Let’s look at problems people have with Christianity

You are going to get an extra hour tonight, so what will you do with it? Will you sleep it away? Will you just let it slide? Will you invest it in something important? What will you do with the precious gift of 60 minutes? I suppose it depends on your priorities and your values.

So I am going to ask for six minutes — about one-10th of your free hour. I want to invite you to read this article and think about what you believe about Jesus. Are you unsure about the claims of Christianity and about the historical reality of Jesus? I mean if what Christianity teaches is reality then it affects everything. But do you have major questions?

I have been reading a book by a man who was a skeptic born into an atheistic family. He had an encounter with Jesus that changed his thinking. In his concern for others like himself he has written a book that looks at 10 common problems that people have or claim to have with Christianity.

Over the next several months I want share some of what he says about each of these problems and I would love your feedback on which of these are your biggest questions. So here is what I am proposing. I will outline each problem and would love to have your feedback on the ones that are the biggest problems for you.

Problem one: The Problem of Science. Does science really collide with faith or not?

Problem two: The Problem of God’s Existence. Is it easy for us to explain existence without God?

Problem three: The Problem of the Bible. Is this really a reliable book?

Problem four: The Problem of the Christ Myth. Is the story of Jesus just a composite of older myths?

Problem five: The Problem of Suffering and Evil. Why does a loving God allow evil and suffering to exist in our world?

Problem six: The Problem of Hell. Is hell real? Is it reasonable for God to send people to hell?

Problem seven: The Problem of Sex. What do we do when the Christian teaching about sex seems to be at odds with our culture?

Problem eight: The Problem of Hypocrisy. Why do people see Christians as hypocrites? Is there something we are missing?

Problem nine: The Problem of Exclusivity. How can Christianity claim that Jesus is the only way to God? What does that say about other religions?

Problem ten: The Problem of Jesus. Was Jesus a historical person and God or one or the other or something else?

Ten very interesting problems but which ones are keeping you from seriously looking at the claims of Jesus? As we head into the Christmas season what prevents you from seeing the baby in the manger as the “light of the World” and our hope for life.

I would love to hear back from you on this. You can email me at pastorngfubc@gmail.com. Let me know which of these problems is a big problem holding you back from the truth and blessing of knowing Jesus.

Rev. John Dunnett is minister at First Baptist Church in New Glasgow.