"Not The Invention of Any Man"

The secular scholars stretch our their hands and say that the Holy Bible, the Scriptures that contain both The Old and New Testament are inventions of religious fanatics, and nothing better than mythological histories like The Vonsung Sagas and The Book of the Dead in Egypt. Such rhetoric  from the so called men of 'reason' is in stark contrast to their words about the Q'uran and other religious books. What of their claim? As Christians our belief, faith, and hope transcends the courts of human reason, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; and For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (1 Corinthians 3:19, 1 Corinthians 1:25). Our faith does not require strong apologetics and arguments, for those who seek this frame of thinking miss a proverbial point of believing, the spiritual is not only found in logic and reason, but transcends them and manifests in the supernatural and spiritual. But if we are to satisfy our secular challangers, let us turn to the Scriptures where St. Peter makes the case for the Truth of the Gospel, "For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (1 Peter 1: 16-21). In this lengthy passage we see Peter refutes the argument of secularae, by saying "we did not clearly devise stories, we were eyewitnesses." Any historian and archaeologist worth their salt will tell you that the way something is verified to be true historically is if there were two or more witnesses to the event. Hence why the courts in Judea during the time of Jesus had the law (canons) that two witnesses had to affirm or condemn a person for it to be true. Peter tells us the account of Jesus' Baptism () to let the reader know there are many more witnesses who weren't even followers of Jesus who hard the voice of the Father.

After Christ had risen from the dead He appeared to His intimate followers (John 21:1-14), and then it is recorded that Christ appeared to five hundred at once, "After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:6). The apostles in giving their accounts of the Almighty and His Gospel have been careful to follow the customs of the times, which is that everything must be verified and documented by eyewitnesses. This is why the Four Synoptic Gospels in the New Testament are important. We get two gospels from direct eye witnesses, John and Matthew, we get a third that is St. Peter's dictated to John Mark, and the fourth by the apostle Luke, a Greek physician and graduate of the School of Alexandria, the most prestigious academia in history (Oxford, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and best schools rolled into one) decided to interview all the Disciples, including the women disciples like Mary, Jesus' Mother, Mary Magdalene, Mary Clopus, Mary and Martha, Susanna, and more (John 19:25, Luke 10:38-42, Luke 23:55); in fact these women supported Jesus and the male disciples with money, "After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means." (Luke 8:1-3). We thus Not only do we have two direct eyewitness accounts from those who saw and walked with Jesus, Matthew and John, we also have Peter an eyewitnesses' oral report written by Mark, and Luke's interviews of all the disciples including the women who supported Jesus' ministry (you can read about St./Apostle Luke in Dear and Glorious Physician, Taylor Caldwell).

We have secured the eyewitnesses defense of the Gospels. Let us now seek the historical evidence. In Israel alone, there has been 2,056 finds that verify and support the Old and New Testaments. For some time secular and atheist scholars claimed there was no Pontius Pilate, but then a piece of pottery dating to 33 A.D. turned up with the words, "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea." These same secularae claimed Caiaphas was an invention, but a sarcophagus box of bones was found stating, "Caiaphas, High Priest." Historians and scholars came against the Trial of Jesus, stating that it could not be Herodian Palace, and now at the ancient David's Citadel, excavations have found a palace that fits the exact description of the Gospels and archaeologists are certain it was where Christ was on trial before Pilate! Because historically the Citadel location is where great rulers, David, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Romans set up their quarters for trials because the citadel is easy to defend. Secular scholars claimed that no churches existed predating the Constantine Churches of 313-335 A.D. In Galilee, a church was found beneath the ground that dates to the early years of the Church! The findings keep affirming the faith, the coins, pottery, inscriptions, ruins of homes, and more fit the exact details of the New and Old Testaments.

