This is my answer to the speech of Bertrand Russell, atheist. In March 6th of 1927, on Battersea County in the South Section of London National Secular Society, he showed, in an essay, his reasons for: "Why I am not a Christian". I agree with Russell when he said: "no person can be a Christian just because he/she lives a decent life according to his/her own reason". A Christian, 'stricto sensus' is a person who obeys from heart the way of the doctrine of Jesus Christ's gospel as I have said before.
What defines the Christian concept is the form or doctrine established by Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul was one of the main follower of Jesus, he worried to preserve the wise words pronounced by Jesus: "Preserve the model and example of the healthful words you have listened from me, on faith and love that are in connection with Christ Jesus." (2nd Ti 1:13).
"But for God Sake once you, people, are slaves of sin, you have to obey from the bottom of your heart, the way and the form of the doctrine which has been given to you." (Ro 6:17).
I am a Christian because I obey by heart the way of the doctrine that comes from Christ's gospel. For God Sake!
This is my answer to the speech of Bertrand Russell, atheist. In March 6th of 1927, on Battersea County in the South Section of London National Secular Society, he showed, in an essay, his reasons for: "Why I am not a Christian". I agree with Russell when he said: "no person can be a Christian just because he/she lives a decent life according to his/her own reason". A Christian, 'stricto sensus' is a person who obeys from heart the way of the doctrine of Jesus Christ's gospel as I have said before.
Christian concept is defined by the way of the doctrine and model established by Jesus. The apostle Paul taught to preserve the wise and healthful words of Jesus: "Keep holding the pattern of healthful words that you heard from me with the faith and love that are in connection with Christ Jesus". (2nd Ti 1:13).
To recognize Jesus as the wisest man among other men, or to recognize him as an enlightened spirit is not enough; he was not ONLY a sent prophet or ONLY a humble angel etc. To be a Christian is much more than to follow doctrines or to believe that God exists. It is not enough to believe an everlasting life, or believe hell (Hades), life after death etc. The true Christian is the one that believes in Jesus as salvation. The Holy Scriptures say: "Who that puts faith on me, just as the Scripture has said, 'Out from his inmost part streams of living water will flow' ". (Joh 7:38). The Scripture that Jesus used to say were the joined books, The Old Testament are: the Pentateuch, the Prophetic Books and the Poetic Books.
What about the differences between Jesus Christ's gospel and other concept of religions around the world?
- Different from Humankind Judgment;
- Different from God Justice;
- Different from Moral's Concept;
- Different from a Way Out;
- Different from the concept of Men’s Justice;
- Different from God’s concept;
- Different from religion’s concept;
- The Best and the Wisest of the Men.
*Different from Humankind Judgment
Some religions believe that humankind sentence will come in the future when their god and goddess will judge every man. Jesus showed and taught that humankind was already judged to a condemnation.
Humankind sentence happened in the past and every man is already condemned because of Adam sin.
Jesus’ teachings and apostles’ lessons show that every man has been condemned. The same way, the Old Testament shows that there was a judgment and everyone is already condemned.
“Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light has come into the world but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil”. (Joh 3:19).
There was a simple humankind judgment: God was right and true and put a pure man in a perfect place. He
gave freedom to this man and only one safeguard. The safeguard was the preservation of the human nature. The man needed to keep his own pure nature to obey his Creator. That is because everything that exists in God (power, control, domain, justice, kindness, holiness and freedom) the same way it was given to the man: free will, domain over the earth, power over his own wishes and capacity to conceive. However if God can not lie, the same way the man should not lie either, but the man didn’t obey because he did not trust in his Creator. For this reason he lost his pure nature.
“Lord also laid this command upon the man: ‘from every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.’ “. (Ge 2:16-17).
The man was judged and condemned to death because he did not obey and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (positively will die). It was given free will to the man to choose to eat from every tree, but the man did exactly God said he should not do.
Paul shows the humankind judgment very well, than we can see clearly the differences between Christian doctrine and doctrine of other religions in the world.
“Yes, since you were condemned because Adam’s sin, you have been rescued by only one act of justice. This is life’s sense”. (Ro 5:18).
This is the first reason I am a Christian, a Christian doctrine is clearly different from other religions doctrine.
*Different from God Justice
The most people and religions believe God justice ‘comes late but does not fail’, but Jesus’ gospel shows that since the first man in the earth God established His justice.
When evil and cruel things happen in the world, people use to ask: where is God? Does not He see those bad things?
