fare?

Scientific naturalism is the view that the physical universe is all there is, was, and ever will be. Only material stuff exists, and science is the only source of reliable knowledge concerning the world; everything else is mere conjecture.

What Tools Are Available In The Naturalist’s Tool Box?

Physics, chemistry, biology, and genetics are the naturalist’s only explanatory tools. One obvious implication of this worldview (more…)

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Does Knowledge Require Bombproof Certainty?

Must we have bombproof certainty before we can say that we know something? Is it all or nothing — 100 percent certainty (that is, it is impossible that I am wrong) or hopeless skepticism? I don’t think so, because this dilemma is a false one.

A skeptical approach to knowledge maintains that knowledge itself is impossible or that no beliefs can be justified even if they happen to be true. Not only is this view unlivable; it also seems self-contradictory, because even radical skeptics think they know enough to claim you are mistaken.

 

36075733_mOur beliefs come in degrees of confidence, and some beliefs are more central than others; logical certainty is available only in mathematics. I may be very confident that God raised Jesus from the dead and have less confidence as to whether or not Christians ought to take the Lord’s Supper every week, but my differing levels of confidence don’t negate my beliefs. The all-or-nothing standard for knowledge gets us in trouble because it eliminates virtually everything that ultimately matters.

When it comes to God, one of the temptations is to withhold judgment until all the information is in and every possible issue has been investigated. To be honest, this is a pretty tall order. You will never know everything about everything. I sure don’t. If you wait until then, well, you will be waiting a long time! And the question of God is too important. (more…)