Just Another Myth?
By early childhood, most of us have become familiar with various mythological characters. And regardless of whether we’re most familiar with Santa Claus, the Greek Parthenon, or Spiderman, at the end of the day we recognize that these figures are purely fictional. (Sorry to spoil the secret, kids!) The legends about these figures may be culturally enriching or illustrative of valuable life lessons, but they’re otherwise irrelevant for daily life. Why? Because they aren’t real.
The Historical Faith
In contrast, the Christian faith insists that the persons and events recorded in the Bible are historical. Indeed, the Bible contains numerous references to historical towns, kingdoms, and political leaders. Modern archaeology has repetitively confirmed the historicity of the Bible. As a church, we operate under the conviction that when the Bible speaks, it does so accurately and authoritatively. And we want to do our best to live in a way that fits best with reality.
The Christian Scriptures assert that there is truly one supreme, invisible, spiritual Being, existing beyond space and time. This God brought everything else into being. And after humanity rebelled against God and fell into a condition of corruption and misery, this God acted in human history to provide a savior, Jesus Christ. This Jesus really lived. He really died. He really rose from the dead, never to die again, being seen by more than 500 eyewitnesses. And Jesus ascended into the heavenly presence of God the Father, where he will remain until he comes to judge the living and the dead.
Why This Is Relevant
The relevance of Christianity hinges upon its reality. The narrative of the Christian Scriptures tell us about our earliest origins and our ultimate purpose: we were made by God and for God. It defines our biggest problem: alienation from God. The Bible reveals the cause of all our problems: our human rebellion against the Creator. It introduces the solution: redemption and renewal through Jesus Christ. It warns us what will happen if we refuse to listen: eternal judgment.
If these things were merely a Jewish myth, we wouldn’t need to pay attention. If we were simply talking about human opinions or emotions, you and I could ignore these things. But the Christian faith is a historical faith. There is a real God who has revealed a real message of salvation for all people. And this God stands ready to receive you. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
