Evidence

I have often heard and have even said myself, “I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist”.  For me this has always been due to the issue of control, or more specifically a lack of control. By this I mean to say that if a person could have absolute control over his or her own life and destiny, they could then deny the existence of a Higher Power beyond this world.  

As it is, life can change in a moment as is evident by the many sad sad stories in our recent news about people who were living their lives one moment and then gone the next as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.  How traumatic and senseless this must make their loved ones feel in their sudden loss, especially if they have no hope in a reality beyond our current existence.  When faced with these kind of life altering events, I would be inspired to seek evidence for meaning beyond this life.

Howard Storm was a one time atheist until he faced his own death as described in his book , “My Decent into Death:  A Second Chance at Life” (Storm, 2000).  Howard Storm describes himself as a college professor who believed in the power of his own intellect and accomplishments until he experienced a near death experience (NDE) while on a university trip to Paris.  While awaiting surgery due to a duodenal perforation, he felt himself dying.   Expecting to pass into nothingness upon death, Howard describes a world more real than his prior existence.  In that world he experienced Hell, was prompted to pray even while telling himself that he didn’t believe in God, and met Jesus Christ who changed his entire world view.  Howard Storm eventually attended seminary and became ordained as a pastor.  

Perhaps upon hearing this testimony, you continue to be skeptical and prefer to follow your own path to faith or no faith at all.  Faith is defined in the Bible is the “substance of things hoped for and the EVIDENCE of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV NT).  As the New Testament (NT) was written in Greek, it is often helpful to look back at the original language of Scripture to gain understanding.  The Greek word for evidence in this passage  is “elegchos” which can be defined as “a proof, or that by which a thing is proven”  (housetohouse.com).

Which now makes me wonder, how do we establish proof?  In a court of law, this is done with a presentation of evidence. A jury of peers or a judge is then tasked with the responsibility to evaluate the evidence to determine what is truth.  As for evidence of faith, I would suspect that most people are biased, draw their conclusions first, and then look for evidence to support what they choose to believe.  But what if we don’t get to determine spiritual realities based on our own opinions?  I would challenge you to examine the evidence that supports the Truth of the Bible.  As this subject is vast, I will present a few examples and ask you to consider the evidence through testimony,  archeology, and history.

In a court of law, witness testimony is sometimes the most compelling evidence.  Truth is then determined by the “standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt” in a criminal case and by a “preponderance of the evidence” in a civil case (americanbar.org).  Howard Storm became a changed man after his NDE.  The catalyst for this kind of change in philosophy had to be more than just a neurophysiological event as is sometimes promoted as an explanation for this kind of experience.  I am inspired when I read or hear about radical changes in people from unbelief or other beliefs to the Truth of Christ.  I would refer you to the following great resources for more testimonies of lives drastically changed by the Truth of the Gospel:  OneforIsrael.org, Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? by Tom Doyle, or A Change of Affection by Becket Cook.

As for the archeological evidence, to be honest I would have expected a greater abundance of information.  However based on my research, I have come to a few conclusions.  First, the majority of secular scientists in the field aren’t interested in proving the Bible as they consider it a book of fairy tales.  Secondly, finding bits and pieces of preserved artifacts after 2000 to 4000 years would be much like the woman who lost her diamond engagement ring in her backyard garden.  After years upon years and giving up any hope of recovery, she at long last found it wrapped around the carrot she had picked for supper (theguardian.com). 

Biblical archeology is in the process of unearthing new discoveries on a regular basis.  Many people and places that were once considered the talk of legends have been recovered.  King David referenced in the Tel Dan Inscription (biblicalarcheaolgy.com), the land of the Hittites (History.com), the personal seal of the prophet Isaiah with reference to King Hezekiah (Haaretz.com), the city of Jericho (allaboutarcheology.com), and the temple of Baal (livescience.com) as cited from the Old Testament. Pontious Pilate the Roman prefect (governor) who ordered Jesus’ crucifiction (www.bible-history.com) and the Pools of Shiloh and Bethesda where Jesus was known to have performed miracles (Wikipedia.com) as cited from the New Testament.  These are just a handful of examples of discoveries to provide physical proof to confirm the historic accuracy of the the Bible.

The Jewish people look to the Old Testament (OT) portion of the Bible as a documentation of their history.  It describes their passage throughout time as God promised protection if they followed His direction for righteousness and His judgement if they chose disobedience (II Kings 17:15, Deuteronomy 30: 9-10, 17-18). The OT references their subsequent decline as due to idolatry, pagan religious practices, and rejection of God’s law as the reasons for being “scattered throughout the earth” (Bibletools.org reference to I Kings 17: 7-17).  According to the Bible and in order to show His power and mercy, God also promised to gather them back from this scattering once again to the land given to their forefathers at an appointed time in the future (Ezekiel 20:41-42).  That promise was documented in the book of Ezekiel sometime between 593 to 571 BC (Wikipedia.com) and that promised event happened on May 14, 1948 AD.

I have documented a few examples of evidence in order for you to consider the Bible as not merely a collection of prose, parables, myths, and legends.  There is an abundance of information in our world and God challenges us through the words of Scripture to “seek and find” His Truths as you search “with all your heart and with all your soul” (Matthew 7: 7-8, Deuteronomy 4:29).  I hope I have enlightened you in this small sample to be inspired to take a new look at the Scriptures to give you meaning and hope for a future beyond these uncertain times.