Aside from apologetic reasons, why is it important that Christianity is a historical religion?

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Scott Roberts
Ruling Elder, Lakeside Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Southlake, Texas

Scott, could you narrow down the question? It's interesting, but perhaps to general.

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Tim Vaughan, 48 years old, member Redeemer OPC, Santa Maria CA.

Historical facts (eg. Christ rose from the dead) are the basis of the gopsel. Other religions generally do not have that. For example, history is irrelevant to Buddhism, which teaches that history is an illusion. How does this make Christianity stronger than other religions? I am looking for something other than an apologetic that these facts allow us to verify the the claims of Christianity.

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Scott Roberts
Ruling Elder, Lakeside Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Southlake, Texas

I think that the fact the resurrection of Jesus Christ actually happened is a great verifier of the claims of Christianity. We have a living LORD and Savior. I know that gives me great comfort.

Perhaps I'm not understanding your question.

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Ivan Schoen, Pastor * Maranatha Baptist Church * Poplar Grove, Illinois USA www.maranatha-sbc.org/
“One of the most important discoveries I have ever made is this truth: God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in him. This is the motor that drives my ministry as a pastor. It affects everything I do.” --- Dr. John Piper

I think I may too be missing some of your point. But having interacted with many Mormons, I know that their religion is based on a fictional land (somewhere in Central America we're told) and fictional events that CANNOT be true historically, archaeologically, etc. These facts, or lack thereof, have led many a Mormon to see the impossibility/lies of their religion.

We don't have that problem.

Daniel

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Daniel Franzen
Church Creek Presbyterian (PCA)
Charleston, SC

I would just say that the apologetic in this case is inseparable from the substance.

Ours is a religion which is grounded in its historical reality, in its real-world relevance. Take those connections away, and you have some other religion entirely. The Christianity & Liberalism (JGMachen) divide. True Christianity is different from everything else precisely on this score. For proof, witness the impotence and essential sameness of modern religion. It even appears as one of their tenets: non-judgmental, un-dogmatic, uncertain, humanistic. As far as we are concerned, there is no ultimate difference between Islam, liberal Christianity, Rastafarianism, and hedonism. Plenty of differences, yes, but no ultimate difference. Man-centered all the way.

Christianity's intent is to deal with the ultimate questions: who is GOD, what we ARE, why we are put HERE by God, why we are SINFUL REBELS, what is God's SOLUTION? Marxist and post-modern interests regarding "power" and collectivist identity are simply more of the same humanist rubbish-religion. Take away Christianity's claims to identify with the reality we live in, which is of a piece with the past reality, and it loses its unique character, its unique story and answers. It's just another theory, then. Then, we would belong to the "most miserable" class.

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Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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