Q&A:
Christianity
The Bible tells us to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15) Andy and I are not theologians, but we love His Word. We trust that He will lead us as we seek answers from His Word.
Question 1: How are we (as a world) to be expected to believe in a god if he cannot provide real evidence to show that he exists? I've heard a lot of responses to this question such as, "His work is all around you, the earth, the animals and inside you etc..." and " You cannot see the air yet you know that it exists." But that last one is just plain stupid and I can find better answers from science to show for what our world is today and why it is so.
Question 2: Why is it that you always refer to the Bible whenever someone has a point? You don't KNOW if it's true. But you say it's the only trustworthy standard. How is it?
Answer: You both ask great questions, but it will take some time to answer. We hope to gradually prepare a list of facts and resources that will validate the historical veracity of the Bible.
To start, read Is He risen? It provides a summary showing the evidence for the actual resurrection of Jesus.
Here are a few links to other answers:
‘How can we know there’s a God?’
How many types of animals did Noah need to take?Was the ark large enough to hold all the required animals?
Fuzzy feathers and walking whales (Reasons to be skeptical of the sceptics)
Question: I am curious to get your opinion on something. Are you familiar with the debate among some Christians as to---Fundamentalist vs Modernism vs New Evangelism? Of course I understand fully not wanting to be a modernist, however I am curious your opinion on New Evangelism. SEE http://whidbey.net/~dcloud/fbns/fundamen1.htm
In some of your writing (or maybe it was a link) about the newer community churches I see some of the same concerns as explained at this website? If you have not been there, it could be useful to you perhaps. The writer feels that even Billy Graham and Franklin Graham have gone too far trying to accommodate Catholics and others and are leaning perhaps too far toward ecumenism?
Please see the answer below.
Question: Do you have any concerns about "New Evangelism" as to perhaps going to far toward an ecumenical orientation?
Answer: Yes, I share your concern, Jeff. Here is statement from a series of four articles by David Cloud titled, FUNDAMENTALISM, MODERNISM, AND NEW-EVANGELICALISM:
The term "New Evangelicalism" defined a new type of Evangelicalism to distinguish it from those who had heretofore born that label. Thus, in the very label is the witness to the fact that Evangelicalism of old, regardless of any weaknesses, was biblically dogmatic and militant. The term "New Evangelicalism" was possibly coined by the late Harold Ockenga (1905-1985), probably the most influential Evangelical leader of the 1940s. He was the pastor of Park Street Church (Congregational) in Boston, founder of the National Association of Evangelicals, co-founder and one-time president of Fuller Theological Seminary, first president of the World Evangelical Fellowship, president of Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a director of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and chairman of the board and one-time editor of Christianity Today. In the foreword to Dr. Harold Lindsell’s book The Battle for the Bible, Ockenga stated the position of New Evangelicalism:
"Neo-evangelicalism was born in 1948 in connection with a convocation address which I gave in the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena. While reaffirming the theological view of fundamentalism, this address repudiated its ecclesiology and its social theory. The ringing call for a repudiation of separatism and the summons to social involvement received a hearty response from many Evangelicals. ... It differed from fundamentalism in its repudiation of separatism and its determination to engage itself in the theological dialogue of the day. It had a new emphasis upon the application of the gospel to the sociological, political, and economic areas of life."
I suggest you read all four parts. Not only do they explain New Evangelicalism, they also provide a great understanding in the recent church history, the nature of man, and the threats to Biblical faith. I so appreciate your question.