For Those Seeking Truth...

Hi! My name is Pastor Bruce, Lead Pastor of The River Community Church. As I interact with a variety of people day to day, I find many people have spiritual questions, but don't have a safe place where they can get their questions answered. That's what TruthQuest and this web page is all about. First of all, I've tried to provide you with some answers that I often give to common questions and objections to Christianity. Below you will find some information about The Bible, God, Jesus, the problem of pain and more. Simply scroll down to the question or the questions that are on your heart, and read my answer.

A few things you should know.

First, I've written everything in the first person as I feel CONVERSATION is the best way to find truth. In other words, I don't pretend to have ALL the answers. What follows is what I've found convincing in my search to find truth and ultimately to find God. To that end, if you want to enter into a dialogue with me, feel free to e-mail me with a question or comment. You can reach me at pastorbruce@rivercommunity.ca. I'd like to hear what you have to say and learn from what you've discovered on your faith journey. Morever, there are several classes and groups that we run from time to time at The River designed specifically to explore the basics of Christianity and ask and answer questions. If you let me know how to contact you, I can be sure to let you know when the next class is starting.

Second, there is an obvious limit to what can be done on this website. As such, I've tried to provide you with a variety of resources that you can read as well. In other words, let what you read here be only the BEGINNING of your quest for truth.

Third and finally, like many before me, I have discovered that Christianity is a process -- a life-long endeavor that combines both faith and reason. After all, who would want to believe in something that doesn't make rational sense? If you're like me, you're simply seeking real answers to life's questions. Someone once said that the sharing of one's Christian faith is nothing more than one beggar telling another beggar where to find food. I realize that you may or may not agree with some of the answers I suggest in the following sections. That's okay. You will probably have to resolve most of your theological tensions on your own. So, from one beggar to another, enjoy your journey and never stop seeking truth.

Below you will find answers to....

* Questions About The Bible

* Questions About God

* Questions About The Problem of Evil

* Questions About Jesus

* Questions About Truth

Questions About The Bible

This is a very short section as it speaks only to the reliability (accuracy of the document) and inspiration (God ordainedness) of the Bible. I do admit, I take a rather simplistic approach here. If I can determine with some degree of certainty that the Bible I read today is accurate and therefore reliable, as it relates to what the original authors wrote, I must then accept it for what it says. Whether I chose to believe it (accept it as true), however, is a different story. As you will see, it's a simple matter of thinking through the facts.

1) Can the Bible be trusted for accuracy? Is it reliable in what it says?

In any endeavor of determining accuracy, scholars apply the science of textual criticism (determining the viability and accuracy of a manuscript copy of an ancient document). This approach holds true for measuring the reliability of all ancient literature. Throughout the centuries, scholars have determined (through the application of textual criticism) that the Bible we have today is incredibly accurate. Therefore, yes, it can be trusted because what we read is reliable – it is what the authors intended to write.

Furthermore, the amount of manuscript evidence to support such a claim is astronomical. The number of Bible manuscripts far exceeds the number of any other ancient writings. For example, below is a comparison of the available manuscript evidence for several well-known authors as compared to the Bible.

Ancient Writing	Number of Manuscript Copies
New Testament	24,000
Plato	7
Aristotle	49
Caesar	10

Given the above information, it is hard to imagine that the writings of Aristotle, Plato and Caesar would be so revered and the Bible so questioned and ignored. Because of the evidence the Bible stands as an incredibly accurate ancient writing. Therefore, it can be trusted (it is what the authors wrote).

2) Is the Bible really the word of God — inspired?

Yes. This answer stems from the answer to the first question. Since the accuracy and reliability can be adequately defended, it makes sense to then accept what the Bible says (accept it in a sense that what we read is what the authors intended to write). In other words, if the Bible says that it is inspired by God, and we can determine that the writings are trustworthy (accurate), then the Bible is accurate in what it says about it being inspired (as far as the authors who wrote it thought). Some would suggest that this is circular reasoning; however, I beg to differ. I agree that it would be circular reasoning if I offered no external evidence as to the reliability of the document (which I did in question #1). In short, the Bible cannot be both wrong in its claims about itself and accurate in everything else. This is a violation of the principle of non-contradiction ("A" cannot equal "non-A"). To me it is this simple. Therefore, as far as the authors were concerned, it is inspired.

