Do you remember how it’s like when you’re the new guy? All the world’s a stage and all it’s players are somehow similar yet foreign. Well, on the first day of my semester, it was exactly like that.

I got into class on that very day and looked around before proceeding to sit down at the last few vacant seats. Not knowing anyone in the class, and being an outgoing person, I began to chat with the girl who sat at my left in hopes to make a new friend. You see, my goal when making new friends, besides just getting to know them, has always been to share Jesus with whomever I talk to.

As the conversation began to flow and we each opened up, I asked her if she went to church anywhere in the area. Candidly she said no, but that she grew up in a Christian family. Following that, she made what seemed to me a peculiar statement: “I do believe in God, but there’s more than one way to the ceiling. Right?”

I stretched back in my chair to analyze her statement. I realized that she was telling me that all religions are somehow equal, un-contradictory, and essentially lead to the same place. Unfortunately, she is not the only one who holds this false view. George Bernard Shaw, a famous Irish playwright, once said, “There is only one religion, though there are hundred of versions of it.”

Even more discouraging, among the evangelical believers in the United States, a Pew Research Center survey found that 57% believe that many religions can lead to eternal life (U.S. Religious Landscape Survey).
While the popular consensus may believe that many religious paths lead to one ultimate avenue, the truth of the matter is that Christianity is exclusive in terms of the biblical perspective that Jesus Christ is the only viable path to Heaven. In other words, though the masses may believe something of this nature to be true, “error does not become truth because it is widely accepted; [and] truth does not become error, even when it stands alone” (John MacArthur).

Simply explained, a true understanding of pluralism, or the ideal that all religions are essentially equal, boils down to contradictory falsehoods when it stands against biblical truth. In the strictest sense, religions have minor similarities, but in reality differ on the majors.

Take Christianity for example. In Isaiah 45:21, God says, “There is no God apart from Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but Me.” Jesus Himself also added in John 14:6, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” These are two pivotal and literal statements made by God that must be accepted by everyone; there is no room for negotiation. There is no other way to God, except through the acceptance of Christ’s gift of salvation.

However pluralism purports Christianity as a viable option, that is equal to other religions. But the Bible specifically states otherwise, thus forming a contradiction within the pluralistic belief system. Pluralism says all religions lead to eternal life, but Christianity says, only through Christ will one be given the gift of eternal life. When we observed and studied the various religions to the core, they are not merely differentiating, but contradictory from one another in their deepest beliefs. Two contradictory beliefs cannot both be true.

To exemplify this further, let’s say that you and I are stuck in a room made of lead and various metals, fortified so that there would be no points of exit except through the door we came in which is locked from the outside in. We try our best to escape. Then you provide me with the wildest idea, “Chaz, we should think really hard for a power-drill, a sledge hammer and a pile-driver. And just by thinking and using them systematically in our heads, we would be able to pry open the door. Or we could just imagine for a skeleton key that can open every single door in the world and I’m sure it will open that door.”

What a silly and illogical statement to make! No matter how hard we try or how hard we think, there is absolutely no way to break down that door unless someone opens it for us. Likewise, we need to realize Christ is the only way to heaven. No matter how long we may argue of the equality of religions, time will show that they just simply won’t open that door. Christ has to open that door for us and He has done that by His death and resurrection.

Christianity is exclusive to its core, and as we progress in this study, we will continue to build a perspective and gain the understanding as to why Christ is the only way to eternal life.

In a previous article that I wrote, A Ready Defense, I made mention that I felt I wasn’t really prepared to provide justified explanations for my faith if ever I was put to the test. Since then, I have taken on the challenge to understand many of the questions typically asked by atheists in order to deepen my faith, equip myself, and hopefully encourage you to do the same.

Since the beginning of this mission, I have received many thoughtful, considerate, and kind comments from readers. There have also been many intriguing questions raised by some who are likewise searching after the right answers. One such inquiry was on the topic of goodness and whether a person, based on merit alone, will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Well, let us look into the Bible to see what God says.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul wrote to the Church of Ephesus. And one of the main themes highlighted in the epistle is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ throughout the entire cosmos.

So it is included within the words of chapter two the answer to the inquiry above.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;
it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV, emphasis added)

It is as clear as daylight that the basis of our salvation is not in how well we perform but by grace alone. So this is probably what you are thinking: “Chaz, what about a good person who doesn’t believe in God, but lives by the Ten Commandments. Surely that should get him into heaven, right?”

Unashamedly, the answer is no. It is impossible to gain entrance to the kingdom of heaven by merely being a good person. The truth is that God’s standards demand perfection in everything.

Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (ESV). This verse makes it clear that no one is found without sin. This is than accentuated with the fact that everyone falls short of the glory of God.

Now, let us suppose we were to measure our lives against the Ten Commandments. Ask yourself honestly, have you broken any of them?

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness.
10. You shall not covet.

You may now be thinking: “Yeah, I have broken the Ten Commandments, but they’re impossible to follow 100% of the time.”

Exactly, they are impossible to follow at all. Thus, we are forced to recognize that we are not perfect beings; we are sinners. In a nutshell, sin is refusing to live our lives according to the way God expects us to and also not believing in Him.

Upon recognition of our own sinfulness, we know that it is impossible for a perfect God to dwell in the same place as us, imperfect man.

But the good news is that there is a hope for sinners like you and me and His name is Jesus Christ.

Jesus, God’s only Son, came to mend the broken relationship that sinful man have with a Holy God. He was crucified on the cross and on the third day rose again as it was prophesied. His death upon the dreadful cross provides a solution to the problem of sin and it promises eternal life with God in heaven.

What does it take then to receive this gift? Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (ESV).

This is the saving grace that has been shown to us through Christ; it has nothing to do with the works that we do by our own strength.

Consider for a moment the immense love Christ has for you and me, and we urge you who have yet to believe, to give your life to Jesus today.

Reading through the Old Testament can sometimes be challenging. It is especially so when God’s Law which is revealed in the Old Testament seems inapplicable or even outright insupportable to what we are taught in the New Testament. At first glance, we can mistakenly believe that the God of the Old Testament was full of wrath, anger, and vengeance whereas the God of the New Testament is the polar opposite; in that He is full of love, grace and mercy. Of course, this is a bewildering outlook to maintain, for the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament! He is unchangeable!

Many atheists, who generally do not know the truth, typically view the Old Testament and New Testament as contradictory, specifically in regards to the Law.

Often, an atheist will quote Matthew 5:17-18 where Jesus states, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Upon misinterpreting Jesus’ words, such atheists will proceed to bring up strict Old Testament laws that Christians do not follow today, such as the stoning of a rebellious son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21), and ask the question: “If you are a Christian, why is it that only certain biblical law is followed and not the seemingly strict Old Testament Law that your God had commanded you to do?”

The Law of the Old Testament was a part of God’s original covenant with the nation of Israel. The old covenant was broken by Israel, so in Jeremiah 31:31-33, God makes a promise that He will establish a new covenant: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah . . . I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.”

The new covenant does not give us the liberty to live apart from the Law, as it is still regarded as our standard for living. However, the Law has revealed that we do not measure up to the standard of holiness that God desires us to have. As we cannot attain perfection by our own strength and effort, Jesus Christ, our merciful Savior, was sent as the fulfillment and foundation of the new covenant. Moreover, it is through His strength and not our own, that we are able to follow God’s Law, which He has written upon our hearts. Jesus Christ’s death and His resurrection fulfilled the requirements of the Old Testament Law once and for all. He had fulfilled the old sacrificial requirements that once had to be followed to the letter and has established the new covenant based on God’s mercy.

Thus, in effect, the Old Testament Law (and old covenant) was twofold: Firstly, the Law was established by God to help us understand God’s holiness, in that He is set apart, different and righteous. Secondly, the Law was established to help us know what sin is.

Finally, after answering the above query about the Old Testament Law, politely ask, “If the Bible were irrelevant, what is your basis for a moral law?”

Before exploring this question, we should first tackle a prior question: What is the Bible? Well, the Bible is a compilation of 66 God-inspired and inerrant books written by roughly 40 different authors over 1600 years. Many of the authors had no communication or contact with each other, yet wrote distinctly about the same God—a feat unmatched by any other religion. Moreover, as stated in the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, “The Bible contains many different styles of writing such as poetry, narration, fiction, history, law, and prophecy.”

To prove the reliability and trustworthiness of the Bible, Professor Jimmy Williams* gave us three observable examinations. It states: “These tests are the bibliographic test, the internal test, and the external test. The first test examines the biblical manuscripts, the second test deals with the claims made by the biblical authors, and the third test looks to outside confirmation of the biblical content.”

Bibliographic Test. It was identified that there are over 19,000 copies of the New Testament in the Syriac, Latin, Coptic, and Aramaic languages. The total supporting New Testament manuscript base is over 24,000 as compared to that written by Caesar, Aristotle and Plato which range from only one to twenty manuscripts.