However, they do not know that everybody are under condemnation, God does not change the attitudes of people whom was given the domain.
In Jesus’ time, Pilatus used to mix blood of some Galileans in his own rituals of sacrifice. People use to think that those Galileans were more sinners than other men.
Jesus taught that it was not true. All men and women should regret about their sins, otherwise they will suffer.
A tower in Silo fell down, eighteen people died and everybody said that they died because they were sinners.
Jesus showed again that humankind need to change their attitude, their concept about sin and salvation, otherwise they will suffer. Jesus said that everyone is condemned in front of God, and if there is not regret, everybody will be lost forever.
Russell think that the world is right because if God exists and will change the earth how could we live in a different earth?
It is weird, Russell said, because I have not read it in the Bible.
Paul said: “Who look for Lord even touching could not find because we exist in Him, live in Him. We are His generation." (Ac 17:27,28).
Some people say God does not exist because things like Ku-Klux-Klan or Nazism are against God’s justice. This is a false argument.
Bible says men did not approve of holding God in accurate knowledge to a disapproved mental state. (Ro 1:28). However the men’s attitudes keep them under condemnation.
In front of God, Hitler and other leaders are in the same condition of other men as well. If there is not regret all men will suffer, unless they change their concept about the salvation of God. (Lu 13:1-5).
We all suffer because Adam’s sin, he has chosen the wide door and our heritage comes from Adam, we are sinners cause Adam but only one perfect men came to give as salvation, Jesus, and if we go in through narrow gate we will have direct to an everlasting life. (Mt 7:13-14).
*Different from Moral’s Concept
Jesus’ gospel teaches that humankind is not just or unjust based in a moral behavior in front of God.
The most religions around the world teach that a high moral life and good attitudes can give salvation and an eternal life to their followers.
How can I be just for God’s eyes? The gospel shows that only God can judge who is condemned or not.
Many religions say the salvation depends on men’s choice, good attitude or bad attitude but the salvation comes only from Jesus Christ, because all men are heir of the first sinner Adam, no matter how good actions they do, no matter how helper they are, they are already condemned. The only one can give them salvation is Jesus Christ, if you believe him you will be save.
Jesus showed to Nicodemus: in spite of he was a master and a judge, he needed to be born again.
The Samaritan woman had five husbands and the same way she should to be born again.
Then, for Jesus the Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman were the same way reproved to the God’s eyes.
Jesus means regret when someone lives the old concept about God and starts to accept the true about gospel.
*Different from a Way Out
Jesus’ gospel shows there are only two ways to follow: the way of perdition and the way of salvation.
Bible says there are many perfect ways that seem the salvation way but they are not, they are the ruin way cause they are still under condemnation of Adam.
Christ said there is only one way to salvation, only one way out, the faith in the message of gospel.
Jesus also showed there is only one way to ruin and many people choose that way. It is very common we heard about all religions take to God. Jesus never accepted this concept about salvation. He showed there are only two ways: one to condemnation and other to eternal life. The suffering does not approach someone to God, in fact good and bad people suffer and enjoin. Repairing social unjust or doing just things, it does not guarantee someone will be save by God.
*Different from the concept of Men’s Justice
Many religions say God’s justice is equal human being’s justice.
Men believe that justice comes from moral, good behavior, good character, laws, rules etc.
In other hand, unjust comes from evil, depression, falsity, dismissed things etc. The most religions teach that justice comes from good and evil but the concept about good and evil comes from the tree of knowledge whose fruit the man has eaten and gave us the heritage of death. The gospel shows that the justice of God comes from man’s nature. God is just and everything on Him is just. The nature of men is unjust not for their actions but cause the way they were conceived. The justice of God comes from man’s nature, it is different from others religions that say justice comes from the concept of good and evil. God establishes His justice through a new nature given to human being who believes in Jesus. Everyone is unjust to God. All have been conceived on flesh (Adam), cause the man’s wishes, everyone is wicked and lives in a wicked way.
*Different from God’s Concept
Bertrand Russell was not a Christian that is true. First of all, to be a Christian is not to live according to his own concept. Second, to be a Christian is much more than to believe some doctrines and to believe that God exists.
To be a Christian is needed to trust in Jesus Christ as your only salvation and trust in the doctrines that Christ preached.
When I say to trust in the doctrines I do not mean to believe in a formalism concept but to trust in the whole gospel’s doctrine. It does not mean that all religion’s person is a Christian but yes the one who trust in Jesus’ messages, as the Holy Scriptures say, this one is truly follower of Christ Jesus.