By the way, by inspired I do not mean that it was "divinely dictated" by God to humans — it is much more than that. “Inspired” simply means that God superintended human authors to write to his objective truth using their own language, culture, historical background and contextual setting.

What have we really accomplished in this section? We demonstrated that the Bible is an accurate piece of ancient literature – accurate in a sense that what we read is what the authors wrote. As I mentioned earlier, whether or not you believe what the authors wrote is true is a decision that you have to make on your own – this is the essence of one’s faith journey. My goal was to simply to demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the Bible.

A good friend of mine offers the following insights, “The question is not, ‘What can I trust?’, but rather, ‘How can I trust?’ A subtle shift from a fact oriented question, to an experience oriented question. I might suggest framing the argument within this experiential perspective. I propose that we really enter a relationship of trust in the Word of God as with any relationship, you try it. If it is validated, you test it with something more significant. Trust is a process - what we call 'deepening' in a relationship. Certainly, if this book is a very gift from God containing precious words of life, we would expect that it be meticulously cared for, defended, preserved and protected. It should have the most magnificent and thorough pedigree of any book in the history of man. I think it can be easily shown that it does.

If this approach is too simplistic for you, then may I suggest you read both Paul Little, "Know Why You Believe," and Lee Strobel's "The Case For Christ". These two gentlemen do a much better job than I can do in the constraints of this web page.

Questions About God

In this section we shall try to answer the following questions:

Can one prove the existence of God?
What evidence is there that God really exists?
What is God really like (what are his attributes)?

1) Can one prove the existence of God?

The key word in this question is the word "prove." On the surface, it may appear as if I am dodging the question, but one must be very clear about what one means when asked to "prove" something. For example, if you were to ask me to prove the existence of love (infatuation), I would be forced to ask you what you meant by proof. If you mean proof as is in scientific proof, I would be hard pressed in doing so since love is not something that can be replicated in a laboratory setting, nor is it measurable and repeatable (the basic elements of scientific method and proof). Another example: Could I scientifically prove the existence of my Aunt Mary? No. As you will see, however, I can prove her existence using another approach (one that is nonscientific and yet quite reliable).

The multiple aspects of theology fall into the category of nonscientific. In other words, if you desire scientific proof of God's existence you will be disappointed. However, don't lose heart! As I suggested earlier, there are many facts of life that can not be proven scientifically (i.e., emotional facts, historical facts/people and philosophical facts just to name a few). Unlike some who have walked before us, we would do well to leave the scientific method to scientists and physicists of the world (I am thinking of the religious persecution of Galileo and Copernicus).

Where does this leave us? Can we still prove God's existence? Indeed! We will prove it, however, in a forensic sense. Unlike the scientific method of proof, the forensic method of proof does not require repeatability, nor does it require scientific measurability and verification. Just imagine yourself in a court of law. Here, jurists examine all of the available forensic evidence and after some deliberation they come forward with a verdict. Here, using all the evidentiary tools (witnesses, photos, personal letters, and birth certificate); I could prove to you the existence of my Aunt Mary.

Proving the existence of God is nothing more than an examination of all the available forensic evidence, and, after some deliberation, coming forward with a verdict: He does exist, or he does not exist. It's that simple and yet that profound. It's really not as complicated as some would have you believe. Often, the refusal to accept the existence of God is nothing more than what Paul Little calls a "moral smoke screen" -- an unwillingness to accept something (in this case God's existence) that would force one to alter one's life style.

So, can we prove the existence of God? Yes, in a forensic sense.

To the issue of "proof," read "Know Why You Believe" by Paul Little (Chapter 2).
To the issue of "logical proof," read "Faith and Reason" by Ron Nash (Chapter 8).

2) What evidence is there that God really exists?

Why the burden of proof falls on those who believe in God is beyond me. According to Ron Nash, belief in God is properly basic and thus the arguments for his existence are not necessary. However, since the question is on the table, like many before me I offer the following very brief summary arguments for the existence of God:

The Cosmological Argument:
In short, the existence of the world requires some explanation. This argument suggest that if you think about the principle of cause and effect and the beginning of the universe as an effect, then you must arrive at a first cause uncaused cause (or a logical first cause). The universe and time must have a beginning (most "thinkers" would agree with this position) and this beginning, according to the Cosmological Argument, is an effect caused by the first cause that is uncaused. The principle of sufficient reason (PSR) suggests that there must be a reason for everything that exists. As Christian theists see it, God is the reason, or the uncaused first cause, for all that exists.

