The Apologetics Advertisement for Christianity
By Nathaniel Ashcroft
The Effect of the Word
Have you ever noticed the radical change that occurs when someone converts to Christianity? Have you seen the joy, the patience, and the peace through hardship? The Bible’s teachings have been shown to drastically alter the follower’s life in a positive manner. So why does the Bible hold so much power in the course of a person’s life?
The reason the convert sees such fruit by being a Christian is because they are living exactly how they were made to live by God. The Bible, applied to a person’s life, has the effect that it professes to have.
A quick objection to my point that may arise would be that not all Christians stay Christian, so clearly not everybody feels this way. I understand that concern, but we don’t know each person’s heart. Those who truly follow Christ and take His yoke upon themselves to learn His way will agree that Christ changed their lives for the better, they can’t live without Him. In fact, even non-Christians acknowledge that Christians are ‘good people’ (unless they encounter hypocrites), and when they see how we live our lives, they marvel at our ‘goodness’. Even people who are not Christian who are seen as living a ‘good’ (Psalm 14:3 shows us no one is good, I’m using this phrasing because those who observe Christians often use this phrasing) life are thought of that way because they follow the consciousness they were given by God, which is refined by special revelation in the Word of God. Non-Christians have also been given a conscience, therefore they know what living correctly looks like when they encounter it. As believers, we follow the moral compass given to us, but more adamantly we follow the commands of God in His word. The following and application of the Bible completes the searching of the human heart and fills it with glorious purpose. Why? It does this because the creation is living the way the creator intended them to. They are living righteously. Righteousness, in my use of it, does not constitute perfection, but more of a repentant and seeking heart, a heart chasing after God.
The Bible works perfectly in its application. If I am being completely honest, this truth is one of the biggest pieces of evidence for my continual belief in Christianity. The Bible does for me and for those around me what it professes to do. I’m going to make that statement or one similar many times throughout this section. I truly find God’s Word to be what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 professes it to be;
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NIV 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Bible’s teaching brings me peace, joy, grace, righteousness, and knowledge of Truth. I don’t even know how to begin to describe or show this idea; the best way for you to see this is to read the Bible and apply it to your life. Best case scenario, you do that in the context of a church as well.
I took the medicine, and it has preserved my life; more than preserved, it is actively a
following me to recover completely. I am born again, truly (John 3:3).
The Deathly Current
The teaching of the Bible renders the current of society, which is bent towards injustice, to be miniscule, and effortlessly enlightens the mind to a path of grace, peace, and justice. The flow of the world is only powerful when a person is submerged in its currents; it is the only current known to them, and also the strongest. The flow feels inescapable, all-encompassing, and hopelessly violent. It leads us into anxiety, into vengeance, into restlessness, into fear, into hatred, into discontentment, and into distraction. However, when this force is all a person knows, they may not find it so bad.
The individual lost in the current may know from their legs that they were meant to walk freely, but they have no concept of this reality. They have a longing within themselves, but they do not know how to satisfy it. All it takes is for the soul lost in the current to stand up, and they will realize that the flow is not so strong nor cavernous as they once believed. This colossus force was merely a foot-deep stream. When laying in the water’s flow, it feels very powerful and inescapable. All that is needed is for this person to come to the knowledge that there is a more real and better path to follow, and they shall stand, turn, and wade against the force of the current, being freed of the hold of the world and striving along the path they were created to walk, towards glory. The Bible’s teaching, supplemented by the power of the Holy Spirit, picks us up and pushes us onwards towards glory and purpose in a much more righteous current. It fits the mold of creation, revealing to us the manner in which we were meant to conduct ourselves and live out our lives. This righteous current is one of peace, love, joy, righteousness, holiness, patience, kindness, forbearance, gratitude, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and life; truths we all value and see as good and wonderful. We were truly meant to walk in this righteous current. If a person continues in the one-foot deep flow of water, eventually they will find themselves careening downwards into the fiery pits of Hell. The Bible’s teaching is like standing up, turning around, seeing a beautiful scene of forests and mountains, and knowing, for sure, that you were meant to walk against the current.
This is the best I can do to attempt to show you what Biblical teaching does to a person. All those who are still stuck in the current see others walking past them, and know that these others are traveling in the right direction. When the world sees Christians walking against the current of the world, as previously stated, they call us ‘good’ and ‘right’, and may even get up and follow. Sometimes they get bitter and refuse to leave the flow leading them unto death. I am not talking about salvation, mind you. I am talking about the effect of scripture’s teaching on a person’s life, and the way in which the teaching fits with the mold of creation. A person, of course, cannot get themselves out of the current and save themselves, grace and mercy are required.
Morality
Now, any Christian would tell you that they are not good, but broken and in need of a savior. If we all have this innate knowledge that certain things are good or bad, and certain lifestyles are good or bad, then there is a creator imposing this on us. I gave the argument for morality previously in the book, and it will not be reiterated in depth here.
The point I am making is this: the Bible contains knowledge about our moral compass that only God could know, so the Bible is inspired by God. We know instinctively that we are not just adhering to moral standards for fun, but that the way the Bible teaches us to live is the way we were created and intended to live! Non-believers also acknowledge this correct way to live, and it is that realization that causes believers to be viewed as ‘good’. Anyone who comes to Christ sees this radical truth and understands that they are now living as they should have been living their whole life. Not just when they follow Biblical morals, but when they meditate on the Word, when they pray, and when they worship; they know they were created for this. They see these miraculous glimpses of the pure and glorious intention of God through the Christian lifestyle. The Bible speaks to the innermost part of our self, to the most intrinsic, basic part of our creation, in a way only someone who knows us better than we know ourselves could do. It speaks to our soul. It speaks to the part of us that we cannot see, but that is what makes us who we are. I cannot put this into words, please discover it for yourself.
Biblical forgiveness teaches virtue far beyond a programmed gene. Forgiveness does exactly what the Bible says, it heals, mends relationships and covers all wrongs. God’s Word instructs us to forgive others 77 times (Matthew 18:22; 77 constitutes forgiving others an indefinite number of times), to
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (NIV Luke 6:27-28).
In following that instruction, a load is taken off our shoulders (no matter how hard it is to do), and it is strongly counter-cultural. Forgiveness lightens the heavy burden we carry which is the burden of hate. This hate brings about an even worse burden: a want for vengeance. This hurts both us and the one we will not forgive. It leads to a chain of hateful and angry thoughts, and quite frankly, a hateful person. Of course, this thinking is only natural if a person does not believe in a final Judge. The Biblical kind of love and forgiveness to others shows an incredibly priceless portrayal of Jesus, who said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do,” after being tortured, mocked, beaten, deserted, and spit on.
Now was Jesus saying, “Ignore justice”? By no means! Forgiving someone does not negate justice. I can forgive someone who has stolen from me while also asking for my property back. However, we are to show grace as much as we can.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (NIV Matthew 5:38-42).
When Jesus says, “Father forgive them”, His words have the undertone that His enemies do not know God nor the work of the Holy Spirit, and they need to be brought to repentance and accept His sacrifice. 2 Peter 3:9,
“The Lord is not slow in keeping [H]is promise, as some understand slowness. Instead [H]e is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (NIV 2 Peter 3:9).
We forgive because the final judgement is left for Jesus, and it is our job to show those who have wronged us biblical love so that they may see Jesus in us and be brought to Him. It’s simply not our job to condemn others. As a side note, the Bible commands rebukes, out of love, within the Church (1 Corinthians 5:12), so there is a place and a time to judge. Proverbs 25:21-22,
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you” (NIV Proverbs 25:21-22).
This shows how biblical teaching fits the mold of creation perfectly. It heals both the one who carries the burden of hate and vengeance, and the one who carries the weight of guilt and ignorance. We were created to live in this way, which is adamantly and clearly shown in the social effects it produces. It changes lives in ways very little can and swims against the current of our society, also showing an outstandingly larger amount of positive impact than the retribution and enmity that is so normalized. The reason Christian forgiveness has the effect that it has is not because it is worldly or human derived ‘good teaching’, but because it is derived from reading the infallible word of God that shows them the intended way we are to conduct ourselves from the decree of the creator.
