SIMPLE QUESTIONS SKEPTICS WILL FIND DIFFICULT TO ANSWER

In last week’s blog post, I explained the purpose of seven “generic” questions we can ask skeptics that puts the burden of proof on them when they challenge us during apologetic or evangelistic discussions. The idea is to get skeptics to explain why they reject the Christian perspective on an issue under discussion—and to justify it. Below are examples of questions we can ask applied to typical challenges skeptics raise against the Bible. They are simple questions any Christian can ask and will put the burden of proof back on the skeptic. During the next four blog posts, we’ll look at other categories of questions: evolution, the existence of God, Jesus, and moral/religious relativism.

“I don’t believe the Bible!”

• “Have you read or studied the Bible?”
• If a person says no: “Then are you saying you don’t believe in something you know nothing about?”
• If a person says yes: “What don’t you believe about the Bible, and why don’t you believe it?”

2. You don’t take the Bible literally, do you?”

• “Why wouldn’t God say what He intends to mean?”
• “If the Bible is God’s revelation to people about Himself, His plan for salvation, and His guidelines for how people can live an abundant life, why wouldn’t He make it literal?”
• “Why would God make us guess what the Bible means if He wants to communicate truth to us?”

3. Everyone knows that the Bible’s unreliable because it’s been translated so many times throughout the centuries!

• “ How do you know the Bible is unreliable?”
• “Where has the Bible been translated incorrectly?”
• “Thousands of Bible scholars believe the Bible is reliable and translated accurately. Why do you think they’re wrong?”
• “The science of textual criticism confirms the New Testament is 99.5 percent accurate to the original manuscripts. Why do you think they are wrong?”

4. Everyone knows that the Bible is full of contradictions!

• “What contradictions are you talking about? Can you give me some examples?”
• “How do you know there are contradictions in the Bible? Have you read it?
• “What difference would it make if a few minor contradictions do exist, as long as they don’t affect the historical accuracy and doctrinal truths of the Bible?”
• “Even if a few minor copyist errors do exist, how does that prove Jesus Christ isn’t God and Savior?”

5. Science proves miracles never happened!

• “How does science prove miracles never happened?”
• “Miracles are a matter of history and are verified by eyewitnesses. Can science prove anything that is historical in nature, like the existence of George Washington?”
• “If a transcendent, all-powerful, creating God exists, aren’t miracles possible—even probable?”

6. You can’t trust the Bible; it was written thousands of years ago!

• “Where is the Bible historically, prophetically, or in any other way untruthful?”
• “What does age have to do with truth?”
• “The Bible has been proven to be more historically reliable than any other ancient text. If you reject the Bible, why shouldn’t you reject the writings of the Greek and Roman historians; in fact, most of classical history?”