The Teleological Argument:
This argument looks to the issue of order and design. Look around and you will soon discover that the universe is orderly and consistent. Is this the result of mere chance, or intelligent design? The principle of sufficient reason suggests that there cannot be design without a designer. This famous argument goes something like this: Suppose in your travels along the beach you chanced upon a fine watch. A watch that seems to be keeping perfect time (date, day, hour, minute and second). You would never assume that this watch is simply a product of blind chance. You would, of course, assume that the watch had an intelligent designer. The same can be said for the universe and all within the universe -- it must have had an intelligent designer.

The Moral Argument:
In summary, this argument asks the question; Why do all people of all cultures seem to have a sense of right and wrong? Or, how do you explain the sense of guilt ñ an inner conscience -- that all humans seem to possess? The notions of lying, stealing and cheating being wrong seem to point to a moral code, or the existence of a higher moral standard. Which view ñ theism, or atheism, best accounts for an objective moral order?

The Anthropological Argument:
If you examine anthropology there seems to be a universal need for a higher power ñ God, or gods. Indeed, a common thread that runs through all world cultures is a sense of God, or a need for one. This argument suggests that this sense of God, or universal religious belief, points to God.

The Transcendental Argument:
This argument looks to the existence of absolutes for proof that God exists. For example, where did the laws of logic, thermodynamics or physics emanate? There are only four possible explanations for these universal absolutes:

1) Brute fact: that's just the way things are;
2) Necessary universe: these laws are necessary and they could have not been different;
3) Contingent God: God may exist in some ways, but not the ones that theists demand;
4) Necessary God: God is the designer of all absolutes.

He put everything together. For any world, or universe to exist, God must exist. He is necessary. What other explanation is there?

The Religious Experience Argument:
How do you explain my religious experience? You can't deny that I had a religious experience, nor can you deny that it was real. After all, I use this "experience" argument to objectively prove the existence of others things (i.e., fear, love, hate). Thus, my religious experience is valid.

The Truth Argument:
This argument began with Augustine in 395 A.D. It is both simple and quite complex. One approach goes like this; Truth exists, truth is immutable, truth is eternal, truth is mental, truth is superior to the human mind, therefore, truth is God.

The "Lack of Contrary Evidence" Argument:
This argument is not really a formal argument, per se, as it only looks at the lack of supporting evidence for the contrary position -- atheism. In other words, if you try and prove the nonexistence of God you will fall miserably short. This, in some way, supports the notion that God truly does exist. Typically, atheists are restricted to attempts of disproving, or discrediting the assertions of theists. They make very few attempts at providing forensic evidence for their point of view -- God's nonexistence. In other words, they fail to prove their case. This lack of evidence points to the existence of God. Using a disjunctive syllogism it looks like this; Either theism or atheism is true. You cannot prove atheism. Therefore, theism is true.

Keep in mind, no one of the aforementioned arguments should be forced to stand on its own. To be sure, the arguments in support of God's existence (the forensic evidence) should be taken as an entire unit. Let me ask you; What forensic evidence do you have that God does not exist?

To evaluate these arguments in much more detail, I suggest you read "Faith and Reason" by Ron Nash, "Know Why You Believe" by Paul Little, "Christian Apologetics" by Dr. Norman Geisler, or my personal favorite, "Handbook of Christian Apologetics" by Kreeft and Tacelli.

3) What is God really like (what are his attributes)?

Many of us walk around with what one great theologian labeled as "theology of the head." It has been my own personal experience that this is definitely the case. However, I like to think of it as "Caricature Theology." By this I mean that most people who accept some notion of God have in their mind a totally incomplete picture or portrait of Him. At times, they view him as a white bearded grandfather who sits up in heaven (on his throne of course) and watches over us. At other times, however, they view him as a distant God who could care less about his so called creation. Then there were the times when they view him as nothing more than a God of wrath who enjoyed wielding his staff of judgment and vengeance on his helpless creatures.

Let me offer instead a more accurate portrait of God -- one that included all of his attributes, all of his dimensions and all of his characteristics. If we walk through this life and have nothing more than a caricature of God we will miss out on the big picture of God--the biblical picture of God. Let me offer to you a very brief outline of what I call a Portrait of God - one that attempts to present a balanced picture of a God who loves you beyond your wildest expectations.

