Emmaus Correspondence School’s newest course, written by Dr. David Reid, provides the reader with an introduction to Christian Evidences through twelve well-constructed chapters. Each of the chapters is titled with one of the major questions people ask about Christianity. The course is written in an easy-to-understood style, but neither that nor its brevity should lead anyone to assume that it does not cover a lot of ground. The author has fit an impressive amount of material into this relatively small space.
In addition to his work as the founder of Growing Christians Ministries (www.growingchristians.org), Reid has been a faculty member at Emmaus Bible College for 28 years where he has taught many courses, including several on Christian Evidences. From these courses and his work with saved and unsaved of different ages, he has produced a tool that will be especially useful to those without a great deal of exposure to apologetics.
Reid does not ask too much of his topic, that is, he does not remove the need for faith by claiming that logic, reason, and evidence are sufficient in themselves to bring someone to Salvation. In his introduction he writes, “When all is said and done, you cannot prove Christianity to the point where no faith is needed (see Heb. 11:6). Becoming a Christian requires faith, no matter how much you know about the evidence for Christianity.” Some are still going to say that he gives evidence too much credit. However, his approach strikes a healthy balance, one that seems to send the message that Christianity is not without compelling answers for the most difficult questions and that rejecting Scripture involves rejecting weightier things than mere personal opinion.
Reid has not reinvented the wheel with this book, but neither has he broken new ground. This work’s greatest strengths seems to be it’s concise presentation of an array of sources and its format as a course with a separate exam book. Chapters 1 through 3 may be appropriately lumped together. The first deals with the question of the reliability of Scripture, the second with archeology’s support of the Bible, and the third with Scripture’s built-in evidence—the accuracy of it’s prophecies. The next two chapters deal with evidence for the existence of God and the objections to that evidence. Chapter 6 concerns itself with the divinity of Jesus. Chapters 7 and 8 deal with miracles and resurrection respectively. And chapters 9 through 11 all speak to Genesis questions, including the evidence for creation, the “date” of creation, whether God used evolution or progressive creation, and finally whether or not there really was a worldwide flood. Where useful, the student finds help with the more difficult questions in the form of charts and diagrams.
Christians interested in finding answers to their own questions or those of their friends will find this book an ideal place to begin. It is a book that requires thinking and stimulates it. What it does say is good. The depths it does not reach can be found in the books on the reading list at the back. The Lord grant that this book may remove intellectual stumbling blocks from the paths of many, force important questions into the minds of others, and strengthen His people’s understanding.