DISCUSSIONS WITH DISBELIEVERS from CfC

We  have,  over  the years, held many  discussions  with  various individuals   
and  groups  regarding  the  Holy  Bible  and   the inspiration  of  the text 
by God. In many cases we  have  had  to allow  the  "other  end" to remain 
with their  beliefs  while  we retained  our own. The factors of each time 
have always  resulted in the situation that the "other end" chooses to 
disbelieve. 
.     The  Bible,  time  and time again, over  the  centuries  has proven  its 
trustworthiness and accuracy. While this convinces  a few,  several  remain  
in disbelief by choice. It  is  for  those individuals that this series of 
questions is posed: 

.     1)  How  is  it  that the Old Testament,  one  of  the  most ancient of 
books, is always marvellously accurate when it touches scientific  questions;  
whereas ALL other books a  hundred  years old,  whenever touching such 
questions are full of  glaring,  and often  foolish , mistakes. A scientist 
once wrote to the  British Association  apologizing  for  not having  a  paper  
printed.  He stated, "anything printed is ipso facto out of date." 

.     2) How is it that of the Bible, and the BIBLE ALONE, it  can be  said: 
"It has ... truth without any mixture of error for  its matter"  (Locke). How 
is it that no single virtue or standard  of righteousness taught elsewhere 
eclipses that taught in the Bible? 

.     3)  How  is  it that no  references  to  historical  events, historical   
characters,   ancient  customs,   geographical   and astronomical  records  
abounding in the Bible  have  been  proved incorrect? 

.     4) How do you explain how Christ could be "in the  beginning with  God,"  
one  with the Father, and at the same  time  err  in teaching  and believing 
that the Bible was verbally inspired,  as Jesus did? 

.     5)  How  is it that hundreds of prophesies recorded  in  the Bible  have  
been fulfilled to the letter, centuries  after  they were  recorded.  Why is 
it that the BIBLE ALONE has  this  unique feature that NO OTHER text in the 
world has? 

.     6)  How  is it that a book written by  some  40  individuals whose  
writings  ranged  over  1600  years,  could,  when   bound together,  present 
one unique whole, whose unity of  thoughts  in doctrine  and plan is evident 
to the most casual of readers,  and is  amatter of increasing wonder and 
admiration to  the  student. Again,  this  has  NEVER been found in any  other  
collection  of literature. A vivid contrast are the Hindu Shastras. 

.     7) How is that writiers such as Moses, david, Isaiah,  John, Paul, Peter 
and many other men of integrity and spiritual acumen, could  claim that many 
of the owrds they used were  God's  words, and all were written by 
inspiration, if in truth they had written them  themselves apart from the 
control of the Holy  Spirit.  The former claim is made by the writers about 
4,000 times. 

.     8) How is it that fishermen, tax collectors and others  were enabled  to  
succeed  in portraying a perfect  character  in  the Gospels  which  no other 
writers have been able to do  before  or since them? 

.     9)How  is it that the Law given to Israel  millenniums  ago, worked  
successfully for centuries without admendment  or  repeal (Deut  4:2);  and  
finally was used as a basis  for  British  and American  Law.  During  the 
reign of Victoria over  650  acts  of Parliment were repealed. No count was 
kept of admendments! 

.     10)  How  do you explain how it is that God honors  all  the promises  
in  His Word when conditions are  fulfilled,  and  when presented by those to 
whom they have been given. If they are  not HIS promies, why does HE honor 
them? 

.     11) How is it that the words of Scripture have, in  numerous cases,  
unaided  by man's influence, completely  transformed  the reader,  turing him 
from the ways of error to a holy,  clean  and upright life? No OTHER book can 
make such a claim! 

.     12) How is it that the spiritual teasures are inexhaustible. Every year 
produces scores of volumes, thousands of sermons,  and tens of thousands of 
articles - all of which seek to exploit  the unsearchable depths and riches of 
Jesus Christ, and the  precious truths  and  teachings found in the Bible. 
This  cannot  be  said about ANY OTHER book ever written! 

.     13)  How is apart from the enlightenment of the Holy  Spirit much of tne 
contents of the Bible are hidden from the wisest? 

.     14) How is it that the Scriptures are uniqely adaptable  for translation  
into any tongue? All other books lose greatly  being translated and the value 
of many would be practically lost. There are over 800 languages and dialects 
in which some portion of  the Bible is now obtainable in print. Many of these 
add freshness and beauty to a multitude of passages. 

.     To  close,  I wish to add that I have yet to debate  with  a person on 
the merits of the Bible where my opponent has even read the Bible. The 
majority have desired to question my faith and  my beliefs  without addressing 
the issue of the Bible. They wish  to quote  other  human  writers  without  
the  scholar  attitude  of checking the Bible themselves. 

     Computers For Christ
     San Jose, CA  95123
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