Don’t Call Me Ignorant

Posted on April 30, 2013     1 Comment

For the first time ever, an athlete from one of the four major sports has come out publicly and announced he’s gay. Jason Collins, an 11 year NBA pro, was featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story recently to make the big announcement. News articles are all over the place, but in case you missed it, you can read one of them here. Not surprisingly, there have been a lot of interesting reactions. The majority of public response has been positive. A lot of other athletes and voices in the media have poured out their support for Jason. Naturally, there are some who have reacted negatively. But it seems, as even Jason said himself, that this seemed like the right time for a pro athlete to come out and be honest about his controversial sexuality.

Now, let me say a few things here before anyone freaks out on me. First, I admire Jason Collins. It’s true that it took guts to do what he did. And I think he did it for the right reasons (ie. not for publicity sake). Everything I have heard about him has been very positive – team guy, caring individual, gives back to the community, the whole nine yards. Rock on. I’m all for that stuff!

Second, I don’t care if Jason Collins is gay or not. At least not personally. It doesn’t really change the way I think about him. I don’t think it’s necessary to broadcast anyone’s sexuality, but I get why he would do it. It’s another small victory for marginalized people everywhere, knowing that it’s okay to be proud of who you are and not feel like you have to hide it. I’m sure what Jason has done is an encouragement to others who fear “coming out”.

But here’s my beef with the whole thing. And it’s not so much with this particular incident as it is with the whole gay issue. I’m getting annoyed at being called ignorant. If you haven’t figured it out, yes, I’m one of those Bible-thumping Christians who believes that homosexuality is a sin. I can do this without hating anyone, believe it or not. I’m not anti-gay. I am pro Jesus. I believe that everyone is a sinner, and we all sin in various kinds of ways. My sin may be different from yours, but it’s all the same really. I’m no better than anyone else. I don’t look down on others (at least I try not to). I don’t single out being gay as the worst sin ever, or worse than my own. I just believe, like the Bible says, that all sin separates us from God and therefore we need a Saviour. That’s why I’m a Christian. I recognize that before God I am guilty, and so I trust that Jesus pardoned me by dying in my place for my sin. I think everyone needs this and therefore I encourage everyone to become a Christian.

Does this make me ignorant? By definition, ignorance is a lack of knowledge. It is being naive to something that causes you not to treat the issue properly. One of the words that I keep reading and hearing since Jason went public is that those out there who disagree are ignorant. Really? That could be true of some, I suppose. But to call someone ignorant because they disagree with you doesn’t make sense. One example is a tweet sent out by NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who tweeted of Jason’s announcement: “Don’t suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others.” Why is the word “ignorant” always used? I have the same beef with the phrase “homophobic”. It annoys me because I am neither ignorant nor homophobic. I happen to be well informed on the gay rights issue and the history surrounding it. I know people who are gay and what they sometimes go through. I’m not naive to the whole thing. And I’m not afraid (phobic) of it all, either. I know the same stuff as you, I just come to a different conclusion. I don’t see it the same as others. But that doesn’t make me ignorant.

Can I encourage anyone reading this to drop the label “ignorant” as a general term for anyone who disagrees? Just say it like it is – we disagree. My opinion and your opinion are both valuable. They should both be respected. They may also be very thoughtfully crafted. That does not equal ignorance. Try saying it a different way, like “those who don’t agree” or “those of a different mindset”. Just as we should show respect for someone like Jason coming out, we should show respect to those who see things differently. Don’t be ignorant by calling people ignorant. 

Make a Memory (Game Idea)

Posted on April 23, 2013     1 Comment

Once a year we have an event called “Make a Memory”. The idea – you guessed it! – is to have an event that the students will always remember. Those kind of events are so valuable for helping students connect to one another and build relationships. It’s so much fun hearing the inside jokes that last for months at a time.

Here’s how it works. Divide your group up into small teams, and make sure each team has a camera. It’s also a good idea to have an adult leader with each team. A fun location to do this is at the local mall, though you can do a city-wide version if vehicles and drivers are available. Each team is given the same list of captions. Their job is to a take a picture to match that caption. The funnier and more creative, the better! Be sure to stress the importance of being polite and not breaking any laws. You’d be surprised what you can get away with!

