06/14/2026
As another week comes to a close, it's worth reflecting on one of the most important questions a person can ask: Is Christianity actually true?
Not whether it is comforting, useful, or popular, but whether it is true. One of the most remarkable things about Christianity is that it is rooted in history, not mythology. The central claim of the Christian faith is not a philosophy or a moral system—it is an event. The claim is that Jesus Christ, a real man who lived in first-century Judea, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, died, was buried, and rose from the dead. Even skeptical historians generally agree on several key facts: Jesus existed, He was crucified, His tomb was later found empty according to the earliest accounts, and His followers genuinely believed they saw Him alive after His death. The question is how those facts are best explained. The disciples were not powerful men looking to gain influence. When Jesus was arrested, they scattered in fear. Yet shortly afterward, these same men boldly proclaimed His resurrection in the very city where He had been executed, despite facing persecution, imprisonment, and death. People may die for something they believe to be true, but it is difficult to explain why so many would willingly suffer for something they would have personally known was a fabrication. Christianity also emerged in a culture that had every reason to reject a crucified Messiah. In the first century, crucifixion was a symbol of shame and defeat. If the disciples were inventing a religion, a crucified and risen Savior would have been one of the least convincing stories they could have chosen. Yet that is exactly what they proclaimed, and within a few generations the message had spread throughout the Roman Empire despite having no military force, political backing, or worldly advantage.
From a Lutheran perspective, and particularly in the teachings we hold dear, the greatest evidence is not ultimately found in our ability to reason our way to God, but in God's decision to reveal Himself to us. Scripture teaches that the deepest problem of humanity is not a lack of intelligence but sin—a separation from God that no amount of success, morality, wealth, or self-improvement can overcome. Yet the message of Christianity is that God did not leave us to find our own way. He entered history in the person of Jesus Christ, lived the life we failed to live, died for our sins, and rose again so that forgiveness and eternal life could be freely given as a gift of grace through faith. That is why the resurrection matters so much. If Christ remained in the grave, Christianity collapses. But if Christ rose from the dead, then death has been defeated, forgiveness is real, and the hope Christians cling to is grounded in reality, not wishful thinking.
If you've never seriously considered the claims of Christ, or if you've dismissed them without investigation, perhaps take some time to ask why. Read the Gospels for yourself. Examine the historical evidence. Wrestle honestly with the questions of meaning, morality, purpose, and truth. Because if Jesus is who He claimed to be, then there is no more important truth to discover. As Jesus Himself said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
We pray your Sunday is filled with peace, reflection, and the confidence that comes from knowing that our hope rests not in ourselves, but in Christ alone!
