Christianity true or false
Over the years there have been many who have come against the New Testament and it’s accuracy. Most of those who conclude that Jesus is a myth or that he was not who he said he was were frankly at the very least mistaken or never really wanted to find the truth.
Two very well educated men who looked at the Bible were Sir William Ramsay and Clive Staples Lewis, commonly known as C. S. Lewis
Sir William Ramsay was one of the greatest archaeologist of the 19th century Ramsay began as a liberal, believing Luke to be a second century production with no validity. He spent fifteen years attempting to undermine Luke’s credentials as an historian. In the end he concluded
"Luke is a historian of the first rank . . . This author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians. "
Ramsay was so convinced of Luke’s accuracy and truth that he became an Evangelist and apologist.
It can never be said of Ramsay that he was not and objective scholar as he was one of the greatest Archeologist of his day.
C. S. Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), was a novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, and Christian apologist. Born in Belfast, Ireland, he held academic positions at both Oxford University (Magdalen College), 1925–54, and Cambridge University (Magdalene College), 1954–63.
Lewis was baptised in the Church of Ireland but fell away from his faith during his adolescence years.
Due to the influence of his friend R. R. Tolkien and other friends he studied the scriptures and returned to his faith.
Lewis made this observation about Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
He made another interesting statement he said,
‘Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
Christianity was born in controversy and persecution.
The New Testament in the book of Acts records that two of Christ’s disciples were preaching about Jesus. They were arrested and brought before the religious leaders of their day. The leaders wanted them executed.
One wise man among them a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law. A man well respected said,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:38,39
Christianity has survived it’s critics and persecutors now for over two thousand years. It is estimated that 2.2 billion people in the world are Christian and growing.
I am convinced that Christ is all he and his disciples say he is. The choice however comes down to you the individual.
C. S. Lewis leave us with an excellent question. Is Jesus
“a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.
Please think about it.
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