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So Many Christians...So Few Lions
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So one day I'm reading through some blogs and I came across a quote from someone who apparently doesn't have the fondest feelings for us. I could be wrong, but it's hard for me to see it otherwise when he threw out this phrase:
"So many Christians...so few lions."
As you probably know, in the early days of Christianity the NFL and hockey hadn't been invented yet, so to satisfy the public's lust for violence, Christians were thrown into the Roman coliseum to be eaten alive in front of sold out crowds. Why? Well, not because they were violent, mean criminals who deserved death. Many historians believe that the biggest reason behind this unthinkable brutality was the nature of their message. Christians dared to carry on the same message that got Jesus killed:
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
People back then were fine with someone saying "I have found a way to God," but things get ugly in a hurry when you start talking about finding the only way to God, because at that point it puts people in a position of possibly being wrong-and no one wants to be wrong.
Apparently not much has changed, which is why this country is starting to catch a strong case of Christianophobia:
Christianophobia, sometimes (if ungrammatically) called christophobia, is a term used by some to describe an irrational fear or hatred of Christians, or Christianity in general. (www.wikipedia.com)
No, we are not at the point where Christians are being equated with potential Purina Lion Chow, but we are at the point where our beliefs and worldview are viewed as everything from irrational to insane.
And I say...good! In times past Christians could just check their brains at the door because no one dared question the definitive dogma of pastors and priests. What that led to was a generation of believers who pretty much just parroted back what they had been taught without thinking through it.
Those times are gone, and the time has come for you to learn what you believe and why you believe it. The early Christians did, which is why they were willing to die rather than renounce their faith in Christ. They examined the evidences, thought through the implications, and completely gave their lives to what they knew to be true...whatever the cost.
How about you? If you want to combat Christianophobia, you must do the same. So let me get you started on what will be the most amazing journey of your life: knowing what you believe and why you believe it.
The bottom line of what we believe is the same as what all true Christians believe:
Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, lived a perfect life and died a horrible death on the cross to pay the penalty for all the sins of all humanity, then came back from the dead after three days proving His claim of being the only way to God.
The bottom line of why we believe it rests on two foundational proofs:
The Bible is God's inspired word.
2 Timothy 3:16- All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.
Jesus Christ physically came back from the dead.
Matthew 28:5-7: Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you."
These two proofs are typically the best starting places when someone calls your faith into question, so make sure you have the facts behind them down cold. For example:
Skeptic: "Why do you believe the Bible is the only inspired word of God?"
Christian: "First of all, it claims to be God's word over 3000 times! Now, I know that any book could claim that, and many have. But what made a difference for me is the Bible is the only book to make that claim and back it up with 100% fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies. Also, the Bible has an amazing history that seems to point to it being God's word. It is a collection of 66 books written by 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years, and yet revolves around one major theme: God's plan of salvation.
Skeptic: "How can you possibly think that Jesus came back from the dead?"
Christian: "I know it seems impossible, but when you take a serious look at the evidences of the empty tomb, the testimony of the witnesses that saw Him after He came back, and the changed lives of the disciples, it's tough to come to any other conclusion."
Remember that these are just starting points, and you'll have to do the hard work of digging deeper into these areas. I guarantee you, though, it is worth every minute spent in investigating the facts behind your faith. Plus it will come in real handy the next time you get thrown into a group of Christianophobic lions who are ready to eat up Christians who don't know their stuff!
Head: What you need to know about this truth
Christians have two foundational proofs for their faith: God's inspired word called the Bible, and the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.
Heart: What you need to feel about this truth
Part of defending your faith is speaking up for what is right. When you do, it creates an opportunity to change the world around you in big ways. Here's one of the greatest examples of what I am talking about:
The Story of Telemachus
He was born misshaped and frail. The fact that he survived beyond infancy was in itself a miracle. He had early on learned to live with ridicule and avoidance. He could have gone through life full of bitterness had it not been that he had experienced God's love through a special order of monks who lived in his village. He became a convert to the faith and was welcomed into their brotherhood where he found comfort, acceptance, and contentment.
That is until one day while in his devotions he heard the voice of God in his inner being say, "Go, I will lead you." Telemachus obediently prepared for his journey of faith saying to the others, "He must follow God's calling." He left the sanctuary of the monastery, and began his journey of faith and obedience. He was lead to join a caravan traveling to Rome. He entered the great city unsure of what to do next or where to go.
Telemachus was caught up in the shuffling hurry of the crowd and pushed and jostled as he went along with the mass movement. He found himself before a huge building and seeking to find his way discovered a darkened corridor with a beam of light at the end. The inner voice called, Follow me." Telemachus followed and as he walked into the light was in the midst of a huge arena where men were fighting and killing each other for the sport of the crowd. Telemachus cried out, "In the name of Christ, stop!" No one listened. He went from one combatant to the other being shoved, and knocked down crying, "In the name of Christ, stop!" The crowd roared with laughter at the sight of the little monk among the gladiators. Then suddenly in anger a sword flashed and Telemachus fell dead, his head severed from his body. The crowd grew still and silent. No one made a sound and one by one they rose to leave, shocked at the lifeless body of this little monk.
History records this was the close of the great coliseum in Rome and its gladiator games. Some say the games closed due to many reasons but Telemachus' story suggests His sacrifice made a difference.
Hands: What you need to do about this truth
One of the great things about the age of the internet is the availability of resources to help us defend our faith. Of course, when I was a kid, I had to walk several miles to a library uphill both ways in several feet of snow just to get one book...but now all you have to do is strain your fingers for a few mouse clicks to get hundreds of pages of information. Check some of these out:
