In this relativistic society, where our beliefs and worldviews are made as truthful as anyone else’s, there is a question that begs to be asked: Is truth something that we have the right to make up according to our likings or is there an objective standard of truth? We are living at a time where humanistic thinking is coming to its natural conclusions in morals, education and law. We can see proof of this in the output of the decline in morals. Crime is rampant everywhere around us. Atrocities are everyday broadcasted through the tube. Newspapers are inked with negative headlines of ponzi schemes and different manifestations of greed. And we could go on and on until the end of time. If all this were not true the police department would be out of a job by now.
In midst of these economic downturns, more pronounced in Europe these last months, while reading on the necessary actions that these countries need to take to cut their federal deficits and overall debts, I started thinking on how much money would these countries, and any country for that matter, would save if they eliminated agencies and departments like police enforcement, jails, courts, etc. They only exist to maintain order. But why the need for order? Because without order dreams wouldn’t be achievable. Without dreams there wouldn’t be any ideas. Without ideas you would have no businesses. Without businesses you would have no economy. Without an economy you would have no society. And without a society you would have no civilization. Even under such an utilitarian thinking and selfish capitalistic reasons there is a need for order.
But I would dig deeper than such superficial and aesthetic needs. You see, if these countries that are both in a desperate need of a vast amount of cash infusion and an all-around cost cutting and debt-eliminating spree, would close these programs, agencies and departments they would certainly and literally save billions and billions not only immediately, but throughout the long years to come too. You might be thinking, “That’s kind of far-fetched, don’t you think? To shut down much needed agencies and departments like police enforcement? That’s highly improbable, impossible and, quite frankly just by entertaining the thought, not far from lunatic and borderline dementia.” And I would totally agree with you. That’s why my thinking was more of a lament than an advocation for these changes. Not because I’m someone to easily be discouraged by other’s opinions but more because I know the root of the indelible problem: the irreversible corruption of man.
After my thoughts later swerved into other consequences of man’s corruption besides the necessity for order, peace and justice by ways of different laws, I started to think why is it that man continues on its own course? Why is it that man has declined God’s invitation to redemption? Why is it that man has rejected God’s law? Even at the consequence of losing his soul and life and at the peril of not only being forever banned from an eternal communion with his Creator in paradise but of being as well eternally doomed and cast into the lake of fire at the final judgement? Why man doesn’t believe what the Bible says?
And then it hit me: They don’t because they don’t believe the Bible is true. Why would you base your whole worldview on something you think is not true? Why would you obey what the Bible says if you don’t think it’s authentic and it’s not really what it claims to be, the Word of God?
Then it hit me again: Are there credible reasons to believe that we hold God’s revelation to us in our hands? If I truly believe Christianity does, then I needed to go back to the basics and ask one of the most fundamental questions any human being could ask, “Has God spoken?”, and share with these people the evidence that supports what the Bible claims.
But now you’re probably thinking, “Aha! There’s a logical fallacy in what you have said! There is an inconsistency that prevents me from even letting me be open to whatever you have to say to me!“, by now I would ask you what that is and you’d respond something like, “you said “the irreversible corruption of man”. If it’s irreversible, why on earth would I apply myself to read about the Bible or some evidence, or for that matter believe in God’s word if the state of man is irreversible and it’ll never change no matter what?“, and by now you’d hear a clap clap sound coming from my hands as I tell you that you have made a very good question. The state of man is irreversible. He’s corrupted and will continue to sin even after being saved. But that’s the beauty of it. Jesus changes our attitudes and hearts towards righteousness, goodness and more aligned to His perfect will, and He has already paid for all our sins and all our corruption. He now stands next to the Father interceding on our behalf for when we sin and ask for forgiveness. We’ll continue in our weak and corrupted human form until we are in heaven in a glorified, non-corrupted and perfect state.
So, is there a faith that is tied to facts? I’m going to do my best to guide you through the evidence.
Thinking As Leverage 