Common Questions and Objections
The following are a couple of the more common questions/objections you will probably hear while sharing your faith. If you would like information on a question or objection not discussed here, please contact us, and we will do our best to supply you with the information you need. I will try to update this page regularly.
Although this information will prove useful, please remember that apologetics alone can't win anybody to Christ. Only through knowledge of sin, repentance, and faith can someone be saved. Perhaps John Hammett put it best:
"The proper goal of apologetics is not to force someone to admit that we have proved our position, but simply to remove objections so that a nonbeliever cannot hide behind intellectual objections."
2. How do you know the Bible to be true?
3. There is no absolute truth.
4. All religions are true and lead to heaven.
5. A loving God would not allow suffering.
6. What about people in Africa who never hear the gospel?
7. I don't believe in God, therefore He doesn't exist.
8. God will automatically forgive sin.
9. The Bible condones slavery.
This is probably the most common question I get when sharing my faith. Even people who do believe in God want to know your answer: “Can you prove God exists?” The opinion of the world is generally that belief in God is nothing more than a huge leap of blind faith, but is this the case? No. Despite the huge debate going on in the world today, the issue simply is not that complicated. Belief in God is logical, and here is how we can know:
Psalm 97:6 says, "The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples have seen His glory." People all over the world debate the existence of God. And, during these debates, people want to know: how can you prove there is a God? It appears people are looking for some sort of 'God potion' which turns a certain color if God is in fact real. However, proving the existence of God, if looked at as the Psalm tells us to, is easy to prove.
Think about it like this: if you see a building, how do you know there was a builder? The building is proof of the builder. If you see a painting, how do you know there is a painter? The painting is proof that there is a painter. If I showed you the Empire State Building and said, "Over a long time that building evolved out of old concrete, broken glass, and rusted pipes and became the beautiful, complex building you see today." How would you react? Common sense would tell you someone (or something) built it. The same can be applied to creation: creation is 100% proof of a creator.
I heard one man explain it like this: imagine you are in a room. In one corner is a 747 air plane, in one corner is a supercomputer, in one corner is a robot, and in the last corner is a worm. Which of those four is the most intricate and complex? The worm is by far the most complex. So, that would mean that the 747, the computer, and the robot we all know had to be built, but the worm (the most complex and intricate) happened by luck and chance over time? Not only would the worm have to of been created and designed, but it had to have been designed and created by a much more advanced person than that of the plane, computer, and robot.
No matter how much philosophy, science, or biology you have studied the fact remains that creation proves and cries out for the existence of God.
Once, while sitting in a restaurant, my dad began witnessing to the waitress. We soon learned that she was an agnostic, who was leaning towards the belief in God, but she didn’t feel we could truly know. My dad said to her, “I think I can help you with that.” He then walked her through the information above. She then looked at him and said, “Well your right, God definitely exists.” Indeed, as Psalms states, “the heavens declare”.
2. How do you know the Bible to be true?
The Bible is the absolute basis and foundation for the Christian faith. Therefore, it is mandatory that all Christians be able to give a defense as to why they know the Bible to be the infallible Word of God. Here, we will talk about different reasons why the Bible must be the true Word of God: it is the best selling book of all time, it claims to be written by God, historical evidence, archeological evidence, scientific evidence, and fulfilled prophecy.
Although it is never listed in the official charts, the Bible is the best selling book in the history of the world. The reason it is not listed is because people can not decide if it should be listed as fiction or non-fiction. The Bible sells about 150 million copies per year, and has about four billion copies in print. These copies have been translated into over 2,000 languages. No other book even comes close.
Although the fact that it is the best-selling book does not mean it is true, or written by God, doesn't it mean we should probably look at it?
The Bible Claims to be Written by God
The phrase, "Thus saith the Lord" is used over 3,000 times in the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. No other book ever written makes such a huge claim. However, does this fact mean that the Bible truly was inspired and written by God? Of course not. Simply making a statement does not make something true.
However, if a book makes such a claim, shouldn't we check into it? If the Bible truly was written by God, there should be super-natural evidence to back it up. Does such evidence exist? Many believe this evidence is non-existent. Below are some of the super-natural evidences which back up the Bible, and therefore its claim to have been written by God accurate.
