Faith
The Question Every American Should Be Asking This Easter
Faith Facts
- Leading atheist scholar Bart Ehrman and Christian columnist Ross Douthat recently debated the historical evidence for Christ’s resurrection on The New York Times podcast
- The discussion centered on whether eyewitness testimony and historical documentation provide credible proof of Jesus rising from the dead
- Both participants acknowledged the debate’s respectful tone, though fundamental disagreements about faith and evidence remained unresolved
In a rare moment of civil discourse on one of Christianity’s most foundational claims, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and renowned skeptic Bart Ehrman engaged in a thoughtful exchange about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The conversation, hosted on a Times podcast, tackled head-on what believers have proclaimed for two millennia: that Jesus physically rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion.
Douthat, a practicing Catholic and author, defended the historical credibility of the resurrection accounts found in the Gospels. Ehrman, a former evangelical Christian turned agnostic scholar specializing in the New Testament, presented the skeptical case that has made him a leading voice among those who question Christianity’s central miracle.
The debate centered on how we evaluate ancient testimony and whether the eyewitness accounts recorded in Scripture meet the standard of historical evidence. For millions of American Christians, this isn’t merely an academic question—it’s the bedrock of their faith and the foundation upon which Western civilization was built.
What made this exchange particularly valuable was its respectful tone in an era when discussions about faith often devolve into mockery or dismissal. Both men engaged seriously with the evidence and with each other’s positions, demonstrating that profound disagreements need not result in personal attacks.
Yet as observer Andy Kind noted, the conversation ultimately left the biggest questions unresolved. This shouldn’t surprise us. The resurrection of Christ has always required a step of faith—not blind faith divorced from reason, but faith informed by historical testimony, personal experience, and the witness of billions across two thousand years.
For Christians, the evidence is compelling: the empty tomb, the transformed disciples willing to die for what they claimed to have seen, the explosion of the early church despite brutal persecution, and the consistent testimony of multiple eyewitness accounts. These aren’t fairy tales passed down through generations of telephone—they’re recorded testimonies from people who claimed to have encountered the risen Christ.
The skeptic demands different standards of proof, often ones that no ancient event could satisfy. Yet the same historical methods that validate other ancient claims are dismissed when applied to the resurrection. This reveals that the debate is often less about evidence and more about whether one is willing to accept that God can intervene in human history.
As we approach Easter, when Christians worldwide celebrate the resurrection, this conversation reminds us why this question matters. If Christ rose from the dead, everything changes. Death is defeated, sin is conquered, and hope is assured. If He didn’t, as Paul himself acknowledged, our faith is in vain.
The Douthat-Ehrman exchange demonstrates that reasonable people can examine the same evidence and reach different conclusions. But it also shows that the question refuses to go away. Generation after generation returns to it because the implications are too profound to ignore.
For American Christians navigating an increasingly secular culture, respectful engagement with skeptics like Ehrman is valuable. It sharpens our understanding, tests our reasoning, and reminds us that faith and intellect need not be enemies. It also demonstrates to a watching world that Christianity can defend itself in the marketplace of ideas.
The resurrection isn’t a claim that requires us to check our brains at the church door. It’s a historical assertion open to investigation, supported by testimony, and ultimately confirmed in the lives of those who encounter the risen Christ personally.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Parents in Connecticut challenged a state law that removed religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements.
- The lawsuit was dismissed after a judge ruled the exemptions are not protected under existing religious freedom statutes.
- The decision leaves families with no legal recourse when their sincerely held beliefs conflict with state mandates.
Parents who filed suit to protect their right to decline vaccines on religious grounds saw their case dismissed by a Connecticut judge. The court ruled that the state law eliminating religious exemptions does not violate the state’s religious freedom protections.
The decision means children whose parents hold sincere religious objections to certain vaccines will still be required to receive them in order to attend public school. Families who believe vaccination conflicts with their faith now face limited options within the state.
“The plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that the religious exemptions are protected under the state religious freedom law,” the ruling stated.
Advocates for parental rights argue the ruling prioritizes government mandates over deeply held beliefs. They warn that similar efforts to remove religious exemptions could spread to other states if left unchallenged.
