Christianity Makes Sense
by Johnny Ramsey

Critics of the Bible often try to leave the impression that only the mentally retarded would even consider being a Christian. Such skeptics like to belittle the faith of those who follow Jesus by referring to servants of Christ as those who accept "blind superstitious traditions." Especially offensive to the rationalistic mind is the firm commitment of the devotee of the Lord to the virgin birth, the resurrection of the Savior and belief in His shed blood to release men from sin. The definite attitude of the unbeliever is that anyone who accepts the creation story of Genesis and the miracles of Jesus, as revealed in the Bible, just must be demented! In this brief manuscript we desire to show the logical, sensible position of the Christian's faith. Truly, Christianity Makes Sense!

In Regard To Creation

It makes a lot more sense to believe that mind precedes matter in the creation of the universe because material things are subservient to the intellect today. A skilled watchmaker produces the timepiece. Brilliant scientists plan and execute the intricate space programs of Russia and the United States. A good cook, using the proper ingredients, delivers a delicious cake. These are examples of mind over matter. Everyone understands and accepts these situations as normal. Is it then strange for a sensible person to affirm that an all-wise Creator made the world as we read in Genesis 1:1:

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

Any one of the twenty-six theories of evolution is absolutely absurd in comparison to the Bible statement of Genesis 1:26:

"And God said: Let us make man in our own image."

Man, an intelligent being, placed in control of the inanimate earth (Psalm 24:1; Genesis 1:28) is but a perpetual reminder that a Master Designer framed the world by His own decree (Hebrews 11:3) "so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Indeed, as Psalm 33:9 so cogently affirms:

"God spake and it was done."

The reasonableness of faith in the Bible record is accentuated when one considers the alternative position. How could any sensible person accept the inane hypothesis that the earth exists by accident, spontaneous combustion, or by two planets meeting head-on or that life began when a tiny cell flipped out of water on to dry ground? Incidentally, all of that must be accepted by faith on the part of the infidel or atheist. At least the faith of a Christian is more logical and intelligent! The evolutionist has yet to tell us where those planets or dry cells came from anyhow! As to the spontaneous combustion theory we might as well believe a skyscraper is the result of a strong wind blowing bricks, steel girders and cement into proper position over night--or, as one man pertinently stated:

"To believe that the dictionary is the result of an explosion in a printing factory is as foolish as accepting the theory of evolution in regard to creation."

Over a century ago Herbert Spencer said the five manifestations of the unknowable were:

TIME---FORCE---ACTION---SPACE---MATTER

Surprisingly, those five points, in order, are found beautifully expressed in the Bible's opening verse:

TIME: IN THE BEGINNING

FORCE: GOD

ACTION: CREATED

SPACE: HEAVENS

MATTER: EARTH

Not only did Jehovah create the earth full-grown or mature, He also created man the same way. God did not create a baby that evolved into a man. He made man mature; He built into the earth all the ingredients that geologists and paleontologists are millions of years apart on. One of these days we are going to realize the folly of human beings trying to fathom the divine mind. We are creatures of earth and time. How can the finite comprehend or test that which is infinite and eternal? The apostle Paul exclaimed in Romans 11:33. . . "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

No wonder, therefore, Romans 3:4 informs us:

"Let God be true and let every man be found a liar."

Explicit faith and trust in God and the Bible is a far more sensible approach to life than the course the agnostic or existentialist takes. Emerson's classic utterance is appropriate:

"All that I have seen causes me to trust God for all that I have not seen."

When one considers the very basic question, Who Gave Us The Bible?, it is quite evident that the position we occupy as Christians is the only logical stance in the religious realm. We ardently affirm that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (II Peter 1:21). Some tell us that the Bible contains only the words of brilliant men. But good, brilliant minds do not lie and the writers of Holy Scripture said over 250 times: "Thus Saith The Lord." In other words, the eight penmen of the New Testament gladly told the world: This is the word of God and not the fables of men (read I Corinthians 2:13 and I Thessalonians 2:13). Over thirty Old Testament penmen acknowledged divine inspiration (see Jeremiah 1:9; Amos 1:1; and II Timothy 3:16, 17).

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God."

The supernatural qualities of the Bible bespeak such a source!

Brilliant, evil men would be smart enough not to give us a book that condemns them to eternal ruin. Therefore, such an hypothesis as to the origin of the Bible crumbles into absurdity. Satan would not give the world a book that disrobes himself as the perpetrator of all evil and shame. The only sensible answer as to the origin of the contents of the Bible must be the position faithful children of God have always espoused--God revealed its message and inspired the men who wrote the sacred contents of the Book of Books! Jesus told the apostles in Matthew 10:19 they would know how and what to speak. Guided into all truth (John 16:13) by the Holy Spirit the apostles spoke as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4 and John 14:26). We now have that divine revelation fully confirmed (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:4) in our Bibles. God is the divine Architect and not men!