Many believe that the Bible has been corrupted and changed over time by men. If this is true, then it could not possibly be the true Word of God. So, exactly how much has the Bible changed over time? To determine this, we must first look at ancient copies of the Biblical manuscripts.
There are over 24,000 ancient copies of manuscripts of the New Testament. These ancient copies match today's Bible almost exactly. In fact, the only differences are uses of language for the times, each passage and chapter still has the same meaning, same stories, and the same truths.
Not only do the ancient copies match today's versions of the Bible, but historians of the times also back up the authenticity and historical accuracy of the Bible. Historians such as Josephus (about A.D. 93) and Cornelius Tacitus (about A.D. 112) wrote on the life and death of Jesus. These historical writings match the Bible and its description of Christ.
If the Bible was written by men, it should have mistakes. But, if it was written by God, it should be not only historically accurate, but archeologically accurate.
There have been over 25,000 archeological finds which not only do not contradict the Bible, but help provide even more evidence that it is true. These finds provide references to people, their titles, and even locations which are referred to in the Bible. Interestingly, not one of these finds has contradicted the Bible one single time. In fact, many of these archeological finds have proved that people and locations in the Bible were real when previously believed to be fictional.
Many people believe that the Bible is 'un-scientific', and that believing in the Bible is nothing but an excuse to disregard science. However, if you truly study the Bible, you will see that it is not only a scientific book, but that science proves it true.
To prove this fact, we will compare the sciences of the times to what the Bible said. Back then, scientists taught that there were exactly 1,100 stars in the sky. But the Bible made the claim that the stars in the sky are too numerous to be counted (Jeremiah 32:22). What does science teach now? That there are too many stars to count. So, there is one mistake which was taught in science, that the Bible claimed was wrong (and was correct in doing so).
Another scientific claim made back then was that the world sat on the back of a large animal (like a turtle). However, despite what was taught, the Bible said the world was a free float in space (Job 26:7). What do we now know to be true today? That the earth really is a free float in space.
A third claim made by science back then was that the world was flat. But the Bible, again denying the sciences of the time, said that the earth was round (Isaiah 40:22). Again, what do we know to be true today? That the earth is round!
A prophecy is a "foretelling or prediction of what is to come". Before using the following information in witnessing be sure to ask the person or persons you are talking to what they think the word prophecy means. I have talked to numerous people who have not known, so be sure to make sure they understand what a prophecy is before walking them through the following information.
Of all the evidence in the Bible, perhaps none confirms its super-natural nature more than prophecy. The Bible contains over 2,000 detailed prophecies. In fact, about 1/3 of the Bible is prophetical in nature. No other religious book comes anywhere close to making so many predictions.
Of the 2,000+ prophecies in the Bible, all have come true except the predictions of Christ's second coming and the revelation. The Old Testament was written more than 400 years before the New Testament. In the Old Testament, there are hundreds of prophecies (300+) on the life of Christ alone. Let's take a look at just a couple of these prophecies:
- Prophecy that Christ would be born of a virgin:
- Isaiah 7:14 says, "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. This prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-25.
- Prophecy that Christ would be born in Bethlehem:
- Micah 5:2 says, "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." This prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew 2:1.
- Prophecy that Christ would rise from the dead:
- Pslam 16:10 says, "For You will not allow Your Holy One to Sheol; nor will you allow Your Holy One to undergo decay." Jesus Christ was not left to decay, and was resurrected, just as predicted in the Old Testament. In fact, this prophecy is directly referenced in Acts 2:31.
- Prophecy of how Christ would die:
- Pslam 22:14-20 describes the death of Christ in amazing detail. What is most incredible about this prophecy is that crucifixion was not even used by the Romans as a method of execution when it was written. How could this have been known unless the Bible truly is the Word of God? This prophecy is fulfilled in Luke 23:33-34 and Matthew 27:35.
After being presented with this evidence, it is very difficult to argue that the Bible is just a man-written, ordinary book. The problem is most people don't realize that this information even exists. As believers in Christ, it is our job to show them this incredible information.
3. There is no absolute truth.
Often when witnessing, people will want to make the argument that no religion is either 100% right or wrong. When making this argument they will claim that, "There is no absolute truth."
