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There are a lot of things that you can borrow—a chewed pencil from your classmate, the latest Beyoncé CD from your BFF, or the keys to your parents’ car. Ideas about Christianity can be borrowed as well. A thought or belief circulates around society so much that we take it as our own because we’ve heard it a million times. In particular, arguments about Christianity like, “The Bible is irrelevant,” have invaded our vernacular. Some will simply agree with this statement without reading the Bible to see if it really is irrelevant. Intentionally or not, we utilize these phrases because they are easy cover-ups for avoiding the truth. They allow us to ignore uncomfortable conversations and escape accountability for what we really believe. The following borrowed arguments have been exposed so we can stop hiding from tough issues. They are presented in light of the truth so we can own up to our ideas about Christianity and realize that what we think about God actually does matter.

There is no absolute truth. It's all subjective.

Many people deny God because they claim that truth depends on the individual. The argument is that what is true for you doesn’t necessarily have to be true for me. But, that is an incredible gamble. Those who hold to their own truth are betting that Christianity is false, and their eternal soul is the wager. If they are wrong, they will be tormented in Hell forever. Stakes that high can’t even be found in Vegas. Moreover, people who place such high bets try to play the “subjective” card, all the while ignoring the “objective” card: history. One could argue that believing in God is purely a matter of faith, but archeological evidence coincides with many events in the Bible, one being the conquering of Jericho as described in the book of Joshua. Also, people often deny that Jesus is God, but it’s harder to deny that He, historically, was crucified on the cross. Flavius Josephus was a famous historian during the time Jesus was alive. He was not a Christian yet he wrote in Jewish Antiquities 18.63-64 about Jesus who died on a cross and records that He was alive and walking around three days later.1 His death was, most importantly, one of many Old Testament prophecies that came true (Is. 53:7, Mark 14:61). If those prophecies were true, it’s logical to say that others are also true, like the prophecy that Christ will one day return to judge the world. In the end, there’s no stopping you from preferring your own truth, but consider one thing: are you willing to take that risk?

I can't believe in a God who allows so much evil in the world.

 Turn on the news any given day and be prepared to get depressed. Stories describing murders, missing children, and terrorist attacks seem never-ending. Some people reason that if God made everything, which He did, that He must have made evil as well. We often picture evil as a thing or an entity in itself, but evil is simply the absence of God—similar to the darkness of night being the result of the absence of the sun. The Bible is clear that our sin has separated us from God and hidden His face from us (Isaiah 59:2). Therefore, God is not the cause of evil—we are. The only way to remedy this evil is to individually be restored in a relationship with God. We need to reconnect with Him so He can fix our sin nature. When we do, we will have hope for forgiveness and joy in this lifetime and the understanding of a secure eternal future in the presence of God. We’ll also have hope that when Jesus comes back, there won’t be any death, crying or pain. He’ll take the world as it is now and make it new (Revelation 21:4).

I have things under control.

Independence is tremendously valued in our culture—that’s why Destiny’s Child sang about it. Society equates independence with success, and day by day it gets increasingly easier to be so independent. For instance, online banking has eliminated the need for stepping foot into an actual bank and getting help from an actual person. If we do need help, we Google it. Also, independence comes with managing multiple things at once. After juggling work, school, friends, and family, we can get the impression that we can control things ourselves. And then we think we don’t need God. The truth is, we only think we have things under control. Jesus says that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). We can’t love, we can’t have joy, and we can’t even breathe without Him. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes having things fall apart to finally realize this. Sooner or later, the control we value so greatly will start to dissipate. Something will go wrong. If, in that moment, we can finally put to death our independence and run to God for help, it’s then that we’ll reach success. 

The Bible is irrelevant.

  A common argument is that the Bible is culturally outdated, that its proper place is in a motel room drawer collecting dust.  Seriously, how could a book written thousands of years ago currently apply to anyone? While culture certainly has changed, the human heart has not. The issues we face in society today are nothing new. Take, for instance, the example of King David in the Old Testament. He was in a position of authority and respect, yet he committed adultery. Does that not sound like the numerous politicians who have acted similarly today? Also, the book of Luke tells about the destruction of a rich man because of how tightly he held onto his money. This example applies to us today because of how much our country values personal wealth. You can see it on the streets and on TV and hear it in music. These two of many, many examples show that the Bible does apply to us; it is relevant. Despite what society or anyone else says, “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12).

The Bible contradicts itself.

