A Reasonable Faith: Can You Be Smart and Believe in the Bible, God, and Faith?

By Rubens Ruba

Christians are often accused of having blind faith. Looking at various questions relating to apologetics the author attempts to make the case that Christianity is unique and stands the test of rational and reasonable arguments. There is no conflict between faith and reason. He answers objections relating from Science, the reliability of the Bible, to the arrogant accusation that Christ is the only way? Whether you are investigating Christianity for the first time or whether youre a Christian whos wondering how to respond to objections skeptical friends raise, this book gives helpful guidance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 18, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449714079

Rubens Ruba

Rev. Dr. Rubens Ruba is the Senior Pastor of Lewisburg Alliance Church, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Bible, Bethel Seminary, and Luther Rice Seminary. Rubens and his wife Beth, have 2 children and together carry a lifelong passion of sharing the good news of Gods wonderful love.

Book preview

Contents

THE DEBATE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO:

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

A FINAL WORD ABOUT REASONABLE FAITH

With love, prayers and much appreciation,

This book is dedicated to:

My supportive wife – Beth who has been my greatest source of encouragement

My wonderful daughters whom I am proud of – Abigail and Elizabeth

My Mother and Father in Law – John and Carol Mangle

A Loving Church - Lewisburg Alliance Church, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

THE DEBATE

Can you be smart and be a person of faith?

In May of 2010, the commencement speaker at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania was a distinguished, physician, Dr. Ben Carson of Johns Hopkins Medical Center. He is renowned in the field of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He has over 40 honorary doctorate degrees. He is also a member of the American Academy of Achievement, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, and the Alpha Omega Honor Medical Society. He is the President and co-founder of the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments. Further, on June 19, 2008, Dr. Carson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.

His original claim to fame occurred In September 1987, when Dr. Carson performed a procedure to separate a pair of seven-month-old German conjoined twins, who were joined at the head. Carson was the lead surgeon on the team which performed the complex procedure. Then, in 1997, Carson and his team went to South Africa to separate Joseph and Luka Banda, infant boys from Zambia. Both boys survived, and neither one suffered severe brain damage. The Bandas were the first set of twins joined at the tops of their heads to be successfully surgically separated. [1] Yet, as he was announced to speak at the Bucknell University Commencement 2010, a small number, yet vocal group of professors and students made an appeal to the administration that he would be uninvited because he is unscientific, since he believes in the Biblical account of Creation, faith, and the Bible.

As an evangelical Christian, and the Senior Pastor of Lewisburg Alliance Church, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania I was greatly interested in the discussion on two levels. First, I was amazed that in the college world, where there is such pride in ‘free’ and ‘open’ thinking, that Christianity, faith and the Bible, would be regarded as lacking credibility, by some in the university world. But second, I am concerned that the students at Bucknell University, as well as the entire community of Lewisburg would be left without a balanced response in favor of Christianity. It is my hope that each reader would be truly open-minded, and that you will find that having a Christian world view is reasonable and rationale.

For those readers who would categorize themselves as having been born again – the type that results in a conversion, my prayer is that you will come away with a new found boldness in your faith. For those who are annoyed by the first group of born again Christians my prayer is that as you continue to read this book, you may understand the first group better, and as a result, maybe they will not annoy you as much. To the third group of readers who have made up their mind already that Christianity is unreasonable and irrational, I hope that you do read it, and overcome your biases and fears, and actually understand, not a stereotype of Christianity, but the rationale reasoning behind the dogmatic posturing.

Bucknell University is a great school of higher learning. I have many friends who teach, administrate, and attend as students. I do believe that the school and it’s administration has done a good job in attempting to provide a dialogue for the school. But this is issue is not just about Bucknell. From my perspective it is about the place that Christ and Christianity plays in our society. Bucknell University’s experience with Dr. Carson’s religious beliefs should serve as a forum for all of us to have deeper discussions.