This statement is inconsistent in many ways. First, is rape always wrong? Is cold blooded murder always wrong? Is torturing and killing small children always wrong? There are absolute truths, people just sometimes don't want to admit it.
Another problem with this statement is: is the statement "there is no absolute truth" an absolute truth? If that statement is correct, than that statement itself is an absolute truth. But how can you possibly have no absolute truth when the basic argument is absolutely true? The comment is hypocritical.
Although many people like to think that no one is either right or wrong, and that all people can believe what they want and still be right, common sense tells us that somebody must be right. Therefore, there is absolute truth.
4. All religions are true and lead to heaven.
In today’s world, almost everything is viewed as relative. With so many religions to choose from, people perhaps view religion as the most relative of all. “There are so many! No one is wrong! All religions are true!” But, is this possible? Can all religions actually be true? Let’s examine a couple and see.
For this example, we will compare Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism. Islam teaches that Jesus was a profit, but not God. Christianity teaches that Jesus was God in the flesh, can they both be right? No. They are contradictory beliefs. If one is right, then the other is wrong, they can’t both be correct. Islam also believes that the Koran is the final Word of God, but Christianity teaches that the Bible is strictly the Word of God, can they both be right? No, again, they are contradictory claims. If one is right, the other is wrong, they can’t both be right. Let’s look at one more belief of different religions. Christianity teaches that there are two options when you die: heaven or hell. Hindus believe in reincarnation. And atheists believe that there is nothing when we die. Can someone go to heaven or hell, be reincarnated, and have nothing happen to them at the exact same time? No, they are completely contradictory beliefs. If one is right, the other two much be wrong.
Despite that thinking that ‘all paths lead to heaven’ is certainly a pleasant thought, it simply can’t be true. The different worldviews and belief systems contradict on almost every key doctrine, they can’t all possibly lead to heaven.
5. A loving God would not allow suffering.
Usually, when somebody makes this argument, something has happened in their life that has caused them serious pain, and even though they don’t want to admit it, they are mad at God. For example, I was once witnessing to a man who was passively saying he doesn’t believe in God. I began to walk him through the ‘builder building’ example (see ‘Can you prove God exists’ above). He accepted this thought, but then said, “Well if God is so real and loving, why is my son an alcoholic? Why is God putting my family through that?” On another occasion, I heard a clip of a man who was doing some open air preaching at a Marilyn Manson concert. He began sharing the gospel, and a young woman shouted, in one of the most pain filled voices I have ever heard in my life, “Did God love me when he ripped my five month old baby out of my stomach?” On still another occasion, I heard a clip of a television show on which one of the hosts’s said, “If God is real and is allowing all this suffering, He has a lot of answer for.”
So, clearly the world wants to know: why does God allow suffering? To start, let’s look to the Garden of Eden. Before sin, before the fall, before man’s disobedience, was there suffering, or death, or even pain? The Bible describes the garden as a place where man literally walked with God. It was paradise. So, if at first things were so perfect, and now things are so wrong, one of two things are true: either God messed up bad (which he didn’t because man caused the fall), or something is radically wrong between man and God. We get the answer in Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
Starvation, pain, illness, natural disasters, and all other horrible things on this planet exist for one reason: man rebelled against God in sin. Rather than using suffering as an excuse to reject God, people should be using it as a force to drive them towards Him. Sad though it maybe, the state of the world today is fully explained in God’s Word.
But still, isn’t it interesting how the world reacts. When we see a beautiful rainbow, or something as incredible as the Grand Canyon, people address it by saying, “What a beautiful act of Mother Nature.” But when a hurricanes rips houses off the ground that is viewed as an, “Act of God.” He is ignored in the glory of His creation, but blamed for the consequences of man’s sin.
6. What about people in Africa who never hear the gospel?
Once, while flying on a plane, I struck up a conversation with the gentleman next to me. He said that he went to church and believed in Jesus. “But,” he told me, “I am not one of those people who believe that those who don’t hear the gospel will go to hell. For example, some kids in Africa don’t ever hear about Jesus, and God will deal with them differently.”
