Sometimes, we have hard questions about our faith that can eat away at us and steal our joy. Just a few days ago, I received an email from a young man that was dealing with doubt. I wanted to share his email as well as my response to serve as resource for any that are going through a similar situation.
Dear Brother Ben,
This is Sam (Not his real name). First, thank you for taking time out of your schedule to read this email. I have a question that has been on my mind, and was hoping that you could help me find an answer. I am not a skeptic at ALL and honestly do believe that Jesus Christ came to earth and died for our sins and then was resurrected from the dead and i am a christian, but lately it seems that i have been wondering how? How do we know that OUR religion is the one that will earn mine, yours and others way to heaven? I have been doing some thinking and have also thought about people like me and you, who have been raised up in a christian environment, and if thats all i have ever known then how do i know for SURE that what i believe is right? Since there are literally HUNDREDS of religions out in our world today. Basically what I am trying to ask is how do i know for a FACT that what i believe is true and will guarantee that when i die i will go to heaven?
-Sam
Dear Sam,
Thanks for the email, my friend. Your question is really, really good, and one that I have spent a LOT of time thinking about. Like you, I don’t want to believe something just because my mom and dad believe it. I want to believe it because it’s really true! As I have traveled around the globe on missions projects, I have met hundreds of lost people who are headed toward hell without Jesus. They worship their ancestors and statues and even the sun. Why do they do crazy stuff like that? Because that’s what their father and grandfather and great-grandfather did. If Christianity is just a nice “family religion” that makes boys and girls behave better at school and make the honor roll, then I am certainly not interested, and neither should you be.
You see, brother, I’m dying. So are you. Sure, on the outside I look like a healthy 33 year old man and you look like a strong young buck yourself. The truth is, however, that these bodies of ours don’t last very long on this planet. We have a serious problem in that 100% of humanity is being buried at some point in time. We need an answer that is bigger than Dave Matthew’s hit song, “Eat, Drink, and be Merry For Tomorrow We Die.” What is the answer? Jesus Christ. I’m convinced of it and I’m giving my life to this truth.
I’m not just saying this because Jesus is the “church” answer that I learned in Sunday School. I’m saying this because the Bible offers the absolute best description of humanity’s horrible state of sin, greed, corruption, and lust. How did we get this way? Have you ever wondered why the world is so messed up? The Bible’s description of a heavenly rebellion leading to the entrance of sin on Earth is by far the most reasonable explanation. It makes the most sense. Not only that, how is it that one little tiny piece of land in the middle of the planet, called Israel, has for two millennia been the center of political war? More conflict and hatred has evolved from that place than any other spot on Earth? Could it be that the Israelites really were God’s chosen people, but rebelled and lost their privileged state, as Romans explains? Could it be that God has temporarily “cut them off from his blessings” until a time in the future when He restores all things? And could it be that Satan is real and that he hates everything that comes from Jerusalem, namely the perfect Son of God who cast Him out of heaven?
Sam, I want to encourage you to keep questioning things. This is EXACTLY what I did at your age and it led me to the Cross of Christ. I am convinced that the reason we call this year 2009, is because something happened 2000 years ago that has forever changed the world. Jesus came, died, was buried, and three days later, nothing remained in the tomb but a few angels and some useless deathwrap. He lives today at the “right hand of the throne of God” and he LOVES YOU and ME more than we can possibly know. He hates the pain we endure and the loneliness and the distance we often feel from him, and one day, he will take us to be with him where he is (John 14:1-6).
Before I finish this Ancient Words sermon series, I am going to try and answer your thoughtful question in more detail. “How do we know that the Bible is really true and the other holy books are not?” “How do we know that Christianity is truth, and Buddhism is a lie?” I believe I have some powerful and persuasive answers to that question. Listen carefully on Oct. 4th and Oct. 18th.
I love you brother, and I love your searching heart. May God lead you to the truth that sets you completely free.
Your friend and pastor,
Ben
Thank you thank you thank you for providing your preachings and your blog on the internet. I live in Memphis but while I was a student at Martin I visited only a few times to Englewood.. but every time left a wonderful impression. Thank you for allowing me to still keep up with your sermons. As you had mentioned before when you started the Ancient Word series, the church needs someone to stand at the pulpit where the Word is “passionatly and thoughtfully preached”. I have no doubt you do just that. Because I am not able to be involved there as a member, reading and listening to your sermons has honestly helped me deepen my walk with the Lord. They are inspiring, convicting, God-filled and SO REAL.. much like His Word.
Thank you for challenging me and teaching me, even from across the interstate. Englewood is a blessed place to be. May God continue to bless and use you and His church to share His love.