Note:  Each of the five blogs in this series provides examples of offensive apologetic responses to skeptics and other critics. Part ten explains how you can practice these responses in each apologetic category I cover, and therefore be better prepared when your faith is challenged.

Part Thirteen:  Responding to Skeptics Who Claim Jesus Is neither Divine nor Resurrected Using “Apologetics on the Offense” Tactics

1. According to critics, early Bible editors fabricated the stories and sayings of Jesus! 

• Why do you believe that when  innumerable qualified Bible scholars have proven there are no fabrications?
• Where or how are the words or activities of Jesus fabricated?
• Who in particular did the fabrication?

2. Jesus may have been a good man or a prophet, but He isn’t God!

• If Jesus claimed to be God, had all the attributes of God, and performed miracles only God can do; why do you say He isn’t God?
• If Jesus claimed to be God, He either is God or a liar or madman. Tell me, what is there about Jesus that makes you think He is a liar or a lunatic?

3. The Gospel stories about Jesus are a religious myth!

• Since Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death on the cross, burial, and resurrection were recorded in the Gospels by eyewitnesses or their close companions, why do you think they’re mythical?
• Why do you believe the Gospels are mythical when Bible scholars have demonstrated they are accurate and reliable?  

4. There is no evidence that Jesus rose from the grave!

• Jesus was certified dead by the Roman authorities, buried in a tomb, and later seen alive by hundreds of eyewitnesses—and no one could produce His body. How can you say the resurrection is a myth?
• Please consider these five historical facts. After Jesus was crucified and buried, his tomb was found empty three days later. Hundreds of people saw Jesus after His resurrection. His disciples were transformed from cowardly men hiding from the Jewish authorities to bold, outspoken evangelists before the same authorities who crucified him. The Christian church began around A.D. 30. Sunday became a day of worship for Christians around the same time. If the resurrection is a myth, can you give me a better explanation for these five well-established historical facts?

5. I can’t accept a God who would send people to hell just because they never heard of Jesus. That’s unfair!

•  Where did you hear that God sends people to hell who never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus? Where does the Bible say that?
• You don’t fall into the category of someone who never heard of Jesus. Shouldn’t you be more concerned with your salvation and leave it up to God to deal fairly with people who never heard of Him?
• If someone chooses to reject God, why should God take away their free will and force them to go to Heaven?

6. If people live good lives and are good persons, God will accept them into Heaven!

• How good would you have to be? What are the criteria?
• Where did you learn that? Where did God say that in the Bible?
• How do you know that God saves people based on how good they are?
• What is there about your life that makes you so extraordinarily good that God will let you into Heaven independent of Jesus Christ, which is God’s ordained way for people to be saved?

Next week we’ll respond to religious pluralism and moral relativism