Thoughts From Luke - Day 89

                                              Luke 20:41 - 47

⁴¹ Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? ⁴² David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
⁴³ until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’

⁴⁴ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

⁴⁵ While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁷ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” 


         So Jesus has been defending himself from accusations and negotiating His way through traps set by the spies trying to trip Him up and reveal Him as a pretender. As Jesus skillfully weaves His way through and above these failed attempts, He suddenly takes the offensive. Jesus quotes a passage from Psalms and questions them. In effect He says that you have an incomplete view of the Messiah; you see him as a political rescuer but He is more than that - He is God. His argument leaves them speechless and ends their interrogation.

          I have read multiple books on apologetics. Apologetics is a study of Christianity that gives answers to help us defend what we believe against the objections to faith posed by skeptics. There are so many questions like

     If God is all good and all powerful, why doesn't He stop suffering
     Isn't it narrow minded to say Jesus is the only way to Heaven
     What about the people that have never heard
     How can a good God send people to eternal suffering in Hell
     How can you say the Bible is the Word of God when it is written by men
     The Bible contradicts itself
     How can we believe the Bible when evolution has been proven to be true
     If Christianity is true, why are there so many hypocrites

There are so many other questions, too, and I have dealt with these in a lot of my previous blogs. At some point though, wouldn't it be nice, like Jesus, to go on the offensive? Wouldn't it be nice for once instead of defending our belief to ask a question that makes them defend their unbelief? I wish I had a fool proof question like that. I've been thinking of one which I haven't used yet, but the next chance I get, I will. The question is, "How's that working for you"? My guess is they will say, "fine". So then I think it's time to meddle, sort of like Jesus did with the woman at the well. Follow-up questions would be, "So has your belief system given you a healthy marriage(s)." "How have your kids turned out being raised in that belief system?" (the Bible does say, "wisdom is proven right by her children") "Has your belief system given you happiness or are you on anti-depressives?" "Has your belief system given you peace or are you taking nerve medicine?" "Are you seeing a counselor?" "How much do you worry about getting older and dying?" Maybe you are thinking, this is not a good question at all and you will get punched in the face if you use this line of reasoning. OK, possibly, but that just shows it is hitting a nerve. Why don't we punch people in the face when they mock our faith? For one reason we are told to turn the other cheek and return love for hate. But the other reason is because we know we have the truth so we feel bad for those outside the faith. I do believe this offensive and offensive question will stop their line of questioning and even if they storm away, I believe, if the Holy Spirit is working on them, these questions will tug at their soul.

       Give it a try, if you dare, and I will to!