"Does Christianity Still Make Sense?" (Bobby Conway)

TITLE: Does Christianity Still Make Sense?: A Former Skeptic Responds to Today’s Toughest Objections to Christianity
AUTHOR: Bobby Conway
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2024, (224 pages).
 

Why should anyone believe in God? Why are there so many scandals in the Church? Aren't Christians a bunch of hypocrites? How can Jesus be the only way to God when so many people have not heard of him? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? These and many more are covered in this insightful book of answers to 20 of the most difficult questions about Christianity. Calling himself a "chronic doubter," author Bobby Conway takes us on an honest journey through these difficult questions to show us that Christianity not only makes sense, it gives us hope. He gives us answers that are down to earth and explains his reasons in an open conversational way. He writes this book for the following reasons. First, the present cultural climate is increasingly secular and anti-Christian. Second, the Church has a credibility problem. Third, Christians are perceived to be intolerant. Fourth, many Christians do not know how to deal with many basic objections. Apart from these, people regularly ask about the age-old problem of evil, pain, and suffering. 

Conway begins with a personal story of his own conversion. His journey toward faith was a checkered one. He struggled with ADHD. He dropped out of the traditional education route and tried to join the marines. Unfortunately, despite his valiant efforts, he did not make the cut. Wanting to make a fresh cut, he met Cade whose life encouraged him. It helped him get his bearings right initially but soon he descended into a partying mood which led him to alcohol addiction and ultimately a rehab facility. Thankfully, he changed for the better. His Christian zeal gradually grew in evangelism. Recognizing his need for more training, especially in apologetics, he enrolled in Bible School, first at Central Baptist Church in Arkansas, and later at Dallas Theological Seminary. He managed to turn his "addictive" personality into pursuing education. On top of pastoring a Church, he also got a PhD at the University of Birmingham in England. This helped him deal with his questions and doubts. From then on, he started to share his journey and discoveries via a YouTube channel called "One Minute Apologist." This book covers five major sections of his apologetics framework. 

1. Church Scandals
2. Negative Perceptions of Church and Christianity
3. The Problem of Evil and Suffering
4. The Question of Jesus as the Only Way to Salvation 
5. The Science Problem

Part One deals with the problem of scandals in the Church. One major downfall was the Ravi Zacharias ministry which eventually collapsed. Many other examples cast a long dark shadow over the Christian witness. Conway points out that to abandon Christianity simply based on this scandal is foolhardy. Scandals are not exclusively a religious problem. It is a human problem. Plus, there is a difference between true and imperfect faith. He then goes on to distinguish between the two. Point by point, he reminds us not to throw the proverbial baby away with the bathwater. 

Part Two adds to this trend of thought about the Church being non-accepting of societal values. At the heart of the accusations is that the Church is deemed "oppressive." Again, that is not reality. The truth is, there are many Christians who value people of all gender orientations. They show empathy and resist the temptation to judge. He reminds us about the bigger picture, that our identity should be in God, and not on our gender. He writes about homosexuality, transgender debates, abortion, racism, and many others. 

Part Three goes from personal matters to the more complex issue of evil and suffering. At the heart of the issue is freedom, which includes the freedom to choose good or evil. Without this freedom, faith will be meaningless. 

Part Four looks at the Person of Jesus Christ. Conway advocates for "soft exclusivism" which is to interpret sensibly between those who have intentionally rejected Jesus vs those who have never heard of Jesus and his message. One key element is the refusal to make judgment on people. That is God's purview. He addresses the topic of hell and nudges us toward trusting that God will be fair to all. All will be fairly judged. On the difficult topic on the rise of the NONES, people leaving churches, he explains that there are more that meets the eye. This calls for Church renewal and how leaders can adjust their approaches. Plus, just because the Western Church is declining does not mean global Christianity is declining. Culture is also a major factor. He also deals with the "Spiritual without religion" premise by urging us to discern between "pseudo-spirituality and authentic spirituality," "feelin right and being right," "knowing and experiencing," etc. 

Part Five looks at the science problem where the author points out the dichotomy between faith and science is a myth. They complement and just like there are scientists who are atheists, there are many who are believers. 

He ends with four reasons why Christianity makes sense to him. The first reason is factual, in particular, the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The second is the assurance, presence, and witness by the Holy Spirit. The third is his spiritual encounters with God through answered prayers. The fourth is the strength of his discoveries surrounding the answers to the questions he had encountered. 

My Thoughts
This book is not simply a book on apologetics. It is a personal spiritual journey of how one individual deals with faith and doubt. Conway writes in a vulnerable manner to show us that we do not need to shy away from doubts or unbelief. Everyone has their starting points and it need not be one of deep belief. It simply requires honesty and perseverance. The title of the book is revealing. Instead of asking "Does Christianity Make Sense?" he adds the word "still" to denote an active learning mood. This tells us that there is no single answer or resource which can resolve all doubts. There will always be questions. This is a characteristic of education. 

The strength of this book lies in the author's honest treatment of each issue from both a personal and intellectual angles. Every question has a personal input that includes elements of active intellectual engagement and pastoral sensitivity. Just like he does not dumb down opposing views, his approach is an open door approach, not dismissing the obections outright but inviting skeptics to consider an alternative approach. Hopefully, this will encourage skeptics to do the same for Christians, or for that matter, all other beliefs. See this book not a Know-It-All kind of an encyclopedia, but a book to nudge skeptics toward openness, atheists toward agnosticism, and doubters to believers. Plus, it is ok for Christians to doubt. This calls for discernment on good honest doubt vs mischievous questioning. Christianity has survived for over 2000 years. Many of the objections raised are simply new clothes on old issues. I appreciate how Conway incorporates many modern cultural symbols in his engagement. Seek to understand the issues but more importantly, take time to understand the fundamental premises of Christianity, which are based on the Truth of Jesus and His Ministry. If I were to choose one single point to start with, I would begin with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. All other issues will be peripheral to this central Truth. Well-researched, eloquently communicated, and sensitively written, this book should be read by as many as possible. Just like it is "cultural snobbery" to dismiss the old because we have the new, the same applies for those wanting to jettison tradition because of the modern. Conway's conclusion is essential reading. One added bonus is the "Afterword" that gives us ten path-forwards for the Church and four action steps toward Reformation. 

Bobby Conway serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry, Christianity Still Makes Sense (formerly One Minute Apologist). He also serves as the cohost of Pastors' Perspective, a nationally syndicated radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby is the author of several books including The Fifth Gospel and Doubting Toward Faith. He holds a PhD in philosophy of religion from the University of Birmingham in England and resides in Charlotte with his wife, Heather. They have two adult children, Haley and Dawson. 

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.