A Brief Portrait of God

Yes, God is the God of:	Yet, He is also the God of:
Righteousness -- perfectly right and just in everything that he does. He detests unrighteousness (he must).	Grace -- Offering this righteousness to us as a gift through faith in Christ. Truly, a gift that we do not deserve.
Wrath -- punishing sin because He is holy. His character demands that he punish sin.	Mercy -- sparing those who believe in Christ this penalty or judgment of sin (sparing us that which we do deserve).
Majesty -- Sovereign ruler over all of his creation (the universe and humanity).	Personality -- Fully accessible and knowable by his creation (you and me).
Transcendence -- far above and beyond his creation.	Immanence -- fully involved and active in his creation (universe and humanity).
Holiness -- perfectly pure and sacred in every dimension of his being.	Approachability -- through his Son Jesus we can have a one on one relationship with God. We need no other intermediary.

For further reading may I suggest "Christian Theology," by Millard Erickson (Part 3: What is God Like?).

Questions About The Problem of Evil

This is by far the most difficult of all the theological tensions - it always has been and it always will be to some extent. There are two approaches when dealing with this very difficult issue. However, before I start, one must realize that there are no easy answers to this question. Also, this is a conversation that best takes place in the classroom of theology and apologetics (web pages too). What I am trying to say is that when someone you know is wrestling with issues due to what many call gratuitous evil (death of an infant, plane crash and the like) this is no time for theological diatribe. It is a time where compassion and silence should prevail.

With the aforementioned caution in mind, let's proceed with the discussion. Again, there are two approaches we must consider when attempting an answer to this dilemma. They are:

1. Theodices: theological defenses for the existence of evil.
2. Philosophy: a logical investigation of the formal argument.

Let's begin with philosophy. The formal argument used against the existence for God because of the existence of evil goes something like this:

God is all good and hates evil.
God is all-powerful.
If God is all good and all-powerful he would eliminate evil
Evil exists
Therefore, God either does not exists, or he is not all-powerful.

Let's take a look at the premises of this argument and go form there.

1. The first premise that God is "good" is true, but the true "goodness" of God is misunderstood. Goodness does not always mean that God does what we as humans believe as good. The goodness of God simply means that He is a God that can be trusted and loved. To be trusted God must be perfectly holy, perfectly just, perfectly righteous. Goodness is often misunderstood to mean goodness defined in human terms of happy, kind and compassionate. If we limit God to these attributes alone we have a caricature of God. We must include all of God's attributes. Simply put, a good God is one who can be trusted in every way yet may have a reason for evil that we cannot understand.

2. The second premise that God is all-powerful is also true, but it is also true that all-powerful does not mean God can do anything and everything. There are some things that God cannot do that do not jeopardize His status as all-powerful. For example, God cannot sin, nor can he behave outside of his character. All-powerful also means that he can work through evil to accomplish a greater good--one that is totally consistent with his character.

3. The third premise falls short as there may be a reason for evil for which God has not revealed to humanity. In short, an all-powerful all good God may have a reason for dealing with evil the way he does.

Theodices are attempts at a rational explanation at why evil exists. Given what we know to be the real attributes of God, the Christian theist would re-state the aforementioned argument to look like this:

God is all good and hates evil.
God is all-powerful.
God, being all good and all-powerful, has reasons for doing what he does.
Evil exists
Therefore, God has a reason for allowing evil to exist.

This being a possibility what are some of the possible reasons?

The gift of risky free will. Evil is an inherent risk of human free will. Without free will we would be nothing more than robots. The God given dimension of free will had as a possibility the option of choosing evil and all the consequences therein.
Human choices. Much of the evil in the world can be traced directly to the bad choices that we make as individuals. Is God responsible for the evil choices that we make on our own?
Judgment. Some -- but not all -- of the evil that takes place in the world could be a result of God's judgment. This is rare, but it is a possibility that must be taken into consideration.
Satan. God's great adversary is without question responsible for some of the world's evil. He has been defeated at the Cross, but is still free to work his evil deeds.
Soul-making. God's purpose in allowing evil is to fashion character in his children. As we deal with evil on an interpersonal level God molds and shapes our soul.
Limited scope. This option suggests that we as the created have a limited view of how the Creator works out the dimensions of life. This incorporates what is called the anthropic principle (the simple can never contrive the complex).

