November 19, 2022 7:00 pm
In 1941, the Socratic Club was established at England’s Oxford University. The club was formed for the express purpose of encouraging debate between believers in Jesus and atheists or agnostics.
Religious debate at a secular university isn’t that unusual, but what is surprising the man who chaired the Socratic Club for fifteen years—the great Christian scholar C. S. Lewis. Willing to have his thinking tested, Lewis believed that faith in Christ could stand up to whatever scrutiny it received. He knew there was credible, rational evidence for believing in Jesus.
In a sense, Lewis was practicing Peter’s advice to believers scattered by persecution when he reminded them, “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” (1 Peter 3:15). Notice the two key points Peter makes. We have good reasons for our hope in Christ. And we’re to present our reasoning with “gentleness and respect.”
Trusting Christ isn’t religious escapism or wishful thinking. Our faith is grounded in the facts of history, including the resurrection of Jesus and the evidence of the creation bearing witness to its Creator. As we rest in God’s wisdom and the strength of the Spirit, may we be ready to share the reasons we have for knowing and trusting our great God.
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Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. My name is Bill Crowder, and I titled our reading, The Socratic Club. In 1941, the Socratic Club was established at England's Oxford University. It was formed to encourage debate between believers in Jesus and atheists or agnostics. Religious debate at a secular university isn't unusual, but what is surprising is who chaired the Socratic Club for 15 years, the great Christian scholar C.S. Lewis. Willing to have his thinking tested, Lewis believed that faith in Christ could stand up to great scrutiny. He knew there was credible, rational evidence for believing in Jesus. In a sense, Lewis was practicing Peter's advice to believers scattered by persecution when he reminded them in 1 Peter 3, 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.
Peter makes two key points. We have good reasons for our hope in Christ, and we're to present our reasoning with gentleness and respect. Trusting Christ isn't religious escapism or wishful thinking. Our faith is grounded in the facts of history, including the resurrection of Jesus and the evidence of the creation bearing witness to its creator. As we rest in God's wisdom and the strength of the Spirit, may we be ready to share the reasons we have for trusting our great God.
Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 13 through 18. Keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God.
He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the Spirit. Let's pray. Almighty God, thank you for giving us credible evidence to support our faith in you. Deepen our faith as we walk with you and show us your faithfulness every day, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2022-11-20 12:29:07 / 2022-11-20 12:30:28 / 1
