My early religious experience certainly is a factor contributing to what FaithSearch International does today. As an adolescent, I had many questions about God and faith, but clearly understood that I shouldn’t ask them. Asking questions about God and faith was a sign of “doubt”–and doubt was bad! So I “stuffed it” until I entered my college and university years, when I became a skeptic. Actually, I had received an unusually large amount of religious instruction, but it was all about “what” to believe. I don’t recall anyone talking about “why” we can know it is true. After all, some say, pure faith doesn’t need reasons; in fact, they contend, if we had reasons we wouldn’t need faith!
God was good to bring some people into my early adult life who accepted and even encouraged the “why” questions. Fortunately, they were also able to provide satisfying answers. After eighteen months of intense searching and dialogue, the things of God made sense to me and I was on my knees with tears of relief on my face as I confessed Him as Savior and Lord.
Fast forward forty years to the FaithSearch mission: “To proclaim the Gospel with evidence to all peoples everywhere.” The phrase “Gospel with evidence” means that the message we proclaim contains both the “what” and the “why” of the Christian faith. Skepticism in the world has increased since my early years, and it has become more sophisticated. Virtually every adult audience I address today includes parents who with tears share with me, “Our son/daughter doesn’t believe in Jesus or the Bible anymore.” The publication of The Da Vinci Code; the reported finding of the alleged bones of Jesus and His family in a tomb in Jerusalem; the publicity surrounding of the "Judas gospe"l; even the New Age initiative of Oprah and friends–all are “in your face” challenges to the historic Christian faith.
Fight Hard for the Faith
God has called me to lead the team at FaithSearch so that individual Christians and the Church around the world can be more obedient to God’s admonition through the apostle Peter (1 Peter 3:15): “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” It’s a command of Scripture to know and be prepared to share the “why” of our faith! Furthermore, the Lord’s brother Jude urges us to “fight hard for the faith which has been once and for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3, JB). Someone has said that not everything needs defending. I maintain that what no one demonstrates can be defended will soon be abandoned. The history of Christianity in post-Christian Europe demonstrates that all-too well!
Therefore, the mission of FaithSearch–to proclaim the Gospel with evidence–is important for several reasons:
- To be obedient to Scripture (1 Peter 3:15)
- To establish credibility for the Bible and Jesus Christ (the faith entrusted to the saints) so unbelievers may embrace Him for salvation; and
- To prevent the attrition of faith, especially assisting the sons and daughters of our Christian families to refute—or to overcome—academically-induced skepticism.
- To strengthen and mature the faith of believers, so they can experience the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10)
Attendees at our events often discover this, as indicated by their written responses: “The evidence you presented was profound. I’ve never heard [these] facts. As a practicing engineer, this new knowledge means more than I can say” (M.B., Oro Valley, AZ); “Excellent! Such good and necessary info for a Christian to have… It really cements my faith in Jesus Christ!” (L.A., Elk River, MN)
All four preceding reasons motivate me to continue our mission of proclaiming the Gospel with evidence. However, the final reason gives me the greatest satisfaction and joy:
- To help believers be bolder and more capable of sharing Jesus with others
One of the most frequent written responses to our teaching is that the attendee has a new confidence to tell others about Jesus: “It is my desire to use the tools you have taught, …to evangelize all who will listen” (C.C., Elk River, MN); “I come from an unchurched family. You have equipped me to lovingly educate my family. Thank you!” (S.M., Zimmerman, MN).
How wonderful it is that the ministry of Gospel proclamation is multiplying through the thousands we teach each year!
In summary, the FaithSearch proclamation of the Gospel with evidence is actually a continuation of the substance and pattern of preaching salvation which was modeled by the Apostles. I have expanded on this in an essay entitled, “The Message of the Apostles: A Model for Proclamation.” It provides an even greater appreciation of our mission to proclaim the Gospel with evidence to all peoples everywhere.
