If I were to ask the average American Christian, “How do you know Christianity is true?”, I would guess that most would answer the question with, “Because Christianity is true for me.” In other words, it’s less of a intellectual discovery and more of a socially accepted spirituality. The question could also be answered, “I used to steal and now I tithe”, “I can feel Christ in my heart”, “I walked down an aisle,  repeated a prayer and I can’t explain the change of heart other than God” or maybe, “I grew up in the church, nothing bad has happened to me and it’s all I’ve ever known so I choose to stay with it.” If the above is true to you there is nothing wrong with that, a matter of fact, they are good things but if it’s the only answer to the question stated then there is more for you to discover in Christianity.

The Christian religion is the reality of God’s redemptive plan unraveling in this world, in which you and I either walk in it or against it. This, of course, is experienced for individuals of the Christian faith, and only because of the historical and documental events that have taken place. But unfortunately, spirituality has been growing in America and relative truth has become the norm in our society. This, then, causes religious pluralism or universalism, the belief that all religions lead to heaven. Clearly seen in the CO-EXIST movement, claiming a sign of love because it explains that everyone can be right in their religious beliefs as long as you are a good person and wish no one to go to hell. Though this is accepted in non-Christian America we can still see it creeping in our churches, in what is called “Hard” Inclusivism. This is the belief that members of different religions can be redeemed but the basis of that redemption is exclusively from the person and work of Christ. So one can be saved by Christ without ever hearing of Him or the gospel. In their ignorance, they have experienced God but the way they filter God’s voice is different from what God is really saying. They can be a Muslim, serving Allah in their heart but really they are serving Christ, and God is gracious to save them on the account of their ignorance.

Whether it’s universalism, inclusivism, Atheism or this moralistic therapeutic deism, two issues have to be addressed: the historicity of Jesus and the testimony of Jesus’ followers. Was Jesus a real person and are the accounts/words of the bible true?

Jesus claimed to be God and that no one can be saved unless it’s through Him. He is either a liar or the substance of truth. It’s either Christianity is true and all other religions are false; or Christianity is false because Christ was a liar and should be categorized equivocally with every other religion.

 As a Christian, I believe that Christianity is true and that it cannot be shared. There may be bits of truth in other religions or actual events that are claimed but Christianity stands true under every scrutiny. It is the only way of truth, the only way to God, the only hope for salvation, the only guide to be human and it centers at its core with Christ.

So for the coming up blogs, we will tackle the historicity of Christ. What better way to start a study on church history than with the originator of the Christian church, Jesus of Nazareth. We will go over early sources that would verify Jesus as an actual man of history from Non-Christian writings (who would gain no advantage) and Christian writings (who would have everything to lose).