Please know, there are some excellent resources that you need to review in order to get a better handle on this very delicate issue. The answer to the "evil" question is difficult as in truth there are no easy answers. Some good books for you to read:

"Faith and Reason" by Ron Nash (Part 4)

"Know Why You Believe" by Paul Little (chapter 10)

"The Problem of Pain" by C. S. Lewis

"Handbook of Christian Apologetics" by Kreeft & Tacelli (chapter 6)

Questions About Jesus

The entire house of the Christian faith no doubt rests on the foundation of Jesus Christ - who he is, what he did and why he did it. I know, this seems incredibly obvious to even the most casual observer. Yet, the true identity of Jesus Christ is often one of the most misunderstood tenets of the Christian faith.

Did Jesus Christ really exist?
Is Jesus Christ really Deity/God?
Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
Is Jesus Christ really the only path to salvation?

The best approach for us to take is to travel through a series of questions. Upon completion, I will then list the only possible alternatives as to his identity. The choice as to which alternative best fits the available evidence is yours to make. Let's begin:

1) Did Jesus Christ really exist?

This question is really the best place to start. If we can prove his existence then we must accept his claims (what we do with them is a different issue). For now, however, we need to examine the evidence for his physical existence. If this is not an issue for you, then by all means press on through the other questions.

There are at present three good reasons to accept the reality of Christ's physical existence:

A. Historical record:

If you examine both ancient historical documents and contemporary documents you will find that there is a tremendous amount of data that supports the reality of Jesus Christ. For example, if you go to any encyclopedia you find enough information to substantiate Christ's existence. A good book to review with regard to ancient writings is Documents of the Early Church by Larry Cairns.

Suffice it to say, the historical record is replete with the necessary evidence to support the physical existence of Jesus Christ.

B. Biblical record:

If you accept the Bible as reliable literature (see Bible section), then you must agree that the existence of Jesus Christ is unquestioned. The New Testament is all about him ñ what he said, what he did and what others thought of him.

C. Ecclesiastical record:

The existence of the Christian Church, both Catholic and Protestant, is evidence in itself as to the physical existence of Christ. Without the physical Jesus there would be no Christian Church. If during the early years of the Church those who were opposed to it could have legitimately refuted Christ's existence they would have done so. Let's move on.

2) Is Jesus Christ really Deity/God?

This claim rests at the very core of Christianity - without it there is in reality no such thing. If Jesus Christ is not God then Christianity is just a big cosmic joke. As I have mentioned, later in this section I offer some alternatives to Christ's deity. For now, the best way to address this controversial issue is to simply list the multiple reasons to support this particular tenet of the Christian faith by examining the forensic evidence.

In other words, if is not God how do you explain:

a. His personal claims to be God -- there are many.
b. He was persecuted because of these very same claims.
c. The whole of his character matched His claims.
d. His crucifixion by religious leaders because of His claims.
e. Many others (inside and outside of Scripture) saw Him as God.
f. He forgave personal and corporate sin as if He was God.
g. He lived a sinless life as only a righteous God could.
h. The vast number of prophecies regarding His arrival, death and resurrection.
i. He knew the thoughts and motives of people.
j. He performed many miracles (which have been verified by witnesses).
k. His power over natural forces.
l. His power over demons.
m. His power over disease.
n. His power over death.
o. His power to promise the Holy Spirit.
p. His titles of Judge, Creator, Son of Man, Son of God, Messiah, the Christ, Prince of Peace and King of Kings.
q. His promise to die in our place came true.
r. His promise to rise again came true.
s. The many eye-witnesses to His bodily resurrection.
t. He alone turned the world upside-down, or as I like to say he turned the religious world right-side up.

3) Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

This speaks to the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ after he was dead - dead as in no longer alive in any way. It may appear as if I'm being a bit ridiculous, but there are some who suggest that Jesus was not actually dead. Just "mostly dead." (Sorry, I couldn't help myself. You may recognize this as a quote from one of my favorite movies, "The Princess Bride.")

Again, here I will simply offer a list of reasons to believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Looking at all the evidence, if he did mot actually rise from the dead, how do you explain:

a. Jesus promised that he would, many times.
b. The Bible claims that he did, many times.
c. After the crucifixion, Jesus was pronounced dead by the Roman government.
d. He was literally buried in a tomb. It was then sealed and guarded by the elite of the Roman guard.
e. The tomb was found empty -- the Roman guards would have produced the body if they could since their lives depended upon it.
f. Over 10 separate bodily appearances to over 500+ witnesses.
g. The transformation of his disciples - from total fear to total commitment.
h. The testimony of the biblical writers and the test of time.
i. The inability to disprove it.
j. The transformation of lives today.