The Jewish scribes held great reverence toward the Scriptures. Hence they exercised extreme care in making new copies of the Hebrew Bible. As a result, the quality of the manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible surpasses all other ancient manuscripts. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, there has been significant evidence that the Hebrew scrolls match that which is found in the Bible today. The internal consistency of the New Testament documents is about 99% textually pure. That is an amazing accuracy.

Internal Test. The content analysis conducted has identified the biblical authors as primary spectators to the events around them and independent witnesses to that of Jesus Christ. What these authors observed were not mere folly or whims of belief but rather honest conviction. They maintained their testimony through both extreme persecution and martyrdom. The apostles believed so strongly in the Christ whom they preached that they suffered greatly to spread the Gospel. If the events were untrue, why would these men sacrifice their own lives?

External Test. This test in particular can be used when defending biblical accuracy to the so-called agnostic “intellectuals” who regard the Bible as a mere fairytale. The historical records by sources outside of the Bible conclusively prove the accuracy of biblical events. For example: The historical evidence of our Lord Jesus is confirmed by Roman, Greek and Jewish sources and citations. In addition, “the first-century Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus made specific references to John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and James in his Antiquities of the Jews” *. There has also been extra-biblical confirmation or reference to Jesus written “by an imprisoned Syrian named Mara Bar-Serapion” which compares three deaths: that of Socrates, Pythagoras and Christ.

Today’s misperception is that atheists and agnostics have an “intellectual high-ground” when it comes to scientific fact, understanding, reason and logic; the Christian viewpoint, on the other hand, is unfairly criticized as archaic in belief. However there are many concrete evidences that inherently prove the Bible’s unquestionable accuracy and thus, its authority. The question is: Are we willing to objectively examine the reliability of the Bible? When proven true, would we submit to its authority?

*http://bible.org/seriespage/defense-faith-are-biblical-documents-reliable

A while back, I was listening to a radio broadcast by the Christian Apologist Ravi Zacharias. He shared about two homosexual women who had recently won a historic custody battle, against their previous husbands, for their children. These women claimed in a talk show that the Bible endorsed their lifestyle. A few women among the audience counterattacked by saying that the Bible condemns it. However the unfortunate resolution after much debate was that not a single Christian present could defend their position adequately with clear Scriptural evidence.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (ESV). But like the Christians in the talk show, there have been many incidences in my life where I have been ill equipped to defend my faith properly.

To be prepared, we need to be well equipped with a sound understanding of God’s Word. For God’s Word provides clear and practical answers to questions relating to how and why our Creator-God wants us to live our lives in certain manners. God’s answers are realistic and sensible. It is able to withstand the worldly arguments from the many schools of human thoughts, dogmas, religions, creeds, morals, ethics, and philosophies.

Therefore, I am preparing myself. I’m undertaking a personal project to deal with ten frequently asked questions by atheists. I am going to attempt an intellectual and doctrinally sound argument against each question from the atheistic offense and then end each defensive answer with a question we Christians can use as a related counterattack.

Many of our answers will come from the biblical text itself, so I believe that it is appropriate to begin by defending the question: “Is the Bible a reliable and trustworthy frame of reference?”

Please check out my upcoming post. Meanwhile, I would love to hear your thoughts. Do share them with me.

There are many hunted species in the state of Michigan. But the one that intrigues me the most is the black bear. It is a beautiful animal that any hunter, after a stealthy kill, would be proud to display in his home. One technique for catching such a bear is to set metal trappings with scraps of what the black bear enjoys eating as bait. This metal trapping is a gruesome piece of machinery that has the appearance of a giant claw. It is bolted to the ground and snags the prey as quickly as the bear begins to indulge in the enticement laid before him.

Just like the hunter laying bear trap, Satan uses enticements to ensnare Christians. We must not only be vigilant against the traps he laid, but also be aware of the bait he uses—one of which is the world.

Our world has several role models who are poor in quality. Many celebrities and so-called “national idols” indulge in worldly pleasures and lusts. They are led by selfish desires that give way to sinful decisions. These decadent lifestyles are glamorized and telecast through various news mediums into the eyes and ears of our young generation. As a result, right moral behaviors are often deemed as boring and wrong is seen as exciting.

The world says to our generation that lying is okay as long as it is a white lie. We are led to believe that sex is permissible outside of marriage and there is nothing wrong with pre-marital sex or adultery. Abortions are seen as a convenient way to get rid of “unwanted baggage.” We believe in lucky pennies, daily horoscopes, bent spoons, and UFO’s. We believe that Jesus was a good man just like Buddha, Mohammad, and ourselves. We believe Jesus “was a good moral teacher although we think His good morals were really bad. We believe that all religions are basically the same . . .  they all believe in love and goodness” (Steve Turner, English Journalist, “Creed”). We have been deceived into believing that whoever dies with the most toys—cars, houses, lovers, and money—wins.

