Comment on A big reason why so many people are leaving the church by Drew Merson.
Hi Sean!
I was just reading in the Bible yesterday where Jesus is rebuking the disciples for their unbelief in all that the scriptures said would take place concerning His death and resurrection. Interestingly, He did not point them to His miracles. He pointed them to the prophecies, explaining them to the disciples and calling upon them to exercise faith in the clearly logical and physical evidence provided by the Bible in order to give a solid foundation for faith in Him.
While the disciples knew within themselves what they had seen and heard and felt of Jesus, knowing Him to be the Son of God, they pointed their hearers to the “more sure word of prophecy, where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” Their evidence and reason for faith in Jesus was based upon actual evidence. They had tangible proof for their faith and a reason that they did not teach “cunningly divised fables”.
I am amazed at how logical and practical the scriptures are, presenting adequate evidence for the belief and faith we are are asked to exercise in Jesus. I love how Jesus says, ” whither is it easier to say to the sick with the palsy, thy sins be forgiven thee, or arise, take up thy bed, and walk. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to fogrive sins.. I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” In another place He says, ” and now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” (John 14:29).
Jesus always points his followers to evaluate the evidence for faith in Him. Even for belief in His resurrection, He points us to prophecy. “And he said unto them, ‘these are the words which I spake unto you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. And said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’ ”
Thus, we can agree with Mrs. White that “God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existance, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant.”
God Bless,
Drew
