The story of how Josh McDowell found Christ in his attempt to refute Christianity. It changed his life from the inside out:
Few people were ever more sincere than I in trying--without success--to find meaning, truth and purpose to life.
But at the university I noticed a small group of people--eight students and two faculty members--with something different. They seemed to know what they believed and why. I wanted what I saw.
Two weeks later, while I was sitting with some of them at a table in the student union, the conversation began to center on God. That bothered me, because I thought it was not intellectual. And yet I was curious.
Leaning back in my chair, I said to one of the students, "Tell me, what has made you so different from others?"
She looked me in the eye with a little smile and said: "Jesus Christ!"
My response revealed my bias and my ignorance. "Oh, for heaven's sake," I said, "don't give me that garbage about religion!"
To which she replied: "I didn't say religion. I said Jesus Christ!"
My new friends challenged me to examine the claims of Christ. I thought most Christians were idiots. But these people were persistent. Finally, I accepted their challenge, out of pride, to refute them.
One of the crucial areas of my research to refute Christianity centered around His resurrection. More than 1,000 hours of studying this subject showed me that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was either one of the most wicked, heartless, vicious hoaxes ever foisted upon human minds, or it was the most fantastic fact of history.
Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish prophet, claimed to be the Christ prophesied in the Jewish Scriptures. He was arrested, judged a political criminal, and crucified. Three days after His death and burial, some women went to His tomb and found the body gone. His disciples claimed that God had raised Him from the dead and that He had appeared to them and to many others at various times before ascending into heaven.
In my attempt to refute Christianity, I made some startling observations about the resurrection. The testimony of history, for example. I had no idea there was so much positive historical, literary and legal testimony supporting the factuality of Christ's resurrection. But the more I investigated, the more evidence I found. I came to see why the Apostle Paul had said, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (1 Corinthians 15:14).
Jesus' foretelling of His resurrection was another of my startling observations. Prior to Jesus' death, He took His disciples aside and told them that He would be condemned to death and handed over to the Romans who would mock Him and spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him. And three days later He would rise from the dead (Mark 10:33-34).
The more I studied the historical-biblical Christian faith the more I realized it is a thinking person's faith. As Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).
But alongside the scholarly evidence for the resurrection, there is circumstantial evidence--what happened to me.
Having set out to refute the resurrection and Christianity, and then having been compelled by the evidence to believe that Jesus Christ was indeed exactly who He claimed to be--and that He indeed rose from the dead, I faced a new problem. My mind was saying, "Christianity is true," but my will was saying, "Don't admit it!"
It came to the point where I'd go to bed at ten and wouldn't fall asleep until four in the morning. I knew I had to get Jesus off my mind or go out of my mind.
Finally on December 19, 1959, at 8:30 p.m., I became a Christian.
I prayed four things that night, to establish a relationship with the resurrected, living Christ who has since transformed my life. First, I said, "Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me." Second, I said, "I confess those things in my life that are not pleasing to You. I ask You to forgive and cleanse me." (The Bible says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18).) Third, I said, "Right now, in the best way I know how, I open the door of my heart and life, and I trust You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for coming into my life by faith."
After I prayed, nothing happened. There was no bolt of lightning. I even said to myself, "Oh, no! What'd I get sucked into now?" I felt I'd gone off the deep end. And some of my friends agreed. But I can tell you now that in six months to a year-and-a-half I found that I had not gone off the deep end.
Later, in a debate with the head of the history department of a midwestern university, I said that my life had been changed. My opponent interrupted me to say, "McDowell, are you trying to tell us that God changed your life in the twentieth century?"
After 45 minutes of my describing changes, he said, "Okay, that's enough."
One area I told him about was the mental peace I had finally found. Another was control of my temper. And old hatreds gradually turning to love.
You can laugh at Christianity; you can mock and ridicule it. But it changes lives.
Christianity is not something that can be forced on anyone. All I can do is tell what I've learned. Beyond that, it's your decision.
Christ was raised from the dead. He lives. He has the infinite capacity to enter your life, forgive you, and change you from the inside out.
Hypnosis is an effective art. The jesus scriipt is one of many. It would have been interesting if Josh McDowell was at an airport in his neediness. Perhaps he would have found his new life singing hare krishna. Looks like the xtian cult filled his head first. ;-)
Trying to claim her as a christian again I see. Nice try. Start researching her fully. You will soon see that she is not a christian even though she believes that jesus is an entity. Her belief system goes way beyond what christians believe.
You denied the evidence last time and likely will again. Perhaps revisit her latter interviews.
I notice that christians love to claim people that even mention jesus.