Take time to compile each teams picture with the caption into a slideshow and show the whole group. It’s also a fun thing to show on Sunday morning to the rest of the congregation.

Below is a copy-and-pasted version of the handout we give each team. Hope it’s helpful!

General Rules

  • Teams must stay together at all times
  • All pictures must be taken with the same camera
  • NO RUNNING in the mall (speed-walking only)
  • All team members must be visible in every picture (except for the person taking the picture)
  • A different person needs to take each picture
  • Areas off limit: bathrooms, jewelry stores, La Senza, LCBO, IDA
  • Please don’t do anything illegal!
  • Each team must be back in the food court by the designated time

Pictures to Take

  • You’d better call tech support
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Bling bling!
  • Gone fishing
  • How many people can we fit in here?
  • These people were willing to pose with us
  • This reminds me of our youth pastor
  • Struck by Cupid!
  • How high can we go?
  • I couldn’t do this by myself
  • There are trolls by the bridge
  • Now that’s a hero
  • All aboard!
  • What’s there to eat around this place?
  • Enjoying the arcade
  • This is totally random
  • Doing the laundry
  • We look like a band
  • This is not what shopping carts are used for
  • A nice relaxing massage
  • This ride is meant for kids
  • We got to meet a celebrity
  • Ahhhh! A grizzly bear!
  • We can catch that goose
  • Class is in session
  • How far can we spread out and still be in the picture?

Self-Injury Part 4 – Why Do Kids Self-Injure?

Posted on April 23, 2013     Leave a Comment

Disclaimer – I write “Leadership Moments” for the volunteers at my church who work in the youth ministry. Each Leadership Moment is meant to equip the everyday youth worker with the knowledge and skills they need to help teens as best as they can. Because these articles are for people I know personally and meant for my own church and city context, they may not always be relevant to the wider public. However I put them here for anyone who might benefit from their content.

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[This is part 4 of a series summarizing the book “Hope and Healing For Kids Who Cut” by Marv Penner.]

Self-injury tends to puzzle those from the outside looking in. “Why in the world would you do that to yourself?” one might wonder. It’s a valid question, and one that we need to have an answer to in order to help those who struggle with this issue. What is the motive behind this behaviour?

The simplest way to answer the question is to say that self-injurers do what they do to feel better. The physical pain they intentionally inflict on themselves is way to manage the emotional pain they struggle with. Everyone has emotional pain they must deal with, and this pain comes from various things. Usually it stems from negative past experiences. A parent walking out, sexual abuse, bullying, the loss of a loved one, regrets for past mistakes….any of these and more can cause a person to have emotional baggage to carry. Then, what happens is that when a person hits their teen years, they are confronted with the question “Who am I?” A teen struggling with this question might allow their negative experiences and negative emotions to answer that question for them. The result is many young people answer the “Who am I?” question with responses like “I am worthless. I am a loser. I am no good. I am stupid. I am unloved.”

Young people (and older people for that matter) will handle that kind of negative self-image a variety of ways. Some rise up and overcome. Some put up a false front. Some turn to drugs, sex, or popularity. In the end, some will turn to self-injury. And just like any of the other alternatives, it works…at least, for a little while (more on the addictive nature of self-injury next time).

Self-injury helps young people cope by distracting them from the emotional pain they feel. For that brief moment of self-injury, the emotional pain goes away. Only physical pain is present, and to someone who is really hurting, that is a trade worth making.

Penner highlights what he calls “unchallenged assumptions” in the book. An unchallenged assumption is the way a teen thinks of themselves that no one has bothered to counter. So, the teens who carry a negative self-identity become even more convinced of who they are because no one else is saying otherwise. They simply assume that what they feel is true. This means, for example, that someone who thinks “I am unloved” will soon believe “I am unlovable”. The first is a momentary feeling while the second is a lasting identity.

