Young Why Mike's Not A Christian

Honest Questions About Evolution, Relativism, Hypocrisy, and More.
1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60822-129-5
Verlag: Creality Publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 158 Seiten

Why Mike's Not A Christian offers reasoned responses to the most common challenges to the Christian faith.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Young, Ben

Leseproben

Mike Grills Josh One Sunday afternoon Josh went to his favorite barbecue restaurant to eat what he considered one of the best brisket sandwiches on earth—the most tender meat covered in sumptuous sauce on a toasted bun with pickles, white onion, and loads of jalapeños. Even more appealing was the price—at $4.50 a pop, a great sandwich turns divine. So in he walked, Tums in tow. Just as he made it to the counter he heard a familiar voice over his shoulder, “Hey, it’s ‘Josh,’ right?” the voice asked. Josh turned around and tried his best to conceal his disappointment. “Yes, how are you, Mike?” He’d been looking forward to an afternoon of anonymity, a time just to relax and not talk much, especially not to people from work. “Oh, fine. How’s that report coming along?” Mike asked. “Almost done. What about yours?” Josh said, stifling a sigh. Mike thought a second and then said with a chuckle, “It’s the weekend—what am I doing talking about work?” In relief, Josh let out that sigh he had stifled. Maybe this won’t be so bad, he thought. Let’s take a look at their conversation and see why heartburn ended up being the least of Josh’s worries that day: Mike: So why are you all dressed up on the weekend? Josh: I went to church this morning. Mike: Church? I didn’t know you were religious. Josh: Yeah, I’ve been a Christian for a long, long time. Mike: Interesting. So I had no idea you were a Bible-thumper. [He chuckles.] Josh: Well, I’m not … I mean … I’m not into pushing my beliefs on others. Mike: Good for you, man! I get so tired of those folks who feel the need to convert everybody. I think it just shows weakness on their part. People need to keep their religious views to themselves, don’t you think? Josh: Well, I’m not sure about that. Mike: It just seems like they’re afraid to stand alone—almost like they need affirmation for what they believe. We all have our own individual beliefs. What’s true and right for one person isn’t necessarily true for the next. Josh: Hmm. So what do you believe? Mike: I personally believe that if you are a good person, you’re going to be all right, whatever your idea of “all right” is. We’re all here just trying to do our best, you know? To me, it shouldn’t matter what path you take. None of us really knows what the truth is anyway. And if there really is a God I can’t imagine he would condemn people for not believing one particular way. That just wouldn’t be fair. It makes me so mad when these self-righteous Christians claim they’re the only ones going to “heaven.” You say you’re a Christian—do you really believe Jesus Christ is the only way to God? Josh: Yes, I do. Mike: So you would condemn all the Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and the rest of the moral population just because they don’t see Jesus as the Son of God? Josh: Well, yes. All those other religions are false. Mike: So, bottom line, if I don’t believe in all this Jesus stuff, then God, if he even exists, is going to send me to hell? Josh: If that’s the way you want to put it, yes. Mike: Actually, that’s the way you put it with your narrow-minded view. I suppose now you’re trying to convert me … to rescue me from going to hell? Josh: Well, maybe. Mike: Ha! I thought you said you weren’t into that sort of thing? Josh: What sort of thing? Mike: At the beginning of this discussion you said you weren’t into pushing your beliefs on others, and now look what you’re doing. It shouldn’t surprise me—I’ve yet to meet a Christian who wasn’t a hypocrite. Josh: Now wait a minute. That’s not fair, Mike— Mike: What do you mean, “not fair”? I don’t think it’s fair when you Christians say the rest of us are wrong just because we don’t believe what you believe. How can you be so arrogant as to claim that your way is the only way? Josh: I just feel that what I believe is the truth, and I’ve put my faith in what the Bible says. Mike: The Bible? I can’t give credibility to a work that’s been passed around and undoubtedly embellished through the years. Josh: Well, that’s your decision. Mike: Look, Josh, any educated person knows that the Bible isn’t really true. Evolution proved that a long time ago. I’ve read my fair share of the Bible, and, sure, we can glean a modicum of wisdom from its tales and proverbs—just like any other ancient writing—but do you honestly think that all that stuff really happened? The Bible is basically a bunch of myths. Take Jesus walking on the water. You’ve got to be kidding me! Josh: First of all, I don’t care what scientists say about evolution. Science has been an enemy of Christianity from the get-go. Mike: Ha! Josh: And second, Jesus really did walk on water. Haven’t you ever heard of a miracle? Mike: Miracles like that don’t happen these days, and if they don’t happen now, why would they have happened then? Josh: People are miraculously healed of all sorts of diseases all the time. Mike: They just got lucky in my opinion. What about all the people who don’t get healed—people who’ve got entire churches praying for them? Why wouldn’t God heal them? That seems so arbitrary. Josh: God is in control, and we have to be happy with whatever he chooses to do. Mike: “God is in control,” huh? Let me ask you, where was God on September 11th? If he was really in control, why would he have allowed something like that to happen? Josh: I don’t know, but I do feel there was a reason for it. Mike: There you go with your feelings, again. How can you rest your whole belief system on your subjective feelings, Josh? I feel that the world is flat. How do you feel about that? Josh: Everyone knows the world is not flat. That’s been proven wrong. Mike: Proven by whom, those “enemy” scientists? Josh: Come on, Mike, you know what I mean. Mike: No, I don’t know, and that’s what really irks me. Josh, you are a bright guy and a hard worker. I just can’t figure out why you would believe all this mess when you know rationally that it’s not true. Why do so many Christians feel the need to park their brains every time they go to church or open the Bible? I just don’t get it. Josh: You see, Mike, that’s your problem. It takes faith. Sure all those questions about evolution, miracles, the Bible, and other people’s religions bother me at times. So what? All those skeptics and doubters are wrong. Mike: Prove it! Josh: I can’t prove it. I just know what I believe, and that’s good enough for me. Mike: I just can’t believe in something that doesn’t make sense rationally. Take Jesus, for instance. How could a man—a man like you and me—actually be God? Josh: Well, don’t you think Jesus was wise and moral, like God would be? Mike: Yeah, Jesus was a good man, a great moral teacher—but God in the flesh? I just can’t buy that. Josh: Again, Mike, it just takes faith. Mike: We live in a modern age with iPhones, satellite TV, and military drones—and how smart people like you can take this archaic blind leap of faith is beyond me. Speaking of...