Am I Right?; Insights from Surviving Religion 101, Chapter 3

 This post is number 4 in a series examining the book, Surviving Religion 101; Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College by Michael J. Kruger.

When I went off to college, I was shocked by the level of diversity I encountered.  There were people from all over the world!  The dorm would smell like kimchi one evening and perogies the next.  There were students who had never seen snow before (boy, were they in for a shock!), and those who spoke English as their second language. 

Not only was there cultural diversity, there was diversity in character, interests and quirks.  There was the guy in his trunks who would lay his towel out on a snowbank and sun bathe in winter.  The guy whose dorm room was filled with Legos and Star Wars action figures so that it felt like an eleven-year old's room.  There were those who slowly became nocturnal as the year progressed.  Those who lived and breathed sports and those who hardly ever left the library. Artists, jocks, musicians, theologians, comedians, philosophers, entrepreneurs, storytellers.  To think, all this diversity was found in a small private Christian school in rural Manitoba—my graduating class was 75 students!

Consider for a moment, the level of diversity to be found in a major university!  What drew students to my small school (from all over the world) was our shared commitment to Jesus, but in many university settings, part of the diversity is found in the student’s different beliefs.  There may be a staunch atheist in your dorm, a Buddhist in your philosophy class, and that student who isn’t religious but is very “spiritual” on your intermural team.  Christian students are likely to encounter perspectives and ideas they have never heard before (p. 52).

Surveying the landscape of beliefs, Christian students may realize they stand out.  Why?  The reality is Christian beliefs are exclusive.  We believe that there is one true God.  We believe that all people are called to worship him and him alone.  We believe that Christianity isn’t one good option among many…it is the ONLY path to a right relationship with God and eternal life with him (p. 52).

There is no denying the staunch exclusivity of the Christian faith.

Why might such exclusivity bother non-Christians?

Such exclusivity isn’t received well in a culture that celebrates relativism and tolerance as the greatest of virtues (p. 52).  What objections might Christians face for the exclusive nature of their faith, and how can they address them?

Christian “Arrogance”

One they can expect to encounter is being labeled arrogant for proclaiming Christianity is is the only right path.  The well-known atheist Christopher Hitchens said it is “fantastically arrogant” for someone to claim that they could know the mind of God (p. 53).  Is he right?  The human mind is so small, and God is great beyond our comprehension.  How can we as Christians proclaim our understanding of God is greater than any other?

Kruger writes that outside of Christianity, religion is often understood as “human attempts to discover and learn things about God” (p. 53).  It is based on human effort, and therefore, inherently “flawed and fallible” (p. 54).  In such a view of religion, it is understandable that someone would conclude that Christians are arrogant.  What makes the Christian’s attempt to understand God more accurate than anyone else’s (p. 54)?

It is crucial to recognize this understanding of religion is the opposite of what Christianity claims.  Our faith isn’t a human-driven discovery, but a revealed hope by a gracious God who has made himself known to us.  It is much less humanities hide-and-seek with God—our searching for Him; it is much more God’s show-and-tell with us—God revealing himself to us (p. 54).

Recognizing this, is Christianity arrogant to claim to be the exclusively right path?

Kruger says, “The arrogance or non-arrogance of a claim depends on whether one has adequate grounds for that claim (p. 54).”  As Christians, our grounds are sufficiently adequate!  Jesus himself claimed to be the only way to the father (John 14:6) and he backed his audacious claim through revealing his authority over all things through his miracles—over the natural by calming storms, over the supernatural by casting out demons, over life by healing the sick, and over death by raising the dead and conquering the grave (p. 54). 

Is it arrogant to believe Jesus’ claims? 

If anyone could be labeled arrogant, it would be Jesus, right?  We are merely proclaiming what He said.  Is Jesus arrogant?  …Not if his claims are true (and if he did what the Bible says he did, then we can trust the truth of his claims)! (p. 55).

All religions are the same...right?

Another objection Christians often face is the claim that all religions are essentially the same.  But if we examine different religions side by side, we see very quickly that this claim holds no merit.  A religion that believes there is only one God cannot be reconciled with a religion that claims there are multiple gods (p. 55).

What sets Christianity apart from other religions?