4) Is Jesus Christ really the only path to salvation?

While just as important as the aforementioned questions, this one is no doubt the most controversial. The intensity of the debate rises significantly when this question is brought to the forefront. Unfortunately, when Christians make this assertion (that Jesus is the only path to salvation) they are often labeled as intolerant, or even called bigots. This is unfortunate and totally unnecessary. Therefore, a more appealing way to state this aspect of the Christian faith might be this:

There is only one path to God -- Jesus Christ. But, there are many paths to Christ.

We must keep in mind, Christians believe this to be true not simply because they want to believe so. After all, who in their compassionate mind wants to believe that salvation comes through such a narrow gate? In short, Christians believe this to be true simply because it is one of the major claims made by Christ himself (read John 14:7).

Those who get upset at this particular claim would do well to not shoot the messenger(s). If you want to call anyone intolerant and narrow-minded then you must point these accusations to the One who made the original claim -- Jesus Christ.

The fact of the matter is that all major world religions make truth claims that are exclusive to their own religion. They all have beliefs that if not followed "disqualify" you. In other word, all major world religions are narrow by definition.

Disclaimer: I know, there are Christians who wield their "belief" as if it were a weapon -- one used to smite the "enemy." This is also unfortunate and totally unnecessary. People who are obnoxious about their faith should pay very close attention to what the Bible says about one's attitude when defending the faith. The Bible clearly addresses this issue by stating, "Always be ready to explain the reason(s) for the hope (faith in Christ) that is within you and do so with an attitude of compassion, gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15-16, paraphrased). It is my view that those who have made a decision to follow Christ would do well to use a basin and a towel to serve others. This is way of Christ (read John 13 and see for yourself).

With this in mind, what are the possible alternatives as to Christ's true identity? Was He a:

a. Great moral teacher?

There are some who view Jesus Christ as nothing more than a great moral teacher. While this is nice, it could not be any further from the truth. Let me explain. If Jesus is only a great moral teacher and during his teaching he claimed to be God, then he must be God (or he lied to us). If he lied to us in any one of his claims, then he is not a great moral teacher. Thus, Jesus is much more than a great moral teacher.

b. One of many great prophets?

There are others who suggest that Jesus is one of many great prophets (Moses, Mohammed, etc.). While Jesus did make some remarkable prophetic claims, he is much more than a simple prophet. By definition, a prophet is one who makes predictions of an impending event or coming messiah. Unlike any other prophet, Jesus claimed to actually be the Messiah--the one who was the subject of much prophecy. In other words, Jesus is the One who fulfilled prophecy. Indeed, Jesus is much more than a great prophet.

c. One of many self-proclaimed messiahs?

While there were numerous individuals who have claimed to be the Messiah, Jesus is the only one who backed up his claims. He backed them up with many miracles, the forgiveness of sin, death on a cross and ultimately his bodily resurrection. No other self-proclaimed messiah has backed up any of his claims. Yes, Jesus is the one true Messiah.

d. The C. S. Lewis argument -- Liar, Lunatic, Lord

The great professor C. S. Lewis offered what is considered the most profound argument as to the possible identity of Jesus. For brevity and accuracy I include here a partial quote from his book "Mere Christianity." Lewis writes,

"I am trying to prevent anyone from saying a really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept him as a great moral teacher but I do not accept his claims to be God.' This is one thing that we must not say... Either this man (Jesus) was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord God." Simply put, the choice is yours."

Jesus Christ is either a:

Liar: one who cannot be trusted in any way.
Lunatic: one who should have been committed and discounted.
Legend: one of mythological proportions and who never really existed.
Lord God: One who should be worshipped and praised.

Finally, Jesus is who he is and what we may or may not believe about him will never change his identity. This is the most important section of the entire web page. The decisions you make here (ones about Jesus) will affect your entire paradigm. Take your time and by all means e-mail me if you have any questions.

