Resistance to the Gospel

Over the years, and in dealing with people who oppose following Jesus I have identified two broad categories for their reasons why Christianity is not for them. Honestly, this is a difficult post, because, for the most part, I understand their initial assessment of Christianity and agree with the reasoning behind their opposition. So, in an attempt to help believers understand those whom they live with, I have categorized two main reason why people are opposed to Christianity.

Category 1: Intellectual Resistance

Of the two categories, those who resist Christianity do not typically and truly live in this category. Most people have "intellectual" reasons for not believing Jesus, but that is typically not the reason they oppose. Category 2 (in my opinion) is the predominate reason they oppose Christianity.

An intellectual resistance would be an argument from science or nature or philosophy or some other reasonable thought-out opinion. Someone who says they are not a Christian because the supernatural claims of Scripture are impossible based on scientific natural observations is making an intellectual argument. Their reason for opposition is in the truth-claims of Christianity, and their evaluation of these claims are deficient.

Varying approaches to apologetics (speaking in defense) try to help the unconverted by refuting their erroneous ideas concerning Christianity and really their entire worldview. Apologetic approaches range from Evidential (compiling evidence that will support Christian claims) to Pre-suppositional (finding the presumed truths of an opponent and attacking them). Most of these methods have some degree of merit, but I will propose a different approach.

Category 2: Experiential Resistance

I believe the majority of doubters fall in this category. An experiential resistance to the gosple can be from the poor example of a Christian to the fall of modern preachers to the stigma associated with being a Christian. I believe the primary reason for opposing Christianity lies in the experience people have concerning Christianity. And, I really can not fault them too much for their opinion. Christianity has some dark spots. With the crusades killing people in the name of the Lord to the Ted Haggards to a local Christian living an unattractive life, an outsiders view of the Church might look like a heinous picture of Hell on earth. Who would want to be apart of that?

Gospel Response

The gospel demands that we follow our Savior, Jesus. We do so in both our words about Him and our deeds toward others (Col. 3:17). Christians must be able to give a defense for those who oppose Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15). Christians must be able to live a presentable, respectable life in love for people around them (both believers and non-believers) (1 Pet. 1:16, Matt. 22:39). Our word and deed is important for the gospel to have an affect on those who oppose (Ps. 19). But, the work of salvation and the redeeming of all things is accomplished by Jesus (Rev. 21:5).

Jesus makes all things new through the gospel and what he has already accomplished (John 16:33). He has overcome the world, and that includes intellectual and experiential resistance to the gospel. It is His work. So, as J.I. Packer said in the introduction to John Owens book "Death of Death in the Death of Christ"...the gospel (or good news) is that "GOD SAVES SINNERS."

Our responsibility is to allow God to use us to do His work of saving people from the power of sin. This may be in the sin of their intellectual resistance to God or it may be their experiential resistance of His work, but the work of changing and helping the skeptic is in the hands of God. He will accomplish exactly what he wants after the council of His own will (Eph. 1:11).

In the end, God changes peoples opinions through believers who naturally show their love for Jesus in their words about him and their deeds toward others.