Russell called poor mind people who believe there is a beginning of life. I agree with Russell because if you think about: “where God comes from?” this is the poorest imagination of some people.
To be a Christian you must believe Scripture: “God is your throne to time indefinite, even forever. You have love righteousness and hate wickedness”. (Ps 45:6-7; Heb 1:10-11).
A Christian believes Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. (Heb 13:8).
For Russell Jesus was only a great man in a high moral concept. He believes everything in the earth is casual. How can he think the gravity law is casual?
Everybody who plant seeds, this one will gather in a big harvest.
These nature laws are plenty and the men can not change or influence them. What Russell meant? Bible says: “He operates all things according to the way his will counsels”. (Eph 1:11).
The concepts of human beings and Russell are failed and as well.
However they do not give a statement against God’s existence.
If Immanuel Kant and Bertrand Russell have known the original mean of “good and evil”, they would never doubt that God exists or not.
Who said god and bad actions make a man different of another man in front of God?
Answer: When sinners like Mary Magdalene and Zack looked for Jesus to ask for forgiveness of their sins, Jesus gave them piece and got them free of death.
Who said to Russell world is dominated by God?
Bible is so clear: “Further, God blessed them and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature upon the earth’ ”. (Ge 1:28).
The information of Russell can not be trustful because it is based in religions that are not Christians. Bible shows us that humankind was already judged by Adam’s sin.
The psalmist David said: “With error I was brought forth with birth pains, and in sin my mother conceived me”. (Ps 51:5).
Those who decided for Christ will be judged.
They will have a special tribunal.
This tribunal or court will be called “The White Throne”, and everyone will be judged by their behavior because God does not make difference about acceptance among people.
*Different from Religion’s Concept
For long time religions have been a humankind’s practice, that is true. Beyond to try to define what is mean’s life and why the existence, the religions also influence the lifestyle in the society.
Bible shows that the true religion is resumed in: “Be kind with others, to look after widows and orphans in their tribulations and keep yourself far away from the corruption of the world”. (Jas 1:27). At first place, we need be free of the world condemnation from Adam’s sin and then, we can do charity. In the first of John, he said: “Indeed, this is his commandment, that we have faith in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and be loving one another, just as he gave us commandment”. (1st Jo 3:23). The gospel of Jesus shows that all men are evil in front of God’s eyes. “The best man is like a brier, the most upright one is worse than a thorn hedge”. (Mic 7:4).
Christian doctrine says that everyone still do not believe in Jesus or everyone was born in Adam, those are not good in front of God’s eyes.
At the final of the essay of Russell he proposes a religion system with a lot of kindness, courage, wisdom etc. Therefore, he shows the man as an element of devotion but the religions shows the idea of divine and high moral.
Jesus did not teach his disciples to live as prisoners, in a total abstinence to reach an eternal life. A truly Christian never will bring scandal to Jesus’ doctrine.
*The Best and the Wisest of the Men
Dr Russell does not agree with Jesus Christ has been the best and wisest man of the men e to prove that he point some words of Bible.
When Jesus said to his disciples to love their enemies and to offer the other cheek and to bless those cursing them and to keep doing good to those hating them, he was teaching that a truly Christian should be different of the world. (Lu 6: 27–30)
If you love your enemies you are doing nothing because sinners do the same.
There was so much wisdom in Christ words that it is difficult to even a very clever man understand, maybe this is the case of Russell, he could not get that many men were condemned because they believed they have been saved by their good attitudes.
Different of Lao-Tse and Buda, Jesus said that only faith makes someone to be a Christian.
The same way, Russell did not understand why Jesus reprimanded Jewish when He said: do not judge not to be judged, lend to who ask for and do not despise who asking for.
Dr Russell tries to despise Jesus because he never tried to understand the Bible as it really is.
If Russell wanted to put doubt in many hearts about Jesus he should firstly to try to understand Him.
The disciples did not go to the gentiles (Mt 10:5) and the verse number 23 says about the way they would be treated.
Russell thought Jesus was not polite when he call the scribes “breed of vipers!”, however Russell did not realize that the prophets understood exactly what Jesus meant.
Complains of human beings are result of their sins.
What I can see about Russell is: he read some about Jesus Christ but his interpretation was based on human justice.
Translated by: Helena Barreto
*Click on link to see the original essay of Bertrand Russell.
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