Christianity is distinct from other religions in another significant way.  Most world religions are about striving to be a good enough person; do enough good deeds, and you secure eternal reward.  This is not what Christianity proclaims.  Kruger writes, “Heaven is not for good people but for sinful people forgiven by grace (p. 56).

Whereas good works are the means for salvation in many other religions, for Christians, good works are the outpouring of our salvation; an expression of gratitude.  “We are not saved by obedience.  We are saved for obedience (p. 57).  

While all religions attempt to deal with the problem of sin, Christians do not find the answer in simply “trying harder”; the answer isn’t in our strength but in our savior, Jesus Christ.  This is why Christianity is exclusive; because Jesus alone is our hope (p. 57). 

Therefore, Christianity’s exclusivity makes sense.  “If there were another way to heaven, then why did Jesus have to die?”.  Peter proclaimed, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) (p. 57).

It's all relative

Another objection Christians often face is that truth is relative, therefore, Christianity cannot be the only true religion. 

The thought pattern goes something like this. “Sure, Christianity is true for you.  I, however, have a different truth!”  Relativism rejects objective truth (true for all) and claims personal truth (true just for me).  But can such claims stand under scrutiny?   In short, no.  Kruger writes, “if a doctor says a person has cancer, will he respond by saying, “That’s your truth, not my truth”?” (p. 58).  Common sense indicts relativism as foolishness(p. 58).

When we consider the claims of Christianity, many are historical claims—either they happened or they didn’t, and no personal belief can change the reality of what historically happened (p. 58).  Either Jesus rose from the grave or he didn’t—personal opinion doesn’t change historical reality.

Kruger points out the logical inconsistency by pointing to the statement “There is no objective truth” and pointing out that such a statement is in fact, an objective truth claim.  Relativism wants everyone to play by rules it refuses to abide by (p. 59)!

Some lean on the oft used metaphor of blind men feeling an elephant and arriving at different conclusions in their description of the creature based on their experience of it.  One believes an elephant to be like a snake as he feels the trunk.  Another concludes an elephant is like a spear as he feels the tusk.  Another, a wall as he feels the elephant’s side.  Still another thinks elephants are like pillars as he hugs the elephant’s leg.  You get the idea.  None had the full picture.  Therefore, religion is like that…no one has a full picture of the truth (p. 60).

Do you see the faulty thinking?  The one offering the analogy sees the whole elephant!  While the analogy is used to point out the arrogance of someone who would claim to know the whole truth, that is precisely what the giver of the analogy is doing—they claim to see the whole picture!  What the person is claiming, according to Kruger is this, “Let me tell you how all religions really work” thus excusing themselves from the analogy they just gave and granting themselves omniscient knowledge (p. 60).

While Christians claim to know how religion works, we do so not based on our own feeble efforts, but on the reality that the one who truly is omniscient—the one true God—has revealed himself to us (p. 61).

Disagree, not Disrespect

In a culture that totes affirmation as love, to disagree with someone is often labeled as disrespect.  Therefore, to tell another that what they believe is wrong will often be seen as a hostile act.  It is important to recognize that to disagree with someone does not mean we disrespect them (p. 61).  As Christians, we know that all people are created in the image of God and worthy of utmost respect.  Indeed, we love people well in presenting the truth that can save them—that Jesus alone is the way, the truth and the life.

Yes, it is ironic that as you disagree with someone, you may be labeled intolerant and mocked for your beliefs (which puts you on the receiving end of intolerance for what you believe…).  This is where Peter’s dual testimony from 1 Peter 3:15 comes into play—not only do we give a reason for our hope, but we do so with gentleness and respect.  Let your firmness of conviction and gentleness of heart point people to the hope of the Gospel (p. 62).

Questions:

How would you respond if someone claimed your Christian beliefs are arrogant?

Can one religion be true for one person while another religion is true for another?  Why or why not?

Insights taken from…

Kruger, Michael J.  2021.  Surviving Religion 101; Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway

Intimidating Intelligence; Insights from Surviving Religion 101, Chapter 2

This post is number 3 in a series examining the book, Surviving Religion 101; Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College by Michael J. Kruger.