Questions About Truth

The following are just a few questions about truth that caused me some confusion. To this end, there are many good resources that you should reference with regard to this discussion. I'll review them at the end of this section. For now, however, here are a few of the questions that puzzled me for years:

1. Is there such a thing as absolute truth?

Yes, just as there are absolute physical laws and truths, there are other dimensions of absolute truth. In fact, all absolutes come from God ñ the intelligent designer of the universe (the uncaused First Cause). Simply put, God is absolute truth. Keep in mind, defining truth and being truth are not exactly the same. When one simply defines truth one can always change one's mind. Think of someone who writes a rulebook. This person, upon further reflection, could always change his or her mind. Unlike one who only defines truth, however, God is truth. Truth emanates from him. He is the source of truth. In other words, He cannot be untrue. Therefore, He cannot and does not change his mind. Truth by definition is immutable , absolute, and rests in the very person and being of God, or intelligent designer, or uncaused First Cause. Yes, there is such a thing as absolute truth--God.

All this being said, a huge caution here. While there is such a thing as absolute truth, there is no such thing as absolute knowledge. Everything that we know is filtered through our own limited and fallible minds. This is precisely why it's so important to ALWAYS be seeking truth. In others, we are life long learners. What we know (or think we know) will never be a perfect representation of what actually is. This is precisely why whenever we speak about or share truth we must always do with a good degree of humility.

2. Is there such a thing as absolute moral truth?

Indeed, if there are absolutes in the dimensions of physics and science, why would we think that there are none in the dimension of morality. Remember, truth is not determined by what society believes (I cover this later), it originates and comes from the Creator--that which is outside of creation. Truth transcends the created in both physics and morality. This is not a radical idea. It seems incredibly obvious to me that society in many ways endorses moral absolutes in many arenas of life. For example, who in their right mind would for one moment accept the sexual abuse of children. Indeed, this type of behavior is morally reprehensible. Indeed, there are moral absolutes to which we (society) subscribe. We get into trouble, however, when we try to alter these moral absolutes. If you look around you will find many who suggest that morality is defined by society. Not so. All truth comes from the One who created society--the Intelligent Designer, or uncaused First Cause. Therefore, there are moral absolutes.

3. Is the Bible truth?

I wrestled with this for years. Suffice it to say, the Bible can be forensically proven to be one of the most, if not the most, accurate and reliable books of all time. When one applies the discipline of textual criticism to the Bible one will discover that that it exceeds all standards of reliability and accuracy. How many people (teachers, professors and the like) doubt the reliability of Homer's Iliad, or the writings of Socrates? Very few and yet in the next breath the writings of scripture (the Bible) are held in suspect. This is an inconsistent and unfair application of the tests of reliability. Yes, the Bible is true.

If you look closely at the information above you'll notice some very popular words missing from the conversation. Nowhere in the truth formula does one find:

Belief: what one intellectually accepts as true, or right.
Sincerity: the internal degree to which one accepts something as true.
Feeling: one's emotional application to a particular truth.
Passion: how one explains and expresses to others one's idea of truth.
Experience: the events in one's life that seem to reveal truth.

Absolute truth is true aside from these internal issues -- this is the nature of truth. Simply put, we do not determine what is true, nor do we determine what is not true. We can only choose to look at it square in the face and:

Sincerely believe it, or deny it
Feel it at our very core, or dismiss it
Passionately embrace it in our daily life, or ignore it
Experience it in an encounter with God, or try and look for it where it does not exist

Regardless of how you react to the above, truth will always be true. This is what makes seeking truth worth all the effort. I can't change it and it's always there to be found.

What if I Still Have Doubts?

For years, many have viewed doubt as that which should be avoided at all costs. Sad to say, in many circles of faith, doubt is viewed as a sign of spiritual or emotional weakness. This is very unfortunate and most regrettable.

When properly addressed, doubt can be incredibly beneficial as well as stimulating. One of my favorite Bible characters is Thomas -- known by many as "Doubting Thomas." Growing up I thought that this title for Thomas meant that he was less than acceptable in the eyes of God. In reality, this could not be any further from the truth. Thomas simply wanted solid evidence for what he was asked to believe, but do you know that at the same time he was ready to die for Jesus. What an incredible combination of faith and doubt.

Indeed, it is possible to have a rich faith with a pinch of doubt.Ken Gire makes this incredible statement to which I fully agree: "Genuine questions (doubts) are the grappling hooks by which the shear summits of truth can be scaled."

