Concise Answers to Your Crucial Questions Part 1 of 3

Last June (1995) we asked our readers to submit an example or two of the kind of tough questions that they're typically asked about Christianity. We received a good sampling of questions on a wide variety of topics from all across America. In this issue, and for the following two months, we want to publish some of those questions along with our very best effort at providing a simple response. Simple, snappy answers would perhaps not always be the best answers if time and space limitations were not a factor-but they are these days. And the sound-bite that gets heard may be preferable to the longer answer that doesn't-so long as accuracy is not compromised. With that in mind, we invite you to read on. Question #1 FROM MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT: "Why are you so sure that your way (Christianity) is the only way?" ANSWER: "Because the founder of Christianity said it is. Jesus Christ Himself made the exclusivity of Christianity unnegotiable. If His claims are uncertain on that score, they are uncertain on every other score. The more that I've studied world religions, the more I've discovered that-contrary to popular opinion-all religions certainly do not teach the same thing, but contrary views. And since mutually exclusive claims cannot all/both be true, I'm with the claims of the One who came back from the dead- something no other founder of any other religion has ever done." "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."-Acts 4:12; "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." -I Timothy 2:5; "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." -John 14:6 Question #2 FROM WINCHESTER BAY, OREGON: "How can you know for sure that you are going to heaven when you die?" ANSWER: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household."-Acts 16:31; "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;" -Romans 10:9; "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life." -I Jn 5:13 Question #3 FROM PATTERSON, NEW JERSEY: "How can there be a loving God when death and destruction result from earthquakes, tornadoes, etc.?" ANSWER: "God has the larger picture in mind. By withholding judgment and the final restoration of this broken world, God-in His love-seems willing, at least for a time, to 'trade' (allow) temporal death and destruction with an eye toward the eternal salvation and life of those who would otherwise be lost. And keep in mind that even so-called 'natural' disasters are probably very often the direct or indirect product of man's sin. Who of us can tell what disastrous weather patterns result from pollution, wanton destruction of rain forests, and man's poor ecological stewardship." "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." -II Peter 3:9 ________________________________________________ "God has the BIG picture in mind, and seems willing to 'trade' temporal death for eternal life..." ________________________________________________ Question #4 FROM MILFORD, MICHIGAN: "Why should I believe Christ if Christians can't even agree among themselves-all those denominations?" ANSWER: "You should trust Christ who is perfect, instead of people who are not. "Fasten your eyes on Jesus..." -Hebrews 12:2. But also realize that Christians do agree on all basic doctrine. You don't reject all medicine just because doctors debate certain specifics."