The Mystery of Divine Personality

The paradox of the Lion and the Lamb.  Every time I see this image, like many others I think about the life of Jesus and his many seemingly paradoxical traits.  How is it the God of Heaven, Author and Giver of Life, would care so much for mankind as to lower himself to become like one of his creation?  It is an astounding thought.  The glory of the throne of heaven for a humble home in Nazareth. Jesus called the Christ - arguably the most influential and controversial person in history, and while our very calendar is centered around the timing of his birth, the world continues to misunderstand the purpose of his coming just as it did more than two thousand years ago.

Jesus life was foretold in startling detail throughout the OT.  Arguably the most direct and undeniable of these prophetic writings are found in the book of *Isaiah.  Most scholars agree these writings were penned 700+ years before the birth of Christ.  The point is, the Jews and many others had anxiously awaited the promised Messiah who they expected would appear on the scene as a king, military leader, priest, and prophet to establish an earthly reign of sorts marked by Israel's freedom from foreign rule (at that time the Romans) and bring restoration of world peace and a holy nation.  So when Jesus arrived as a seemingly ordinary man, you could say this was marked by a bit less fanfare than they were anticipating.  After all, who would've thought the great I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, would come into the world in the way Jesus did: born of a virgin in a lowly stable, raised by earthly working class parents, taught by his earthly father the trade of carpentry, assembling a band of disciples who were not among the religious elite, even washing feet, ministering among sinners, tax collectors, and the unclean - even associating at times with Samaritans, whom the Jews of Jesus day despised.  He did not place himself in defiance of the law or the authority of the government, nor did he attempt to abolish the law of the prophets, but to fulfill them.  He ultimately submitted himself to public scorn and a torturous death on a Roman cross, although he had committed no crime.

Of all the mortal men in history who have claimed to be gods - who died never to live again - it strikes me that only the true God of creation would come as a humble man and live, die, and be raised again in the way Jesus did.  The Lion of Judah in that he retained the full divinity of his Godliness, yet submissive to the will of the Father becoming the spotless sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world.  It is this and so many other startling contrasts in his personality that reveal the truth as to who Jesus really was and what made him unique from any other person that would ever live. 

As the Scottish theologian once put it:

"He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men, yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was so genial and winsome and approachable that the children loved to play with him, and the little ones nestled in his arms. His presence at the innocent gaiety of a village wedding was like the presence of sunshine.

No one was half so compassionate to sinners, yet no one ever spoke such red hot scorching words about sin. A bruised reed he would not break, his whole life was love, yet on one occasion he demanded of the Pharisees how they ever expected to escape the damnation of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions, yet for sheer stark realism He has all of our stark realists soundly beaten. He was a servant of all, washing the disciples feet, yet masterfully He strode into the temple, and the hucksters and moneychangers fell over one another to get away from the mad rush and the fire they saw blazing in His eyes.

He saved others, yet at the last Himself He did not save. There is nothing in history like the union of contrasts which confronts us in the gospels. The mystery of Jesus is the mystery of divine personality."

– James Stewart

Christ taught of love and compassion, that's the teaching from Jesus people like to remember, but he also taught of righteousness, holiness, and judgment.  He scorned the "religious" leadership for their legalism and hypocrisy but embraced the lowly sinner who believed and the ones who demonstrated faith in Him.  He forgave the wounded sinner but spoke a stern warning to the self righteous.  He healed the lame and made the blind see, yet his truth was hidden from those who refused him and the truth of God.

As he said in his own words following the conversion of the tax collector Zaccheus, "The son of man has come to seek and save that which was lost."  (Luke 19:10).  That is why He came and because he was obedient to that purpose, all those who believe on the name of Jesus can be free.

*To read a sample of the prophesies in the OT, and specifically those in the book of Isaiah concerning Jesus, see Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 35:4-6, 40:1-5,9, 50:6, and of course 53:1-12.

Has Religion Caused the Most Death & War?