Again, living in the way outlined by the Bible is us fitting the mold we were intended to fit in light of our creation in God’s image.
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (NIV Colossians 3:5-10).
This passage from Colossians shows this concept, of putting off the old self and being made new in our knowledge of how we were created to live. This is done by surrender to the Holy Spirit, who conforms us to the image of the Son (Romans 8:29). It harmonizes perfectly with the creation and the entirety of the mechanisms by which it works. It’s not just good teaching, it’s not just good in some instances, and it’s not just good for some people; it’s perfect. It fits. It’s supposed to be that way, objectively! Our social structure only works when put under Biblical values, which are in accordance with the image in which we were created. The Bible is written with the knowledge that only a creator could know. It’s written by the very being who created us, who is omniscient, and He knows the conduct that brings forth peace. He gives us knowledge that mends our broken lives, in ways so spectacular, it must be from God! It’s written with the knowledge that is only available to an all-knowing designer.
So, this points to the Christian God because the nature of the teaching is nuanced in such a way that it perfectly fits the mold of creation. It’s not just good ethical teaching, it’s flawless ethical teaching (the non-ethical centered teaching in the Bible is flawless as well, however), which is an essential piece of the creation puzzle we live in. There have, of course, been other moral teachings outside the Bible, but the Bible isn’t just any old collection of teaching, it’s an amazing book full of nuances and intricacies that perfectly and exactly fits with the ordered interconnection of human existence and interaction. It must be divine. Even if you are not in agreement with the Bible, its teaching and its impact is still present and true. It’s also true that those who do not follow the Bible follow a perverted truth that is not beneficial and does not fit the mold of creation in many ways. The most obvious way being the lack of grace for salvation that is present within other belief sets (see the section on works religions). Many who fall away from Christian teaching fall away because they want to please themselves, and their desires. But that does not produce good fruit. It does not follow the mold of creation. Only the truth fits such a complex mold.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (NIV John 15:13).
When we see this man on a cross, but who is not only a man, this man showing mercy, but who is the Judge, this man who loves His enemies, but His enemies are undeserving, this man who is good, but even more is perfect, we know He’s who we have been waiting for. He completes us. His word completes us. His decrees are the intended moral standard our creator gave us. When the Father looks at us He sees His Son (Jesus), not our sin. Forgiveness is one way to explain the beauty and necessity of the Word, but I could have easily also used something like Biblical marriage, Biblical gratitude, Biblical work ethic, Biblical rest, or Biblical comradery.
Sin is sin because it is the act of choosing your own selfish desires to go a way that hurts you, hurts your relationship with God, goes against His holy will, and violates the mold the creator designed for you. To truly ‘find’ yourself and the actual truth (the objective truth, not a perverted ‘truth’), we need to know Jesus better than we know ourselves, so He can show us who we are.
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” (ESV John 8:32).
If there really is a God and Christian teaching is correct, then we live in a fallen world in which some good things are perverted, and to see life in its original majesty and design, we therefore must follow Christ. Since we have great evidence that the Bible is true, and we see that it fits with the design of the world, then there must be a higher power, and that higher power will set your eyes on the way you were made to live. When a person converts, following biblical teaching increases the goodness in their lives. Not in a health and wealth gospel sense (you become Christian and all your problems disappear), but in a truthful and glorious sense. It leads them to helping others, to being more grateful, to being a light in darkness, to living according to the original purpose of human life.
The Bible’s teachings are unique and original.
The Bible’s teachings agree completely with our conscience.
Adherence to the Bible’s teachings produces incomparable beauty and goodness.
The Bible contains knowledge about how humanity can best live together with joy and peace.
The Bible’s teachings fit perfectly with the design and order of the world.
Therefore the Bible was written by someone who designed the world, for those He created to live in it.
So I will say, follow the Word of God and see the transforming power of Christ Jesus, our Lord, the Mystery of God.
Have you heard the gospel? If not click here.
View next week’s section to learn about Jesus’s claims of divinity.
Works Cited
NIV Quest Study Bible. Zondervan, 2011.
ESV Bible, The Premium Gift Edition. Crossway, 2016.