In order to reverse the trend of self-injury, we leaders need to combat the unchallenged assumptions with truth and encouragement rooted in the Word of God. We need to be the ones to help young people discover a life-giving identity; it’s possible that no other person in their life will. As those called to serve young people, we need to help them see what their identity in Christ is – that they are loved, they have hope, they have a purpose, they are valuable, they are beautiful, they are forgiven, they can have a new beginning, they are part of God’s family.

In understanding the “why”, we can give better help to those struggling with self-injury. Knowing about their pain and their negative self-identities, forged by years of unchallenged assumptions, we are better equipped to know what we are dealing with. And, over time, we will see God’s grace and love move in their hearts as they begin to see themselves the way Christ sees them.

What’s So Good About Good Friday?

Posted on March 29, 2013     Leave a Comment

Good Friday is celebrated on the day that Jesus was crucified. Most people are familiar with the story enough to know that Jesus’ death by crucifixion was a brutal, bloody mess. Jesus was betrayed by his friend Judas, abandoned and denied by the rest of his disciples, put unfairly on trial in the middle of the night, beaten and mocked, whipped, forced to carry his own cross to the place of execution, was nailed through his hands and feet to the cross, and hung up in public to be ridiculed and die in front of everyone. What in the world is so good about that?

Good Friday is not good because of what Jesus suffered. What makes Good Friday good is why Jesus suffered and what his suffering accomplished. Jesus’ death was more than just the average death. Something of cosmic significance took place that fateful day.

Jesus suffered and died to pay for the sins of the world. He acted as a sacrifice on behalf of sinful people like you and I. He shed his blood in our place, and died the death we all deserve. In that way, as an innocent substitute, Jesus paid the price for sin and as a result, anyone who trusts that his death has paid for their sin is seen as holy and acceptable in the eyes of God. In other words, Jesus died to make a way for sinners to be right with God. Romans 5:6-9 puts it this way:

[6] For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

So what makes Good Friday good is that, because of Jesus death, it is possible for sinners to be forgiven by God, made right with him, and given eternal life. That is really, really good news!

Self-Injury Part 3 – Recognizing the Signs

Posted on March 21, 2013     Leave a Comment

Disclaimer – I write “Leadership Moments” for the volunteers at my church who work in the youth ministry. Each Leadership Moment is meant to equip the everyday youth worker with the knowledge and skills they need to help teens as best as they can. Because these articles are for people I know personally and meant for my own church and city context, they may not always be relevant to the wider public. However I put them here for anyone who might benefit from their content.

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[This is part 3 of a series summarizing the book “Hope and Healing For Kids Who Cut” by Marv Penner.]

Because of the shame-inducing nature of self-injury, most people engaging in this activity try to hide it. It is a dark secret that they wish no one else to be in on. Because of this, it is important for those working with youth to be on the lookout for common signs that a teen is struggling with self-injury. It is our job to keep our eyes open and be attentive to the signs. We may very well be the only adults in their life who care enough to pay attention.

Marv lists the following as common signs of self-injury. Any one sign by itself may be a fluke, but repetitive signs or multiple signs together may be pointing to a bigger problem.

  • Scars, cuts, bruises, or burns. These marks can happen in innocent ways. We should not be too suspicious, but repeat marks on a teen or ones that have questionable excuses for can send up a red flag.
  • Long sleeves or pants in warm weather. Some teens dress this way to make a fashion statement. For others it is a convenient way to cover up their secret. We should keep an eye on a student who dresses this way when it doesn’t make sense to.
  • Multiple bracelets or bandanas. Again, this can be a simple matter of style, but it also makes a great way to cover up marks on the wrist.
  • Tangible evidence. This would include things like cutting objects (razors, knives, or virtually anything sharp), bloody tissues, lighters (for a non-smoking teen especially), or anti-septic ointment. If any of these are found in unusual places, such as a teens bedroom, bathroom, or on their person, it should be mentally noted.
  • Traces of blood on clothing. Some concealed wounds will seep through material. Most students are careful to make sure this doesn’t happen, but from time to time it does.
  • Rubbing the skin through clothing. When a cut is healing and scabbing over, it can get very itchy. If a student is rubbing an area on their body through their clothing like they are itchy, it could be from a self-inflicted injury.
  • Emotional roller coasters. This evidence is not physical but important nonetheless. Self-injurers are struggling emotionally, and it can manifest in ways other than in cutting. Depression, mood swings, general crankiness, or acting out can all be signs that a student is going through a difficult time.