That argument would be valid, but there is one problem. Nobody goes to hell for not hearing or believing the gospel. Man goes to hell for one reason: sin. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is why it is mandatory to be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ, so that the gospel can be heard by people in places like Africa, who otherwise would never hear it. Instead of using this as an argument against God’s Word, shouldn’t we instead be allowing this truth to drive us to go and tell the entire world the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15)?
7. I don't believe in God, therefore He doesn't exist.
I am amazed at how often I hear an argument like this. People argue that, “Since I don’t believe it, it can’t possibly be true.” A common belief going around today is that man can literally create his own afterlife in his mind (in other words, what he believes, that is what is true). For example, I once heard somebody raise this objection and the person witnessing said, “If I believe when I die I will be in Candy Land, and that I will eat candy forever, will that make me to go Candy Land when I die?” I was amazed when the lost person said that the person would go to Candy Land if they truly believed in it. Since this belief is growing so rapidly, let’s look a little closer at its implications.
Imagine I am standing on a highway, with an eighteen-wheeler coming towards me at 70 miles per hour. Confidently, I put up my hand and announce, “I don’t believe in trucks! Therefore I won’t get hurt!” What is going to happen when that truck reaches my body? I will die. Just because I don’t believe in trucks doesn’t mean that the truck isn’t real. I can’t create my own reality (trucks do not exist) simply because I believe it with all my heart. The fact is, trucks exist, no matter what I believe.
God, judgment day, and hell are all very real. And believing that they aren’t isn’t going to make a bit of difference. The truck will still hit you.
8. God will automatically forgive sin.
This is another common when I hear when witnessing. The argument goes that, since God is all loving, He will automatically forgive sin and let everyone enter heaven. Let’s put this argument in today’s court of law and see how it holds up.
Imagine a man rapes, tortures, and murders three teenage girls. He is arrested, and there is no doubt that he is guilty. The judge says to him, “Do you have any last words before sentencing?” The murderer looks at the judge and says, “I know what I did was wrong. But I have been trying to do good since then, and I know you are a very loving and forgiving judge, so please just let me go.” What would be your reaction if the judge said, “Great! I am forgiving, so I will let you go.” And then releases the man without any punishment? Probably outrage. The judge is supposed to be just, and he is supposed to punish criminals.
Now apply the same scenario to God. I often hear people say, “But that is God, he isn’t human. It is not comparable.” They are right, God is not human. He is infinitely just and holy. Therefore, His punishment must be infinitely worse for criminals than the human judge. The Bible says all liars will have their part in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Although he offers forgiveness through Jesus Christ, mankind by default is guilty before God, and will not be forgiven simply because, “God is a forgiving God.” He is just, holy, and righteous; and therefore must punish sin.
9. The Bible condones slavery.
I am going to honest; I personally have never encountered this objection when sharing my faith. However, I have seen and heard many witnessing conversations in which people raise this objection. Because of this, I have decided to include some information on some things you could mention if in fact you do come across this objection.
Odds are that if somebody is raising this ‘complaint’ it is because they do not want to believe the Bible. They feel that by saying it condones slavery, they are justifying (in their mind, at least) not following the Bible, because it is ‘full of atrocities’. In the situations I have heard where people make the claim that the Bible condones slavery, it is usually supported by scriptures such as Colossians 4:1, which says, “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.” People make the claim that since Paul referenced slavery, he was supporting it.
But first, we need to establish what images the word ‘slavery’ brings to the persons mind. Odds are (if they were raised in the United States), it is images of poor African Americans being beaten, and worked to exhaustion or death. People think about the racism that came with slavery, and how cruel of a practice it was. But this image of slavery is not the same as that of the Bible. Consider this quote from the ‘Prince of Preachers’, Charles Spurgeon:
Proverbs 14:31 says, “He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker. But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.” No verse in scripture condones the horrific slavery that is so common in the minds of men today. On the contrary, the teachings of scripture are clear that treating men, women, and children in such a horrific way is sinful and wrong to the extant that it “taunts [God]”. Even further, most people do not realize that Christianity was actually the driving force behind the abolishment of slavery (by men such as William Wilberforce).
The Bible does not condone the brutal slavery that is so vivid in the minds of many people today, and this is another excuse sinners will use to prevent themselves from coming humbly before almighty God. If someone raises this objection, you can briefly reference it, but be sure to jump right back into the Law and the gospel.