Before looking at the evidences for Christianity, I think it pertinent to define certain terms, for a word may mean one thing to me, and another to you. So we will look at how I define Christianity, Atheism, Agnosticism and a Worldview.
Defining Christianity
In searching for whether Christianity is true, we should firstly have some idea of what Christianity is and what it isn’t. The Christianity I am investigating is the Christianity found in the bible, which is different to our colloquial use of the term. This can be clarified by first looking at what it isn’t.
Christianity Is Not
- Is not a group of people who attend a church building, though many do
- Is not a set of rules for living, though the bible provides us principles for living
- Is not a particular denomination, though there are Christians in various denominations
- Is not a particular ethnic group, e.g. Western civilisation
- Is not some rituals people follow to appease their conscience, though true Christianity will give us a clean conscience
- Is not a crutch for the weak, though it does provide help for the weak and the strong
- Is not a set of works that people do to earn salvation
You may have met, observed or read about some people who call themselves Christians, yet they have said or done things that have either hurt you, been hypocritical or have done things you think are strange. You must understand that some people who call themselves Christian may not necessarily be a true biblical Christian. Just because you go to McDonalds doesn’t make you a hamburger1, and just because someone goes to church, wears fancy robes or preaches from a pulpit, does not make them a biblical Christian. There are many atrocities done by people who claim to be doing it for God, but we need to assess if what they are doing is actually something the bible tells us to do. Also there are some genuine Christians who have been led astray by false teachers, and do some strange things that the bible does not endorse. So please do not presume Christianity is what you have seen in ‘that’ person you met who said they were a Christian.
Another point to note is that true Christians do not claim to be without sin; we recognise that we too are fallible people, who live in a sinful world.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” Matthew 7:21
References
- No Compromise by Melody Green https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/264896.No_Compromise
Christianity Is
Christianity refers to those who are followers of Jesus and his teachings. The term ‘Christian’ was first used during the first century at a place called Antioch. “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” Acts 11:26. Christian means ‘follower of Christ’.
Christians recognise that they are sinners who were condemned guilty before a holy God. A Christian knows he cannot do anything that would merit a right standing before God. However by God’s grace and mercy, he sent his son Jesus to take our punishment for sin. He died on a cross, was buried and was raised to life on the third day. Jesus death and resurrection was witnessed by many. These events were foretold us by God through his messengers (prophets) and written down for us in the bible. Christians hold that those who believe in what Jesus has already done for them, will gain a right standing before God and receive eternal life. Those who reject God’s free gift of salvation, remain condemned as guilty.
Christians love and serve God, and do good works out of love for him. Our good works are not done to earn salvation, rather they are done as an expression of our love for God, and our desire to reflect his character.
“Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared …” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
World View
A world view is a set of beliefs a person holds of reality. It is the filter through which each person interprets ideas, actions and life. It is our view of where we came from, where we are going after death, why we are here and how we should live. We all have our own set of presuppositions formulated through experiences in life, which affect our view of life, the universe and beyond. Each person’s worldview impacts how we perceive the world and why people act the way they do. These beliefs are wide ranging around the globe.
I aim to provide positive evidence for the Christian worldview being the correct lens through which we should view everything.
Foundational to the Christian worldview is that there is a God, truth exists and truth is knowable by man. I will examine these foundational beliefs and in doing so will compare the Christian worldview with the Atheistic worldview. We will look at which worldview is better supported by science and the reality around us.
“One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25
References
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/world-view
https://www.bethinking.org/worldviews/what-is-a-worldview
Atheism, Naturalism, Materialism and Agnosticism
Atheism is a disbelief or lack of belief in a God(s). A purely atheistic worldview attempts to explain everything in the world through naturalistic means. I view naturalism and materialism as synonyms of atheism. The atheistic view excludes the existence of God completely, but everything is presupposed to have a naturalistic explanation. Note, that by materialism, I am not referring to ‘a desire for things’, rather I mean materialism is a belief that everything is explained by natural causes, and the supernatural does not exist.
An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists or not. An agnostic can lean in favour of a God (Agnostic Theist) or no God (Agnostic Atheist), but assert they don’t really know or they believe it is unknowable.
If I can provide evidence for the claims of Christianity being true, then it holds that reasonable Atheists and Agnostics should reject Atheism/Agnosticism and accept the Christian claims. Providing evidence for the existence of God also is the starting point for providing positive evidence for the claims of biblical Christianity, which affirms the existence of God.
“Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding.” Proverbs 2:2
References
https://www.rzim.org/read/a-slice-of-infinity/defining-atheism
One Man Sharpens Another 
“You may have met, observed or read about some people who call themselves Christians, yet they have said or done things that have either hurt you, been hypocritical or have done things you think are strange. You must understand that some people who call themselves Christian may not necessarily be a true biblical Christian.”
Every Christian tries to claim that their and only their version is the right one, the only “biblical” one. However they all disagree on what their god wants, how to be baptized, how to be “born again”, what heaven and hell are, what parts of the bible to take as literal or metaphor or to just ignore since they are inconvenient. They also disagree on the ways supposed events in the bible happened, e.g. the Noah flood, the exodus, etc.
Unsurprisingly, none of you can show that you are a baptized believer in Christ as savior since none of you can do what the bible promises you can do. Mark 16, John 14 and James 5.
“If I can provide evidence for the claims of Christianity being true, then it holds that reasonable Atheists and Agnostics should reject Atheism/Agnosticism and accept the Christian claims. ”
I’m waiting. I would remind you that theists often use the same arguments for their various gods. You might want to consider what you declare as “evidence” by considering if someone else with a different god could use that same argument too.
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Yes there does appear to be a large variety of beliefs. 10 people sat in a room and discussed how a computer worked, there was some agreement, but also some disagreement in their discussions. But neither their agreement nor disagreement negated the fact that they had a working computer in the room, nor did it disprove that the computer had a designer. Likewise, Christians may agree and disagree on some points of doctrine, but that does not mean Christianity is not true, nor does it disprove that the Chrisitian God is their creator. I do not claim to ‘know it all’, only God does. I do not claim to live a perfect life, only God does. So before going through the evidences for christianity, in my coming posts, I thought it prudent that I define what I mean by Christianity.
I hope my coming posts will provide the evidence you are looking for.
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The problem with your attempt at an analogy is that there is a computer sitting there, and no people don’t disagree on how a computer works. My husband is an IT guy and he just had to laugh at your nonsense.
Christians have no god in the room *and* they disagree on the most basic things about their religion. None of you can show that your version is the true one. A IT person can show that computers work one way and only one way.
No, you don’t claim to know it all, but you claim to know everything about your god when its convenient, like every other theist. It is only when problems are pointed out with your religion when you suddenly have to claim how mysterious this god is.
Every Christian defines Christianity per their own hates and desires. That you can’t even agree on a definition is rather telling.
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