It is important to reiterate that we should not be paranoid and feel that any one sign is evidence enough to assume the worst. As a general rule we should assume the best. But we should be careful not to stick our heads in the sand either. When any of these signs come up more than once, or if more than one shows up together, it is time to look into the matter more. Just how we can do that is the topic of a future post. For now, try and make a mental note of these signs and keep your eyes open for any warnings that could be right under your nose.

Self-Injury Part 2 – What Self-Injury Is and Isn’t

Posted on March 21, 2013     Leave a Comment

Disclaimer – I write “Leadership Moments” for the volunteers at my church who work in the youth ministry. Each Leadership Moment is meant to equip the everyday youth worker with the knowledge and skills they need to help teens as best as they can. Because these articles are for people I know personally and meant for my own church and city context, they may not always be relevant to the wider public. However I put them here for anyone who might benefit from their content.

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[This is part 2 of a series summarizing the book “Hope and Healing For Kids Who Cut” by Marv Penner.]

It is important that we have an accurate understand of what self-injury actually is. First, let’s dispel some of the common myths about self-injury. Here is a list of what self-injury is NOT:

  • It is not just a fad. The wrong way to think of self-injury is that it is merely a passing trend that will fade with time. The statistics would prove otherwise. It is not fading over time but rather becoming increasingly common and being portrayed as normal in the media. We cannot believe it will simply go away on its own. It won’t.
  • It is not an extreme form of body modification. Tattoos and body pierces are pretty popular these days. But this is not the same as self-injury. Tattoos and body piercing are artistic and stylistic in nature, and most people who have these display them proudly. However, self-injury is more like therapy than art, and most injurers hide their marks in shame.
  • It is not a suicide attempt. At least, not yet. Some self-injurers will spiral down into depression and attempt suicide. But self-injury is actually much different. The point of self-injury is to NOT give up hope. The self-injurer is hoping their wounds will help them escape the pain they feel and want to live.
  • It is not demon-possession. In the Bible there is at least two occasions (1 Kings 18 and Mark 5) where there is definitely demonic activity leading to self-injury. However, this does not mean that every person who cuts is demon-possessed. Certainly they are under Satan attack, but we should not assume that an exorcism is required for their healing.
  • It is not just an attempt to get attention. True, some injurers want attention. They are craving for love and acceptance. They just want someone to notice them! But self-injury is more than that. Typically adults respond to obvious cries for attention by withholding attention, thinking they will break the cycle of neediness. This is a dangerous thing to do with someone who is hurting themselves.
  • It is not reckless behaviour. (This point is not in the book). I would add that a teen who is wild and willing to try crazy stunts, whether it be on a bike or skateboard or jumping off high places, or doing things like are shown in the “Jackass” videos, are not self-injuring teens. At least, they are not injuring themselves on purpose the same way a teen who cuts is, though their recklessness can be a sign of masking pain too.

So if that is what self-injury is NOT, what exactly IS it? Marv defines it in simple terms:

Self-injury is an attempt to alter one’s emotional state by inflicting physical harm on one’s own body without the intention of committing suicide. Self-injurers seek to change how they feel by hurting themselves.

Self-injury can take on a variety of forms.

  • Cutting. This is the most common form of self-injury, where a person cuts themself with a sharp object. Common cutting places are on the arms (especially the non-dominant arm), legs, and sides. Often cuts are made in places easy to cover with clothing.
  • Carving. This is a variation of cutting where a person cuts a specific image or word into their skin. Usually the word or image has significant meaning to the cutter that is related to their own identity (words like “ugly”, “worthless”, and “loser” are common).
  • Burning. A self-injurer may choose to burn their skin instead of cutting it. It can be done of the stove, near a furnace, or with a lighter. Sometimes an injurer will heat a metal object with a lighter and then press it onto their skin.
  • Bruising. Still another form of self-injury is inflicting pain on the body by any means possible. This can be by hitting oneself with an object or even their own fists.
  • Branding. Branding is a form of burning similar to carving in that the person brands their skin with sometime to mark their identity or express what they are feeling.
  • Refusal to heal. Many self-injurers interfere with wounds that are healing. They do this because as long as the wound is “active”, it still helps them to feel the relief they are seeking.

