“God, if you’re real, make a horse appear right here, right now.”
I spoke these words when I was thirteen years old. I have a distinct memory of lying in bed, wrestling with doubts about the faith in which my parents seemed secure. And so, I decided to give God an ultimatum.
Alas, a horse did not appear. So, I brought my concerns to dad.
The way my pastor father handled this season of doubting and questioning made an impact on me as a kid, but also as a parent. When our children bring us tough questions about the faith, we’re tempted to respond out of fear. Many times, my initial reaction to my own children’s doubts have come from a place of worry, which inevitably leads to tension rather than productive dialogue.
But, oh, how the conversation changes when I’m able to step back and see the big picture, when I remember that the journey of faith will undoubtedly include asking hard questions.
One of my greatest “hangs ups” when it came to fully accepting Jesus as my Savior as a teen was wondering whether the Bible was actually reliable. If this is a question your child has brought to you, be encouraged. The asking means they are seeking, and the seeking means we are seeing firsthand the work of the Spirit in their lives.
There are three things my father did that have remained helpful in the times my own children have asked: can I really trust the Bible?
Present Some Facts
Here’s the thing. I have a seminary degree, and I have attended church since I came out of the womb, but to this day, my mind still feels boggled by this question. Why? Because I have asked it so many times through the years. Each time, I’ve received solid answers, yet when the question arises, I still struggle to recall them spot on.
Here’s what my dad taught me about looking at the evidence for the Bible’s reliability.
First, don’t be afraid to investigate the “proof” of the reliability of Scripture together. Sometimes, we feel like we need to have it all sorted out before we can help our kids. I can’t tell you how impactful it was that my father, an ordained pastor, was willing to sit down and read through some resources with me. Maybe his mind felt boggled with this question, too. I don’t know, but he never spewed a long list of facts that proved the Bible’s existence. He looked at the evidence with me, using resources we had available, and we talked about what we read.
Today, we have so many resources that offer helpful facts about the reliability of Scripture, and they are right at our fingertips (see some great ones at the end of the article). Utilize them and talk about what you have learned together.
With that said, it can certainly be helpful to remember a few key facts when this question arises. These are three important “proofs” about the reliability of the Bible that have stuck with me through the years:
- Jesus is the TRUTH.
Ask your child if they know what Jesus thinks about the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 is a verse worth memorizing: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” Jesus affirms the divine inspiration of Scripture, teaching that the words come from God himself.
He also believes that the words in the Bible have power. Jesus quotes directly from the Scriptures when Satan tempts him in the wilderness.
Jesus believes that the Old Testament is just as important as the New Testament because it, too, is breathed out by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus lived on earth, he frequently referenced Old Testament figures such Noah, and Abraham, and even Adam and Eve – affirming the authority of Scripture.
So, start with Jesus when asked this question because if you can believe in the reliability that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), you can believe in the reliability of the Scripture.
- The Bible is a miracle.
Did you know that the Bible was written over a span of around 1500 years? In the course of that time, it was written on three different continents. Not only that, but it has at least 40 different authors, with around 64,000 cross-references.
And yet…we have one unified story that has been passed down for thousands of years.
Amazing. The sheer impossibility of such unity across centuries and cultures points to a divine author. No human effort could achieve this, but with God as the author, it is absolutely possible.
- The Bible has been verified.
As a teen, I wanted concrete evidence, so here’s the cool part – there is much evidence of the reliability of Scripture. Here is just some of what you might come across if you look into this question with your teen:
There are eyewitness accounts of the life of Christ. When we read from the apostles, we are reading from actual people in history who walked and talked with Jesus. Many other characters and places in the Bible have been confirmed as historically accurate.
In Acts, for example, almost every person and place has been confirmed as factual. We know from even non-Christian works that the people mentioned are real people in history. Excavation crews have discovered that every city and location mentioned in the Bible is as the Bible describes them.
Even Pontius Pilate, who many doubted was a real man because there was little evidence of him, was discovered to be real in the 1960’s when archeologists found an inscription that read, “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.” Cool, huh? Archeologists are still today making new discoveries that prove the reliability of Scripture.
Persist in Prayer and Ponder God’s Profound Work
Each time I offered a hard question, Dad would say, “Let’s pray that the Lord will reveal that to you.” He’d still help sort through some of the issues, but prayer was consistent.
Pray boldly that the Lord will show your teen the truth of his Word. You don’t have to answer this question perfectly for your child to have a strong walk with Jesus. God will put that confidence in her heart as he works in her life.
I went on a youth retreat during “the summer of the doubting,” as I like to call it. On that retreat, I gave my life to Jesus after walking on the beach with two teen friends – a unitarian and an atheist– who very confusedly discussed whether God was real. I fell back from my friends, dropped to the sand, and said to Jesus that while I didn’t get it all, I knew he was real, and I committed to following him.
The profound mystery, and one that we can all ponder with thanksgiving, is that God alone does the work of drawing us and our children to himself. By the Spirit’s power, he instills in his children the unshakeable confidence that the Bible is truly reliable.
Online Resources:
Ligonier offers numerous articles, podcasts, and videos on biblical reliability, historical evidence, and Reformed theology.
– Recommended:
– The Authority and Inspiration of the Bible
2. The Gospel Coalition (TGC)
– Recommended authors:
– Michael Kruger (expert in canon formation)
– Greg Gilbert
– D.A. Carson
– This website provides Reformed apologetics, biblical theology, and historical studies on Scripture.
– A Reformed scholar specializing in biblical canon and textual criticism, Kruger provides excellent resources on the authenticity of Scripture.
5. Creation Ministries International (CMI) & Answers in Genesis (AiG)
– While primarily focused on creation apologetics, these ministries also provide resources on biblical inerrancy and historical reliability.
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