Are you a good person?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fate of the apostles (did they just make it all up?)

One of the common arguments I hear skeptics using to refute the Bible and Christianity is that the apostles made up all of the stories of Jesus Christ to gain power and wealth. In other words, a couple men got together, decided they wanted to have power, and put together this elaborate scheme about a man named Jesus Christ, which has become the Bible we know today. Let’s take a look at the fate of some of the first century Christian’s, then decide if this theory makes sense.

  
I would now like to again quote Fox’s Book of Martyrs, “And yet, notwithstanding all these continual persecutions and horrible punishments, the Church daily increased, deeply rooted in the doctrine of the apostles and of men apostolical, and watered plenteously with the blood of the saints.”
First, when men and women saw these horrible deaths that came to these first century Christians, why would anyone choose to follow the faith (unless of course, it is true)? Had the entire thing been a hoax, why were so many willing to die horrifically painful deaths for their faith? Interestingly enough, the same is true today. Despite how many Christians are being persecuted and even murdered for their faith today; people are still coming to faith in Jesus Christ. You would think that, after seeing the persecution, a lost person would choose to avoid Christians at all costs, not become one; especially if they are surrounded by false doctrine and men threatening to kill Christians every day of their lives.

That aside, consider the claim that the first century Christians made up the story of Jesus Christ. They had absolutely nothing to gain, and everything to lose. If you don’t believe me, please reread the list above. They didn’t receive riches and power; they received pain, suffering, and death. Why would so many faithfully die for a lie? If they had made up the whole thing, why wouldn’t they have cried out and admitted so just before being put to death? Why would they endure such pain, unless they didn’t just make it all up?

Another thing to consider when thinking about if the first century Christians made up the entire story is the contents of Christianity. Christianity teaches that one must literally deny themselves, give up their sin, and “be crucified with Christ” (Philippians 1:21). Human beings, when honest, are against doing the right thing. We prefer sin. We prefer to lie to get ahead, steal to get what we want, curse, get angry, lust, have sex before marriage, and make ourselves feel better by using drugs and alcohol. Why then, would men make up a belief system in which they have to deny themselves what their flesh desires? Why would they create a set of rules that prevents them from doing exactly what their flesh wants them to do? Men also like to feel like they are in control. You can see this by asking the average agnostic, “What does it take to get to Heaven?” They will almost always answer, “Be a good person!” Why? Because sinful man is filled with such pride we assume that we are enough. “I don’t need a savior!” The lost soul cries. “I can do this on my own!” (Proverbs 20:6). Why would men make up a story that requires them to completely submit control of their lives to somebody (or something) else? It doesn’t make any sense. The only answer as to why the Bible makes claims that contradict man’s instincts so much is simple: it was not created by man. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, not of men who wanted power.

The claim that the stories and teachings of Christianity were “made up” by the first century Christians simply does not make any sense. They had nothing to gain and everything to lose. They didn’t achieve power, wealth, and popularity; they were rewarded with pain, suffering, persecution, and martyrdom.