Sermon, 2/6/22 Why ChristianityHas anyone you know ever asked you. So why Christianity? Or what makes christianity true? This sort of question can often catch us off guard, and in the moment we try to answer in such a way that is simple, but also impactful. We want to make sure we answer right, for our own witness but also so that maybe we could convince the person asking the question. But this sort of question does not provide a short and simple answer. Instead if anyone ever asks you that question you should first respond with, “Well, how much time do you have because that is not a question that can be answered in short order” The second response may be a more difficult one, so oftentimes the best way to respond back is, “well why don't you believe christianity to be true?” This sort of question will allow the other person to be engaged with you and allow them to be open about their ideas while revealing to you exactly what it is they think and how you can best answer the original question. “Why Christianity” After all that's a hard question to answer because it elicits multiple responses, and not all of those responses are relative to the person asking the question. We need pinpoint precision here. And the best way to get that is to turn it around and ask them back, why don't you believe christianity to be true? This follow up always allows you to gauge where the person is on their journey to find Christ. The thing to remember here is you are not trying to save this person in this conversation. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SAVE EVERYONE YOU TALK TO ABOUT GOD. In fact you shouldn't be trying to. Instead it is our job as evangelicals to plant the seed, and let God water it. Maybe eventually you do bring them to Christ, but its a process, and you must be patient and in prayer asking God for guidance. Once we have a response we can move forward with an answer. Some times that response elicits a simple and quick answer, but more often you will need to sit down and explain it in detail. So what are some common questions we may receive as followers of God and what could be the responses we give? Bullet points:What makes christianity true over other religions?Why do we need to be savedWhat does it mean to be savedOpening statements:We have a world of information at our fingertips with the internet and things like google Today's non believers are closer to 0 than they are 10 (explain the level of belief)Society today, people are higher educated, in one way they are open to learning, but shut off from things that seem to be unexplainable (bring up joe rogan and breaking of bread as an example).People seem to need more proof today, almost a science like explanation. Apologetics helps with non-believers such as that, but what about people who are more agnostic? We encounter this quite often, not so much people who are atheist but maybe theistic that aren't necessarily rooted in any one religion. Or simply put, people who just don't know what to believe. One of the biggest questions we face is:“What makes christianity true over other religions”Oh how much time do you have? This is probably the question that often requires the longest response, take your time with this one. Generally we hear “what makes christianity true? Aren't all religions the same anyway?” While it's true that Religions have superficial similarities, they have essential differences. They differ on the nature of God, the nature of man, sin, salvation, heaven, hell and creation. While religion is about people working their way to God, Christianity is God working his way to people. For instance Jesus teaches us that we are to have a personal relationship with GodJohn Chapter 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus christ whom you have sent”in the Muslim faith it is blasphemy to claim to have or want a relationship with Allah as he is unknowable, even in the afterlife you will never know Allah. (How can your creator not know you or you not know him?)Jesus taught us that God is our father, but in islam its blasphemy to call alah your father. Jesus taught us that we are made in the image of God, In islam Alah has no image and thus can not be made in his image. And since I am on the topic of the Muslim religion, some key differences between our savior Jesus Christ and the muslims profit Muhammad: Jesus never killed anyone, Muhammad killed over 3000 peopleJesus never led armies, Muhammad led armies, and conquered land. Jesus never owned slaves. Muhammad owned slavesJesus never married, Muhammad had 11-22 wives including his favorite a 9 year old. Jesus never lied, Muhammad permits lying Jesus never forced anyone to believe or follow him, Muhammad killed those would not follow him. Jesus never permitted rape, Muhammad did. Jesus Conquered death, by the resurrection. Muhammad, he just died, in-fact he was actually poisoned by one of his ...
