Atheist, Mark D, stated: “I believe that a 1st century Jewish handyman is the son of the creator of the universe and my Lord and Savior. I also believe that this handyman died for my sins and rose from the dead after three days. He later ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God.” “If you had read the above paragraph without any knowledge of Christianity, you would have thought that the person quoted was crazy and in need of a good psychiatrist. But, because you were indoctrinated into the Christian faith as a child before you were able to critically think on your own, you now accept the quote without question. Religion makes the illogical logical, the unreasonable reasonable, and the irrational rational. What say you?”

Christian response to Mark D…

I disagree with Mark wholeheartedly. Though I was exposed to Christian doctrine as a young child, I never truly understood the concept of sin, atonement, or God’s Plan and purposes. It was not until I was approximately 35-yrs of age and met a 90+ year-old Messianic Jewish Priest and his entourage that Yeshua and purpose became relevant in my life.

While on vacation in Chicago some 27-years ago, I sat down with this Messianic Jewish Priest and we discussed Yeshua and life. The subject matter evolved into one of personal distress as I was asked questions that I simply could not provide adequate answers too. Out of pride, I visited a local bookstore and purchased a paraphrased copy of the “Living Bible” which reads much like a novel. I sat on a couch in that small apartment and began to read in the New Testament. Approximately half-way through the New Testament I looked up and asked…”Where has this been all my life?”

Within this paraphrased Bible I found answers to life’s most intriguing questions such as origin-meaning-morality-destiny. That cursory read of the Living Bible initiated a journey that would change my life forever. Soon, I began an exegesis of the Scriptures and included the Hebrew and Greek languages in my all-consuming study of God’s Word. It was during this journey initiated at 35-years-of-age that I found the greatest LOVE and PEACE and JOY and ASSURANCE as I acknowledged and believed in Jesus Christ-Yeshua as my personal Lord and subsequently received the most beautiful and wonderful Gift known to mankind i.e. the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.