“These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

– John 20:31

Is Christianity credible? Or is the Christian faith just a blind leap in the dark? Is Christianity a reasonable position to take? Or is it simply a convenient crutch that millions of mindless people use to get through life? Many people consider the Christian faith to be anti-intellectual. You might hear something like, “Well if it works for you to believe in that sort of thing, then great, but not us modern scientific minds.” But here are some reasons why Christianity is more rational than one might think:

The Crux of Christian Faith: So, picture this: I once had a really nice chat with this guy who was a total skeptic to Christianity. In the course of our conversation he said, “I wish I could believe like you do, but it just seems too far-fetched.” My response? “Have you ever read the Bible? No, seriously. Have you read the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)?” Not surprisingly, the answer was a big fat no. It’s no wonder the guy was struggling to buy in. Our Christian faith is built on the credible eyewitness accounts that are carefully compiled in the Bible.

The Gospels present eyewitness testimony that invites a faith grounded in historical facts. This is why John emphasizes, “These things are written so that you may believe.” Therefore, one doesn’t necessarily need to have personally witnessed the resurrected Jesus to believe in Him; rather, they can base their trust in the accounts of those who did see Him.

Trusting the Reports: Look at it like this; if you’re planning to take the family hiking, you’ll want to first check the weather reports to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Your faith in how the weather will turn out is based on reliable reports, allowing you to make informed decisions for your family’s comfort and safety. Similarly, when considering purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, reviewing the Carfax report provides valuable insights into the vehicle’s history and condition. Your faith in the report is what empowers you to make a well-informed decision, ensuring that the vehicle meets your needs and expectations. When it comes to historical facts, such as George Washington being America’s first President, it’s inspiring to see and honor the legacy left by prominent figures. While we weren’t there to witness these events firsthand, we can trust the extensive historical research and documentation that supports these significant milestones. My point is that people trust things based on trustworthy reports every day of their lives, allowing them to make confident decisions. We should encourage others to approach the eyewitness reports in the gospels with the same open-minded trust.

But you may wonder, “What about all the people who have read the gospels and still reject Christ?” This only goes to show that it’s ultimately not a lack of evidence that stands in the way. Jesus raised a man from the dead and still people refused to believe. Because, as Tim Keller pointed out, “To believe the truth of God requires you to stand under the truth of God.” In other words, trusting in Christ means losing control of your life and handing it over to him. It’s one thing to trust the weather report with your daily plans at stake; it’s another thing to trust the disciple’s reports with your eternity at stake. This is why at the end of the day, Christian faith has to be a gift (Eph.2:8), because each one of us lacks the power to give up that much control on our own. Christian faith is a gift, but at the same time, it is reasonably based on historical credible testimony.

The Result of Christian Faith: A lot of people reject Christianity because they think that faith in Jesus is going to keep them from experiencing the good life. Yet the Apostle John wrote that believing in Jesus brings “life in his name.” Jesus himself said, “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). There was once a Christian lecturer who was publicly defending the claims of Christianity and an atheist stood up and challenged him to a debate. The speaker said, “Of course I will debate you, but only on one condition. When we both show up to the debate you must bring as many people as you can whose lives have been changed for the better because of your atheism, and I’ll bring as many as people as I can who have been changed by Christ.” The atheist just sat down.

The way I see it – Christianity is like the ultimate VIP pass to a rocking party called life. After all, Jesus told us that he came to bring us an abundant life (John 10:10). So, what’s this abundant life all about?

• Well, it’s like a life makeover where all your blunders are totally forgiven.
• It’s like having a personal GPS for your soul, showing you the way to purpose and hope because there’s life after the final curtain and what you do here really counts.
• It’s like having a moral compass that always points to what Christ would do.
• It’s like a spa treatment for your soul, because even when things get wild, you know deep down that God’s got your back and He’s turning chaos into your greatest hits album.

There’s a whole lot more to say about this, but when you look at it closely, you realize that authentic Christianity isn’t a blind leap into the dark, it’s like taking a ride on the most thrilling rollercoaster in the bright light of day.