Apologetics Lane: Why Should I Return to Christianity

Friday, March 26, 2021

Why Should I Return to Christianity

An atheist asked the following question in a facebook group:

Question:

I grew up in the church and was a Jesus Freak until I was 15 or so. I was unhappy and it took me about 5 years to decide I was an atheist. Now I'm happier than I ever was. 

Why should I become a Christian again if my life is better and filled with so much more happiness now that I'm an atheist?

My response [with minor modifications]:

1. Because Christianity is true. [ Irrespective of proof or disproof ]

2. Because it's prudentially in your best interest eternally, and often temporally in this life too.

3. Because deep in your heart you know or suspect theism is true given the sensus divinitatis [sense of the divine] implanted by God in all human beings which all humans try to suppress in their unrighteousness. Possibly you even suspect deep in your heart that Christianity itself is true, given the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit which you might also be suppressing.

4. God commands you to believe the Gospel for the glory of God and for your own self-interest.

5. Because Christianity can ground ultimate meaning, purpose, dignity and value for your own life and all of humanity. Whereas atheism cannot.

6. Because the triune God of Christianity alone can give you what your heart has truly been seeking for all your life. The real goal that earthly things are only a pale ersatz/artificial shadow of.

The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e-ZB3sZNtL3_7IOtyPkCbimW6F0DX-FC/view?usp=sharing

7. There was no good reason for having left Christianity, because all your intellectual objections were, if you're being honest with yourself, post hoc rationalizations for excusing your betrayal and reneging on your commitment to Jesus in order to satisfy your sinful and selfish desires.

8. In all likelihood you didn't examine the positive case for Christianity as thoroughly as you should have because of confirmation bias. We tend to surround ourselves with and shield ourselves from evidence that goes contrary from our shallow desires.

9. Life is short, death is certain and eternity is forever.

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - martyred missionary Jim Elliot

10. Softly and Tenderly [Jesus is Calling]

https://youtu.be/B_6s6lRPPBQ

Evidence for God

http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2016/12/im-going-to-list-and-summarize-what-i.html

Required reading for atheists

http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2019/11/required-reading-for-atheists.html

Book Reviews of Recent Atheist Authors by Christian Apologists

https://misclane.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-reviews-of-recent-atheist-authors.html

Making a case for Christianity

http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2017/12/making-case-for-christianity.html