In many ways, you will find this book to be a book about theology. Theology, in its simplest level, is but the explanation of what Christians believe about God. I am a Pastor, and my background is theological. Yet the problem, as I see with many ‘theological books" is that most of them, are written by well meaning authors who try to string words together like…The Biblical relativism in our society fails to correspond to the pragmatism and realism. Somehow, reading some of those books adds confusion and do not clearly speak to the issues at hand.

So, without trying to oversimplify the subject, I want to do my level best to help you understand the Bible, Christ, and His Church, and to provide a platform of discussion of why the Christian Faith is reasonable.

INTRODUCTION

Is this book really needed?

The conflict with Christianity is not just seen in the University level. At the writing of this book, Oprah has announced that this is her last year for her afternoon television show. And for some reason, I just don’t believe that Oprah is going to retire completely. But, as a result of her television show there has been a strong acceptance of a philosophy of life which blends a variety of spiritual faiths, and deems them all acceptable. From New Age Meditation, to Christian Orthodoxy, Oprah persuades her listeners that all religious beliefs are acceptable, and that there are many ways to feel that ‘inner peace.’ Philosophers have dubbed our era as a postmodern one which relativism reigns supreme. Oops! I promised not to use those types of phrases, didn’t I? So, here is a better one: Oprah’s philosophy is: Whatever works for you, do it!

I believe that this philosophy of life is in direct opposition to Biblical and Historical teaching. For Christianity is designed to be an exclusive faith. It has always been puzzling to hear that a number of Roman Catholics and Evangelical proclaim themselves to be Christians, yet dabble in all sorts of Far East practices. This dual commitment is in direct contradiction to the Bible’s account, as well as historical Christian teaching. When someone mentions the exclusiveness of Christ, the reaction of people is usually filled with opposition and anger. How dare Christians claim that Christ is the only path to God? That is arrogant and egotistical.

But the problem goes deeper than the struggle with a Universalist approach to religion. For even those who are church going and card carrying Christians are swaying to the pressure to be all-inclusive. Check out these statistics which on the surface can be rather encouraging to Christianity, yet cause us in church leadership to cringe![2]

•   80 percent of all Americans describe themselves as spiritual.

•   80 percent believe that God created the Universe.

•   66 percent say they pray every day.

•   85 percent consider themselves Christian.

All that sounds rather encouraging until you begin to look under the surface and you discover that there has been erosion. For though those statistics look great, consider the following:

•   Only 45 percent of those who profess to be Christian attend worship services weekly.

•   Almost 70 percent of self proclaimed Evangelical Christians believe that there is more than one way to heaven.

•   Almost 70 percent of incoming freshman at Christian colleges say there are no moral absolutes.

•   And 84 percent of those collegians are unable to explain basic Christian beliefs.

Something is wrong. Clearly there is a clear disconnect from Biblical Truth. In Oprah’s world, there is a smorgasbord of beliefs and spiritual ideas that everyone can pick or choose.

My contention is that Christianity cannot be placed in the mix of choices among many religions. Christianity, by its very nature, is head and shoulders above every other religion. For instance, The Bible is not just one word of God, among many, but it is solely the Word of God. And Jesus did not proclaim to be one of the ways to God. He states clearly that He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus himself proclaims to be the only way!

R.C. Sproul was once asked, "What is the difference between the Christian God and the gods of other religions?" In a simple way, he gave the answer. He said, The God of Christianity exists. [3] As some of you read R.C. Sproul’s statement, you immediately began to think how that sounds very arrogant! How dare you put Christianity above Judaism, Islam or any other religion?

My contention in this book is that this is not arrogance, but it is the historical and Biblical position of Christianity. For in university campuses all over our nation, as well as in the general population of our country, there has been such a sensitivity to conform and sacrifice truth in the altar of peace and for the sake of fairness and unity.

Through this book, I want to answer some basic questions that distinguish Christ from the other gods of this world. My desire is not to offend, but to present the reasons why I believe in God, the Bible, and Christ, who is the only hope for eternal life. It is to bring a reasonable and rational understanding,