It makes sense to affirm that the God who made us gave us a revelation of Himself that can be understood. Surely it makes no sense at all when the libertine in religion speaks of the love of God and then denies that our loving Creator could or would give us a message capable of being understood! If God made us and loves us He can and does reveal His will in language we can gladly receive, comprehend and obey. In John 8:31, 32 we clinch this point:

"If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Since Jesus later tells us (John 17:17) that God's word is truth we can forever be assured that His word is something we can know and understand and obey (Read Ephesians 5:17; Acts 2:41; II Corinthians 1:13). It makes no sense at all to speak of a loving Father who confuses His creation. Sometimes the brilliance of the skeptic is highly suspect! Such critics often write books they expect us to understand in which they tell us we cannot understand the Bible. Such strange logic.

The virgin birth of Christ is also a very natural conclusion for those who have studied the Bible. Even though miracles are supernatural events it is more natural to accept the miracles of the Bible than to reject them! If God is and the Bible is His revelation we would naturally look for the supernatural to be depicted within its pages. The book of Genesis opens the sacred volume telling us that God made man in His own image but that man chose to disobey his Creator. Sin entered the world and "death by sin" as Romans 5:12 clearly chronicled the situation. Therefore, a remedy for sin had to be given. In the midst of the perplexing scene in the Garden of Eden, Jehovah promised the antidote for iniquity and its consequences. Genesis 3:15 predicted One who would destroy the power of Satan. In I John 3:8, in the New Testament, we have this corroborating statement:

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

Uniquely, God promised that the Savior would be born of woman. . .of the seed of woman. . .a virgin birth! Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6; Galatians 4:4; and Micah 5:1-3 not only document this phenomenon but they also tell us where the virgin birth took place! Bethlehem of Judea was pointed out seven centuries before "a woman compassed a man" (Jeremiah 31:22) to bring Messiah into the world to remedy the enormous scar of sin that separated man from God (Isaiah 59:1,2).

In Micah's monumental and beautiful prophecy he records that the One to be born in Bethlehem had always existed. . ."whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." In John 1:1-4 and Colossians 1:15-18 we learn that Christ has always been. In fact, all things were created for Him and by Him! Therefore the only logical, sensible conclusion concerning His entry into the world in the flesh would just have to be the virgin birth. Since He had always been He could not be made. Because Christ is supernatural His birth would have to be supernatural too! It is more sensible to believe in the virgin birth than to disbelieve it! Taking all that the Bible tells us about Deity we could not expect a natural birth for One who is supernatural. Beautifully blended is the fulfillment of prophecy and the dire need of sinful mankind. Therefore, in discussing the majestic arrival of Jesus, in bodily form, John declares in John 1:14. . .

"We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Truly, Jesus Christ is "the fulness of the Godhead bodily" and "the brightness of God's glory" (Colossians 2:9 and Hebrews 1:1-3).

The perfect life of Christ and His marvelous power pose no problem to the Bible student. We would expect the miraculous from such a One as He. We have, in the four accounts of His life, some forty miracles recorded. These are written to produce faith in the Redeemer (John 20:30, 31). If God could create the world, making order out of chaos, it would be no great problem to calm the sea, heal the leper, or raise the dead. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, graphically sums up this tribute to Jesus in John 3:2. . .

"Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."

Even the ardent Jew of today admits that the Old Testament predicted things of the Messiah that Jesus of Nazareth minutely fulfilled. In fact, they are hard pressed to name one characteristic of the Messiah which Jesus failed to fulfill! In John 7 we read this interesting comment regarding Christ:

"When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?"

At the close of His life of some thirty-three years upon the earth His matchless deeds and sinless actions caused a Roman centurion to say: "Truly this was the Son of God."

The Commands of Christ

Now, if God is, the Bible is His Word and Christ is the Savior, it makes sense to believe that any commandments Jesus left for us must be obeyed. There could be no such thing as an optional command from One so perfect and mature. Did not the Lord say in John 14:15:

"If you love me you will keep my commandments."

We are told in John 8:24 that believing in Him is necessary. It makes sense that One so great and mighty has a right to expect our trust. In Luke 13:3 we have the alternatives set forth clearly--repent or perish! Repentance is another very logical requirement in God's plan of salvation for mankind. In Matthew 21:28-30 we learn that repentance is actually "a change of mind." This change is produced by the love of God (Romans 2:4) and godly sorrow for sin on our part (II Corinthians 7:10). This should be a natural response to our faith in the Lord and His authority. Following close upon these two reactions to Christ's sovereignty will be our willingness to confess the Savior. In Acts 8:37 the Ethiopian admitted:

"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

In the Day of Judgment every mouth shall confess that Jesus is the Christ to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). Penitent believers are privileged to make that good confession now and live!

