Author: Gregory Scott

The Linchpin Of Christianity, Part II

(c)iStockphoto.com/McInich

When I’m litigating a case, I try to find out early in the case the other side’s best argument. I may not know all the evidence they will present at trial, but I do know they know, and therefore the argument they lead with is the one they usually think gives them the best chance of winning.

In Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, the “other side,” the opponents of Christianity, were the Jews. They had a vested interest in their religion. This was particularly true of the religious leaders who made their living by their religion. The Jewish leaders’ opposition to Christianity is best shown in that they were the ones who were responsible for turning Jesus over to the Romans for crucifixion.

After Jesus’ resurrection, the argument the Jews decided upon to disprove the resurrection was that Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body. Given what the Jews had to lose, we must conclude this was the best argument they had. There is something else we can know: It must have been undisputed the tomb was empty.

The easiest way to disprove Jesus’ resurrection would have been to march to the tomb and produce the body. That they didn’t means the tomb was definitely empty. Second, it must also mean there was no dispute about where Jesus had been buried.

So, the Jews said Jesus had not been resurrected from the dead but that the disciples had stolen His body from the tomb.

There’s one problem with this argument.  Actually, there are a number of problems with this argument but one very, very big one.

The disciples, the same disciples the Jews said stole Jesus’ body from the tomb, ended up giving their lives in martyrdom based on the truth of the resurrection. All they had to do to avoid martyrdom was to deny the resurrection, to deny Jesus was who He said He was.

Some might argue that people throughout history have given their lives based on mistaken ideas about God. I agree.

The difference here is that if the disciples stole the body of Jesus, that means they gave their lives for something they knew was a lie. That is, of course, absurd.

The better explanation, and the one that is consistent with the disciples’ transformation from despair and timidness to joy and boldness is the historical fact of the resurrection. GS

The Linchpin Of Christianity, Part I

(c)iStockphoto.com/McInich

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to appreciate people who can reduce the complex to the simple. When it comes to discussing ultimate issues like Truth and religion, this is even more important.

Let’s face it, if an idea, argument or truth is not simple enough, you won’t understand it. And if you don’t understand it you won’t remember it. And if you don’t remember it you won’t be able to explain it to others.

Apologetics is the discipline of giving a defense of Christianity. It is the fulfillment of the commandment  of “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…”  (I Peter 3:15). In other words, all Kingdom citizens are to be apologists.

There are many different approaches to apologetics, but I prefer the one that is most simple, and interestingly it is the one Jesus and the Apostle Paul used.

When the Jewish religious leaders asked Jesus for proof He was the Messiah, Jesus said that after they had killed Him, He would be resurrected from the dead on the third day. (John 2:18-21).

The Apostle Paul carried Jesus’ claim to its logical conclusion.  Paul said if Jesus’ resurrection did not occur, Christianity is a lie, you (Christians) are still in your sins, and you are lying to the world. (I Corinthians 15:12-19).

Now I’ve heard people say that even if Christianity is not true (if the resurrection did not happen), then they would still be a Christian because the morality of it is so much better than any alternative.

But that’s not what the Apostle Paul says. He says if the resurrection is not an historical fact, “… let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (I Corinthians 15:32).

The resurrection either happened or didn’t. If it didn’t, Christianity is a lie. If it did, Jesus is who He said He was and He deserves the worship and obedience of all men.

I’m a trial lawyer who makes his living understanding the importance and weight to be given evidence. I’m a Christian because I believe the evidence proves Jesus’ resurrection is an historical fact. GS

What Personality Has To Do With Destiny

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Last week I attended a fundraiser for a local judge. On the way there it occurred to me what an odd thing a fundraiser must be for a judge. Judging is a very intellectual job, yet one has to be social enough to get elected. It’s a profession where the people most qualified to serve are least likely to get the job.

Being a trial lawyer presents similar challenges for me. Yesterday I sat at my computer at work from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a thirty minute break for lunch. I was so engrossed in what I was doing I couldn’t believe when I looked at the clock and saw it was nearly 4:00 p.m.

It’s the way I’m hardwired. I can concentrate for very long periods of time on a single task. It’s a good aptitude to have for a trial attorney. But then there are other requirements of trial lawyering that cut directly against my aptitudes and personality traits, things I struggle with but I do because they are necessary. To others they are easy and a joy.