In the next post we will learn how to recognize the common signs of self-injury.

Self-Injury Part 1 – Intro to Self-Injury

Posted on March 21, 2013     Leave a Comment

Disclaimer – I write “Leadership Moments” for the volunteers at my church who work in our youth ministry. Each Leadership Moment is meant to equip the everyday youth worker with the knowledge and skills they need to help teens as best as they can. Because these articles are for people I know personally and meant for my own church and city context, they may not always be relevant to the wider public. However I put them here for anyone who might benefit from their content.

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[This is part 1 of a series summarizing the book “Hope and Healing For Kids Who Cut” by Marv Penner.]

Welcome to a world of hurt. Even though I am not that much older than the teens I work with, I must recognize that they are growing up in a much different world than the one I did at their age. The challenges they face are unique to any other generation. It is important as adults not to look down on students struggling with emotional issues. We have no idea what they are going through, until we take the time to listen.

Self-injury is just one of the many confusing and disturbing trends surfacing among the next generation. Most of us don’t understand it. Some of us are repulsed by it. But the truth is that teens need the presence of caring adults who will encourage them, listen to them, and support them as they face the challenges of everyday life. We must take their world – and self-injury – seriously, especially those of us in direct contact with young people.

A lot of adults are tempted to think that self-injury is really an uncommon occurrence that happens among only the most disturbed and troubled young people. Yet this is not the case. In the book, Marv says “The issue of self-injury has become increasingly visible in the world of adolescence and young adults in recent years…self-injury is going mainstream, and is likely to remain part of the cultural landscape for the foreseeable future. We can no longer pretend this is a fringe issue that occurs only in the most extreme cases.”

A 2006 study by Princeton and Cornell Universities found that 17% of the young people they surveyed (of 3,000) had self-injured at some point in their lifetime. Technically it is 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 guys. The numbers may have even gone up since then. It is highly likely that for every cutter identified, others remain hidden in the secret world of their addiction.

I say all this because as youth workers, we must take seriously the struggles of the teens we work with and seek to grow in our understanding of them and how to address them. It is not a matter of “if” you will come across this, but “when”. Therefore, we ought to do our best to be informed and ready so we can offer genuine help. After all, we are called by Jesus to show his love and compassion to a world so desperately in need of hope. The responsibility lies on our shoulders.

Lyrical Theology: In Christ Alone (Part 6)

Posted on March 16, 2013     Leave a Comment

In Christ Alone – Newsboys (see full lyrics here)

There in the ground, his body lay / Light of the world by darkness slain / Then bursting forth, in glorious day / Up from the grave he rose again / And as he stands in victory / Sins curse has lost its grip on me / For I am his, and he is mine / Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:17 says that “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” In other words, if Jesus died but did not rise again, then Christianity is a giant hoax and believers in Christ are foolish people who have built their life on a lie. The death of Jesus is meaningless without the resurrection. If the story ended with Jesus’ lifeless body lying in a tomb, then there is nothing worth celebrating.

But the story did not end there! I love the way the Newsboys put it here: “Bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave he rose again!” The day Jesus rose from death indeed was a glorious day! By coming back to life he proved that he had conquered sin once and for all. Jesus truly was able to stand in victory, and as a result those who put their trust in him no longer are enslaved to sin. Jesus took our sin to the grave and rose to give us new life. This is the beauty and power of faith in Jesus. Our sins are wiped away and we are made new, infused with new life and made friends of God.

