Posts Tagged ‘apologetics’
Many Convincing Proofs
by David Gibson Is it just wishful thinking—the belief that Jesus did indeed rise bodily from the dead? Or is there good, solid evidence for it? Luke says of the apostles, “To these He presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days …” (Acts…
Read MoreHow Would You Answer?
by David Gibson A friend asked how I would respond if someone said he did not believe the Bible is inspired. This is what I told him. If the person is open to the truth, I would first prove that Jesus rose from the dead. “Nothing is more crucial in the field of Christian evidences…
Read MoreExplanations for the Empty Tomb
by Kenny Chumbley via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 3, September 1995 Paul’s belief in the resurrection, shared by early Christianity, was absolute and categorical; nevertheless, the apostle’s exuberant faith has not been universally shared, and a literal resurrection of Jesus’ body has been denied not only by non-Christians but also by liberal theology. The opposition…
Read MoreDo Warring Factions Mean Christianity Is False?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Do-Warring-Factions-Mean-Christianity-Is-False.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Corinthians 11:17-22 I. You hear all sorts of excuses when you attempt to talk to others about Christianity. A. “Well, I can’t take that Christian stuff seriously. You folk are all suppose to worship the same god, love your neighbor, and things like that, yet look at…
Read MoreThe Apologetic Value of Prophecy
by Kenny Chumbley “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). According to Paul, prophecy—the ability to call things which are not, as though they were—is…
Read MoreWhat They Want Me to Believe
by James D. Bale via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 3, September 1995 I know that I am a dependent being who has not existed forever. I was born to mighty fine parents. They, too, had parents, and so on ad infinitum. Since each of us was dependent, it was obvious that there could not be…
Read MoreAtheists Ask About Murder
by Perry Hall Atheists pose this supposed conundrum: “Did God condemn murder because it is wrong?” Or “Is murder wrong because God condemns it?” This is the horns of the dilemma atheists are hoping Christians will be gored upon by selecting either choice. A philosophy of mine is, when offered two inadequate choices, don’t let…
Read MoreDon’t you know that the language of God is understandable to those needing to understand?
Question: [I left this one unedited since the author believes he is being led by the Spirit.] I don’t know who you’ve met, what you’ve read, or who you’ve talked to. But what I do know is that the blood is dripping from your hands and all that you led astray you will have to…
Read MoreA Case for God from His Goodness
by Ken Marrs via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 4, December 1994 The existence of God can be proven in a number of ways. For instance: Teleologically (the design of the universe demands a designer) Cosmologically (nothing can come from nothing, everything must have an antecedent clause) Mathematically (if being mathematically impossible to have all elements…
Read MoreThe Moment Scientists Couldn’t Deny the Universe Had a Beginning
by Buddy Payne via InLight Media Is the universe eternal, or did it have a beginning? This is one area where scientists used to disagree with the Bible — until they realized they were wrong. In this video, Buddy Payne walks us through how scientific evidence in the 20th century—specifically astronomical evidence—changed how scientists think…
Read MoreThe “Genocide” Accusation Against the Bible—And Why It Fails
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. Every semester, thousands of college students sit in classrooms where the Bible is ridiculed or reduced to a caricature. One of the most common accusations they hear is this: “If God is real, why did He command genocide?” For many young Christians, that question lands like a punch to the gut.…
Read MoreScience Can’t Rule Out God
by Buddy Payne via InLight Media Has science really proved that God does not exist? Many people assume modern science has made belief in God obsolete—but is that actually true? In this video, Buddy Payne examines the limits of the scientific method and asks an important question: Can science prove that God does—or does not—exist?…
Read MoreDivine Hiddenness—an Answer to the Skeptics
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. It’s an issue most parents have wrestled with—even if they’ve never heard the formal term for it: Divine Hiddenness. At its core, the argument asks a simple but emotionally powerful question: If God truly exists, why doesn’t He make Himself unmistakably obvious? Those who raise this objection contend that if God…
Read MoreWho Created God? (Hall)
by Perry Hall In “The God Delusion”, Richard Dawkins asks the question, “Who created God?” This is a favorite “gotcha” question of atheists. This is ironic because atheists often believe in abiogenesis, the scientific theory that life originated from non-living matter through natural chemical processes. I say ironic because theists can simply return the volley…
Read MoreCan God Be Charged with Murder?
