Can you build your life on a book? Millions of Christians say yes. But for many others—including the men we lead—trusting the Bible raises real questions. Can a book this old be relevant? Hasn’t it been mistranslated? Aren’t parts of it outdated or disproven?

If you’ve ever wrestled with these questions—or walked alongside someone who has—this week’s focus in our current series, based on the book What If Christianity Is True?, is for you.

The Core Question: Is It Reliable?

Before you can ask if Christianity is true, you have to ask: Is the Bible reliable? That’s because everything Christians believe—about Jesus, sin, salvation, hope, and eternity—comes from the Bible. It’s the source code of the Christian faith.

The Bible is the most scrutinized and authenticated, scientifically and academically studied, carefully documented and transmitted piece of literature in history—by an exponential factor.

But unlike any other preserved ancient writing, the Bible makes a staggering claim: it doesn’t just contain truth—it is the truth. It refers to itself as “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16a). Such a claim is either delusional, deceptive, or divine.

What About the Critics?

Skeptics often point to so-called “Bible contradictions,” or they cite videos and podcasts where scholars deny Jesus’ deity or the reliability of Scripture. But here’s the reality: Most of those productions cherry-pick their “facts” and feature theologically liberal scholars, while leaving out the overwhelming historical, archaeological, and textual evidence for the Bible’s reliability.

For example, even some skeptical scholars admit they can’t explain away the resurrection. Why? Because the early disciples—who had nothing to gain and everything to lose—willingly died for what they claimed to have seen with their own eyes. That kind of conviction doesn’t come from conspiracy. It comes from an experienced reality.

Rosetta Stone for the Soul

Think of the Bible as the Rosetta Stone, the essential key by which we decypher everything else—only not for language but for life.

Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, once said, “The wisdom of the years is confusing. Only the wisdom of eternity is edifying.” That’s what the Bible offers: eternal perspective. It deciphers what’s confusing about life—pain, purpose, identity, destiny—and replaces it with clarity and peace.

The Bible not only explains our condition but also offers a meaningful solution and gives us hope. It’s not just information; it’s transformation.

What Makes the Bible Unique?

Unlike any other book, the Bible:

• Was written over 1,500 years by 40 different authors on 3 continents.
• Contains a coherent story from Genesis to Revelation—without contradiction.
• Includes details that have been confirmed by archaeological discovery again and again.
• Has survived centuries of scrutiny and persecution.

Many inspiring words have been written by brilliant poets, playwrights, philosophers, and authors. Take, for instance, the ones I adopted as a young man to be my first life philosophy from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”

But nowhere in works from Shakespeare or Aristotle or anyone else do we find anything comparable to the words of the Bible:

• “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” (Jesus, John 3:16a)
• The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:3a)
• “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (Jesus, John 14:9b)
• “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” (Jesus, John 10:28)
• “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” (Jesus, Luke 5:20b)
• “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Peter, John 6:68b)

No other religion or philosophical text has ever dared to say words that even remotely resemble those recorded in the Bible, making it the most unique book ever written, by an exponential factor.

The 21-Day Challenge

I once encouraged a young woman wrestling with competing religions to read the Gospel of John—one chapter a day for 21 days—and simply pray: “Jesus, if You’re real, reveal Yourself to me.”

I encourage you to do the same—and challenge someone else to do it with you.

You don’t have to trick yourself into believing in Jesus. Let Jesus speak for Himself. If the Bible is true, He doesn’t need us to defend Him. He only needs an introduction.

Much love,

Pat

For Reflection and Discussion

1. What has been your honest view of the Bible—fully trustworthy, partly reliable, outdated, confusing, or something else?
2. What do you find to be the most compelling reason for believing the Bible is true?
3. Who in your life might be ready for the 21-day Gospel of John challenge—and how could you invite them to take that step this week?
4. Is there someone who would benefit from going deeper on this and similar topics with the What If Christianity Is True? book? How might you invite them to read it with you?