Everyone has heard this argument often posed by atheists and critics who claim religion (and specifically Christianity) is to blame for most of the injustice, death, war, and suffering through history.  Reference is usually made to the Christian Crusades, radical Islamic extremist groups, and similar dark times when, in the name of religion, men have tried to justify their horrific deeds.  Those who are familiar with the atheistic scientist Richard Dawkins and those of his same ilk are familiar with these tired arguments.  But are the arguments factual to begin with?  On a more basic level, are they philosophically sound?  Ravi Zacharias answers these questions in a brief and succinct way.

Unadulterated Truth of the Bible

As much as I enjoy reading the works penned by great thinkers, scientists, historians, theologians, and philosophers regarding their defense, or even skepticism, toward the Christian Faith I often find, as I read the Word of God, I am reminded God's thoughts are higher than mine, that God's word is perfect, and that it is a living word (meaning that it is literally as though God were speaking and revealing Himself to me.  Because He is alive and with me, He speaks and reveals himself to me through that word).  What was wisely said once by a respected teacher, I find to be most certainly true - the Bible is the best and most reliable authority on itself. 

I believe this is singularly true of the Bible.  If it is the Word of God, as it claims, there is a higher truth and revelation to be found within - from an unadulterated source.  God, as my Heavenly Father, desires most that I should know Him and therefore believe and obey Him.  He is constantly working in my life and in the lives of humanity, to this end.  He desires our obedience not because He is a dictator, but because He knows and wants what is best for us.  In short, He loves us.  But He will not and does not force himself on us.  The act of belief is a concious choice, although the faith and ability are given by God to all men.  As our father, He does not wish that His will be some great mystery to us.  This is why He has given us His word and His incarnate son Jesus.  Like a good earthly parent, God desires to share with us His will for our lives.  Now some would be very likely to protest were I to now mention infallability of the Bible, but my point in using that term would be to merely point out that God, unlike man, by definition must be an infallable being in all respects.  God's words are in every sense righteous and eternally true, as God by nature does not change.  The Bible is then, a compilation of divinely inspired works penned by men as God's chosen instruments.  The point of this word is to convey God's personality, truth, will, and salvation to man.  To do so, he chose men, as you or I might choose a pen, but the pen cannot claim any accomplishment beyond the fact that it was our choice medium for recording our thoughts, ideas, desires, beliefs, and so on.

It is for these and many other reasons, I find, that most skeptics of the Bible have not actually bothered to read the Bible.  This is a fundamental flaw in judgement.  They are fearful.  I have met many skeptics who seemingly know a lot about the Bible, but this is always based on perhaps mountains of information they have gathered second hand, not conclusions they have made for themselves.  They find their investigation satisfactory because it supports a foregone conclusion.  They then parrot their skepticism without having actually understood in context or in truth.  They are willingly ignorant of God.  They believe by blotting out belief, they are freed from any accountability, if what they dread were to turn out to be true.  As the Bible says, "their thinking has become futile and their foolish hearts darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools."  You see, if a man or woman encounters the words of the true God, they cannot be left unchanged by it.  This is the source of fear.  Not of finding truth, but of being changed.  They are comfortable in their sin and ignorance.  They may well refuse to acknowledge Him, as the Romans of Paul's day did, but despite their best effort, they cannot claim to have not been introduced to evidence of Him.  Whether through His word, His creation, His witnesses - all of man will leave this life having encountered the true God.  This is why the Bible explains that "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

All this said, in reading one of my favorite books from the scripture, the book of Isaiah, I wish to share the following passages free of any commentary. They speak for themselves. These words were written approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ and describe with incredible detail, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Even when read to a non-believer, an honest person must acknowledge this prophetic passage as having proclaimed the life of Jesus of Nazareth:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."  Isaiah 7:14

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:1-6

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”  Isaiah 42:6-9

"Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.” “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” Isaiah 43:10-13

"I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."  Isaiah 49:6b

"But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."  Isaiah 51:6b

"See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—so will he sprinkle many nations,and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."  Isaiah 52:13-15; Isaiah 53:1-12

"Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear...The redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord" Isaiah 59:1&20

Millions and Millions of Years Ago...

Every time I hear someone use the phrase "millions of years ago..." I automatically liken it in my mind to having said "Long ago and far, far away..." What makes me say this? Well, simply put, because both statements are the beginning of a fairy-tale. But hasn't science proven the earth/ universe is millions if not billions of years old?? This is a topic with way more depth than can possibly be covered in a simple post here, but let me try to answer the question as succinctly as I can and then you take the investigation from there if you like.

