LESSON 1 Christianity: A Fact-Based Faith

Transcription

1 LESSON 1 Christianity: A Fact-Based Faith The word faith can mean different things depending on whom you re talking to. In this lesson, we will begin to look at what the biblical concept of faith is, as opposed to the popular view. What we will discover is that instead of being a leap into a dark abyss, biblical faith is grounded in the world of facts. Although faith does involve a leap of sorts, it is not a jump into something irrational and unreasonable. Rather, it is a leap into the arms of a trustworthy God who has made himself known to us through a reliable revelation the Bible. Because God has chosen to communicate with us in this way, we can put this revelation to the test and see whether it speaks truthfully about matters we can test and probe. This is important because, even though it s difficult to verify what the Bible says about spiritual matters, testing what it says about the natural world is easier. This has enormous implications. If the Bible cannot be trusted when it tells us how the heavens go, why should we trust it when it tells us how to go to heaven? Keep this in mind as we explore what the Bible says about faith and on what belief is supposed to rest. In preparation for this week s lecture, take some time to answer the following questions. 1. What do you think of when you hear the word faith?

2 GOOD SCIENCE, GOOD FAITH 2 2. Look up the word faith in an English dictionary. Write out the various definitions. 3. How does the dictionary definition of faith compare with your concept of it? How are they similar or different? 4. What do you think is the relationship between evidence and faith? Are they allies or enemies? If someone asks for evidence in order to believe in God, is that a sign of weak faith?

3 GOOD SCIENCE, GOOD FAITH 3 Faith is often seen as being a blind leap in the dark, not based on evidence, logic, or testing. People frequently think faith means believing in something even when common sense tells us not to. But is this position really what the Bible says? Does God expect us to believe in Him without any evidence? 5. What did Jesus command His people to do in Mark 22:37? Jesus replied: Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your. Jesus wants us to love Him with our whole being not just our heart. Loving God with our minds involves learning how to evaluate truth claims. The scriptural position is that reason supports faith and evidence provides a strong foundation for believing in God. Let s see how. 6. How does John begin his Gospel in John 1:1? In the beginning was the and the was with God and the was God. 7. Now read John 1:14. Who is John talking about? Who is the Word? The Greek term for word in John 1 is logos. Literally, it means reason. It s where we get the word logic. So at His very essence, Jesus is the source of all reason and logic. How could reason be contrary to faith when it is rooted in Jesus Himself?

4 GOOD SCIENCE, GOOD FAITH 4 8. Read 1 Peter 3: What are all Christians called to do? Giving a reason (logos) for our faith involves much more than giving our personal testimony. It also includes giving sound arguments based on solid evidence. This is why studying the Bible and science together is so important. History and science can provide evidence that the Bible truly is a supernaturally inspired book. But it s not enough to merely give reasons for our faith, we are also told how to do it and that is with gentleness and respect. When it comes to discussing the truth of Christianity with a nonbeliever, it often has less to do with what we say than how we say it. Speaking the truth in love includes taking nonbelievers questions and concerns seriously. Christians can come across as insensitive when we sound like we are reading a Gospel script or reciting a string of facts, rather than treating the nonbeliever as a unique individual. Godly attitudes are just as essential as providing good arguments. 9. Read Acts 17:2, 17; 18:4; and 19:8. What did Paul do upon arriving in each city? Why do you think he used this approach with this audience?

5 GOOD SCIENCE, GOOD FAITH 5 The Greek word for reason means that Paul gave something like a legal argument. It was as if he was stacking up evidence from the Old Testament that Jesus was, in fact, the promised Savior. 10. According to Acts 17:11, how did the Jews in Berea respond to Paul s arguments? This group of Jews is specifically praised in Scripture because they didn t passively take Paul s word for it that Jesus was the Messiah. They actively engaged in evaluating and testing what the apostle had to say to see if it was true. 11. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3 19 aloud. What did the apostle Paul say are the consequences if Jesus never rose from the dead? STUDY TIP: Reading Bible passages aloud will help you stay focused and will prevent your mind from wandering. The lecture will explore more about the factual basis for Christian faith, which is the foundation on which belief in Christianity rests.

6 GOOD SCIENCE, GOOD FAITH 6 LECTURE:! Listen: Christianity: A Fact-Based Faith (40 minutes) STUDY QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions based on the lecture and reading material. Each response should be between words. 1. How do you think many Christians define faith? Is the dictionary definition of faith consistent with the biblical definition? Describe how your understanding of faith has been enhanced as a result of this study. 2. Has anyone ever said to you, I d believe in God if He would come down and show Himself to me? Based on what you ve learned in this lesson, do you think a nonbeliever s need for empirical evidence is good or bad?