This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm speaking with J. Warner Wallace. He is a Dateline featured Cold-Case Detective, Author, Speaker, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University) and Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Key Points from Our Conversation:
- As a detective, J. Warner couldn't commit to Christianity without being convinced it was objectively true. In his book Cold-Case Christianity, he applies ten common rules of evidence he used as a non-believer to make the case for Christianity.
- There are two broad categories of evidence - direct and indirect. Direct evidence includes an eyewitness account; broad (or circumstantial) is everything else, including what is there and what's missing. They are not different in terms of quality. You can make a solid case with completely indirect evidence, but we have an unreasonable expectation of evidence.
- Jesus was an evidentialist. He provided both forms of evidence through several eyewitness accounts and through the miracles he performed. Faith isn't blind. The authors of the New Testament were eyewitnesses to Jesus and He stayed with his disciples 40 days after the resurrection as irrefutable evidence.
- If you examine the gospels, you will determine that what they say about Jesus is true. But if you want to allow that truth to change you, you have to examine what the New Testament says about you.
- There is one factor that contributes to flourishing – humility. That's why it's vital that the first step into Christianity is submission.
Let’s Get Real Practical:
Lean into whatever form of knowing or believing in God that makes you uncomfortable – experiential or evidential
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