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Q: If pain & evil exist, then how can your God be good?

apologetics3One common argument against the existence of God is the ubiquitous presence of pain and evil in our world. Modern thinkers often conclude that horror and injustice make the existence of a loving, all-powerful God implausible.

Interestingly enough, it is the last two generations of Europeans and Americans, generations that have experienced a radical decrease in suffering, that have struggled the most with the problem of pain, much more so than previous generations that experienced much greater suffering in general.

In Apologetics for the Twenty-First Century, Louis Markos holds that the reason for this shift dates back to the eighteenth century writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who philosophized that humans were inherently good. Until then, people had accepted pain and suffering as a result of the inherently sinful nature of man. “Because we misunderstand—or refuse to accept—that we are fallen, we imagine that we ourselves (apart from God) can eradicate evil and suffering through state-funded public education, universal health care, and free-market capitalism…we are left angry and bitter when we do not get what we think we deserve,” Markos says in chapter 15.

“Because we misunderstand—

or refuse to accept—that we are fallen,

we imagine that we ourselves (apart from God)

can eradicate evil and suffering…”

Arguments have been made that if God is all-powerful and all-loving, that he would do anything he wants and eliminate suffering. The philosopher Alvin Plantigna refutes these claims by pointing out that God does not do irrational things, i.e. make a square a circle or simultaneously give and not give us free will in order to combat suffering. Many scenarios exist by which God demonstrates his love and power by using evil for good. In this way, God ensures our free will and shapes us into the people that he would have us be.

apologetics-for-the-21st-century2All other arguments aside, we see in the incarnation and crucifixion of Christ a God who suffers for us and with us. He experienced full suffering himself on our behalf and is therefore a God who can truly empathize with our pain. While God does not promise that we will not suffer, he does promise to be with us when we do.

Excerpt modified from chapter 15 of Apologetics for the 21st Century.

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October 21, 2010 | Posted in: Apologetics,Books,History and Biography,Social Issues,Suffering | Author: Crossway Staff @ 6:00 am | (2) Comments »

Posted in Apologetics, Books, History and Biography, Social Issues, Suffering | 2 Comments »

Prepared to Give a Reason for Your Faith

apologetics2The main task of an apologist, which on some level is every Christian, has been to defend the core doctrines of the faith both within and outside of the church. The key doctrines that are most often under attack are:

  • The Incarnation: Jesus was not just a good man or a prophet, but the Son of God, fully human and fully divine.
  • The Trinity: God, though One, exists eternally as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • Original Sin: We are all born with a sinful nature and exist in a state of rebellion against God and his law.
  • The Atonement: Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross brought us back into a right relationship with God the Father.
  • God as the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
  • The Bible as the authoritative Word of God.

From the beginning of Christianity, believers have had to field questions similar to these:

  • If God is all-loving and all-powerful, why are pain, suffering, and injustice in the world?
  • How can Christians believe in miracles when events like the parting of the Red Sea, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the virgin birth, and Jesus’ walking on water clearly violate the laws of nature?
  • How can a God of mercy condemn people to hell?
  • How do we know we can trust the accounts of Jesus’ life that are recorded in the Gospels?
  • Isn’t the story of a dying and rising God just a myth for ignorant pagans and modern children?
  • Isn’t religion just a crutch and wish fulfillment for people too weak to deal with reality?
  • Hasn’t science disproved Christianity and shown it to be false?
  • Hasn’t the church done more evil than good and inspired more hypocrisy than any other institution in history?

In the new book Apologetics for the Twenty-First Century, Louis Markos equips readers to address these questions and more, while giving readers a crash course in the apologetics of C.S. Lewis, GK Chesterton, Josh McDowell, Dorothy Sayers, and Francis Schaeffer.apologetics-for-the-21st-century1

Two More Tips for Apologists:

  • A good apologist not only answers questions, but addresses the anger, guilt, despair, and confusion that often lies behind the questions.
  • A good apologist does not treat belief systems as inherently false, but begins by establishing common ground (whether it’s monotheism or the nature of a problem that an ideology addresses).

Learn more about Apologetics for the Twenty-First Century or pick up your copy!

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October 20, 2010 | Posted in: Apologetics,Books | Author: Crossway Staff @ 6:00 am | 0 Comments »

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Apologetics for the Twenty-First Century

apologetics1

The notion that Christianity makes sense and also has the power to explain the truth about the nature of God, man, and the universe is largely out of sync with the ideology of the culture outside the church walls. That’s nothing new. Apologists have been defending and explaining the faith since the beginning of Christianity. However, in each age, a new generation is responsible for articulating our reason for the faith.

In Apologetics for the Twenty-First Century (October 2010), Louis Markos discusses the explosion of apologetics in response to secular Enlightenment modernism and lays out the groundwork for careful apologetics today.

He divides the book into two main parts:

  1. The Legacy of Lewis and Chesterton: Markos makes the case that C.S. Lewis was the biggest contributor to Christian apologetics in the 21st century. In these chapters, he crafts a survey of Lewis’ major apologetic works and arguments. He also explores the work of G.K. Chesterton, who’s work had a major influence on Lewis.
  2. Making the Case for Faith in a (post) Modern World: In the second half of the book, Markos addresses broader apologetic themes and arguments.apologetics-for-the-21st-century He examines apologetic arguments from logic, science, and regarding the problem of pain. He also reiterates the authority of scripture and explores the most recent developments in apologetics, including comparisons with those of other religions.

Readers will walk away from this book better able to articulate and defend Christianity in a world of competing views. Learn more about Apologetics for the Twenty-First Century.

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October 19, 2010 | Posted in: Apologetics,Books,Social Issues | Author: Crossway Staff @ 8:00 am | 0 Comments »

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Survey: We’d like to hear your questions on ministry and vocational calling

We’d like to invite you to take a quick survey to help inform the content of an upcoming project one of our authors is working on.  Please take a few minutes to share your questions about ministry and vocational calling at the link below.

Thanks for participating!

<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/s/ED7557DF685CAAE3″ mce_href=”http://polldaddy.com/s/ED7557DF685CAAE3″>View Survey</a>

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| Posted in: Survey,Vocation | Author: Crossway Staff @ 6:00 am | (2) Comments »

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Video Interview: Finding Meaning in Film

Movies are at the center of culture and in many ways are a medium for modern day philosophy. Author Grant Horner says that as Christians we can worship God in our leisure and entertainment, but we must practice discernment.

In the video below, the Full Circle Ladies at 100 Huntley chat with Grant Horner about his recent book, Meaning at the Movies.

  • What is it about the movies that keeps us coming back?
  • What is it about movies that actually teaches us to be human?
  • How can we think about movies deeply and theologically about film?
  • How can we worship God in leisure and entertainment while practicing discernment—and why is that important?

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October 18, 2010 | Posted in: Author,Books,Interviews,Pursuit of Holiness,Video | Author: Crossway Staff @ 9:59 am | 0 Comments »

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