HT: Jennifer and Frank on Facebook
The Christian Post has an article about apologist Josh McDowell challenging why some people believe Christianity. This is a good question, and I agree, many people botch it. The topic isn’t covered in a standard Confirmation class.
Christianity is not proven because I believe it. It’s not proven because, let’s say, I turned my life around. Nor is it proven because I had a “burning in the bosom.”
Christianity is proven by the historical veracity of the Resurrection. St. Paul writes in 1 Corinithians 15:1-19:
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Everything about Christianity stems from the death and resurrection of Christ. There was a grave, but there are no bones.
Another point is the veracity of the New Testament documents. There are many people who can provide details, such as John Warwick Montgomery, but what we need to know is that the New Testament documents were written very close to the events they describe, have many early copies, and were referenced early on by Clement of Rome and Irenaeus. The New Testament documents meet or surpass all tests we have for verification of antiquity.
Even outside Christianity there is documentation that Jesus did live. Tacitus reported that Christ was convicted by Pontius Pilate. Josephus wrote that Jesus did “wonderful works” and appeared to his disciples three days after being crucified.
If Christianity were proven by a positive effect on our lives, then the lives of the apostles, all but one having been martyred, would seem to show that Christianity wasn’t true.
Instead, we argue from history: Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead. What does this mean? It means what Jesus said it means. It means that we are sinners who cannot save ourselves from the judgment that is to come. We needed the Son of God to come down to earth and to give his life as a ransom for us. This forgiveness won on the cross is given to you and me by hearing the Word and receiving the sacraments.
What would you say? 
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Seriously, one of the things that keeps me going in the faith sometimes is all the authentication we do have for the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.