First, remember the blind man (Unit 6) whom Jesus healed who didn’t have all the answers but shared his own personal story (John 9:25). That is still the best start for several reasons:
1. From their perspective, if Christ didn’t make a difference in your own life, why would anyone else want to believe it? Let them know the reality of Christ in your life! You don’t have to be perfect. In fact, letting them know that God’s grace and forgiveness is your daily experience can be encouraging.
2. They can argue about all sorts of things, but can’t argue about your personal experience with Christ.
3. It keeps it personal, humble, and relational. I don’t have all the answers, but this is what happened to me.
4. It is surprising how many people who have questions or are skeptical have never actually heard the gospel presented in a clear, concise way. They may be reacting to their experience in a certain church, or to a person who hurt them.
So, what about those questions they have? Many have been told that the Bible is a book of myths, that Christianity is no different from other religions, that science says we are all just chance products of evolution or that “no one can know” one way or the other. And what about all the evil in the world? If God is good, why does He allow evil?
In the Resources section of Unit 6 we mentioned two books by Lee Strobels.
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The Case for Faith - Lee Strobels
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The Case for Christ - Lee Strobels
Strobels was a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, a graduate of Yale, and a skeptic. But through his own investigations he began to become convinced that Jesus was indeed God’s Son and that the Bible’s account was true.
These two books can be a good resource to give a friend who is willing to do some reading. They are in short chapters that answer specific questions.
Of course, you can summarize the answers yourself for your friend.
Also check out exploregod.com for many short video answers to tough questions.
But realize that ultimately God has arranged things so that those who come to Him do so in faith. While there is strong evidence for our faith, is impossible to answer all questions. That would be “sight” and not “faith” anyway. It is with the heart we believe (Romans 10). Paul was a scholar and a brilliant man by all accounts. But see how he first approached the sophisticated Greeks in Corinth,
When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NIV).
This doesn’t mean Paul had a “take it or leave it” attitude. Not at all! He “urged” (2 Cor. 5:20) people to believe. And on other occasions it was clear he “reasoned” (Acts 17:2) with those who had questions. But he knew that in the end it was going to be God breaking through and opening eyes, not his own cleverness or having all the answers.
He also spoke with conviction that the gospel was totally true and lived out what he preached!
for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (1 Thess. 1:5)
Be patient. Pray. Love people where they are. And be steadfast in your own faith and walk.