This happens because the sin that kept us from a relationship with God is removed by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. No longer are we unqualified to be in God’s presence. Jesus makes us holy and gives us access to the Father. Our lives are no longer our own but are turned over to God. Jesus bought us at the price of his own blood, for that is what it cost to bring us freedom. Satan, sin, and death no longer own us. Jesus does. And in him we have been given life eternal and joy everlasting. Receive this good news!

Lyrical Theology: In Christ Alone (Part 5)

Posted on March 11, 2013     Leave a Comment

In Christ Alone – Newsboys (see full lyrics here)

Till on that cross as Jesus died / the wrath of God was satisfied / For every sin on him was lain / Here in the death of Christ I live

Contained within these few verses is the very essence of Christianity. The big idea is that Jesus is our substitute; that is, that he died in the place of sinners to remove the wrath of God and give eternal life. This is the good news of the gospel. But perhaps it may not seem clear to you, so let me break it down in a way that might explain better.

God’s Wrath Towards Sinners

The wrath of God is mentioned some 600 times in the Bible. It references God’s burning anger towards sin and rebellion against him. God is not acting unrighteously in his anger. It is right for him to be angry when his own creation rebels against him. Each and every person has chosen to walk as enemies of God. We make that choice every day in our sin, and God is right to have extreme anger about it. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:3 that all people are by nature “objects of wrath” to God, since each and every person has chosen their own way in rebellion against God.

God’s Wrath Leads to Death

As sinners, God is right not only to be wrathful towards us, but to execute that wrath in the form of judgment. In fact, if God did not pour out his wrath for sin, he would not be a just God. In Romans 6:23 we are told that the fair punishment for sin is death. This would include physical death, but also spiritual death. To make it plain, if you commit treason against God by sinning, then you earn yourself the death penalty. And since all people are treasonous sinners and repeat offenders, all people are standing in the path of the wrath of God and destined for their fair punishment in the place called hell.

Jesus Saves the Day!

But God did not leave us in this hopeless, wretched condition! Instead, he sent his Son Jesus into the world. Jesus lived a sinless life (like we all should have) and then died on the cross as a willing substitute for sinners, taking their place and punishment as a once-for-all payment for sin. On the cross, God poured out the full measure of wrath for sinners on Jesus instead. The sacrifice of Jesus payed the penalty for sinners, so that if they trust in him, they are no longer “objects of wrath” but “friends of God”. Their sin is no longer counted against them, and they pass from death into life. This beautiful, life-changing truth is why Christians can sing:

Till on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied. For every sin, on him was lain; here in the death of Christ I live!

20 Reasons to Believe that Jesus Actually Rose from the Dead

Posted on March 8, 2013     Leave a Comment

In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, the Bible states what the results are if Jesus has not risen from the dead. If Jesus is still dead, it means that:

  • Our faith counts for nothing (vs. 14)
  • We are misrepresenting God (vs. 15)
  • We are still in our sins (vs. 17)
  • Those who have already died did not go to a better place (vs. 18)
  • Our faith is good only for this life, which makes us people to be pitied (vs. 19)

In other words, if Jesus did not really rise from death, it is bad news for Christians! A lot is hanging on this one event. Did Jesus come back from the dead? Is there any evidence that this actually happened? There is a lot of things that could be said, here are some significant points to consider.

