Letter to Life Magazine Regarding 2000 Years of Christianity
| By: Dr. Ted Baehr; ©2000 |
| Dr. Baehr’s letter to the editor explains WHY Christianity has survived and thrived throughout the last 2000 years. |
LETTER TO LIFE MAGAZINE REGARDING 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY
Thank you for your December issue dedicated to 2000 Years of Christianity. On the eve of the Millennium, it is important to remember the reason for the significance of the date-Jesus Christ.
Your article discusses in depth and almost with reverence the fact that Christianity has survived and prospered, but fails to explain why!
The Bible provides the answer-The Resurrection. There have been and continue to be many great teachers with sound, appealing philosophies based on faith, hope and love, but the difference is that Jesus Christ died and rose again. As Paul notes with these startling words:
- If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But, Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:13-20 (NIV))
The Resurrection confirms and affirms the fact that Jesus Christ was fully man and fully God and guarantees that those who believe in Him will have eternal life in His Kingdom. Furthermore, it is the reason why Christians say that they have a personal relationship with Him-because He lives!
Therefore, Christians know that Christianity is a relationship with their risen Savior, not a religion based on platitudes. This is the Good News which continues to triumph over sin and death and causes millions to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!
