Difference between an actual experience and believing by word of mouth? HELP!

[1still_waters]

So I'm debating this atheist and he wants information on why the resurrection is real.

My argument is that the apostles were willing to die for their message. They either knew it was a lie, or knew it was the truth, because they experienced it first hand! It's more plausible that they all would be willing to die for the truth than a lie they experienced first hand.

This fella is trying to say the apostles are just like modern day Jihad Muslims or just like the followers of Koresh or Jim Jones.

I pointed out there is a BIG difference between what the apostles were willing to die for and what the jihadists or followers of Jones/Koresh were willing to die for.

Jihadists are dying because they read a book, accept the claims as real, then go off to die.

Koresh/Jones followers are willing to die because they accepted the rhetoric of Koresh/Jones.

But the apostles aren't going off of mere claims of a book, or mere belief in rhetoric when they testify about the resurrection. In fact they are testifying on what they actually saw or didn't see.

The atheist thinks I'm splitting hairs and just making it up.

They do this EVERY time I have them cornered on this. Is there a way outta it? Because I'm sure he sees the difference but just isn't willing to admit it.

 

[1still_waters]

I normally don't debate atheists, but this is a childhood friend of mine.

I did get him to admit evolution doesn't prove anything more than change within a species. And that the apostles and early Chrisitan persecution can be verified outside the Bible. So he's a lil closer to the truth.

 

[Crazy4GODword]

yeah not much to an atheist, they really are not worth debating in less they want to hear something and believe something....but if they try to bugg ya its not worth it.....i really didn't answer your question...lol sorry

 

[resurrection33]

The Lord speaks to all of us. Good Christians listen, talk back, and develop a personal relationship with him. Atheists ignore him and then expect us to prove that he exists.

I think this is the same thing. Christians come to understand the power of God and know that life is eternal. How to put it into words to prove it to an atheist—I don’t know if words can do that. It’s not our problem—it’s theirs.

But Jesus did stick around for a while after he was crucified and show himself to a number of people.

 

[WeStand]

Well to me the difference between Christian martyerism and the likes of jihadests and J. Jones, is the same as the difference between a pre-meditated and a justified kill.

J.Jones, jihsdists and others like them, murder the helpless and innocent, in an attempt to prove their point, in what they beleive.

Christ, Stephen and all the other apostles, willingly gave their lives, witnessing The Word, hurting no one to prove their point.

Does that mean we should be willing to die also? YES IF you are wittnessing The Word of God; otherwise you should defend yourself.

There is absolutely no reason in The Word of God, that when people behave like terrorists, murdering the innocent and helpless, that you shouldn't go after them, to not only hold them accountable, but to also protect your own children from harm.

The problem these days it seems, is that people follow mans law, more than Gods law; God did in the begining, always has and still does, Command capital punishment on anybody who takes it upon themselves, to rape or murder. (thus we have millions and millions of $$$$ wasted on caging them up)

People read on a surface understanding; Thou shalt not kill, and take it as gospel truth, when it is very poorly translated. If you take the time to delve into the best copies we have of the original texts (masoretic) you will plainly see for yourself that it states, No one shall commit a homicidal murder (pre-meditated)

Mechezidek = King of the Justified Kills

eg: If you walked in on someone abusing a toddler; What would you Do?

Forever in Christ

 

[AnandaHya]

i heard someone say to an atheist once "if I'm right and there is a Heaven and Hell, then my belief will lead me to Heaven, but if you are right we both will be dead and it won't matter. Therefore who is being more logical by believing in Jesus?"

"in Facing the unknown hope is as reasonable as despair." "Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God."

Have you shared your testimony about the difference your faith and walk with Jesus has made in your life?

Have you shown him how the philosophy and teachings of Jesus have changed the world for the better, promoting equality, just, compassion and other qualities that were not and are not valued in many non Christian nations?

Aethist don't believe in the existence of God, then how do they explain the complexity of the the universe? the order and beauty of creation? Mathematical probability models can't explain how so much diversity and life exists in our small planet.

Ive been studying the history of science and every time Men's knowledge of the world goes down a negative path, God will send divine inspiration to people in the world to put it back on track. I mean look at the invention of penicillin, discovery in the fields of genetics, Newton's laws of nature, etc.

Newton also wrote a commentary on the Bible and was a prominent man in his church. we don't get to teach that in the public schools but I think the churches should point things like that out.

"I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."
-Sir Issac Newton, 1642-1727

if you want to have people believe show them how GOD has changed HISTORY through Spirit filled individuals across time and How God is still doing it today.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

 

[MaggieMye]

AFTER the resurrection, there were over 500 people that reported seeing and speaking with Jesus. What more does one need? It is documented in many ancient texts. You could recommend The Case for Christ by Lee Stobel..or read it yourself so you can have an intelligents arguemnt for this guy.

Maggie