  1. The body was missing. There is virtually no doubt that Jesus was killed by Roman execution on the cross. Yet three days later, his body was missing from the guarded tomb. Some have said that it was stolen by grave robbers, or perhaps by the disciples themselves (more on that later). Interestingly, the government even acknowledged that there was no body. This doesn’t prove that Jesus rose, but it does at least show that everyone knew Jesus’ body had disappeared.
  2. The testimony of women. In Jesus’ day, the word of a woman carried very little weight. So little, in fact, that a woman could not even testify in court because she was not believed to be reliable. Yet the Bible states that it was women who first discovered the empty tomb and saw the risen Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10). If someone were trying to fabricate Jesus’ resurrection, they most certainly would not base their lie on the claims of women, because it would be less credible. The only way that someone would record that women were the first to see Jesus is if that’s how it really happened.
  3. The transformation of Jesus’ brothers. Contrary to what some say, Mary and Joseph had other children besides Jesus. On one occasion, Jesus’ family showed up to take him home because they thought he had gone crazy (Mark 3:31-35). Yet these same brothers, who here are hard skeptics, became worshippers of Jesus. In fact, at least two of Jesus’ brothers, James and Jude, went on to write the books of the Bible that bear their names. In addition, James became the lead pastor of the church in Jerusalem. What would it take for someone to worship their own brother as God? What would make James and Jude go from thinking their brother is crazy to believing he is God? A resurrection would.
  4. The transformation of the disciples. Jesus’ followers had gone into hiding after their leader was crucified (John 20:19) for fear that they would lose their lives. Yet these same men, just a few days later, are boldly proclaiming that Jesus had risen in public, even at the cost of great persecution and ridicule. It makes sense that actually seeing the risen Jesus would give them cause to come out of hiding and courageously put their lives on the line. Nearly all of the disciples suffered brutal martyrs deaths because they would not stop proclaiming they had seen Jesus risen. There is no way they would have done this if they knew it was a lie.
  5. The change in “doubting Thomas”. One of Jesus’ 12 disciples is famously known as the “doubter”. After the disciples come and tell Thomas they have seen Jesus, he declares he will not believe it unless he can place his own finger into the nail-pierced hands of Jesus (John 20:25). Yet Thomas too becomes a hard believer that Jesus resurrected. The only thing that could explain this is if Jesus really did appear to Thomas, just as the Bible says.
  6. That change in Peter. Perhaps the disciple whose change was the most dramatic was that of Peter. This disciple, who is famous for denying even knowing Jesus three times (including to a little girl), later is preaching in the streets of Jerusalem for all the people to repent of their sin and trust in Jesus (Acts 2:14-41). How could Peter go from being afraid of a little girl to facing hostile crowds unless he had a really good reason to do so?
  7. Jesus is seen by a crowd of 500. In 1 Corinthians 15:6, we learn that a crowd of 500 people saw the risen Jesus at one time. This could not have been a hallucination, since visions of that sort are personal and not experienced by multiple people. We also learn that most of those 500 people were still living at the time 1 Corinthians was written. Since 1 Corinthians was a public letter, the author (Paul) was essentially saying to the reader that they could go and ask these people if they really saw Jesus alive. Had Paul been making it up, he could not have made such a bold, public claim. Not only this, but there is zero historical evidence that anyone even tried to refute Paul’s claim of the 500 seeing Jesus. Apparently, no one who looked into it found any reason to doubt.
  8. Jesus appeared for 40 days. It was not like Jesus appeared to only a handful of people on one or two occasions. Historically, Jesus appeared to hundreds of people over a long period of time – 40 days to be exact (Acts 1:3). This kind of hoax is next to impossible to pull off. Many people saw Jesus multiple times. By sticking around for 40 days before ascending back into heaven, Jesus left no doubt that he had indeed risen from the dead.
  9. Mary prayed to her son as God. Again, this is not strong evidence by itself. Some might say Mary was simply crazy or deceived. But put together with the rest of the evidence, it cannot be taken lightly that someone would truly believe their own son was God (Acts 1:14).
  10. Jesus ate food and had scars. Some claim that Jesus rose not in a physical sense but only in a spiritual sense. This does not make sense since his body was missing. It also does not make sense because Thomas felt the scars of Jesus and there is at least one occasion where Jesus eats breakfast with his disciples (Luke 24:42-43). He could not have been a ghost if he had a body with scars and the ability to eat food.