In essence, loving this world seems like an enchanting love story—just like a Disney fairytale. But be warned. What lies beneath the sweet allure is nothing but deception, lies, and filth when seen through the lens of Scriptures. The Bible says in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

The Scriptural command to resist the temptations of the world is clear. Yet, how are we to truly oppose our sinful nature that seems so set on craving after sin? We are told to put on the full armor of God. As mortals, we need God’s divine guidance, nature, and power to lead us against the dominion of darkness. God’s armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. We put on God’s armor by spending time in prayer with Him, by listening to Him through reading the Bible, by attending church, meeting in fellowship with other believers, and through following His statutes and laws.

In closing, let us put on the Lord’s armor daily. Resist the devil’s trap, and do what is biblically right.

The Internet has been woven into the fabric of daily life. The modern man conducts a host of activities online—from information seeking to information sharing; from Internet gaming to online shopping; from making new friends to sharing of videos, photographs, and thoughts. The World Wide Web could be accessed virtually anywhere via computers, blackberries, and iPods. It is a unique playground that can be utilized as a colossal waste of time or can be employed to advance the Kingdom of God.

With the ubiquitous nature of the Internet, we live in a distinct time that embraces constant communication. Beyond the traditional snail mail, we have our instant email, YouTube, Facebook, blog, Flicker, and Twitter accounts to connect us with family and friends. Communicating with friends from around the globe is now inexpensive and immediate.

As a result of the worldwide reach made possible by the plethora of social networks, Jesus’ command to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15, ESV) has never been more feasible than in this day and age.

So how can we take our Lord Jesus’ words to heart and put our faith into practice on a daily basis? Well first, it needs to be understood that accepting the biblical mandate does not mean all will be called and sent to a distant and reclusive land to reach natives who have not heard of Christ’s sacrifice. More likely than not, the mission field for most of us will be the family and friends around us.

Such a calling, which is Christ-honoring, is not to be understated but rather gleefully embraced! It is thrilling to realize that the God of the universe desires to use us to expand His Kingdom to loved ones for His glory. And the times we live in offers a unique and engaging opportunity to build relationships with friends and family on a daily basis via our technology and Internet.

We can use social networking websites to help us invest in relationships. We need to come alongside non-believers who have been introduce to the Christian faith and gently encourage them to find out more and eventually to make a decision of faith. For just as it is unusual for most individuals to accept Christ as their Savior by reading a tract on their own, the subsequent decision is commonly forged with the companionship of Christians.

In summary, Christ’s vital commandment to go out and preach the gospel is not one to be disregarded but rather is a responsibility every Christian must embrace. The online community presents itself to you, giving you the capability of having worldwide reach at your fingertips. Now go out and let God use you through your Christ-like acceptance of being salt and light to turn the world upside down for Him!

Have you ever contemplated what Heaven is like? I did a brief Internet search and discovered many confused souls trying to describe Heaven. Some describe it as “sitting on clouds all day long, playing a harp”; others say it is a place of one “eternal [and boring] church service.” A few believe that it is a lustful state of “no marriages, just multiple girlfriends”, while others say: “Heaven is what you believe it to be.” There are also those who deny the existence of Heaven altogether, equating it to a mere fantasy or fairytale.

(Image from www.paulabecker.com/blog)

As Christians, we know Heaven is more than just a fantasy. It is a genuine, tangible, and physical place—our everlasting residence. Revelations 21 and 22 describe, with colorful details, the incommunicable beauty that abounds in Heaven.

Unfortunately, many Christians, while believing wholeheartedly in Heaven, lack a true biblical understanding of what Heaven is like. Many are, sadly, not even excited about making it to their final destination, which Jesus Himself referred to as Paradise (Luke 23:43).

Let’s consider: if you were moving to another city or town for some reason (maybe a job promotion or to be nearer to your extended family), wouldn’t you do research about that city or town and seek to find as much information about that place as possible? Maybe you would do an Internet search to find out how clean the town is, what the recreational facilities nearby are, and what activities or social gatherings typically take place there. You may also try to search for any information that will address any concerns you may have about moving.

As Christians, the most important move we will be making is from our provisional dwelling (Earth) to our permanent dwelling (Heaven or “the New Earth”). So in the same regard, we should be studying what Heaven is like. Just as it would be silly moving to a city you know nothing about; it would be ridiculous to show up in Heaven, knowing nothing about it.

Now let me ask, are you prepared for your big move? Thankfully, this move doesn’t include the frenzies and stress of packed boxes and moving trucks; but one does need a prepared heart. Romans 10:9 says, “Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Amplified Bible).

The Bible is full of marvelous and fascinating promises from God about our future in Heaven, where we will literally and physically be with Him. So, let’s read it to unlock the mystery and discover more about our eternal Home!

Recently, you may have heard reports of the political crisis in Honduras—the removal of their former president and their ongoing constitutional crisis. But you may not have heard of their spiritual crisis.

While the majority of the Honduran population associate themselves with the Roman Catholic Church; sadly, few attend church regularly. That being said, due to their high regard of the Catholic religion and traditions, their hearts are overwhelmingly open and receptive to the Gospel.

In July 2008, together with a team associated with Word of Life, I left for Honduras.

Once we arrived in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the work began. For the first few days, we worked with local church organizations with either the entire congregation or just the youths. Typically, we would lead them in worship, present a prepared drama, share our testimonies, and conclude with the Truth from God’s Word.

Later in the trip, we moved on to street evangelism where we used the same format.

Personally, the days spent on street evangelism were the most challenging for me. Our team of thirty trotted onto the campus of Honduras National University where 60,000 students would pass by every day. We first found an area most populated with students; then set up a small, yet portable, speaker system. We would then introduce our ministry and start to share the Gospel. As we begin, students would stop to listen to God’s Word. The response was overwhelming. After we concluded the message, we would approached the captivated audience to further explain the Gospel message, pray with struggling students, and begin connecting individuals with nearby, Bible-believing churches. I was stretched and overwhelmed but God used that experience to strengthen my relationship with Him—deepening my faith as I learn to depend solely on Him.

The remaining part of our ministry involved serving in a newly opened Word of Life camp in a small town called Zambrano (just outside of Tegucigalpa). I worked as a co-counselor at the camp with roughly one hundred campers—students between the ages of twelve and fifteen. Each day was filled with activities from go-karts, to extreme games, to paintball, to getting our fill in the Word of God.

Nearly all of our campers had already accepted Christ as their Savior but at the Thursday night bonfire—through the power of God—many dedicated their lives to serve Jesus as their Lord. The passionate commitment of these 12 to 15 years old students burning for Christ, was overpowering. Seeing their emotions and tears, I too, was in tears and on my knees—thanking God for His indescribable awesomeness.

Following the intense and God-filled experience, we headed to a celebratory dinner. It was our last night with a few missionaries. Together, we recapped God’s work in the beautiful country, Honduras. We felt specifically blessed to have been used by God to lead about thirty five natives to the Lord.

Reminiscing the trip, I cannot help but look in awe at God’s amazing plan for our team. God gathered a group of thirty people from different backgrounds, cities, and churches and He brought us to Honduras. We did not know what we would be doing or where we would be doing His work. But God knew. He was in complete control; and we just had to trust and follow Him.

Our spiritually renewing journey to Honduras has ended. However, God’s impact on the people there is—through the work of other area missionaries, pastors, and believers—continuing today!

Baseball is a popular pastime in America. In this sport, a baseball bat (a long, thin, fairly light but tough object) is designed for the specific purpose of hitting a baseball. The greatest potential for a baseball bat is realized when it is used to hit a homerun—when all players can make it safely to home base and score.

Though the specific purpose of the bat is to advance one team’s victory over another, it may be misused. For example, a baseball bat may be used (instead of a golf club) to hit a golf ball; or used (instead of a hammer) to nail tent stakes into the ground by a camper.

A baseball bat can also be ill used to cause harm—to hurt or intimate someone. In the extreme, it can even be used in a despicable act of vandalism—to vandalize an automobile or an old warehouse.

In these cases, the baseball bat was not used for its intended created purpose—that is, to hit a baseball. And best of all, to hit a homerun.

In a sense, we are like a baseball bat. Our Creator made each of us with a specific purpose. Our lives were intended for something good—not bad, not merely good—but great!

“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

Along life’s journey, there are many exits, pit stops, and off ramps which may seem good and enticing. When we veered off down a lesser road—away from what God intends for us—we would not be living to our fullest potential. When we are seduced into living a life that is just “good enough” or settled into the comfortable or become lazy, we would be guilty of misusing this precious gift—life.

We must remember that the good is truly the enemy of the best. To reach our God-given potential—to hit life’s “homerun”, we must not become complacent and settle for an easy life. Instead, we must strive for the purpose God intended for us so that we may glorify His name.

Let us live the purpose-filled life God has planned for us so that we will be able to say, just as Paul: “I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, The Amplified Bible).