Why I Believeಮಾದರಿ

No. 13 – I believe because of the very fact of the existence and survival of the church over the last 2000 years

Matthew 16:18 (NIV)– “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

There is a famous saying attributed to Tertullian, a second-century Christian theologian and church father: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” During the first 300 years since the church began, it faced ten violent periods of persecution under several Roman emperors, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Christians again and again. Remarkably, after 330 years, 40% of the people in the Roman Empire shifted from worshipping Caesar as "Lord" (alongside a multitude of other gods) to embracing a religion that confesses "Jesus Christ as Lord."

Many religions, kingdoms, political systems, kings, and both influential and less influential individuals have persecuted Christians. Since the inception of Islam in 632 AD, tens of millions of Christians have been killed or forcibly subjected to Islam. It is estimated that during the 20th century alone, around 45 million Christians were killed by other religious groups, communism and other hostile political groups, such as the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

Instances of persecution are numerous. Despite all the persecution, the church continues to grow year after year.

The church of Christ is a suffering church, yet it is also a triumphant church. Day by day, it moves forward, changing lives, bringing peace to millions, penetrating dark places, offering hope to those who are broken and forgiveness to those burdened by sin.

No. 14 – I believe because of the survival of the Bible over 2000 years and its remarkable impact on society during that time

The Bible is the most translated book in history, with no close rival. No other book has faced such violent resistance and scorn by intellectuals as the Bible. In earlier centuries, opposition often stemmed from within the established church. Communism, socialism, Nazism, and various global religions have waged war against the Bible. Large quantities have been burned, and some countries prohibit the reading, importation, or printing of the Bible. Yet, the Bible is breaking open a path into even the darkest corners of the world. Every year, an increasing number of new translations are released.

No other book has had such a profound influence on societies, creating hope and order when its moral laws and teachings are applied to legal systems and the daily lives of people. Even superficial research confirms that Christian values immediately transform societies for the better when used.