Becoming a student of Christianity
Class is in session!
I was lucky enough to spend about 24 hours last weekend at the Women in Apologetics annual conference, which took place just outside Nashville, TN, this year.
Friday and Saturday, I got to listen to women who do apologetics ministries full-time as they discussed our “Reasons for Hope” as Christians, encouraged us to pursue God with our minds, and tackled some of the most difficult questions posed against Christianity.
We opened our session Saturday morning with a time of worship. As I stood in that room, surrounded by other women whose hearts’ desire is to know God, I found myself completely overwhelmed with gratitude.
It’s not just that the songs were beautiful, or that the lyrics were moving—it was something far greater than that. They were true. Like, as true as anything I’ve ever known. True in a way that assuages fears and awakens a fresh wonder at the story of the gospel.
More powerful than that, though, was the realization that I can attest to that truth in part because of the long, restless years I’ve spent studying their content.
In that moment, something clicked for me. All these years of searching; all my questions about what path I’m supposed to be on; all the late, dark nights and near hopeless prayers and doubts that seemed insurmountable; it all made sense during worship Saturday morning.
It’s no accident that this revelation happened at an apologetics conference.
As I’ve shared bits and pieces of my testimony throughout the last year and a half, the discipline of studying Christianity has shown up many times. I am very familiar with doubt. The thing that has pulled me out of my deepest, darkest times of doubt wasn’t emotional comfort; it was honest inquiry.
In my weakest moments, I had believed the lie that the Christianity I was raised in—that worldview that had defined every part of my life—simply wasn’t equipped to answer the questions that philosophy, history, and science had leveled against it.
Through study, though, I’ve come to a soul-deep understanding that “the gates of hell will not prevail” against God’s Church and the Truth it represents. There’s immense freedom in this—especially for those of us who may be prone to anxieties and fears about “getting it right.”
God loves you and he wants to partner with you. He wants your questions, your doubts, your novel ideas, your curiosity. “Christ says, ‘Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You.’” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
I’ve spent a lot of time talking about why you should dedicate to loving the Lord with “all your mind,” so I won’t waste precious time doing that here. But, I want to be as equipped as possible to, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God.”
Instead of talking why, we’re going to focus on the how.
Christianity 101
Think of this as a syllabus to your self-guided course in Christianity. It’s better than college because there are no grades and the professor is the paradigm of love and mercy. The only prerequisite is a pure heart, which he willingly provides if you just ask. Office hours are 24/7. Topics of study are essentially endless…some might even say “eternal.”
Here’s what you do:
Start with a question.
Do you ever have questions about scripture, Christianity, or theology that just bug you? I used a study Bible throughout college and remember being so aggravated when the study notes would conveniently skip over the more confusing verses in scripture. What does that mean? Why is it so imperceptible?
Let these questions be invitations to dive in. Jot them down on a sticky note or in your notes app when they come up, and then dedicate some time and mental energy to searching out the answers. Here are a few questions to start with:
What is the Trinity? How would I define it concisely? Why do we believe in it?
How did the Bible come to be?
What’s the evidence for Christ’s resurrection?
What are some common objections to Christianity, and how can I answer them?
How does Christianity compare with other world religions?
What does “atonement” mean, and how does it work? What about salvation?
Additionally, here’s a peek into my list of questions and topics to seek out:
What does it mean for God to be sovereign? How do we reconcile omniscience and free will?
What does it mean for the Bible to be authoritative? What’s the difference between inerrancy and infallibility?
What were the historical Adam and Eve like?
What do historical models of the Trinity look like?
The goal isn’t necessarily to come up with a perfect answer for each question, but to spend time in deep thought, seeking God and knowing him better by learning Truth.
Dig in to creeds.
I’ve only just begun looking into Christianity’s creeds, but each one has a wealth of theology and church history packed into every single word. These statements of faith cover the bare essentials of what it means to be a Christian. If you want to really make sure you know what you believe, start unpacking one of the following:
The Apostles’ Creed
The Nicene Creed
The Athanasian Creed
Plus, you’ll get to learn about church history as you study the development and formation of each creed. Win-win!
Discuss with fellow believers.
I tend to get lost in thought pretty easily, especially when I’m trying to work through some new idea. I’m pretty introverted and find that I can typically get a long way toward understanding something by thinking, reading, and writing.
Even so, I’m always shocked at what revelations can come from simply talking through an idea with someone who’s willing to listen. (Usually that someone is Carson.) Find your conversation partners (or, as the philosophers would say, your interlocutors); those people who will help you work through an idea, attempt to answer your questions, and encourage you to keep seeking Truth.
Work to be that listening ear for them, as well.
Resources
In my personal study of Christianity, it’s my goal to develop a strong enough discernment muscle that I’ll be able to sort out good information from bad information on my own. But, the simple truth is that there’s a lot of information out there, and when I’m first learning about a topic, sometimes it helps to have some guidance from people whose teaching I already trust.
This list of resources is not exhaustive. I’m also not endorsing every theological position expressed by every person here at every time (disagreement can be good!). But, if you have questions, these individuals and organizations can help steer you toward answers.
Websites/media:
For reading lists, answers to individual questions, or general resources
Books:
To dive deeper into specific topics
Christianity & Christian Living
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
The Meaning of Marriage, Tim Keller
The Reason for God, Tim Keller
Apologetics
On Guard, William Lane Craig
Reasonable Faith, William Lane Craig
The Son Rises, William Lane Craig
Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn’t, Gavin Ortlund
Other topics
Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels, Richard B. Hays
How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels, N.T. Wright
The Consolation of Philosophy, Boethius
The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis
The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals, Gavin Ortlund
I hope something here sparked your interest in a deeper knowledge of God. More than that, I hope you’re not overwhelmed with all there is to know and discover, but excited that there’s so much to keep you busy. It is the best thing you can dedicate your life to, and an investment in this discipline will pay dividends; the ripple effects won’t just impact your future, but the future of all who are lucky enough to be impacted and guided by you.
Let’s get to studying!
Let me know in the comments what question you’re pursuing right now (so I can add it to my list!!).
From the archives:
A visual reminder:
