J. Warner Wallace, pastor, homicide detective, and podcaster (pleaseconvinceme.com), explains who has the burden of proof when discussing issues about God.

december

Clip from Dr. Marc Monte’s sermon Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

purpose

Todd is correct that the purpose of life has to do with God’s attributes. I use this idea to counter the objection that eternal punishment is unjust.  The greatest commandment is the purpose of life: to love God (Matthew 22:37)  Those who love God go to be with Him in heaven (John 14:23).  In addition, since the penalty for sin has been paid by Jesus (1 Peter 2:24), they are not punished themselves (Romans 8:1).  Those who don’t love God must be separated to a place reserved for people who don’t love Him (Revelation 20:15).  In addition, since they did not receive a pardon for their sins, they themselves must pay the penalty (2 Peter 2:4).

To learn more about how to explain the Gospel using apologetics, download Why Jesus from the sidebar.

Dr. Paul Vitz, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at New York University, author of “Faith of the Fatherless” on Issues Etc..

Well, Jews and Christians worship the same God.  The issue is that Jews know less about God than Christians because they have rejected part of God’s revelation of Himself in the New Testament.

Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God.  God cannot both be a Trinity(Christian) and not a trinity (Muslim).  These concepts are contradictory.  Therefore, Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God.

But I was talking with my brother-in-law who made the point that Christians and Muslims are focused on worshiping the same God: the Creator of the Universe.  This is correct, which has led me to this distinction:

1. Christians and Muslims worship the same type of God (who is One, infinite, spirit, creator of all things, etc.).
2. But they do not worship the same distinct God (which is why each group seeks to convert each other).

For example, let’s say you know my family and over hear me describing my wife: 5 foot tall, 200 pounds, and is a fitness expert.  You say, “Only the first attribute describes your wife.  The last two describe your sister-in-law.”

1. The two women are of the same type – both are wives.
2. But they are not the same distinct person.

Exodus 20:3

What is the difference between the Christian God, and the gods of the other religions?  The main difference is this:  The God of Christianity exists. ~ From R. C. Sproul’s book Now That’s A Good Question, Wheaton, IL: Tyndale  Publishers, 1996, p14.

Whether it be ethics or the Gospel, quoting Bible verses is rarely enough.  Would you be persuaded on matters of ethics or salvation by a Muslim or Hindu quoting references from their holy books?

Yes, the Word of God never returns completely void but may return almost void at times if Christians do not explain the reason and purpose of what the Bible states.

Can you explain the Gospel?  If not or to learn how to effectively do so using apologetics, please checkout Why Jesus in the sidebar.

J. Warner Wallace, pastor and homicide detective, talking about former atheist Ayn Rand, proof, and evidence on the Please Convince Me Podcast.

Key Point: Sufficient Evidence – when the evidence is sufficient, a point is proven to an individual.  But depending on ones reason, emotions, or will, it may be that no amount of evidence will be able to prove Christianity to a person.

In this clip, talk show host Dennis Prager makes a good point about how many secular people have a blind faith in science.

This video makes an excellent point: Christian terminology sounds like a different language to non-Christians.  But an issue with this video is that both guys are speaking Christianese.  Why does Jesus want to have a relationship with people?  What does that mean?  Why should others want to have a relationship with Jesus?  Without such explanations, the sharing of the Gospel makes little sense to unbelievers.

Why Jesus helps Christians avoid Christianese and instead communicate the Gospel is a way that resonates with unbelievers in today’s culture.  Check it out in the sidebar.

At another time I was talking with a guy who claimed to be a Christian who was living with his fiancee.  He was also having an affair with a woman at work.  He wanted to stop the affair but the woman kept on pursuing him.  So I asked, “If you could stop the affair, do you feel your relationship with God would be ok?”  He said “yes.”

Jesus said that unless we repent we will perish (Luke 13:3).  This repentance must be genuine, for not everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ is saved (Matthew 7:21).  Living together is often called ‘living in sin.”  I call it ‘first degree sinning’ because it is premeditated, planned sinning.

Recently, a politician who claimed to be a Christian was caught cheating on his wife.  He begging for forgiveness and she did so.  But after some time, he asked his wife if he could resume the affair.  She said, “It’s one thing to forgive adultery but another to condone it.”  She ended up soon divorcing him.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God (Matthew 22:37).  Just as the politicians wife realized her husband did not love her, doesn’t God see right through those who claim to love Him but live in sin?  Those living this way risk an eternal divorce from God.  Jesus said we love God by obeying his commandments (1 John 5:3).  Love God – repent and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9).