Point: Have you ever faced the objection to Christianity that there are too many religions out there, how can it be that Christianity is the one that is true? Or maybe it is phrased as “I can’t believe in any religion (including Christianity) because there’s too many other contradiction religions out there…” How should Christians answer?
Picture: There are many counterfeit things out there. There’s counterfeit name brand purse, counterfeit name brand shoes and of course counterfeit money. I remember working security for a client company where we had to handle someone selling counterfeit pins that was being sold as a very valuable collector’s item (pin collection is a whole different world for me). But notice with things that are valuable there will be people trying to make counterfeits. I think it is safe to say there are more people making counterfeit US currency than counterfeit monopoly money.
POSSIBLE SCENARIO FOR EMPLOYING THIS ILLUSTRATION DURING APOLOGETIC EVANGELISM
OPPONENT: I can’t believe in any religion (including Christianity) because there’s too many other contradiction religions out there…
CHRISTIAN: I don’t think that’s a good argument to automatically dismiss Christianity.
OPPONENT: Well why do you believe Christianity is true then, as oppose to other religion?
CHRISTIAN: We can discuss that next. But I want to deal with the objection you just presented since I believe if bad arguments are not addressed first it will hinder our discussion. There’s a point I want to make. I want to ask, why won’t you pull out your wallet and what’s the most highest currency you have in your wallet?
OPPONENT: I have a 20 dollar bill as my highest currency.
CHRISTIAN: Good. Thanks. Do you think there are counterfeits US currency out there?
OPPONENT: Yes.
CHRISTIAN: Do you think there is more counterfeit 20 dollar bills or more counterfeit 100 dollar bills? How about counterfeit one dollar bills or counterfeit hundred dollar bills?
OPPONENT: There’s probably more counterfeit hundred dollar bills. It’s more valuable.
CHRISTIAN: Do you think there’s an equal number of counterfeit monopoly hundred dollar bills as US currency hundred dollar bills?
OPPONENT: (Chuckle). Of course not!
CHRISTIAN: Likewise just because there’s a lot of other competing religions doesn’t mean automatically they are all false and that religion is in of itself not valuable. So your objection is problematic.
[…] GO TO PART 49 […]
Amen! Got it! Thanks much! 🙂
I hope this is helpful for our dealing with objections during our evangelism!
Most helpful to me…indeed!
I will use this in my evangelism. You have good analogies. I enjoyed the other 48 illustrations.
When I was in college, I heard the argument which was the other side of the coin. The history professor said the reason that Christianity is so popular in other countries (rather than the indigenous religions) is not that it is the true religion, but that it is so much more advanced than the others. When it is introduced into a new culture, it just blows the other religions out of the water. I should have spoke up, but I was a dumb kid and easily intimidated. But it crossed my mind that if Christianity was so advanced, wouldn’t that be an indication of its validity, and that a Real True God Initiated it the the world?
Oops! Last three words should have been, “to the world”.
That’s a very good point you made with the professor’s observation. By the way, keep us posted with the hurricane heading towards your state yeah? Praying
Last I’ve heard, it’s claimed five lives so far. It’s supposed to go back to being a tropical storm by the time it gets here, though. All prayers are definitely appreciated.
Thanks for the illustrative analogy! Yes, we make those kind of genuine vs. knockoff/phony judgements all the time for other things.
You’re welcome! I hope the illustration will help for evangelistic conversations. I feel the more equipped and the more I know the more confident I am with evangelism, not that I’m confident with myself but the truth of God’s Word and the Gospel if that makes sense!
[…] « Apologetics Sermon Illustration #49: There are Too Many Religions Which One is True and Counterfeit&… […]
The one that’s true is the one that gets you through the night.
Reblogged this on Lee Duigon.
hahaha reminds me back in the days when you asked for people’s watches
Useful illustration
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[…] There are Too Many Religions Which One is True and Counterfeit Currencies […]
Helpful. I’m glad you wrote fifty of these
Hi
A very good analogy
Powerful illustration. I’m going to keep this in my mind next time I evangelize