First, after having researched this issue, it is my belief that ascribing the earth as being millions of years old is simply the result of a parroted phrase rooted not in science but instead as the foregone conclusion of a naturalistic worldview. You see purely naturalistic, atheistic science only thinks in terms of millions or billions of years for one simple reason - because these same scientists think that allowing for a great span of time gives more credence to the plausibility that life came to it's present state by purely naturalistic causes. If a frog suddenly turns into a man, we all know it's a fairy-tale. But, given enough time, it makes it sound more plausible, even scientific, that evolution could have happened. But the frog that becomes a man, whether it happens quickly or over a billion years, is still a fairy-tale. No one has ever seen a frog become anything other than a frog. My basic issue is there is no actual evidence that the earth or universe is millions of years old and adding or subtracting time doesn't solve the issues raised in what is known as the anthropic principle. I'm not suggesting the earth is 6,000 years old or 6 million, I'm just saying the evidence for the old earth model is not backed by any more or less evidence than those who ascribe to a young earth model. Further, time does not solve the problems of naturalistic origin.

Secondly, let's just assume that the earth is millions or even billions or trillions of years old, the inescapable fact is no matter how much time we allow for, there is no answer to the origin of life in science. Sure we can theorize and postulate and try to recreate the beginnings, but we can never be certain. The reality is no matter how you spin it, in order to believe life began in a purely naturalistic way, you must also believe that life came from nothing (abiogenesis) - that non-living material can somehow come to life. It is theorized, at a high level, that water being rained down on the earth for millions of years, formed a primordial soup out of which the first life forms emerged. Unfortunately for those who ascribe to this theory there is no actual evidence for it. It has never been observed - ever. Even in the most carefully controlled modern lab tests where real-life variables are artificially removed (because they would instantly destroy the possibility of experiment) and stimuli introduced, life never emerges from non-living matter. I liken the belief that life can come from non-living matter to the same logic of a time when people believed flies came from raw meat. Any desires to cling to such arguments are not rooted in science but in an underlying world view. Origin is where science ends and metaphysics begins - anyone who tells you otherwise is not being honest about the facts. Even men like the famous modern day atheistic-scientist and author Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) run into major problems when confronted with this issue of explaining the beginnings of life. How can something come from nothing? Simple - it cannot. In an effort to cling to his theory he employs pure atheistic metaphysics, having written and been recorded expressing the possibility of theories such as panspermia (life transplanted on the earth from other life forms in the universe). Even if life were transplanted from other life forms (we're really leaving science in the dust now) we still have the massive problem of a first cause. We cannot have an infinite regression of causes. Ultimately, there has to be a first cause.

So in the end (or shall we say beginning) life either came from nothing spontaneously or was caused by a first cause. The first cause would have to be independent of time, self existing and sustaining, intelligent, and powerful - in a word, God. The alternative is a world with no independent first cause and spontaneously generated life. What I want to clarify for anyone who is curious, science and specifically biology alone cannot solve the question of origin. It also cannot explain phenomena like meaning, truth, consciousness, beauty, ethics, literature, art, religion, or even science. To come up with a reasonable conclusion to such realities requires employing disciplines of science (physics, biology, and mathematics) as well as employing rationality (metaphysics, ethics, epistemology, and philosophy). Simply adding millions of years to the equation and saying "abracadabra" over it doesn't make for a cohesive scientific explanation of origins.

Can Man Be Good without God??

I have decided to make a post each Sunday with some discussion on matters of the Christian faith. I am deeply compelled, as a Christian and person who desires to see the truth of God revealed to those who are living under the pretenses of some false reality, to employ whatever means possible to make God known to those who do not have the inexpressible joy of life and relationship with Him. This is why I take such a great interest in the discipline of Christian apologetics. While I do not think that through mere academia or argumentation we can necessarily change the minds of someone who is willfully opposed to truth, but we might perhaps help "clear the bushes" as we defuse their objections and perhaps cause them to consider or reconsider Christ and the ultimate reality He offers.