Critics of the original law contend it undermines the principle that parents, not the state, hold primary responsibility for medical decisions involving their children. They say the ruling sets a troubling precedent that could erode other conscience protections.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Crieve Hall Church of Christ in Nashville remains committed to a cappella worship, male leadership in preaching and communion, and a statement of faith that affirms “correctly handling His Word without adding to or taking from it.”
- Lipscomb University, four miles away, now welcomes instrumental worship, female speakers, and lecturers from various Christian traditions, reflecting a widening theological gap within Churches of Christ.
- Both the Connect Conference at Crieve Hall and the Lipscomb Faith and Leadership Forum stressed discipleship, biblical faithfulness, and spiritual growth, yet neither event made significant mention of the other.
Two events unfolded just four miles apart in Nashville, yet the theological distance between them felt far greater. One gathering championed what attendees called “sound preaching” rooted in Scripture alone. The other focused on discerning the cultural moment and leading faithfully in changing times.
Crieve Hall Church of Christ hosted its sixth annual Connect Conference, drawing 1,322 believers from more than 300 congregations. Organizers described the three-day meeting as “rooted firmly in Scripture and centered on Christ,” with sessions on evangelism, discipleship, and spiritual growth.
“I love the sound preaching,” said attendee Tonja McRady. “All it means to me is that it comes from the Bible. Are you preaching from the whole Bible, the whole counsel of God?”
Meanwhile, Lipscomb University held its inaugural Faith and Leadership Forum for about 160 ministers and leaders. Sessions addressed faith and politics, ministry burnout, and discipleship in a digitally saturated world. Bible professor Leonard Allen described the two streams as “conservative mainstream” and “moderate mainstream” Churches of Christ.
“With truth becoming loose and malleable in our time, we need more focus on the essentials of the faith,” Allen said. “This was a key theme at the Forum.”
The central question remains: What qualifies as essential? At Connect, speakers repeatedly pointed to “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” from Ephesians 4 and stressed the necessity of baptism and proper biblical leadership.
“What if we just settle on going with what God says, God’s way?” asked minister Hiram Kemp. “God doesn’t want our creativity. He wants our compliance. It’s been revealed to us in Scripture.”
At Lipscomb, participants wrestled with cultural decline and spiritual seeking. Allen noted that 40 million Americans have left the faith in the past quarter-century, yet many young people still search for meaning.
“Is America standing on the edge of spiritual renewal, or are we witnessing the continuing, steady decline of Christian faith in America?” Allen asked. “The old patterns are no longer stable. New patterns have not yet emerged. It seems there is energy but also confusion all around.”
Both gatherings closed with calls for unity, yet each framed it differently. Matt Cook at Connect warned, “Unity without truth is just togetherness.” Carlus Gupton at Lipscomb urged leaders to pursue Holy Spirit-formed leadership that is “calm, steady and deeply rooted in Christ.”
Gupton later reflected, “The proximity of these two conferences actually gives me more reason for hope than concern. Connect seeks to strengthen Christians in biblical faithfulness, discipleship, evangelism and spiritual growth. The Faith and Leadership Forum seeks to equip church leaders for faithful, discerning leadership in a changing culture.”
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Faith Facts
- Christians are called to redeem every tool for God’s glory and the spread of the Gospel.
- Artificial intelligence is a human creation and remains under God’s sovereign authority.
- Believers must approach emerging technologies with wisdom rooted in Scripture.
Christians around the world are asking an important question as artificial intelligence grows more powerful. How can this technology be captured for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel?
Scripture teaches that every good gift comes from above. Technology itself is not evil, but its use must be directed by truth and righteousness.
AI systems are built by people and trained on data created by people. They reflect human choices and remain limited by the boundaries God has established.
Believers have a responsibility to guide these tools toward purposes that honor Christ and serve others. That includes sharing the Gospel, protecting life, and strengthening families.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God,” 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us.
Churches and ministries are already exploring ways to use AI for translation, accessibility, and discipleship resources. These efforts must stay anchored in sound doctrine and prayerful discernment.
At the same time, Christians are right to raise concerns about privacy, truth, and the temptation to place ultimate trust in machines rather than in the Lord.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding,” Proverbs 3:5 declares.
Ultimately, the future belongs to the One who created all things, not to any algorithm or invention of man. AI will never have the final word over humanity.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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