The Resurrection

Dead……truly and completely dead.

Then alive……truly and completely alive.

I’m not talking about a trick, a mistake, a misunderstanding.

Resurrection…… specifically, the resurrection of Jesus.

Scientifically……..this just isn’t possible.

And that……..is the entire point.

Because the resurrection cannot be possible based on the rules of science, science and the resurrection are mutually exclusive…..not necessarily all of science, but certainly the part that deals with human physiology.

The resurrection divides the world into two camps. Science on the one hand and spirituality on the other. Either the world is limited to things that follow the current rules of science or there are things that are not governed by science. And I don’t mean things that haven’t been discovered YET. I mean things that are and will always be beyond the realm of science.

God, paradise, eternity……….and, yes, hell.

The burning question here is this:

“Does the spiritual realm exist?” Is this business about God, paradise, eternity and hell true?

This is arguably the single most important decision that you will make during your life. It deserves careful consideration.

Science tells us unequivocally that the resurrection was not possible. But, I think we can agree that it is intellectually dishonest to make a decision when we begin by discarding all arguments supporting one side. It would be like sitting on a jury……the prosecution presents its case……..the defense is ruled “out of order”…….and you are sent off to the jury room to deliberate. And yet, that is exactly what modern society expects you to do.

Bear with me while I make the case for the defense.

The argument for the resurrection:

Hundreds of witnesses on multiple occasions saw Jesus after the resurrection.

Hundreds of years earlier, writers in the old testament predicted Jesus and his resurrection.

If you honestly search your heart, you sense that there is an existence, a life, after your death.

If you look deep inside, you sense that this world doesn’t make sense……doesn’t work properly…….if science is all that governs us. You sense that there is a spiritual realm, with its own set of rules…….rules that are “written on your heart”. Science has no explanation for why we shouldn’t lie, steal, or murder. And yet, we know with absolute certainty that these things are wrong……even when we do them.

The argument against the resurrection:

It is scientifically impossible. This argument is dishonest. It is classical circular logic. The spiritual realm cannot exist outside of the scientific realm because the scientific realm cannot find it inside of the scientific realm. This argument may be dishonest….but it is all that there is and many, if not most, of us accept it.

I believe that the science vs. spirit conundrum is no mistake. I believe that God set this up…..a razor sharp division between two world views……two world views that are mutually exclusive. I believe that he intentionally left some ambiguity. He set this up so that we have to choose between his world and science based in part on faith, hope, and love.

I believe that he did this……..to find out who his friends are.

I proudly count myself among his friends.

Join me.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus, NIV

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Jesus, NIV

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Paul, NIV