The third defense of the faith is found in science itself. Atheist scientists today studying macro and micro spheres such as the cells in our bodies and cosmos in the sky have determined that the exactness, the detail, and design of our sun, planet, nature, and us is so minute and complex that it could not come into existence via osmosis (randomly, out of nothing) as Charles Darwin claimed in The Origin of the Species. The record should say that Darwin did recant and renounce his theory on his death bed as "a farce, a lie, and made up." The true scientists who are atheists are becoming theists because they cannot ignore the thumbprint of the Trinity in everything they examine. Their findings are often buried (See the movie The Privileged Planet) because there is political party and I would say a religion in science that wants to support Darwin's theory, and they destroy any findings that contradict their narrative. These pseudo-scientists work along pseudo-historians to write, film, and create curriculum to deceive students in universities. They omit any findings that contradict, take apart their arguments, and that affirm Creationism.

The most learned men in history, who even secularists  herald as geniuses (genius refutes Darwin's theory, because Darwin said we will keep evolving and becoming better, but a genius by definition is inherited, they have genes from past that lined up to make them brilliant) like Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Augustine, Sophocles, and many more all believed in the divine. In fact Plato claimed, "trees capture our imagination and draw us because we all picture a prefect tree, one that exists that we cannot see." Interesting, is Plato perhaps acknowledging, "The Tree of Life," ()? The men of Reason knew there was a source of wisdom, knowledge, and all existence. Only within the past three hundred years has man in his folly devised doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1) to give them an excuse to not follow the divine Christ Jesus. The irony is that secular scholars of our times are missing the source of all wisdom and knowledge, "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3). It is a shame that many of scholars of our time are avoiding the very fountain of the mysteries, where is hidden all the wisdom and knowledge in Jesus Christ.

There is a song by Rich Mullins called "Creed" and one course goes, "I believe it, its the very Truth of God, and not the invention of any man." This song is based on Apostle's Creed and Nicene Creed. In the end all the logic, reason, and scholasticism cannot save you. At some point you must lay down your scholar pen and ask, "Jesus, if you are the Savior, and the Scriptures in the Bible are true, reveal yourself to me! Teach me your Truth and I will follow you." Do not O skeptic be afraid, there was a skeptic in Christ's train, a man named Thomas who did cry, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." (John 20:25). Doubting Thomas did lay his doubts aside, when he saw the Christ Arise, "Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:27-28). Even the skeptic O scholar did see and believe, but if you searcher of knowledge do not see, be encouraged in serving the King of Kings, "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29). You are blessed if you confess Christ as your Lord and believe in your heart (Romans 10:9) without seeing! The Holy Spirit draws men to the Father and Jesus Christ. He helped the eyewitnesses who walked with Emmanuel (Jesus Christ) remember everything, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26). As a scholar you have wits, and write accordingly, but you could have God, who has all wisdom and knowledge live in you! (John 15:4, Galatians 2:20, 1 John 4:3, 1 Corinthians 3:16,  and many more).

There was man named Lee Strobel who was staunch atheist. He got what he believed was the chance of his career, the opportunity to investigate Christianity and verify its validity. Strobel believed he would be able with his logic, reason, and investigation easily prove Christianity to be untrue, but after two years of careful examination Strobel could not stand on his atheism anymore, he discovered as I have laid out in less detail, the facts that affirm the faith. Lee Strobel became a servant of Christ after his investigation and His account of whole process is a great resource called "The Case for Christ." I recommend the DVD/digital copy of The Case for Christ because it lays out the evidence for our faith concisely, succinctly, and in a captivating (entertaining) way. If you are a seeker scholar or scienetists, remember dbouting Thomas, who will be your patron saint in sense that he was like you. I recommend you get a copy of Case for Christ, ask Christ to reveal Himself, ask for Holy Spirit to guide you, and read The Holy Bible (NASB, Interliner, Orthodox Study Bible, NKJV). I pray the blessing of Christ over you, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29). If you never receive tangible touch of Holy Spirit, take heart a famous theologian and devout Christian is Joyce Meyer, and she has not either, she holds on to this verse and has seen the words of Bible to be true. So even if you do not have some profound revelation or spiritual experience, recognize, you may be under the blessing Jesus gives! If you can believe without feelings and visions, how great is your faith (trust)! Amen.