Faith's Advocate: Addressing Objections to Christianity
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Christianity is often challenged with objections ranging from historical concerns to moral criticisms. Below are some of the most common objections, along with fact-based defenses.
"The Bible Is Full of Contradictions and Errors"
Claim: The Bible contains contradictions, making it unreliable.
Defense: The Bible Is Historically Reliable and Consistent
Fact 1: Alleged Contradictions Are Often Misinterpretations
Different Gospel accounts complement each other, like multiple eyewitness reports.
Fact 2: The Bible Is the Best-Preserved Ancient Document
Over 5,800 Greek manuscripts ensure textual accuracy.
The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm Old Testament reliability.
Conclusion: The Bible remains the most well-preserved and historically validated ancient document.
"A Loving God Wouldn’t Allow Evil and Suffering"
Claim: If God is all-powerful and loving, why does He allow suffering?
Defense: Free Will and a Greater Purpose for Suffering
Fact 1: Free Will Explains Moral Evil
God created humans with free will, granting them the ability to choose between good and evil. However, with this freedom comes responsibility, as every choice carries consequences. While good choices lead to growth, harmony, and fulfillment, poor choices can result in pain, suffering, and separation from God. This moral freedom allows for genuine love and righteousness but also explains the existence of evil in the world.
Fact 2: Suffering Can Have a Greater Purpose
Many people grow in character and faith through suffering (Romans 5:3-5).
Jesus’ suffering on the cross brought the greatest good: salvation.
Conclusion: Suffering exists, but God uses it for growth, redemption, and a higher purpose.
"Jesus’ Resurrection Is a Myth"
Claim: The resurrection of Jesus was invented by his followers.
Defense: Strong Historical Evidence for the Resurrection
Fact 1: The Empty Tomb Is Historically Credible
Jewish and Roman sources never denied the empty tomb—instead, they tried to explain it.
Fact 2: Eyewitness Testimonies Are Numerous and Early
Jesus appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
Fact 3: The Disciples Were Willing to Die for Their Belief
Many of Jesus' followers (Peter, James, Paul) died rather than deny his resurrection.
Fact 4: The Explosive Growth of Christianity
The resurrection message spread rapidly despite severe persecution.
A fabricated story would likely not have gained such momentum, especially in a hostile environment.
Fact 5: The Transformation of Skeptics
James, the brother of Jesus, was initially skeptical but later became a leader in the early church after witnessing the resurrected Christ (Acts 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:7).
Paul, a former persecutor of Christians, converted after encountering Jesus, dedicating his life to spreading Christianity (Galatians 1:13-16).
Fact 6: Women Were the First Witnesses
The Gospels note that women were the first to find the empty tomb, even though women's testimonies were not highly valued in the ancient world.
If the story were fabricated, it would have likely featured male witnesses for greater credibility.
Fact 7: The Resurrection Was Proclaimed in Jerusalem—Where It Could Have Been Debunked
The disciples preached about the resurrection in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus was crucified.
If Jesus' body were still in the tomb, authorities could have easily produced it to disprove the claim.
Fact 8: The Crucifixion Was Public and Well-Attested
Roman execution methods ensured death—Jesus’ crucifixion is confirmed by multiple sources (Tacitus, Josephus, the Talmud).
The idea that Jesus merely "swooned" and survived is medically and historically implausible.
Conclusion: The resurrection stands as one of the most well-documented occurrences in ancient history. Various forms of evidence, such as eyewitness testimonies, the conversion of skeptics, and the swift expansion of Christianity, contribute to its credibility as a historical event.
"A Loving God Wouldn’t Send People to Hell"
Claim: If God is truly loving, He wouldn’t create a place of eternal punishment.
Defense: Justice and Free Will Require Hell
Fact 1: God’s Love Includes Justice
A loving God must also be just—evil must be held accountable.
Fact 2: Hell Respects Human Free Will
Hell is the result of choosing separation from God, not an arbitrary punishment.
Conclusion: Hell exists because love requires justice and the freedom to choose or reject God.
"The Church Just Wants Money"
Claim: Christianity is a scheme to manipulate people for financial gain.
Defense: Giving Is Biblical, but Greed Is Condemned
Fact 1: Biblical Giving Is Voluntary
2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion."
Fact 2: Corruption Exists, but It Is Not Biblical Christianity
Jesus condemned greed and materialism (Luke 12:15).
Many churches use donations for charity, missions, and humanitarian aid.
Conclusion: While financial abuse exists in some churches, biblical Christianity encourages voluntary giving—not manipulation.
"Religion Was Created to Control the Masses"
Claim: Christianity was invented to manipulate people.
Defense: Christianity’s Origins and Teachings Oppose Manipulation
Fact 1: Early Christians Were Persecuted, Not Controllers
The first Christians were oppressed, tortured, and executed for their beliefs.
Fact 2: Christianity Encourages Individual Conscience, Not Control
Jesus taught love, truth, and free will, not forced obedience (Matthew 22:37-40).
Conclusion: Christianity’s origins and teachings oppose authoritarian control—it empowers individuals to seek truth.
"Christianity Is Sexist"
Claim: Christianity promotes sexism and oppresses women.
Defense: The Bible values and elevates women rather than demeaning them. It upholds their dignity, gives them an active role in faith, and challenges cultural norms that devalue them.
Fact 1: Jesus Broke Cultural Norms to Honor Women
Jesus spoke with, taught, and defended women in a time when they were marginalized.
He openly engaged with women (e.g., the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4), something that was socially unacceptable.
He protected women from injustice, such as when He defended the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).
Women were the first witnesses of His resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-12).
In the ancient world, women's testimony was considered unreliable, yet Jesus entrusted them with the most important news in Christian history—His resurrection.
If Christianity were sexist, this detail would have been omitted or changed to feature men instead.
Fact 2: Christianity Gave Women Rights Before Society Did
Women held leadership roles in the early church.
Paul commends Phoebe, a deacon (Romans 16:1-2), Priscilla, a teacher (Acts 18:26), and Junia, an apostle (Romans 16:7).
The Bible affirms that both men and women prophesied and served in ministry (Acts 2:17-18).
Christianity elevated women’s dignity and rights.
In a world where polygamy, arranged marriages, and mistreatment of women were common, Christianity promoted monogamy, faithfulness, and love in marriage (Ephesians 5:25).
Christian teachings discouraged practices like infanticide (which disproportionately affected baby girls) and granted women more legal protections.
Fact 3: "Wives Submit" Does Not Mean Inferiority
Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."
Submission in marriage is mutual (Ephesians 5:21) and calls husbands to sacrificially love their wives—not to dominate them.
The Bible does not teach blind obedience but rather a loving partnership.
Women are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and are spiritually equal to men (Galatians 3:28).
The idea that Christianity devalues women contradicts its foundational teachings of human dignity, equality, and worth.
Conclusion: The Bible does not degrade women—it elevates them in a world that often devalues them. Christianity has historically honored women, given them rights before society did, and called for mutual love and respect in marriage. Far from being sexist, it has uplifted women in cultures that oppressed them.
Final Thoughts
Christianity has faced challenges for centuries, yet it stands strong under scrutiny. The objections above have thoughtful, historical, and logical responses that demonstrate the faith’s credibility.
Which of these objections have you encountered the most? Let’s discuss!
Love,
Carmen