And yes religious dogmas get taken up through a form of hypnosis.
trying to claim her as new age again i see, if you are willing to look at truth and notice that in the beginning of her venture she claimed Jesus Christ as her lord and Savior. She herself says that she forgets even her vision's this is why she paints or writes the poetry. I concede the the fact that she does say things now that are new age but you will never ever find anything new age on her or her mother when the visions where in the beginnings. People forget its common. If she was saying new age things in the beginning it would be a different story. the topic of forgetting where you came from, forgetting the Lord, and forgetting the miracles is a common theme all throughout the Bible. ;-)
"People forget its common. If she was saying new age things in the beginning it would be a different story. the topic of forgetting where you came from, forgetting the Lord, and forgetting the miracles is a common theme all throughout the Bible."
As what this talented little girl says is constantly recorded, she could always check what she says against the record if she found herself at a loss, and forgot what she said. (this looks like an attempt to justify that which you don't like to admit to, IMO)
I also disagree with this on the basis of the first post in this thread, as well as my own experience. People don't tend to 'forget' their most profound experiences, and people don't 'forget' what their beliefs are, although their beliefs may change over time, and with new experience.
When someone is talented, their are always the sharks swimming around trying to and claim that individuals talent, to bolster their own belief system. If a belief system cannot stand up on its own, without the support of an 11 year old child, then IMO it is not a belief system worth adhereing to.
>>I also disagree with this on the basis of the first post in this thread, as well as my own experience. People don't tend to 'forget' their most profound experiences, and people don't 'forget' what their beliefs are, although their beliefs may change over time, and with new experience.<<
i guess your more gifted than she, cause she has changed her tone, do a little research on her. In the begining close to the time when she went to heaven she had a different tone than she does now. In her own words "i have to paint my visions so i dont forget them".
>>When someone is talented, their are always the sharks swimming around trying to and claim that individuals talent, to bolster their own belief system. If a belief system cannot stand up on its own, without the support of an 11 year old child, then IMO it is not a belief system worth adhereing to.<<
What happened first......... Christians did not claim her she claimed Christ.
Show me exactly where she "claimed christ" as you put it.
She talks about jesus, and also talks about many other things such as all the belief systems that have been tried in her household and that she is okay with all of them.
There is a much wider view of this girl than you want to consider. Another victim gets placed in the 'god box."
Whether she claimed christ or not, christians have sought to exploit her experience,(as have others), and remember, she is a child, not an adult. Its very sad IMO, to see this child used as a pinup for religion of any sort. The fact that this child has visions or is a talented painter, does not give people the right to exploit her, but this is clearly what is happening.
So do you believe child abuse is confined to physical abuse? Do you judge what is happening in this childs life from what you see on a video? There are many forms of child abuse, exploitaion is just one of them, and they mostly occur out of the public eye. She may appear willing, indeed she may even be willing, but we have no way of knowing this. What is happening now with this child will effect her future, and looking at what damage has been done to many other child prodigies, it doesn't bode well for her.
I think putting your child out into the world for public consumption is child abuse, this is a child, not a circus freak.
That if they did not give a christian nod (even slight as it is) they would not garner 32 hundred a print.
Of course some of the money is donated for charity (tax write off). Nice work.
I still don't see her or her family claim jesus christ as their personal savior. You would think if they were so aligned with the christian god they would be screaming it from the rooftops. Isn't that a huge part of being a christian? Especially when you influence a wide audience? Not the case at all. In fact more like they are only revealing fragments for some reason. I am sure anyone with a mind not trapped to christianity can figure out what is going on here. Millions being made by laying out some name drops. Certainly not claiming the expected christian standard.
In other interviews she states that all religions are a path to god. Is that also a christian view? Many of her paintings reveal new age themes such as pyramids and cosmic images.
She never talks about being nailed to a cross or any of the usual hardline christian symbols. More of the new age morphed version.
I'll post them for you to either ignore or spin.. Your choice....
Pay particular attention to the following and then read it in full context...
"Jesus shared with us: “I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to my Father, but through me.” I feel that he invited us to participate in the divinity. Each of us is one of kind original path to the way of truth and light, and without our individual love and effort we cannot understand and reach God. “Through me” is my own co-creation with the Creator of the universes. Father is something understandable in the patriarchal society as a symbol of miracles, power, greatness and love.
"
Ancient Writings and The Bible
January 31st, 2010 Akiane
I had the honor of meeting hundreds of scholars from all over the world. The cumulative years of all their studies would mount up to some twenty five thousand years.
The odd fact is that they still disagree about the origin and the future of humanity, they still debate and debunk each other’s speculations, they still accuse each other of insufficient or inaccurate findings, they still insult each other with belittling and prideful commentaries and conclusions.
I choose not to be involved in such debates and arguments, especially if they are profit or control orientated. So much of scholarly work is done based only on prejudice and self-interests.
Conclusions and firm convictions hurt us if they are based on control—breading untold tragedies.
I have read and studied Bible as well as different ancient writings. However, I discovered that I needed to develop my own understanding about the truths. My way of understanding the reality became very private to me, because it’s always changing, expanding and evolving. I could share my views today, but tomorrow it might be all different.
