How do we answer the questions & statements that test our faith?

How do we believers answer the many, many questions presented by skeptics, agnostics and non-believers? For the sake of fellowship in our beliefs, I hope to share with fellow Christians our beliefs and reasons for them even when we’re challenged by the really tough questions that come from others.

An atheist once told me why he didn’t believe in a God was because he “never could see any rational reason why a God who could do anything would put humanity through this life we experience on earth when we know where it ends.” “What’s the plan and why?” “It all seems a useless waste of time and energy!”

How would you answer such questions and statements?

Such question should not *test* our faith, but they will try to challenge our faith (which should not be based upon what skeptics say). So the best and simplest answer would be "Everything will be clear once you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as your Lord and Savior. Otherwise you will not understand anything spiritual".

Just share the truth of the word. Let Scripture do the convicting. Our job is to plant the seed. And, btw, know doctrine. Study to shew thyself approved unto God.

Titus 1
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Experienced apologists know that there are about 20 questions that consistently come up. Having ready answers to those questions is fairly straightforward. Nobody (except Jesus) has the answer to every question, but with knowledge of the basics and broad general understanding of Scripture, you should be able to make a reasonable response to most questions.

That is true, but utterly unconvincing to an unbeliever. The same claim ("Once you believe, all will be clear") could be made by the follower of any philosophy or religion. Without proper context and explanation, there is no reason why an unbeliever should give more credence to the Christian claim than to any other.

Maybe through all the scientific evidence of the Bible, including prophecies?

We will answer them one by one and very carefully. When I first believed, I used to take a few days to carefully think about each question every time I would be asked one, and every time I would find answers that satisfy my faith and eventually most of my doubt left me.

To answer the skeptic question posted in the original post, why does God let us live our lives if we know they end in death and all our efforts are in vain? The answer is "because that is not the end He meant for us and He wants us to love Him so we can go to Heaven instead."

What we see in Scripture is that Christians are to simply proclaim the Gospel, in season, out of season. Whether they believe or not is beyond our mandate.

The response of the atheist is packed with multiple sub-questions like: "Why is there evil in the world?", "Why was the human race created?", "What is the nature of God?", "Is death the end?" etc. You could spend all day going back and forth with an atheist who wants to use rationalism and empiricism to perceive God or absolute truth. This is OK to an extent, but spiritual truth comes by faith, and you have to ask, "Am I just throwing pearls before the swine?". Faith is the third means of perception that adults, especially, tend to ignore. Paul, the genius, used the rational and empirical approach in Athens and was thrown out of town. He then went to Corinth realizing he needed a different approach:

1Co 2:1-2 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

I am not saying you shouldn't have good reason behind belief in God, but that ultimately it comes down to faith. More and more scientists are rejecting evolution and coming down on the side of intelligent design because scientific discoveries are shouting at them that it must be so. Still they must believe by faith. This is the story of the Lee Strobel author of the books, "The Case for Christ", "The case for a Creator" and "The Case for Faith", all of which I highly recommend.

1 Peter 3:15 disagrees with you.

"But in your hearts revere 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."

Quoting part of my sentence, without the relevant context, is intellectual dishonesty.

Could you not have given your answers first? That would have been the correct thing to do, right?

1 Peter 3:15

Calm down, I’m standing with you. No need to get defensive.

Agreed, and that hope is Jesus Christ. That answer is enough.

My answer is “I don’t know.” I have no scriptural evidence to present. I can only speculate. In that case I have speculated that God’s plan is likely a test. The test is about faith. I also speculate that God seeks justification for all authority as an example for the totality of the universe, i.e. (other worlds) as to the consequences of disobedience and the saving grace of obedience and faith. That would explain in my opinion the creation of Satan & the fallen angles?

I started this thread to appeal to fellow Christians for understanding as they understand the “reason” i.e., the plan. To quote again the atheist, I see no “reason” to have to go through all of this knowing how it’s all gonna end.” Of course believing death being the end and the evidence otherwise requires “faith.”

I seek to strengthen my faith. Hopefully here can provide something for that quest.

Many ways and manners.

Since we defend the faith of Christ which works in us to defend us as putting on the armor of God. Faith must defined as to where and whom it comes from and therefore how it is revealed .? Verse 11 would be a great place to start.

The it is the phrase as it is written. The word it represents the unseen faith of God.

1 Corihtinans 2.9-11 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

No man can serve two masters . Things of men the temporal, seen, or things of God the eternal, not seen.

That answer is enough for someone who already believes, but not for someone who is looking for explanations. A thinking person will not be drawn to what appears a thoughtless faith.

I would use a tactic to put them on the defense. Make them question and doubt their own skepticism.
E.G. "What proof do you have that if there was a god, he would be rational?"
"Did this life we experience on earth, just come about by random events?"
"Do you discount the possibility of the Fall to account for this seemingly meaningless life?"
"Perhaps your objections point to a future Judgment, where God will restore 'meaning' back into His creation.?"
etc.