Now, none of what I have just described has anything to do with sin or righteousness. It really has more to do with personality, how one is hardwired. Part of being a person is having certain aptitudes and not having others.

Here’s where I’m going with this. Jesus was sinless, but He was still a person. I’m no theologian, but I think it’s safe to say Jesus was hardwired to be more one way than another. For example, I wonder whether Jesus was naturally more extroverted or introverted, whether He drew more energy from being around people or being alone.

Regardless, I think it’s safe to say that whichever was not his natural tendency, He was able to function in it when necessary to fulfill His destiny. And that’s really the key. If Jesus was naturally extroverted but couldn’t spend time alone with the Father He wouldn’t have fulfilled His destiny. If He was naturally introverted and could spend hours in prayer but couldn’t successfully interact for extended periods of time with people, He wouldn’t have fulfilled His destiny.

There is much talk today about knowing your strengths. Everyone naturally wants to talk about their strengths because it makes them feel good about themselves. But managing your strengths is not particularly difficult. It is being able to function competently in your weaknesses that is more crucial to fulfilling your destiny.

So, the question is, “How well are you managing your weaknesses? GS

The Secret To Early Morning Devotionals

2010 © Gregory Scott

Today was a very productive day. I awoke at 4:00 a.m. (an hour earlier than usual), read the Bible, the New York Times, finished reading a book and began a new book. After doing all that, I was at the office by 7:30 a.m. (Yes, on a Saturday).

I know many Christians struggle to consistently spend time in morning prayer and Bible study. We know the morning is really the best time for a devotional because it gets one in the right frame of mind for the day.

There’s even support for it in the Bible: “O God, Thou art my God; early I will seek Thee.” (Psalm 63:1 KJV). But many find it difficult to get up early enough in the morning for a devotional before work.

Many years ago I learned the secret of having a consistent morning devotional. It’s not a gimmick or a teaching that merely tickles the ears.  It actually works, and it works pretty much every time.

It doesn’t take any practice to get it down, and it’s easy to remember and replicate. You won’t find it in many books because it’s so simple you couldn’t write a book on it; you couldn’t even write a chapter on it.

The secret is this:  Go to bed early the night before.

It is that simple.  Here’s how it works.  Figure out how much sleep you need.  When I was younger, I needed eight hours; now I’m good on six.  That means if I’m to get up at 5:00 a.m., I need to be in bed by 11:00 p.m. the night before.  That’s it.  And it works pretty much every time.  If you need eight hours sleep, you need to be in bed by 9:00 p.m.  People working the night shift and odd hours figured this one out long ago.

If you were expecting a deep teaching on how Christians have been given a Spirit of discipline (which is true), or how you can believe the Holy Spirit to wake you in the morning without an alarm clock, I’m sorry to disappoint.  But if you think me unspiritual, remember Jesus said, “Wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”  (Matt. 11:19 NLT).  Now get to bed. GS

Why You Should Care About The College Campus

I spent the last two evenings on a college campus. My church had an outreach on a major university in our city.  We had free food and gave raffle tickets to those who came.  They got an additional raffle ticket for every guest they brought the second night.

The second night (last night) our church’s worship team provided live music, followed by a dynamic speaker who preached the Gospel in a very relevant, non-religious message that really hit home.  After the message, we raffled off an iPad.

On both nights we met the students, began building relationships with them and encouraged them to get in a Bible study with our campus minister.  What we were doing was very strategic and very Kingdom.

First, 95% of all people who become Christians do so by the age of 25.  So, we are fishing where the fish are.  My wife and I give monthly financial support to a number of campus ministers around the country.  We do so because we want to get the most bang for our buck in seeing lives changed and the kingdom of God grow, which leads to point #2.

Second, nearly all of tomorrow’s leaders are on the college campus today.  Whether it be leaders in business, government, the arts, media or professional athletics, most of them come through the college system.  We want to reach them before their worldviews are set in stone and their hearts are too hard to receive the Gospel.

Third, the international students who are on American campuses are likely to become leaders in their own countries. Good luck trying to reach them with the Gospel once they become the king or prime minster of the country.  We reach them now.

In short, we believe if we can change the campus we will change the world.

If you are a Kingdom person, a world-changer for King Jesus, consider the college campus.  GS