Baptism, contrary to biased doctrines, is likewise a very reasona{çR„2C logical and sensible response to the teachings, life and death of Christ. It is not an arbitrary command to test one's faith. Neither is it foolish or unnecessary as others affirm. It is the natural portrayal of one's union with the Savior as it scripturally depicts the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God. In Romans 6:1-5 and Colossians 2:12 we learn that we become dead to sin when we are buried with Christ in baptism and thus we are raised to walk with Him in a new relationship. Old things are passed away as we become new creatures by virtue of putting on the Lord in baptism (Galatians 3:27 and II Corinthians 5:17). In Acts 8:12, as a natural response to believing in Jesus many Samaritans were baptized. Notice the logical affirmation of Acts 18:8. . .

"and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized."

The Church of Christ

Although many people consider the church of the New Testament unimportant, we find in studying the Bible an inseparable yoking of Christ and His spiritual body--the church (Colossians 1:18). In fact, in Acts 8:1 and 9:4 we learn that to persecute the church is tantamount to opposing the Lord. In Ephesians 3:21 God is said to be glorified in the church by Christ Jesus! The church, over which the Savior rules as head (Ephesians 5:23) is "the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:20-23). Paul told the Ephesian elders, according to Acts 20:28, that Jesus "purchased the church with his own blood." When men obey the teachings of the gospel they receive remission of sins through the blood of Christ and thus are added to the church of the Lord (Acts 2:38-41). Christ has absolute authority over the church; therefore whatever He desires in worship, doctrine, organization or life must be honored. For, we are subject to Him (Ephesians 5:24). This is the exact reason churches of Christ do not use mechanical instruments of music in worship. The head of the church said sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) and it makes sense to do what He tells us to do (John 2:5) and not those things men want to do. We observe the Lord's Supper each "first day of the week" just as Acts 20:7 illustrates. We have no earthly headquarters and each congregation is self-governing under the guidance of the Scriptures (Hebrews 12:23; Acts 14:23; I Peter 5:1-4). This makes sense to folk committed to following the Bible and the authority of Christ in the church. Such a position makes the Lord's cause unique in doctrine, design, deportment and destiny. Christ's church, built upon His divine power, must be kept pure and scriptural until our Redeemer comes again (Matthew 16:18 and Ephesians 5:27).

Practical Christian Living

The Greek word for church was ecclesia which meant "the called out." Members of the church of the Lord were called out of the world of darkness into the glorious light of Truth as Colossians 1:13 and I Peter 2:9-11 clearly state. When impurity and nonchalance entered the body of Christ various New Testament passages demanded disciplinary action against the evil ones. It makes sense to keep the church pure and uncontaminated as Romans 16:17 and I Corinthians 5:13 affirm. It would be unnatural to allow sin to overwhelm the spiritual body of our lord.

Just so, the faithful child of God, in "Providing things honest in the sight of all men" (Romans 12), will pay his debts, supply his own needs and be a shining light for righteousness (Philippians 2:15). One of the real blessings an ardent follower of the Master possesses is peace of mind and a clean conscience (Philippians 4:7 and Acts 24:16). Christians will be busy teaching others "the unsearchable riches of Christ" and will even manifest a love for their enemies and an abiding trust in God that will puzzle those who would be critical of New Testament Christianity. It is good therapy to follow the Bible way in day by day living in this wicked old world! As I Peter 5:7 declares, so let us walk:

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you."

It makes sense--in this life--to turn one's destiny over to the Savior for He will never leave us nor forsake us I(Hebrews 13:6).

A beautiful gospel song by T. O. Chisholm thrills us:

Be with me, Lord, no other gift or blessing Thou could bestow could with this one compare-- A constant sense of Thy abiding presence, Wherever I am, to feel that Thou art near!

Even in death the child of God sorrows not as those who have no hope (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). There is an eternity of difference in a funeral for an unbeliever and in one for a devoted child of God. To the sinner death is an enemy that transports the deceased to the gates of Hell. But to the loyal saint death is an angel that takes one near to the heart of God. Psalm 116:15 proclaims:

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

Death was gain to Paul (Philippians 1:21), and it shall be to all who love the Lord's appearing (II Timothy 4:8). It pays immeasurably to serve Jesus It does make sense to be a Christian. In life, in death--and in eternity--the best way is God's way. In fact, it is the only way! If our names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of LIFE it will mean that we chose wisely and lived properly upon the earth and that Heaven will be our home forever. On that golden shore, in joyous reflection, we shall certainly know. . .

Christianity Makes Sense!