Tag: apologetics

Steps to Rejecting Jesus

Why do people reject faith in Jesus Christ and how do they arrive at that point? An excerpt from John’s Gospel pulls back the curtain.

The Gospel of John is full of reasons to accept Jesus Christ. John’s expressed purpose is for readers to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and to experience renewed spiritual life (John 20:30-31). John is also open and honest about those who chose to reject Jesus.

John 11:47-53, John describes the meeting that solidified the Jews’ official rejection of Jesus. This is the only Gospel that provides the rationale behind their decision. When we look at it deeper today, we can find a connection with some of the reasons why people reject faith in Jesus today.

Step 1: Respond from an attitude of fear. The Pharisees were one of two political groups in ancient Judah. Even though they were frequently at odds with the Sadducees, they were unified in their fear of Jesus. He was growing in popularity and their positions of power and influence were at stake.

Fear is a frequent starting point for those who resist the gospel. Sometimes they are afraid of losing something like their reputation or their way of life. Sometimes, they are afraid of what they might have to do in responding to the claims of Christ. Either way, fear is the first response for many.

Step 2: Twist God’s Word to fit your agenda. John tells us that Caiaphas was the high priest that year. As the high priest, Caiaphas was the chief spiritual, political, and legal officer at that time. He looked through Israel’s complicated history to find some sort of precedent to take action against Jesus. He found it, in part, in Leviticus 16:7-10, which describes Israel’s use of a sacrificial and a scapegoat in the Old Testament. Ironically, even the high priest’s twisted use of Scripture fit into God’s plan.

Modern people may use some variation of the Bible to justify their unbelief. They may use some reference to “not judging” to escape any sort of moral accountability for their behavior. They may use a quotation about the loving nature of God to define what they think love is or should be. They might even exaggerate some perceived inconsistency in Scripture to discount the whole Bible, from cover to cover.

Step 3: Band together with others. This whole passage is about a meeting of Jerusalem’s leaders, but John doesn’t miss an opportunity in verse 53 to emphasize their commitment to one another. Based on a favorable vote, “they planned together to kill him.” Sanhedrin made their decision against Jesus as a group.

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Whether it’s friends, a personal association, or just people in the past, antagonists of the gospel find strength in numbers. They assume that the popular decision is always the right decision. It was true in Jesus’ day and it’s still true today.

Like John, I usually focus on positive steps toward accepting Jesus instead of the negative steps involved in rejecting Him. Yet, John includes this decisive moment in history as a lesson for everyone who is willing to learn from it.

Developing a Biblical Worldview with “The Light of the World”

Jesus declared that He is “the Light the World” in John 8:12. Like the Pillar of Fire in Exodus 13, Jesus appeared before His people, led them to their destination, and protected them from their enemies. In numerous ways, Jesus proved that He was and is the same God the Jews worshipped in Old Testament times.

Christ’s announcement in John 8 prompted a strong response from His listeners. Essentially, they said, “We don’t believe you.” Instead of defending Himself, Jesus pointed them back to the basic character of light – it’s self-authenticating. Light is elemental and it does not need to be defined. It exists and automatically pushes back the darkness that surrounds it. Light reveals things as they truly are.

One of the implications to this “I Am” statement, is that Jesus is the ultimate source of truth. As the “Living Word,” His words and His actions were always consistent with the “Written Word,” the Bible. His declaration in John 8 is true and it rings true for everyone who is willing to listen in faith.

If the Savior and the Scriptures are trustwothy, then we would all do well to pursue a Biblical view of the world. We should seek out God’s anwers to the most important questions in life, like “Where did we come from?” “Who are we?” And “Where is history headed?” The answer to these kind of questions help us to define reality and they drive our everyday decision making.

The question then becomes, “How do I puruse a Biblical view of myself and world around me?” The answer to this question is complex, but it’s not a mystery. You can construct a God-centered view of the world in three ways. First, by reading your Bible with these questions in mind. Instead of reading just to finish your reading plan, ask yourself, “What does this passage say about who God is or what He might want from me?” “What does this passage teach me about myself or my destiny?” This kind of questioning might stretch you, but it will help you interact with some of the basic tenets of a Biblical view of th world.

Secondly, you can test your findings according to your personal experience. If you feel like God made us to engage in supportive relationships based on Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18; Exodus 20:12; John 15:12-13; and Hebrews 10:23-25; then you can observe that principle in action all around you. Do the people that you know benefit from living in commuity, or do they seem to do better living in isolation? There are surely exceptions, but does this principle seem to hold true in the vast majority of circumstances? Is there a plausible explanation for the times that it doesn’t appear to hold true? One of the way that a Biblical worldview is built is by testing it under the normal presures of real life.

Third, you can strengthen your view of the world by interacting with those who have a different perspective. Ideally, this is done with a spirit of curiousity, not as way to pick a fight. Ask those with a more naturalistic view of the world to explain their answers to the questions above. See if you can find the strengths and weaknesses to their point of view. Light is an improvement over darkness because it shows us where our perception differs from reality.

These three steps can help you pursue and build a Biblical view of yourself and the world around you. They rest on the presuppostion that God’s Word is true and trustworthy. Everyone who engages in this kind of activity will be rewared with a sharper view of Jesus Christ as “the Light of the Word.”