Christian apologetics Essays

Christian apologetics Essays Christian apologetics Essay Christian apologetics Essay The whole question of whether Jesus was who he said he was or not in the minds of the people rests on one of the three conclusions thinking people could come to: Lord, Liar or Lunatic. Is there any other choice? Could Jesus be legend? Like a character out of science fiction or literature, Jesus could be a figment of someones imagination; rather than real life flesh and blood person. People in Jesus time most certainly had different understandings of who Jesus was, for example that He became the Son of God when God adopted Him at His baptism (Marks view perhaps? Or that He became the Son of God when He was born of a virgin (which is when He came into existence, according to Luke). Jesus as liar is harder to establish because if when Jesus made his claims he knew that he was not God, then he was lying and deliberately deceiving his followers. But, if he was a liar, then he was also a hypocrite because he taught others to be honest at whatever cost. 1 Reading the book has given me a new insight into his life and the way that he has affected the lives of the author, his son and the people who were utilize in the writing of this book. It is particularly interesting to me to consider HTH: question of whether Jesus was lord, liar or lunatic, because I had really nevi considered this question. I believe it is a suitable academic exercise that Lech me deeper into the Gospels than I had really ever ventured before and for that, this question is valuable to research. 1 Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell, More Than a Carpenter (Carol Stream, IL: Living Books, 2009) 3:30 2 Is it possible Jesus was deranged? Chapter 3, page 33 Can anyone come to the conclusion that Jesus was out of his mind? Deranged: insane, mad, disturbed, unbalanced, unhinged, unstable, irrational Certifiable. One thing is certain -? at Some point the lunacy Come: to the surface. The facade is cracked and the illness is clear. Had Jesus been insane, could he have endured the truly horrendous circumstances that took place in his life? If he was just a man, he certainly could have been afflicted with or susceptible to these human flaws and sure the insanity would have appeared at certain points in his life to throw his whole mission into question. However, the people in Jesus timer according the Gospels, seemed to accept his miracles and teachings as true at least the people who believed or wanted to believe. Had Jesus been merely a human without divine characteristics, his miracles over nature also cant be explained psychologically, and raising Lazarus from the dead after being in the tomb for a few days is not the stuff of trickery. Jesus wasnt crazy. According to Gary Collins, a psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology from Purdue and the author of numerous books and articles, Disturbed individuals often show signs of depression or anxiety and explosive anger. But Jesus never displays inappropriate emotions. Jesus dc get angry in the temple when he saw the misuse of the temple courtyard and the moneychangers taking advantage of the poor. In fact, Jesus seems his most composed when being challenged. All and all, I just dont see signs that Jesus was suffering from any known mental illness. 2 From a logical standpoint, it is my opinion that insanity is not a valid argument. In the boo the authors point to several psychiatrists who disagree that Jesus could hoax been insane based on knowledge we have in this day and age. In light of other things we know about Jesus, its hard to imagine that he was mentally disturbed, 3 according to psychiatrists Arthur Noses and Lawrence Kola from their textbook, Modern Clinical Psychiatry. Again, insanity is not a logical conclusion. It just does not make sense. Jesus spoke some of the most profound words ever spoken and they were recorded by numerous people during his time and after as well as the prophec ies before and all have endured for 2000+ years. 3 In this chapter about Jesus being Lord, Liar or Lunatic, it is interesting to me to think about these things. I have done some extra research while writing this paper and there are all different ideas about this subject, however most tend to agree that lunacy is not a really viable conclusion. 2 Gary Collins, quoted in Lee Strobes, The Case For Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Conserved, 1998) 147 Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell, More Than a Carpenter (Carol Stream, IL: 2009) 334 4 Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell, More Than a Carpenter (Carol Stream, IL: 2009) 3:34 4 I cannot personally conclude that Jesus as a liar or a lunatic. The only other alternative is that he was and is the Christ, the Son of God, as he claimed. But in spite of the logic and evidence, many people cannot seem to bring themselves to this conclusion. Chapter 3, page 36 Why is it that people, when confronted with the evidence, cannot admit to themselves or others, that Jesus is in fact Lord and God in one; even when hey admit they dont believe Him to be liar or lunatic? In researching their book, the McDowell asked numerous people this question, Jesus, Lord, Liar or Lunatic? The answers they received were interesting because they said that overwhelmingly the question of liar and lunatic came back with an astounding, No! The question Of Lord however, was met with a confusing, Absolutely not! My question is, how can the answer to Lord be Absolutely Not! when the question of Liar and Lunatic is definite No! ? It is illogical to make these two statements. Sean and Josh McDowell point out that it was not just rabble of Jesus time hat had the opinion that Jesus was indeed Lord. It was the educated people, the non-believers and the Council of Niece, as well as the anti-Nice members who considered Jesus as Divine. According to the book, it was common thought that Jesus was and is Divine. Igniting of Antioch was quote as saying God incarnate God himself appearing in the form of man. 5 And Urinates, the Father is God and the Son is God; for He who is born of God is God. 6 In an interview with DRP. D. A. Carson, research professor of the New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Terrified, Illinois, Lee Strobes asked Carson, What did Jesus say or do that convinces you that Jesus: is God? Carbons answer was surprising to Strobes, Jesus forgave sins. 7 When only God can forgive sins, Jesus specifically does so on a number of occasions. Jesus also considered himself sinless, another attribute of deity. After reading and re-reading this particular chapter in the book, and taking the authors at their word about the conclusions and quotes from other biblical scholars, apologists and medical professionals, it has successfully convinced me that Jesus is Lord -? not lunatic or liar. The e vidence is just too overwhelming. In my opinion, anyone with common sense has to conclude that Jesus is in fact, Lord. 5 Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell, More Than a Carpenter (Carol Stream, IL: 2009) 3:37 6 Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell, More Than a Carpenter (Carol Stream, IL: 2009) 3:38 7 Strobes, The Case for Christ, p. 157-158 6 Overall response to the book. I am always surprised when I read books like More than a Carpenter. I dont really read scholarly books to a large extent. Most of my readings are biographies, non-fiction novels and the news (which isnt necessarily truth hose days); but when read a book like More than a Carpenter, am struck by the questions these kinds of books raise with me.