by Terry Wane Benton with the help of Copilot The biblical answer is “No,” and Scripture gives multiple reasons why. The Bible consistently teaches that God cannot be guilty of murder, because murder is the unlawful taking of life, and God, as the Creator and Judge of all life, has the absolute right to give…
Read MoreThe Charge that the Bible Promotes Misogyny
by Terry Wane Benton based on output from Copilot How do Bible-believing educators answer the charge that the Bible is misogynistic? Here’s a clear, thoughtful way Bible‑believing educators typically answer the charge that “the Bible is misogynistic.” Start with Definitions and Expectations Before answering, educators clarify what people mean by “misogynistic.” Most critics mean one…
Read MoreHow We Know Plato Was a Real Historical Person
by Terry Wane Benton Multiple ancient writers refer to Plato as a real person Plato is mentioned by numerous ancient authors—some who knew him personally, others who lived shortly after him. These include: Aristotle, his student, who repeatedly and critically refers to Plato in his own works. Xenophon, a contemporary of Socrates, whose writings align…
Read MoreThe Cause
by Terry Wane Benton If something is not eternal, then it must have come into existence at some point in time. The universe came into existence at a point in time. Modern scientists call it the “big bang.” Thus, the universe is not eternal, but came into existence at a point in time. Now, what…
Read MoreAre atrocities committed reason to reject Christ?
by Kenny Chumbley via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 2, June 1994 Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 3, September 1994 Question: How do we answer the atheist who cites the crimes and atrocities committed in the name of Christ as an argument against believing in Christ? Answer: We do not deny that a Christian can engage…
Read MoreWhat Unbelievers Believe
by Kenny Chumbley via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 2, June 1994 Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 3, September 1994 Atheists like to portray Christianity as the non-thinking man’s sugar stick. They, we are told, are guided by reason and logic, whereas believers hold to antiquated religious superstitions that have been scientifically debunked. Nothing, however, could…
Read MoreScience Still Can’t Rule God Out
by Buddy Payne via InLight Media Has science really proved that God does not exist? Many people assume modern science has made belief in God obsolete—but is that actually true? In this video, Buddy Payne examines the limits of the scientific method and asks an important question: Can science prove that God does—or does not—exist?…
Read MoreIs Religion Purely the Product of Social Conditioning?
by Shane Scott via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 6 No. 1, January 2026 If you have been following the current series of articles I have been writing, you know that I am responding to some common objections raised against Christianity by unbelievers. There was a time when this sort of study (called apologetics) was a small niche…
Read MoreWhere Did We Come From?
by Dale Smelser via InLight Media Where did we come from—a Creator or a cosmic accident? In this video, Scott Smelser explores three simple, self-evident facts about origins. These everyday observations—supported by Romans 1:20—show that God’s power and divine nature are clearly seen in creation. From fingerprints to hummingbirds to the complexity of life itself,…
Read MoreIs Jesus a Fictional Character? Then So Is History Itself
by Terry Wane Benton People say, “Jesus was a made-up story for control.” Yet the same people believe Napoleon fought wars, Socrates taught philosophy, and Alexander conquered nations – all without demanding proof. So, let’s compare the evidence: Historical Double Standard Socrates never wrote a single word. Everything we know comes from Plato, written decades…
Read MoreDid Christianity Steal from Pagan Religions?
