Church

From David Baker (Rector)

Our monthly church magazine letter

The Reason for God

Here are some questions people often ask:
“What evidence is there for God?”
“Why does God allow suffering in the world?”
“How could a loving God send people to Hell?”
“Why isn’t Christianity more ‘inclusive’?”
“How can one religion be ‘right’ and the others ‘wrong?”
“Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God?”

These are just a few of the questions and doubts that many ordinary people and even devoted believers sometimes wrestle with today. As the founding minister of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Timothy Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced “doubts” sceptics bring to his church as well as the most important reasons for faith. And in his best-selling book “The Reason for God ~ Belief in an age of scepticism”, he addresses each doubt and explains each reason.

Keller uses literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and reasoning to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth.

The first half of the book addresses common objections to Christian belief. The second half argues for the Christian worldview. There is an intermission halfway through which briefly considers other issues, like why beliefs differ between Christians and Christian denominations.

One of the interesting things about Keller’s book is how wide-ranging it is. For example, he not only considers issues such as science, suffering and the Bible, but he also writes: “Many people who taken an intellectual stand against Christianity do so against a background of personal disappointment with Christians and churches... If you have known many wise, loving, kind and insightful Christians over the years, and if you have seen churches that are devout in belief yet civic-minded and generous, you will find the intellectual case for Christianity much more plausible. If, on the other hand, the preponderance of your experience is with nominal Christians (who bear the name but don’t practise it) or self-righteous fanatics, then the arguments for Christianity will have to be extremely strong for you to concede that they have any cogency at all. So we have to address the behaviour of Christians – individual and corporate – that has undermined the plausibility of Christianity for so many people.”

Does all this sound interesting to you? Look, let’s do a deal. If you think you might be interested in reading this book, then let me know (drop a note in to the Rectory, or call 423266) and I’ll come round and bring you a copy. The price is £8.99 (that’s the retail price – no profit to me or the church or anything like that). However if you would like a copy but are worried about the cost, I’ll be happy to take you at your word, and arrange to give you one for free. I hope you will enjoy taking up this opportunity; after all, what have you got to lose?

David Baker (Rector)

Revd David Baker
Telephone: 423266
Email: davidbaker1966@yahoo.co.uk

This page last modified on: 21 July 2010