The argument that the Bible contradicts itself assumes that the way in which it was written is problematic. In reality, the issue is how it is read and interpreted. First of all, the Bible is unique because it contains various genres such as historical narratives, parables, and letters.  Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of what to take figuratively or literally depending on the genre. If the Bible is read as all literal or all figurative, its meaning is likely to get twisted. Imagine reading Harry Potter as historical fact or Martin Luther King, Jr’s I Have a Dream speech as a work of fiction. Is considering genre not important? Furthermore, verses in scripture are often taken out of context which leads to misunderstanding. A great example is when you walk into a conversation and hear something strange or awkward. Then, the people speaking have to explain what proceeded what you heard in order for it to make sense. When we hear that the Bible is contradictory, we should do the same thing—by reading a verse in its context and reading other verses that relate to gain detail and perspective. It is with greater context that the issue of contradiction dissolves away and the Bible is seen as completely accurate.

The Bible is too hard to understand.

  Have you ever picked up the Bible and put it right back down again because you couldn’t get past the ancient use of “thee” and “thou”? A common reason for not reading the Bible is that it’s too hard to understand. But, that is no reason to give up so quickly. To avoid Old English, consider reading a New Living Translation Bible, which has the original text translated into today’s common language. Start with the simpler, more direct concepts first and build continuously. For example, beginning in the New Testament  in a book like John or Romans, as an introduction to who Jesus is, is a good place to start. Becoming familiar with His character and mission will put more difficult notions found in the Old Testament into perspective. The most important thing is that we have a curiosity and willingness to get to know God as He has revealed Himself in the Bible. If we have a genuine desire to know God’s Word, He will not fail to help us understand.

Church is full of hypocrites.

One reason for not attending church is that it is full of hypocrites, people who are merely acting or playing a role, saying one thing on Sunday and living differently the rest of the week. The assumption here is that Christians are supposed to be perfect, and when they aren’t, it is seen as hypocrisy. Not all Christians are hypocrites, but they all still fall down. Society assumes that Christianity is a one-step process in becoming perfect. All you have to do is say the “sinner’s prayer” and God will magically knight you like King Arthur with the ability to do no wrong. In reality, becoming more like Christ is a lifetime’s worth of work; we will fight against our corrupt human nature until we physically die. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Instead of refusing to go to church because it’s full of hypocrites, you should go because you should feel right at home as one of them.

Organized religion isn't for me.

What if a college campus had no structure? What if professors never had lesson plans and let students do whatever they wanted? Chaos would surely erupt in the blink of an eye. Structure is needed in the church in the same way it is needed in college. Today, church structure is often misinterpreted. People are skeptical about what “organized religion” will do to them, what rules it will force on them. While man-made rules can unfortunately creep into the church, God has a specific plan about how His church should run. Instead of pastors and elders being like dictators as society sometimes views them, God says that leaders should be calm, self-controlled, and act in a manner worthy of respect (1 Tim. 3). They are to be the greatest servants and will be judged at a higher standard because of their position. Another misconception is that organized religion forces or guilts people into attending church a required amount per week. In reality, a “glad and sincere” heart should compel us to want to be in church (Acts 2:46). Church should be a place of refuge, a place we can’t get enough of. It is not a place where we can clock in and clock out, fulfilling the mandatory number of hours on our life’s to-do list. In the end, when we say we don’t need organized religion, it’s as if we’re saying we don’t need God because organization is in His nature.

I have God, what do I need church for?

Is church going extinct? Society seems to think that as long as you are on good terms with God by believing He is real and doing the right thing—both things you can accomplish on your couch or in the woods—then you’re doing alright. Truthfully, God’s word insists that we be plugged into a local church. Church is not a physical building but a group of believers committed to following Christ together.  Belonging to such a group is so important that the Bible refers to it as the body of Christ. As members of the church body, we fulfill different functions that contribute to the larger goal of sharing the love found in Jesus with others and working together to building God’s kingdom. Also, being part of a body of fellow Christians is a very important tool in fighting against our corrupt sin nature. Galatians 6:2 commands us to, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Thus, our burdens and sin are too big to manage on our own. We need to help each other and let others help us.

At the end of the day, perpetually utilizing these borrowed arguments is dangerous because they push us farther away from God. Even though they might work in this world, Hebrews 5:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” When we stand before God after death our arguments will be brought to nothing, and we will be exposed for who we really are. Because our eternal destiny is on the line, it’s crucial that we not assume what movies, music, and even academia teach us is the truth.  Instead, seek Christ because “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).

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