by Erik Borlaug Did Christianity steal its ideas from pagan religions? Skeptics often claim that the story of Jesus—His virgin birth, His miracles, even His resurrection—was borrowed from earlier myths about “dying and rising gods.” But is that really true? In this video, Erik Borlaug examines the claim that Christianity is merely a copycat religion.…
Read MoreCollege Campus Topics
by Perry Hall Being All-Powerful Is an Impossibility “Being all-powerful is an impossibility. For example, can God create a rock so large he cannot lift it?” This question was asked on the college campus. I responded that this is a self-contradictory question and does not follow the laws of logic. Let me explain (I will…
Read MoreThe Bible Alone Is the Word of God
by Terry Wane Benton No other book is equal to the Bible. Neither the Quran nor the Book of Mormon equals the Bible in the marks or proofs of divine origin. What convinces me that the Bible alone is God’s Word? In summary, I would appeal to three areas: It claims to be the word…
Read MoreExternal Evidence of Jesus’ Miracles
by Terry Wane Benton Do secular and Jewish writings mention or explain the miracles and powers of Jesus? Secular and Jewish sources from antiquity do not mention or explain Jesus’ miracles in a manner that supports them. Still, they do provide external acknowledgment that he had a reputation as a miracle worker. These writings, however,…
Read MoreGod’s Proof of His Existence
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Gods-Proof-of-His-Existence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Exodus 3:1-6 I. Perhaps you have heard statements to the effect that the Bible doesn’t try to prove that God exists. It simply assumes the existence of God. A. At the beginning of the Bible we read “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis…
Read MoreIs the Bible Full of Fables?
by Richard Blackford I was recently invited to join a website for Bible discussion. It didn’t take long to observe that its purpose was to bash the Bible, Christ, and Christianity. An accusation was made a few weeks ago that the Bible is composed of fables. My reaction to that is two-fold: This person is…
Read MoreIn Defense of the Apostle Paul
by Richard Blackford We have heard it said that Paul was not an authentic apostle. They say he injected his prejudices into his writing, that he was a misogynist and a homophobe. Others don’t care much for Paul because of his teaching on baptism. They also claim to be Christians, but they mainly just follow…
Read MoreGive the ‘Prince of Peace’ a Chance
by Richard Blackford While many herald, “Give peace a chance,” they get the cart before the horse. Any attempt at peace that omits the Prince of Peace is doomed to fail. Someone said, “It’s not that Christianity was tried and found difficult. It’s that it was found difficult and not tried.” Some know about Christianity,…
Read MoreIs God a Narcissist?
by Richard Blackford I participate periodically in discussions on a website that atheists run. The accusation has been made frequently that God is a narcissist. He is depicted as a self-centered tyrant absorbed in himself who wants everyone groveling at His feet and needs constant attention. I believe this is a misunderstanding. Some fail to…
Read MoreIn Defense of a Jealous God
by Richard Blackford Several times, the Bible states that God is a jealous God. One of those is in the Ten Commandments: “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image……Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:4-5). That conjures…
Read MoreMeme Makers Myth-informed
by Richard Blackford Meme makers are trying to discredit Jesus again. It’s difficult to find more falsehood in such a small space. This was making the rounds on social media during the holidays. One of the first things mentioned is Jesus’ “Birthday is celebrated on December 25th. ”But notice the title: “THE BIBLE. Not as…
Read MoreGod Seems so Mean!
by Zeke Flores One of the objections many have against God is that He seems so … mean. Indeed, throughout a reading of the major prophets, God has consistently warned about the catastrophic devastation He would bring not only upon His own people but also upon pagan nations. Again and again, He denounced their behavior,…
Read MoreAccusing God of Murder
by John N. Clayton Skeptics in the media constantly attack the Bible and the biblical concept of God. Writers in The New Yorker, The New Republic, and The Atlantic write as if they were authorities on the Bible while accusing God of murder and condemning Him as being immoral. Taking a Bible passage out of…
Read MoreIf the Bible Was Human in Origin
by Terry Wane Benton If God was just made up, and the records of the Israelites that gave us the Old Testament were totally made up by them, then they were not very smart. They predicted their own demise and their rejection of their Messiah, making themselves look ridiculous. Who makes up a story about…
Read MorePut Jesus on Trial
by Perry Hall When talking with atheists, I like to tell them to put Jesus on trial. How do we do this? Practical: Examine Jesus’s Teachings: What do you think of Jesus’s teachings? Are Jesus’s teachings indicative of a wise man, a conniver, or a lunatic? How do Jesus’s teachings compare to others? Is Jesus…
Read MoreAd Hominem Arguments
by Doy Moyer One of the most common logical fallacies is the ad hominem. It occurs when a person attacks the character of another rather than addressing the argument. There are many ways this happens, but one that I have seen several times is in questioning the honesty of one who differs. You don’t agree…
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