Message – Objection: faith is just a blind leap….
There are many persons both past and present who have come to believe that Christianity is intellectually fulfilling. These include the well known scholar C.S. Lewis and many of today’s most renowned philosophers at many of the world’s top universities such as Dallas Willard, Alvin Plantinga, William Lane Craig, Douglas Geivett, Stephen T. Davis, J.P Moreland and many more. Although this in itself doesn’t present an argument, it does demonstrate that Christianity is more than simply a crutch for the weak but can also function as a sound basis for understanding and interpreting the world we live in.
https://www.bethinking.org/is-christianity-true/is-christianity-a-psychological-crutch
ILLUSTRATION
Indiana Jones blind leap …
FAITH
Hebrews 11 – definition of Faith…
True : plenty unseen, BUT…much of what we believe has STRONG evidentiary foundation
REVIEW A review of some of the facts ( summary )
OT RELIABILITY
The evidence of the accuracy of the Biblical text clearly demonstrates a strong argument that the Old Testament text is amazingly CONSISTENT!
History bears out its “unchange- ness” at man’s hands
NT RELIABILITY
24000 copies and fragments attest to its “unchangeness” at mans hands
TRUSTWORTHNESS
O.T. – historical archaeology & unique medical science
NT. – apostolic authority understood as inspired from God
– wealth of archaeological discoveries confirm the text of scripture
– evidence of prophecies fulfilled, candid honest protrayal, unlikely survival & growth
Resurrection Account – internal evidence both biblical and historical
CREATION
Hebrews 11 : Powerful arguments re: Creation
– unmistakeable design,
– nano machines that make our bodies DNA function, coded information
– Majors Deficiencies in evolutionary explanations,
– problems with radiometric dates,
– skewed information ( carbon in dinosaur bones ignored, thermodynamic laws)
– reality of the theory of evolution as a religion and not science
THE FLOOD
– Global evidence – geology
– Dinosaur fossils and bone layers
– Sediment layers
– Mt. St. Helens geologic evidence
THE CRUCIFIXION & RESURRECTION
– The medical reality
– Historical confirmation of crucifixion, burial, empty tomb
– Empty tomb acct and evidence
– Resurrection appearances ( 100’s of witnesses )
– Lack of body, challenge to any to disprove
1 Cor 15: 30-34 logical conclusion ( black or white)
MARTYRDOM FUELED GROWTH
LOVE FUELED CHANGE THAT FOLLOWED
LACK of CONTRADICTIONS – nothing but straw man arguments
In The Last Crusade – Indiana Jones and the viewer were initially unable to see the path that existed. Two minutes later the reaction of all was – “Oh, ok, now I see.”
Definition of Blind :
ADJ – lacking perception, awareness, or discernment.
“ he’s absolutely blind where you’re concerned, isn’t he?”
VERB – deprive (someone) of understanding, judgment, or
perception.
“ a clever tactician blinded by passion”
STORY OF BLIND MAN
Mark 8
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.