Mon.3.23.15...That's Some Whale of a Tale!

That's Some Whale of a Tale!

Skeptics and scoffers think that such stories as Jonah surviving inside a whale for 3 days are fairy tales for gullible adults. So how do we respond to such skeptics. Our first desired response is not the best response- "Listen buddy, if your IQ was bigger than your shoe size, you might understand some elementary things. Miracles are child's play for God. Nothing is too difficult for Him." But them's fightin' words. Thankfully God has given us guidance on how to respond to skeptics. It starts with our hearts, not our heads. It starts with being kind, not coming up with humiliating come backs to put them in their place. Reflectively Read 2 Tim.2:24-26 now. 

Such skeptics are not our enemies, they are captives of the enemy. Once, we were just like them. "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures." Titus 3:3. Our hope is to see them set free just as we have been. But how do we do that? Some believers have come up witty put downs to put skeptics in their place. They may think they have won the debate. But as its been said, "You may have won the battle, but you lost the war." How do you know if you have won in your conversation with a skeptic of miracles or the Scriptures? 

You've won when you were not quarrelsome but kind, gently instructing others. Asking good questions  is a great way to gently instruct others. Asking questions respectfully shows that you care about what they think. It shows you want to understand them. "Seek first to understand before being understood." So ask questions. Questions also keep you in control of the conversation and can help you keep control of your stoked emotions when someone attacks your Lord's word. Instead of having to memorize loads of material to refute dozens of skeptical attacks against God and His word, here are just a few questions that you can use, no matter what the skeptic throws at you, including these- There is no way that miracles could happen, such as Jonah living* in the belly of a whale for three days. The Bible is full of errors. Jesus is not God. Evolution created everything, etc. So kindly ask these questions:

What led you to believe that? This is such a simple but powerful question. Then you are not on the defense to answer their objection, they are now on the defense to defend their bold accusation. In a court of law, the accuser must prove his point. Your question puts it back on them to come up with an answer, not on you. Ask this question kindly though, not smugly. Remember, if you're not the "kind" kind, you're the wrong kind. But what if this guy comes up with reams of "scientific reasons" that led him to believe in his disbelief? Then ask the next question.

Would you consider yourself to be a person who wants the truth? Most people will say, "Yes." Then simply ask- 

Would you read through the gospel of John and ask to be shown the truth and follow it? If they refuse, you could simply say, "I thought you were a person who wanted the truth." At that point, there is no point in talking further. "Leave the presence of a fool" Why? "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions." Prov.14:7;18:2.

Those three questions will serve you very well. But if you want more, here's another response you can use with the skeptic who says he won't read the Bible because he doesn't believe in God and the Bible. Ask- 

According to your understanding, what does the Bible teach about how a person may obtain eternal life? 

They will probably say, "But I told you, I don't believe in the Bible." 

Pardon me, I'm not asking what you believe; I'm asking what you understand. It would be a rather unintellectual approach, to reject the world's all time best seller without even understanding its main message. So according to your understanding of the Bible, what does it teach about how a person may obtain eternal life?

You must be good or keep the 10 commandments, I guess.

I'm afraid someone has given you a warped understanding of the main message of the Bible. For your answer is opposite of what the Bible actually teaches. So as a seeker of truth would you please do yourself an eternal favor and read it for yourself?   

If all this seems too much to remember, then just ask them for their email address and send them the following mini-movie. (The first minute covers this.)

  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7p2UmCqGHc

*Skeptics rightly point out that a man could not breathe inside a fish. Christians point out that God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. Thus, it may have been specially designed for its mission. Many other Christians (including yours truly), believe Jonah may have died just before or after being swallowed. If he did die, he would be a very good symbol (or "type") of Christ's death and burial inside the belly of the earth. Jesus declared, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Mt.12:40. If Jonah died, then his prayer of reflection on his ordeal in chapter 2 may have been uttered just after being brought back to life after three days, just before he was vomited out onto dry land. He remembers his ordeal in the stormy seas, praying and then sinking to his death. Christ also prayed in his stormy distress on the cross, died and then was buried, after which the Lord also answered his prayer three days later bringing Him up from death as with Jonah. He came to life inside the tomb and then left it. It makes sense, though some may still scoff as in the next story-

A little boy was talking to his teacher about whales and how he had heard in Sunday School about how a whale had swallowed Jonah.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a man.

The little boy remained steadfast in his position and reiterated that indeed, a whale had swallowed Jonah.

Irritated, the teacher again stated that a whale could not possibly swallow a man. And even if it could, Jonah wouldn't be alive three days later. That's impossible.

The little boy said, "I'm not sure how it happened, but when I get to heaven I will ask Jonah."

The teacher replied smugly, "What if Jonah isn't in heaven?"

The little boy replied, "Then you ask him."

1.-Share something you gleaned from today's blog.

2.-Copy down on your MP3 card these key questions to ask those who oppose you-

What led you to believe that?

Would you consider yourself to be a person who wants the truth?

Would you read through the gospel of John and ask to be shown the truth and follow it?

Please practice using these 3 questions. When you see an M3 brother, pretend to be a skeptic and see he does using those 3 questions.

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