  11. Jesus walked for 7 miles. Some say that perhaps Jesus didn’t die on the cross but merely passed out and was later revived. This would account for his appearances since he had not actually died at all. This is medically unsound, since the trauma Jesus received by flogging, crucifixion and stabbing would have certainly killed him, especially without medical treatment in a cold tomb. Not only this, but the risen Jesus was said to have walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus with two men, a distance of 7 miles (Luke 24:13). There is no way Jesus could have walked for 7 miles only days after having his feet pierced with giant spikes. So the claim that Jesus didn’t actually die makes no sense.
  12. The lack of motive for the disciples. If the disciples had not really seen Jesus but were making the whole thing up, what was their motive? Most people lie to gain something, but their “lie” only brought them pain and persecution and death. It makes sense instead that they weren’t lying but simply willing to die for the truth. Some might push back and say that they were genuinely deceived. But how can these men, who spent over 3 years with Jesus daily, be mistaken that they had seen and talked with Jesus numerous times? They would have had to be absolutely convinced, otherwise their boldness makes no sense.
  13. The conversion of Saul/Paul. Saul was essentially a terrorist. He literally travelled from town to town killing or throwing Christians into jail. It was his job to stop the Jesus movement. He even was present at the killing of the very first Christian martyr, a church leader named Stephen (Acts 8:1-3). Yet this same man suddenly became a follower of Jesus and began to travel to world, proclaiming that Jesus had risen. He started dozens of churches, wrote 13 books of the Bible, and suffered greatly for the forward progress of Christianity. There is nothing that could explain such a dramatic transformation, except that Saul had met the risen Jesus himself and changed his mind, just as the Bible records (Acts 9:1-19).
  14. Jewish people worshipped Jesus as God. In the Jewish tradition, it is strictly believed that there is only one God and that you should worship him alone. The concept of idolatry was extremely significant to the Jewish people. So the fact that thousands of them began to worship Jesus as God, knowing full well that they would be committing idolatry against their God if they were wrong, speaks volumes. Something very convincing would have had to happen for them to change their beliefs so significantly. A resurrection would do that.
  15. The change of the holy day. Jewish culture holds to Saturday as the Sabbath, or holy day. It is the day of worship. Yet suddenly people started worshipping on Sunday (the day of Jesus’ resurrection). This is no small change. This would be like going to church on a Monday; it would require gathering at the crack of dawn or very late at night, a great inconvenience, unless one was convinced that day held significant meaning. The cultural shift from worshipping on Saturday to Sunday gives weight to the fact that Jesus truly had risen Sunday morning, just as the story goes.
  16. The growth of the early Christian Church. These days, some people say that Christianity is good for society because of it’s moral teachings. If that’s all Christianity was good for, it most certainly would not have grown as it did during the early years. Remember that Christians were heavily persecuted! Simple moral values are not worth losing your family, house, or life over. The early church did not see Christianity as good for society because of moral values, but as the truth that needed to be fought for at any cost. Only a risen Jesus could provide that kind of motivation.
  17. Jesus’ tomb is not enshrined. In a religious society like that of Jesus’ day, his tomb most certainly would have been enshrined by his followers. Yet this is not the case. It makes sense only if the resurrection took place, since a tomb is meaningless if the occupant has risen.
  18. The account of Josephus. Josephus is an early historian who was not a believer in Christ. In his book The Antiquities, he records the devotion of early Christians and says of Jesus “on the third day he appeared to [his disciples] restored to life.” This is Josephus’ journalistic, historical, unbiased report. Keep in mind that he would have had access to many first-hand eyewitnesses of the resurrection.
  19. The account of Sosthenes. Sosthenes, a Roman historian, accounts the intense persecution of early Christians, whom he calls a “class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition”. By this he is referencing the fact that Christians believe Jesus is God because he came back from the dead.  This “superstition” he describes as “mischievous” because it was against Roman law to have any authority higher than the Emperor. Christians would not obey the Emperor over Jesus, because they believed Christ was the higher authority. This lead to great conflict and persecution. In other words, Sosthenes understood that Christians were convinced that Jesus had risen from death to the point that they were willing to pledge their allegiance to him even if it cost them their lives.
  20. The account of Pliny the Younger. Pliny, who was a prominent governor, wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan in 111 AD which recorded his investigation into the Christian movement. Among his findings that Christians would  gather on Sunday to “chant verses alternately among themselves, in honour of Christ as if to God”. Pliny saw that Christians believed Jesus to be God as evidenced by his resurrection on a Sunday.

In short, there is a ton of evidence that point to the historical truth of a risen Jesus. What does it mean? I close with the words of Jesus himself in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”