Change is the only thing that is permanent—everything else is temporary. The facts can be distorted and diluted as they pass through the perspectives and disseminations of millions of people; we need to find our own discoveries without pride and arrogance and share them with consideration.
I don’t have twenty five thousand years to study like my fellow intellectuals, and even if I did, I still would not know the final truth. So I prefer to chronicle and interpret the transformation of our beliefs and perceptions through art and poetry.
I do not wish to join or form any organized religious or philosophical institutions. I choose to be free, and only when I’m free can I enjoy my life’s spiritual journey…
All of us in our family have different interpretations of spirituality pursuing our own path to truth and that keeps us closer together and teaches us to be more accepting of other cultures and beliefs.
Jesus shared with us: “I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to my Father, but through me.” I feel that he invited us to participate in the divinity. Each of us is one of kind original path to the way of truth and light, and without our individual love and effort we cannot understand and reach God. “Through me” is my own co-creation with the Creator of the universes. Father is something understandable in the patriarchal society as a symbol of miracles, power, greatness and love.
I am aware of huge arguments over this statement alone; misinterpretation of just this particular phrase has caused countless wars, segregations, divorces and conflicts. Both fear and oppression create artificial truths.
***
My painting“Search for Truth” that I created when I was 12 clarify my discoveries.
“Search for Truth” is a painting about humanity’s search for the origin, destiny, and meaning of life. It is a story of how we look for the truth and how we treat others as they also try to discover it.
With so many scientific achievements we know so little of where we came from and where we are going. But we know even less of the most important discovery of all – Love. Only love can accept our differences as we journey through life. And only love can allow space for our growth.
The astronaut here represents many of us searching for truth in a controlling way. Although we are still searching, we are convinced that we have already discovered the truth and that everyone should believe it only our way. And believe it at any cost.
Just like this man, we stand on a strange little planet trying to posses it. Like a giant we trample on the flowers reaching for light that represent meek and gentle souls ruled by the ignorant, the cunning, the powerful, the prideful, or the aggressive. Sadly, most of the tiny planet is already trampled.
Through his stiff and cumbersome space suit the astronaut is not able to touch and smell the blossoms and is able to view them only through his shatter-proof mask. He presumes the air here is toxic and void of life. So he fears to remove his suit and get contaminated. Yet despite his great knowledge he has not figured out that if flowers bloom, then he too would be able to breathe safely.
Even though he dwarfs the planet of flowers, he himself gets dwarfed by a grand space of galaxies and mysteries, which I portrayed through many reality designs including two sets of DNA where divine and human lives interact continuously.
I believe everyone should have an opportunity to search for truth their own way. Humility, peace, child-like enthusiasm, acceptance, and sincerity is the true infinity engine!
I bolded some bits so you wont ingore them. Feel free to engage in spin doctoring though. It's part of the christian creedo afer all. Lying for Jesus.
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Heaven and Hell on Earth?
January 19th, 2010 Akiane
The environment of my life was exceptionally inspirational and positive—the experience was a truly heaven on earth. But not everybody had such circumstances in life like I had.
Through my visionary experiences, I feel the pain of other people as deeply as their own. I am convinced that here on earth there is also hell: if you don’t think that it exists— think again!
—Darfur, 911, Auswitz, Stalin’s exiles, Pol Pot, Hiroshima and countless others.
Then there are 815 million people worldwide who go hungry every single day: millions who suffer from malnutrition, diseases, slavery, homelessness, physical mutilations, gang rapes, robberies, imprisonments and abuses of every imaginable kind.
What about depression that results in suicides, divorces that result in split families, unemployment that results in hopelessness, eating disorders that result in weakness and slow death, or millions of children trapped in a horrific educational system resulting in apathy, drug abuse, peer pressure and a waste of time.
Those who have not experienced hell on earth have no awareness of real suffering.
To me Hell is also a state of mind, the scorching heat of anger, the envy and control. And what can be worse than our families being separated or killed?
Already here on earth we have our own challenges: from man made to natural disasters— too much—way too much for our hearts and minds to handle.
Imagining an eternal future that is even worse than this life on earth would paralyze us and control us with total hopelessness! This misconception was created only for power and control.
I know people who are sure they have been saved for an eternal bliss in heaven, but who extend a helping hand just because they expect a reward from God.
I also know people who would sacrifice not just the time or money, but their life out of pure love without any expectation of a prize or praise. In fact, many of them are not even sure, if there is another life after this at all! Yet, they lay their lives to total strangers for nothing in return, only because they couldn’t have done anything less.
Heaven does exist within us and outside us; I also believe we can create our own heaven here on earth, not just for ourselves, but for others as well.
It is being revealed to you if you are ready to see. She does not fit your exclusive brand the way you need her to. Read my other post and hone in on her words. Your spin will be interesting and revealing to the psyche of a christian mindset. Knock yourself out. ;-)
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