Stepping into the intellectual boxing ring, it can be quite intimidating for a Christian college student to face off with an atheist professor with a doctorate and a seasoned argument.  In chapter 2 of his book, Michael Kruger asks this important question, "My Professors Are Really Smart—Isn’t It More Likely That They’re Right And I’m Wrong?"

While this book is focused on a college context, this thought applies elsewhere as well. 

For instance, a public school student may be taught evolution from brilliant high school teachers while they've  learned that God created all that there is in 6 days…not billions of years...through God's word. 

They may feel foolish and simple-minded holding to the Biblical account of creation while their teacher is offering another story.  

It’s a valid question.  When we face objections to our faith from really smart people, how can we be sure that we are right and they are wrong…when it seems the intellectual odds are stacked in their favor?

It can feel quite lonely when it seems you are all alone in what you think and believe (p. 39).  How should Christians respond to the pressures of classmates who think they are strange, dormmates who think their beliefs are prejudiced, and professors who think they’ve been brainwashed by their religious upbringing (p. 40)?

Christian students might begin to wonder why it seems the smartest people around them  don’t believe what they believe.  If it were true, wouldn’t more people believe it (p. 40)?

First off, lets consider how we come to believe something?   How do we form a belief?

Most of us would probably conclude that we gather facts, and the more facts we collect the more we can know and understand the world (p. 40).  That isn’t entirely true.  We gather facts, yes, but we examine those facts through the lens of our worldview.  Kruger says, “…worldview is not so much determined by the facts as it is controlling of what a person accepts as a fact in the first place.”   No one is neutral; we all filter what we see and experience through our worldview (p. 41).

Kruger compares worldviews to looking through different colored glasses that alter our perception of the world.  “…a worldview is not so much something you look at as something you look through."  Considering worldview is very important, because if someone is starting with a faulty worldview, they will arrive at faulty conclusions no matter how smart they are.  For instance, If someone’s worldview denies the possibility of miracles, they will ultimately deny the resurrection.   If their worldview holds to the belief that people are intrinsically good, they’ll likely deny their need for a savior.  If they deny there is a God, they will likely also deny that there is any moral code they must submit to (p. 42).

The Bible teaches that because of our sin, we are born this way.   We are naturally opposed to God.  We don’t merely have the wrong lens to look through, we are altogether blind! 

1 Cor 2:14 says,

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Here, Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, who found themselves in an environment not too unlike a secular university.   It was a city where intellectual thought was lauded, philosophers were esteemed, and new ideas were explored.  It would not be hard to imagine some in the Corinthian church struggling with the same question:  These philosophers are brilliant!  Isn’t it more likely they are right and I am wrong (p. 46)?

Yet, Paul makes it clear that unless the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truth of the Gospel, we will not believe.  Pounding people with facts will not transform their heart.  They need the Holy Spirit to convert them.   While we still share our best evidence, offering the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15), we also must pray for our unbelieving friends, recognizing it is God alone who can open their eyes and transform their hearts (p. 46).

As Christians, this should produce humility within us.  We are not Christians because we are smarter than others.  We are Christians because we’ve received the astounding grace of our loving God who opened our eyes and called us to himself.  1 Cor. 1 26 says, “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth” (p. 46).

While in an environment where we find ourselves in the minority, it is easy to conclude we are all alone in our beliefs.  Elijah came to this conclusion before God told him there were 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal.  We can remember that in the US alone, 41% call themselves evangelical Christians while only 3% call themselves atheist (p. 47).  We are not alone.

Secular universities often lack Christian professors because the universities tend to hire those who hold to their worldview.  This means that the Christian worldview is rarely presented in a positive fashion.  Kruger says, “It is not so difficult for a professor to argue that their views are mainstream when they get to decide what is mainstream” (p. 49).

Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  While the masses bowed, they stood tall.  They didn’t say, “look at everyone else bowing…maybe they are right and we are wrong.”  No.  They stood fast.  “Truth is not determined by majority vote” (p. 49).  God proved them in the end.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”—Josh 1:9 (p. 49)

Questions:

Why is it that really smart people can still arrive at really wrong conclusions?

Can you think of any specific areas that world view shapes a person's interpretation of evidence in different directions?

Insights taken from…

Kruger, Michael J.  2021.  Surviving Religion 101; Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway