What are you waiting for? That’s OK, I’ll wait with you.

Dear Friend,

I hear you believe in God but not in Jesus. Can I ask, “why?” Is it because you don’t believe He actually existed? Many say that there are no writings about him from people who lived when he did. So, there really is no proof of Jesus. Forgive my short, but I believe, pointed answer; that is why it is called “faith.” Much of the writings about Him came shortly after he lived, similar to the history we study in school. We humans often cannot see the forest for the trees, until we can step away a little and grasp what is really going on. Many didn’t believe Pilate actually existed either, then they found the stone with his name inscribed. (This was briefly spoken of in a previous writing.) I would like to use a movie line here from a Christmas favorite and we’ll see if you remember as well. “Just because you’ve never seen a million dollars, does that mean it doesn’t exist?” I’ve never met or seen evidence of my great grandfather (who was around less than 100 years before I was born) but, I know he existed. I believe the gospels were written within that time-frame. Josephus wrote about him as well in that era.

Is it because you don’t believe all of the Bible to be true? OK then, which parts are true and which aren’t? Don’t you think that God would be able to give us enough to believe? Why can’t the bible be literal, symbolic and allegorical all at the same time? God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit all at once. Just because we don’t understand or like what we read in His word, doesn’t mean we can’t have faith in all He’s given us. Maybe that’s truth enough to help us believe ourselves into His family.

Is your lack of faith in Jesus due to what others call “inconsistencies” in the Gospel writings? Well, His ways are not my ways and I don’t always spend the time I should studying this aspect of my faith like I probably should. I do know that the gospels were written at slightly different times for different audiences. But, do any inconsistencies change the context of what is written? I cannot say that there are inconsistencies that I’ve seen but, when I’ve looked into the anti-creation arguments of inconsistencies in scripture, I’ve found them to be unfounded. So, I guess I trust God in the beginning, I also do through the rest of His word. This may not be very scientific of me but, this is about faith, not science.

Is your lack of faith because many biblical stories follow similar myths and legends from other parts of the world? I know a little about this because someone once asked me about the many different “Flood” stories that abound around the world. Now, don’t take my word for this but, if you review the different Noah stories you’ll see the oldest verifiable ones come from the earliest Jewish writings. If you chose not to look, or look again that’s O.K. as well. I don’t believe things like this are really a provable fact. I have a simple question for you. Why would God give us scientific evidence to believe in Him, in Jesus? With it, there would be no faith, no trust.

Growing up, I never had to prove my father would protect me in a dangerous situation. I trusted - by his character - he would. I never had to offer evidence that my mother would take care of me as I had my lifetime of it to show that fact. I believe that is similar to the family, God’s family that the Bible talks about. When you imagine a “family,” these things (and many others) are like little prophecies about how things are supposed to be that you see come about in your life. Now, I’m not talking about significantly dysfunctional families. Those tend to be the ones furthest from God, or any belief in Him. I mean, the families that have consistently sacrificed themselves (in many different ways) for their loved ones.

Is your lack of faith in Jesus because you’ve been hurt, by family, or church? I’m sorry if that is the case. Hurt people, hurt people. We know this to happen. There is a movie with Steve Martin where he is a traveling charlatan healing preacher and he comes across, “the real deal.” In the story a boy is healed and Steve’s character doesn’t know how to handle it as it puts him to question his lack of faith. I believe in all of us sinners that believe some are “the real deal,” and you will know them by their fruits, (as it is written in scripture). I cannot stop those who aren’t and the bible just asks me to share my belief in Jesus. I am not asked to question others’ faith or behaviors (unless they claim to be a believer).

Finally, is your inability to believe in Jesus because all your questions about Him have not been answered? About eighteen different people prophesied about his coming hundreds of years before he did. He fulfilled many prophecies he had no control over, including over 20 on the day he was crucified. Many have tried to prove he didn’t exist or even die on the cross but, their proof is similar to the proof I have of my faith. You could call it their religion. If you do look into the life of Jesus, it’s not the science of whether or not He existed or died for us that is evidence. It is the thousands of years of changed lives that are due to His life and sacrifice. So, what else would you need to see?

Now, we could discuss why He had to die but, that is better for another time, and I am not God so, I didn’t make the rules. I do know this, by being here, Jesus changed the world that He had a hand in making. No other religious leader can say that. In this world, all the other major faiths’ leaders are still in their tombs. Jesus is not. He had shown himself to his disciples about 10 times or so, after he rose from the dead. He also was seen by about 500 people as well. There is no written refute about these happenings from that time frame either. So, (using a previous logic) does that mean I can not believe not to believe? Confusing, isn’t it? Which is why I simply choose faith. The Bible does say we need to have faith like a child. And, Jesus said, (John 14:6) “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.”

Because I believe in God, if someone who has changed more lives and the trajectory of our world says that the only way into God’s eternal family is through Him; I gotta believe. I’ve got to have faith in Him. There is too much there not to. I like the way CS Lewis says it. It goes something like this, “If we (believers in Jesus) are wrong, it is no big deal. But, if we are right, it is a very big deal.” I know eventually you will believe it because the Bible says that “Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.” So, I’ll wait with you. Please, just don’t take too long as that could be a big deal.

With Great Love and Prayers,

Your Friend - TRD and Family