As you are probably well aware, the world views of atheism and existentialism have been flourishing over the past century or so and have been gaining a lot of steam in the past half century thanks to the movement of postmodernism. These world views have long been in conflict with Biblical Christianity, but most recently the debate has been posed not so much as religion (and specifically Christianity) vs. atheism but as Christianity Vs. science. This is very deceptive as these ideas are not at all in contradiction. In fact, the truth of the claims made by the Christian worldview are only better confirmed so long as science is not employed in a way that is bias against the Bible before the scientific method is employed. This is why the works of men like Richard Dawkins, Victor J. Stenger, and the like have been so popular.

The stigma that Christianity is an outdated myth which science has in some ambiguous time and place disproved, has invaded many of our university campuses and therefore has created a real challenge in terms of the voracity and hold of its indoctrination - not of the categorically ignorant but of those who are of an educated and relatively intelligent background. They would like to think that education or intelligence is what somehow separates the Christian mystic from the atheist (in a nutshell - pride). In reality, it must be admitted that men of great intellectual capacity and education have been on both sides of this argument. The result of this bias, however, in our educational system is being fueled by the common belief that to have no God, and therefore no ultimate accountability, is a liberating thing. Ironically what it has done is lead many into a life of captivity by placing a false limitation on reason and logical thought - a life without any real meaning, truth, or ultimate destiny. The end result is despair, depression, and moral bankruptcy. While claiming to consider all the possibilities, the atheistic worldview and it's various manifestations must contradict it's own basic premise by discounting the very possibility of the divine. Religion, in their mind, is the ultimate evil and the equivalent of superstition.

I am thankful that in the face of such widespread challenges to real absolute truth, morality, and theism, that God continues to make Himself known. Men specially equipped and empowered by the Spirit to deal with these modern critics and answer the difficult questions posed by the secularistic worldview are being raised up and they are of the highest levels of educational background and expertise. I encourage the entire Christian community to be awakened to the reality of such challenges to truth and reality in our culture which face not only the young and vulnerable, but the entire generation. It is our duty to make God's truth known and not to harbor it, like a lamp that gives its light can dispell the darkness, so is the duty of the church.  I think of the words in 1 Peter "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." 

Since I did not have much time on my hands this evening, I decided to simply post links to two lectures dealing with these subjects by two very capable men, one delivered by Dr. William Lane Craig and the other by Dr. Ravi Zacharias.  These lectures speak on the worldview of atheism and it's viability at a very introductory level.
The first lecture is by William Craig and is called Can We Be "Good" without God?  He does a wonderful job of articulating this issue in a way that is easy to follow.

The second lecture is called Why I'm Not an Atheist and was delivered by Ravi Zacharias at the Veritas Forum and deals specifically with the existential question of whether Atheism as a world view is coherent and liveable.  Since this is on YouTube, you'll need to bear with him through the first video or so as he is laying out a foundation.

Apologetics & Recommended Reading List

As mentioned in my very first post, I have a keen interest in Christian Apologetics. That said I want to tell you a little about what that term means to me and give a recommended reading list for anyone who might be interested.

First, my interest in apologetics means that while I am a person of committed faith and believe that without such faith one cannot experience true salvation and communion with God, I also believe the Christian world view is legitimate because it is rational and holds up to the tests for truth. I believe it is my duty, as a Christian, to be able to tell other people not only what I believe, but why I believe. While faith remains an inextricable part of the Christian world view and experience, one thing we as Christians should emphasize more often (IMHO), is the overwhelming evidence and rationality that makes our faith in Christ not just one way but the way to God and salvation.

Most Christians can tell you with a minimal amount of trouble and stress what they believe, but far fewer can explain to you why. I have a bit of an issue with this. In the world I live in, fewer and fewer people will seriously consider what they interpret as a blind faith (as real and legitimate as it may be for you) sufficient to address the puzzling questions they have about life, meaning, purpose, and ultimate destiny. Faith is scary to those who lack it and this means some very tough and legitimate questions rooted in general skepticism, misinformation, lack of study, or even some tainted experience are going to be raised. This is further reinforced by a fiercely secular university system that does everything in its power to ingrain a purely humanistic and naturalistic view of the world on it's students. Interestingly and thankfully, most come out on the other end of their experience admitting they are not convinced the world came to it's current state by purely naturalistic causes and the attempt to erase "God" from our thinking has not been successful. I believe this is because, contrary to what some would have us believe, all who believe in an intelligent creator are not dim-witted mystics who hold to an empty, groundless faith.

I think there are things we Christians have done that have been wrong headed in addressing these challenges over the years by not being more proactive in understanding human nature and the importance of critical analysis on the claims of our faith. Since the claim is the Christian world view is the truth, there can only be value in it withstanding criticism and the highest level of scruitiny. For the person willing to examine the evidence, there is more to be gleaned from archaeological, scientific, philosophical, and historical scrutiny than can be conceived - upholding the Christian world view. It is true, attempts to suppress these facts are hard at work but where there is truth, whether men choose to acknowledge it or not, it will remain the truth. We live in a world governed by truth but are surrounded by a popularized notion of relativism. The problem is that most people think it is better to live out life in ignorant bliss (regardless of their faith or lack of it). This is called apathy - deep down, those folks will have unexplored and unreconciled questions, doubts, and fears. We cannot live a life of agnosticism with any real comfort and peace.

It only stands to reason then that if there is a Creator who made the world and those in it, that they will ultimately be accountable to that Creator and the rules created by Him. In my experience, those who deny this do so not so much for lack of evidence, but because they do not want it to be so. They do not want to believe in a creator because they understand the ramifications. They think ignorance and denial will somehow save them from accountability. For this person, there is little that can be done in terms of convincing, for their lack of faith is not grounded in rationality but irrationality. I believe that if Christians would choose to become even just a little better informed - asking and understanding the tough questions about our faith in their own lives - perhaps we could help answer some of the questions being asked by contemporary society and give the ultimate answer to meaning in life - the person of Jesus Christ. A future generation of people are being raised in ignorance of God because they think such belief is foolish. Romans 1:21 - 32 says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

The Bible offers prescriptive truths for modern living. I want to help people who were not raised in faith or have become faithless to find answers as I have. I want them to know God and understand that real freedom and peace comes not from things attained by our own efforts but from God alone. When Christ was asked, "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?" He responded with the first, "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, strength, and mind." All of these elements deserve equal emphasis.

Some recommended reading for those who may be interested in understanding more of the why behind the what of Christianity:

Orthodoxy - G. K. Chesterton
The Rationality of Theism - Paul Copan and Paul K. Moser
Mere Creation: Science, Faith, and Intelligent Design - William Dembski
Answering the New Atheism: Dismantling Dawkins' Case Against God -Scott Hahn & Benjamin Wiker
I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist - Norman L. Geisler
Unshakable Foundations: Contemporary Answers to Crucial Questions about the Christian Faith - Norman L. Geisler
God, The Evidence: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason in a Postsecular World - Patrick Glynn
God, Revelation, and Authority - Carl F. H. Henry
The Confessions - Augustine of Hippo
Darwin on Trial - Phillip E. Johnson
The Wedge of Truth: Splitting the Foundations of Naturalism - Phillip E. Johnson
The Reason for God - Timothy Keller
The Richard Dawkins Delusion - Daniel Keeran
The Abolition of Man - C. S. Lewis
Mere Christianity - C. S. Lewis
The Problem of Pain - C. S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters - C. S. Lewis
Evidence That Demands a Verdict - Josh McDowell
Evidence for Christianity: Historical Evidences for the Christian Faith -Josh McDowell
Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life - Alister E. McGrath
Christ and the Media - Malcolm Muggeridge
Christianity and the Nature of Science - J. P. Moreland
The God Question: An Invitation to a Life of Meaning - J. P. Moreland
Does God Exist: The Debate between Theists and Atheists - J.P. Moreland and Kai NielsenPhilosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview - J. P. Moreland and William Lane Craig
Warranted Christian Belief - Alvin Platinga
Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics - R. C. Sproul
Reason to Believe: A Response to Common Objections to Christianity - R. C. Sproul
A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism - Ravi Zacharias
Beyond Opinion - Ravi Zacharias
Can Man Live without God? - Ravi Zacharias
Jesus Among Other Gods - Ravi Zacharias
The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists - Ravi Zacharias