|
 “Evidence
That Demands A Verdict” is a compilation of historical
evidences for the “Christian Faith,” by Josh McDowell.
(Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc.; 1972.) McDowell’s comments
are flavored with evangelical concepts of the Holy Spirit, but
he is reasonable, and presents material that is usable and
appealing. We give an example, from his introduction.
**********************
The
rejection of Christ is usually not so much of the “mind” but
of the “will”; not so much “I can’t,” but “I won’t.”
I have met many men with intellectual excuses but few with
intellectual problems...
Excuses
can cover a multitude of reasons. I greatly respect a man who
has taken time to investigate the claims of Christ and concludes
he just can’t believe. I have a rapport with a man who knows
why he doesn’t believe (factually and historically) for I know
why I believe (factually and historically). This gives us a
common ground (though different conclusions). I have found that
most students reject Christ for one or more reasons: 1)
Ignorance — Rom. 1:18-23 (often self-imposed); 2) Pride —Jn.
5:40-44; 3) Moral problem — Jn. 3:19-20.
I
was counseling a student who was fed up with Christianity
because she believed it was not historical and there was just
nothing to it factually. She had convinced everyone that she had
searched and found profound intellectual problems as the result
of her university studies. One after another would try to
persuade her intellectually and to answer her many accusations.
I listened
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and” then asked several questions. Within 30
minutes she admitted she had fooled everyone and that she
developed these intellectual doubts in order to excuse her moral
life. One needs to answer the basic problem or real question and
not the surface detour that often manifests itself.
A
student in a New England university said he had an intellectual
problem with Christianity and just could not therefore accept
Christ as Savior. “Why can’t you believe?” I asked. He
replied, “The New Testament is not reliable.” I then asked,
“If I prove to you that the New Testament is one of the most
reliable pieces of literature of antiquity, will you believe?”
He retorted, “NO!” “You don’t have a problem with your
mind, but with your will,” I answered
Aldous
Huxley, the atheist,... admits his own bias (Ends and Means, pp.
270 ff) when he says that: “I had motives for not wanting the
world to have meaning; consequently assumed that it had none,
and was able without any difficulty to find satisfying reasons
for this assumption. The philosopher who finds no meaning in the
world is not concerned exclusively with a problem in pure
metaphysics, he is also concerned to prove that there is no
valid reason why he personally should not do as he wants to do,
or why his friends should not seize political power and govern
in the way that they find most advantageous to themselves....
For myself, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an
instrument of liberation, sexual and political.
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