If Jesus was right, then the critics are wrong, despite the pretense of having scholarship on their side. For if Jesus is the Son of God, then it is a matter of Lordship, not a matter of scholarship. (1)
~ Dr. Norman Geisler
Jesus said some hard stuff:
All sin is a really, really big deal (Mt 18:8), and even just looking at someone else in “that way” is actually cheating on your spouse (Mt 5:28), hell is real (Mt 13:41-43), and not everyone finds the way to life (Mt 7:13-14), He’s the only way to heaven (Jn 14:6) and comes first (Mk 8:34, Mt 6:24, Lk 9:23-25, 14:26).
Further, you are going to have trouble if not be persecuted (Jn 16:33, Mt 5:10-11), and some people won’t like you (or hate you) because of Him (Jn 15:18-20). Regardless, you should love your neighbor (Mt 22:39) and even those who hate and hurt you (Mt 5:38-47).
Oh, and then the topic that preachers dislike preaching because they know ½ the congregation will get their undies in a bunch… you should pay taxes and tithes (Mt 22:21).
So how do we try to wiggle out of this stuff? By watering down His words — the authority of the Bible. And what’s the problem? Jesus both confirmed the Old Testament is the word of God and promised that the New Testament would be, too. (2)
So now you should ask again, “If Jesus is actually God, what difference would that make?” And just listen. The objection behind the objection will emerge.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in communications, an award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. A five-time entrepreneur and certified John Maxwell Team leadership coach, he now is focused on launching For The Hope, a daily Bible and apologetics podcast and training organization equipping on-the-go Christian casemakers with confidence and courage for marketplace conversations. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Notes
(1) Norman Geisler. Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True: A Handbook on Defending the Christian Faith, (Matthews, NC: Bastion Books, 2012), location 3686. Kindle.
(2) Geisler, location 3557. Kindle.
Notice that one thing I didn’t mention here was that Jesus claimed to be God in several ways which orthodox scholars also affirm. Look it up.