To be sure, I have found this to be true. The more genuine questions/doubts I have, the more I learn about the truth. I believe that healthy doubt in the life of a thinking person offers the following benefits:

Personal growth: maturity of one's faith.
Expanded thinking: thinking outside of one's own paradigm.
Intellectual stimulation: it keeps the mind working and moving forward.
Confidence: the more one learns about one's faith, the more certain one becomes.
Boldness: the more confidence one has about one's beliefs, the more one can explain them to others who may also be seeking.
Closeness to God: the more one learns about why God exists, what he has done and how He works, the closer one becomes to the Creator. He is awesome!

I hope that this brief explanation about doubt helps you. Don't let anyone tell you that your sincere doubts are not worth exploring. Honest doubt is really quite healthy.

So What's Next?

Where do you go from here and what is your next step? Well, just as there are immutable principles of logic (e.g., the principle of non-contradiction, the false conclusion fallacy, etc.) there are other universal principles of which we should be made aware.

This leads me to what can be called:

The Four Immutable Spiritual Principles (A Summary of Romans 1-3)

Keep in mind, these principles just are. Believing or not believing in them really doesn't effect them. So, take some time and think about them. If you need clarification, e-mail me.

Principle #1 - A separated humanity.

We (humanity) have chosen to separate ourselves from God. We have created a gap between God and ourselves. In other words, our self-induced, or self-inflicted, turning away from God as caused us to grow distant from him. We have no one to blame but ourselves. This is why we find ourselves seeking Him. In short, we have turned our back on God and as a result we no longer have a "right standing" with him. Theologians (and the Bible) call this our self-inflicted unrighteousness (Read Romans 3:23).

Principle #2 - A perfect and righteous God.

God — the Holy and Righteous Intelligent Designer — must deal with this "separation" (unrighteousness). Our unrighteousness is an affront to a holy God. Keep in mind, His character(holiness and righteousness) dictate his action. So, he must deal with our unrighteousness. He has no other option. Again, we alone are responsible for it and must accept the consequences (Read Romans 3:20)

Principle #3 - The willing sacrifice of Christ.

Jesus Christ was and is the only perfect and willing sacrifice (or compensation) for the world's separation from God (again, unrighteousness). He has offered his own righteousness (perfection in the eyes of God) to you and to me. This is truly an incredible transaction — a judicial one as well as a spiritual one. This is also what makes Christianity so unique. God loves us so much that he decided to bridged the gap with his own Son (Read Romans 3:22-26).

Principle #4 - The leap or step of faith.

This principle sounds so simple it is often dismissed. It is a principle that has been around for time eternal — the righteous live by faith (it has never been about religion or the law). Faith can be defined as placing one's trust in the person and works of Jesus Christ. It is a combination of one's intellect (will) and one's emotions (heart). One does not simply believe because of one's feelings (they can mislead us). Nor does an intellectual assent to the facts of Christ lead to a saving faith (this is simple acknowledgment, not faith). You and I must decide to place our life in the hands of Christ. This is saving faith. This is what Christians call a personal relationship with God through Christ. When we take this step of faith the gap is no more. We are longer separated from God. The relationship is restored!

But wait there's more - The Good News!

We also receive righteousness (a right-standing before this holy and perfect God) by simply placing our trust in Jesus Christ —- accepting the aforementioned offer. He is the One who bridges this gap and makes it right again. I like to call it the Great Transaction — he takes my unrighteousness and gives me his righteousness (Read 1 Corinthians 5:21).

Final thoughts

St. Augustine once said, "Reason comes before faith, but faith comes prior to full understanding." So, you can still have honest doubts and decide to follow Christ. Remember that honest doubts are those grappling hooks that help us climb the mountain of truth, so keep climbing and keep seeking.

Well, it is that simple and yet that profound. The simplicity of the "great transaction" often makes it hard to accept. Keep in mind, however, belief in something does not make it true, nor does disbelief make it not true — this is the nature of truth. It just is.

In all actuality, it's an issue of divine grace (receiving that which we do not deserve) and divine mercy (not receiving that which we do deserve). If you recall from a previous section, grace and mercy are two very significant attributes of God.

If you want to take the next step in your faith journey simply ask God for forgiveness and ask Jesus Christ into your life. It will be the most incredible prayer you've ever prayed. Then contact us for additional help---pastorbruce@rivercommunity.ca

May God, the One who fashioned the fabric of your soul, guide you toward truth.

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