An Atheist and Easter

It was the worst news I could get as an atheist: my agnostic wife had decided to become a Christian. Two words shot through my mind. The first was an expletive; the second was 'divorce.'

I thought she was going to turn into a self-righteous holy roller. But over the following months, I was intrigued by the positive changes in her character and values. Finally, I decided to take my journalism and legal training (I was legal editor of the Chicago Tribune) and systematically investigate whether there was any credibility to Christianity.

Maybe, I figured, I could extricate her from this cult.

I quickly determined that the alleged resurrection of Jesus was the key. Anyone can claim to be divine, but if Jesus backed up his claim by returning from the dead, then that was awfully good evidence he was telling the truth.

For nearly two years, I explored the minutia of the historical data on whether Easter was myth or reality. I didn’t merely accept the New Testament at face value; I was determined only to consider facts that were well-supported historically. As my investigation unfolded, my atheism began to buckle."

Lee Strobel, a successful journalist and a confirmed atheist, found upon investigation that the biblical claims of Easter were true and, "one by one my objections evaporated."

He says, "I read books by skeptics, but their counter- arguments crumbled under the weight of the historical data. No wonder atheists so often come up short in scholarly debates over the resurrection."

"In the end," he says, "after I had thoroughly investigated the matter, I reached an unexpected conclusion: it would actually take more faith to maintain my atheism than to become a follower of Jesus.

Lee Strobel is celebrating his 30th Easter as a Christian this weekend.

The Wall Street Journal recently published his story, which includes the above. Take a moment and read it this weekend.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend and may you experience His resurrection power and presence.

_____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith and Freedom

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