Introduction
Introduction
DON’T SKIP THESE FIRST PAGES!! This information will help you as you work on the book. First, read the following excerpt from a speech by Josh McDowell printed in the Christian Post in 2010:
The faith of most Christians, even that of many pastors, will not stand up to intellectual scrutiny, according to renowned apologist Josh McDowell. He has asked hundreds of Christians and leaders why they see themselves as Christians. No one gave him an "intelligent" answer. He has asked over 4,000 pastors, leaders and parents why they believe the Bible is true. A mere six “came close to giving an intelligent answer,” McDowell noted.
Ninety-five percent of Christians gave disappointing responses when asked why they believe Jesus is the Son of God. Asked why the Bible is true and historically reliable, Christians replied that it was what they had been taught by their church or parents. A common response that most Christians gave to both questions was that it is “what I believe.” McDowell responded: “That’s voodoo thinking. Where did we ever get that crazy idea that something is true just because we believe it? “If that is true, then there will never be heresy. Everybody would be right.”
On one occasion, 13 youth pastors at a large convention were unable to reasonably answer his question. Finally one young person stood up, walked toward him and told him he knew the answer. The young man promptly held up his Bible and said, “Because I believe it.” And to McDowell’s dismay, all the youth pastors applauded him. McDowell said, “Young man, do you know the difference between you, me and the majority of Christians in the world? “To you, it is true because you believe it. For me, I believe it because it is true.”
Another response the apologist received was: Because I have faith. He commented, “Where did we ever get the crazy idea that faith makes something true? That’s idiotic. “God doesn’t use faith to create truth. He uses truth through the Holy Spirit to create faith.”
Christians, the apologist stressed, are called to explain their faith when asked. They are set free by the faith in the truth. Yet others say Christianity is true because Jesus changed their lives. Even this will not stand up to scrutiny, McDowell argued. “Lies change lives; cults change lives,” he said. McDowell concludes: “We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our children, we owe it to our neighbors, we owe it to the lost, to tell them not just what we believe but why do we believe it.”
Does the indictment above describe your level of confidence in what you believe about your faith? Have you found yourself backing down in a discussion when issues of faith are mentioned? Do you hear or read things and wonder if they represent truth in the Bible? Do you ever defend your beliefs with the words “I think it is in the Bible somewhere…” or “Let’s get the pastor to answer these questions…”?
This book offers a biblical explanation for the basics of what a Believer should know about his faith. If you read and answer the questions in each chapter, you should be able to answer and defend the essential questions of what Christians believe.
You may not agree with everything you read in this book. You may be tempted to put it down when you learn something that is different from what you have been taught. Let me encourage you to complete the chapters. Where you disagree, find a biblical reason for your perspective that does not violate the basic principles of reading Scripture. Don’t hold on to your beliefs because you learned them in church or from family members or because they make “sense” to you. Hold on to them because the Bible teaches them! On some of the more controversial issues, this book will explain some of the views in question and try to demonstrate why people believe them. In each case, you will learn what the Bible teaches and why, then you can draw your own conclusion. Unlike many attempts to teach doctrine today, this book tells it like it is.
These are the same basic subjects taught in Bible Colleges and Seminaries all over the world, but the information is directed at the Believer who simply wants to know what the Bible teaches about some very essential issues of life. If you decide that you want to go into any of these topics in greater depth, visit the Want to Go Deeper? section for current recommendations and additional study resources, or get suggestions from your Pastor. For those who complete the book, you will be included in that small number of Believers that Josh McDowell found who could answer his basic questions. If you want to be sure, then take the evaluation at the end. Don’t think of it as a test – tests have a way of frightening people into uncertainty. Think of it as a way to prove to yourself that your efforts have paid off! Most people who have taken this course share that they did much better on the evaluation than they thought they would, and many even enjoyed it! Know that by working diligently on this course, you will fulfill the command in 1 Peter 3:15 to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
You will start with the Scriptures, because the basis for everything you will learn is in the proper method for reading and understanding the Bible. From there, you will build on your understanding by studying topics that cover every important aspect of life.
When you read a question in the chapter, take the time to answer it in writing. Some of these questions will seem very simple and will ask you to recall something you just read. There is a method in this process that is time tested, so please answer the questions as you go. Answers to the questions are listed at the end of the book.
An excellent companion resource to this course is Mindful of the Truth, developed by nationally known Bible teacher, speaker and radio personality Dr. Dan Hayden. It is one of the best Scripture memorization tools available, and you can use it on your own. The most effective way to use this book is to combine it with a regular program of Scripture memorization. Either select a book and begin memorizing from the beginning using Dan’s technique (1 John or James is a great start) or select a series of Scripture verses you like.
Also, it will be helpful for you to have a Bible as you work through this book. You will learn the strengths and weaknesses of various kinds of Bibles in the chapter on the Scriptures, so if you do not already have a good Bible, you can wait until you complete that chapter, then make an investment that will last a lifetime and purchase a very good Bible.
Finally, thank you for entering into this training. In addition to the blessing you will receive by going deeper into God’s Word, you will feel the amazing power that comes with fully understanding why you believe the things you do. It will give you a confidence that you only imagined and equip you for all aspects of your life. It may also do one more thing. It may create a hunger to continue studying God’s Word to build on your understanding that will lead you into a life-long love of God and Scripture.