tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post4195676250115873716..comments2023-12-25T12:27:32.155-05:00Comments on A Different Way: Do We Need Evidence for God?Joey Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962252428291430709noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post-48109724466813710832011-05-19T21:11:37.365-04:002011-05-19T21:11:37.365-04:00Thanks for clarifying your "all in" comm...Thanks for clarifying your "all in" comment.<br /><br />I'd say Jesus was "all in" for us, but definitely not the other way around. This is the heart of the gospel.<br /><br />So grateful for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post-55531090253298310512011-05-19T19:22:44.835-04:002011-05-19T19:22:44.835-04:00I appreciate everyone's comments and insight. ...I appreciate everyone's comments and insight. Most of these comments could have been a post to themselves.<br /><br />2 comments ago -- Thanks for your comment. When I said, "all in," I in no way intended that to mean that I needed to live perfectly. I should have clarified better. I meant it more of a heart attitude. The issue was weather I would "half-way" believe (if such a thing is possible), while living as I wanted to. "All in" just means that I will trust in Him and follow Him, not any level of behavior.<br /><br />Last comment -- another good point. I would say that it assumes His existence. But I'd be interested to think if someone thought otherwise.Joey Espinosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05962252428291430709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post-25920371912811598332011-05-19T17:37:28.681-04:002011-05-19T17:37:28.681-04:00Does the Bible give evidence for God, or does it j...Does the Bible give evidence for God, or does it just assume His existence is a given, for to believe otherwise is just silly?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post-78408340780561006292011-05-19T15:57:41.170-04:002011-05-19T15:57:41.170-04:00The reality is that no one can be "all in&quo...The reality is that no one can be "all in" for Jesus. We are sinners. We sin, every day. We cannot rely on our ability to be "all in."<br /><br />The Good News is that we don't have to perform to earn God's favor. If we believe in the work of Jesus on the cross, and truly repent of our sins, then we have been given saving faith and are completely covered with Jesus' righteousness. <br /><br />If we ask others to be "all in" for Jesus, then we are condemning them with a form of law. This is not love.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post-84288660251164060202011-05-19T15:38:52.373-04:002011-05-19T15:38:52.373-04:00In the end, it is only God who opens eyes to the t...In the end, it is only God who opens eyes to the truth and gives faith. Once faith is given, I don't think he takes it back. <br /><br />Eloquent words and arguments are really of no value. (1 Cor 1:17)<br /><br />Once the soul is awakened, it will want to please our awesome God. All of this is to the Glory of God alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post-67729378279389909002011-05-19T11:51:52.933-04:002011-05-19T11:51:52.933-04:00Nice blog Joey! How faith works is something I...Nice blog Joey! How faith works is something I've be grappling with the last few years.<br /><br />On the matter of evidence as it relates to faith I find two interesting cases in the new testament.<br /><br />First is Thomas. John 20:25 But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."<br /><br />Second is the Rich man and Lazarus. Luke 16:31 31 "But he said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.' "<br /><br />It seems to me that evidence is trumped by faith. Thomas see's the risen Christ and faith is made apparent. Perhaps faith was there all along?<br /><br />On the other hand, the Roman soldiers at the tomb and local leaders had great evidence of resurrection and proceed to cover up that evidence.<br /><br />Faith trumping evidence doesn't make evidence useless though. I've seen evidence work in my life through some of the Josh Mcdowell studies. It seems to initiate a pursuit of God in me that wasn't there at the beginnings of my faith journey. <br /><br />Also, it should be noted that Jesus made numerous resurrection appearances. He wasn't just saying goodbye. He had His purpose with evidence.<br /><br />I've concluded for now that if faith is not present then evidence makes no difference. And yes, the Gospel is the answer.James Whitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post-91617056691332040682011-05-19T09:47:57.478-04:002011-05-19T09:47:57.478-04:00At the end of a two year period where I had studie...At the end of a two year period where I had studied more the intellectual, philosophical, and reasonable side of my faith I had a crisis where I knew what I believed but wasn't really sure I believed it fully anymore (if that makes any sense). I guess it would be best to say that doubt had creeped in compromising my ability to act on my faith. It wasn't a comfortable place to be. In the end it wasn't a new argument but a personal and non-verifiable experience that jerked me back to faith. <br /><br />One of my (less favorite than Joey!) bloggers, Michael Patton, talks about a similar incident where he knew all the arguments but just couldn't believe. For him it was terrifying but only lasted a day or two. It reminded him that ulitmately faith is a gift from God (Eph 2) and he can't will it into being.<br /><br />I think apologetics has it's place because when confronted with a John Dominic Crossan/Jesus Seminar type argument it allows you to see the weaknesses that lie below the surface. In the case of the Jesus Seminar they presuppose naturalism and then dismiss all of Jesus' miracles including the resurrection. But they offer no proof as to why naturalism is true. <br /><br />I'm going through an apologetics book right now with a non-believing friend. He agrees with and sees the logic of most of the arguments but has said openly and honestly that he can't just make himself believe. I agree with him completely and have asked him to look honestly at his own bias, keep pursuing the truth, and to throw himself on God's mercy and ask him to work in his heart and reveal Himself to him.<br /><br />I think that's good advice (and not just because it's mine!) for both the believer and the non-believer. The gospel if the answer.Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005096405985757065.post-86582629691773305572011-05-19T09:05:04.922-04:002011-05-19T09:05:04.922-04:00Your reflections on this are much more clear than ...Your reflections on this are much more clear than my quickly composed replies a couple weeks ago, thank you for doing a much better job of articulating it! <br /><br />We can "fact" someone to death (like the lovingly written 7 page letter) but without conviction, that evidence will not lead to faith, and the non-believer will have reasoning which they find equally convicting to support what they believe.<br /><br />It's all very interesting. As a strong believer, all the evidence makes SO MUCH SENSE, but for a non-believer or a person who is questioning, it can still sound like foolishness.<br /><br />1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT) The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,<br /><br /> “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise<br /> and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”[e]<br /><br />At the end of the day, we have to remember that our belief is a God thing. The evidence and proof we have are of this world, and that alone is not enough without the heart change that comes only from God.Vanessanoreply@blogger.com