There’s a persistent misconception among Christians that apologetics—the defense of our beliefs—is optional. Many assume that because they already believe, they don’t need to make a case for Christianity. But this view overlooks something vital about the nature of truth, the commands of Scripture, and the legacy of Jesus Himself. As followers of Christ, we don’t merely have the luxury of being case makers—we have the duty to be.
When I visit churches across the country, I like to ask one simple question: “Why are you a Christian?” The answers I usually hear fall into two categories. Most people say they were raised in the faith. Their parents were believers, they grew up attending church, and they’ve simply continued in the tradition they were given. Others tell me their faith rests on experience—a prayer answered, a sense of God’s presence, something miraculous that confirmed Christianity to them personally. On the surface, both of these answers sound good. But neither distinguishes Christianity as true.
Think about that. My Mormon family members would give identical answers about their faith. My atheist relatives also cite upbringing and experience to justify their worldview. Those reasons—though sincere—don’t separate truth from error. If people holding opposing beliefs all appeal to the same types of explanations, then we can’t know which belief system is actually true.
That’s why we must test what we believe. If our faith is true, it will withstand investigation. If it isn’t, we ought to have the courage to find that out. Christianity makes historical claims—claims that can be examined. And when we do, we find the evidence points toward truth. Evaluating that evidence doesn’t demonstrate a lack of faith; it protects us from error. It ensures that when we say “I believe,” our confidence is grounded in reality, not sentiment.
If our faith is true, it will withstand investigation. If it isn’t, we ought to have the courage to find that out.
Share on X
But this isn’t only about personal assurance; it’s about identity. Christianity is an evidential faith. From its very beginning, God revealed Himself in ways that could be seen, verified, and recorded. Look at Jesus’ ministry. He didn’t merely preach abstract truths. He performed miracles and then said, “If you don’t believe what I tell you, believe because of the evidence of the works themselves.” When John the Baptist doubted from prison and sent his followers to ask Jesus if He was truly the One, Jesus didn’t reply, “Tell John to remember how he was raised,” or “Tell him to have more faith.” Instead, Jesus performed miracles in front of John’s messengers and said, “Report to John what you have seen.” That is the essence of evidential faith.
The Apostles carried that same mindset. In Acts 1, when they chose Matthias to replace Judas, they didn’t look for someone who “loved God deeply” or who “had a powerful experience.” They looked for an eyewitness—someone who had personally seen Jesus’ ministry from baptism to resurrection. Christianity’s foundation was built on direct evidence. That’s why the New Testament writings are limited to those written by eyewitnesses or those who directly knew them. Other early writings like the Epistle of Barnabas or the Shepherd of Hermas may have inspired believers, but they didn’t qualify as Scripture because they lacked that evidential authority.
Christianity is not a private vision religion. It isn’t based on one person’s unverifiable mystical revelation. It’s built on public events that occurred in history—events that could be observed, questioned, and confirmed. That’s why the first Christians were so persuasive. They didn’t just proclaim, “God spoke to me.” They said, “We saw Him. We touched Him. We were there.”
We live in a culture that elevates private experience and personal truth. But the God of Scripture doesn’t ask us to believe blindly or feel our way toward Him. He calls us to examine the evidence He’s provided—to love Him not only with our hearts but with our minds. That’s why every believer must become a Christian case maker. When we make the effort to know why Christianity is true, we not only strengthen our own faith but prepare ourselves to share it confidently with a skeptical world.
In the end, making a case for Christianity isn’t just about argument—it’s about alignment. It’s aligning our thinking with the very nature of the God who revealed Himself through evidence, eyewitnesses, and reasoned truth. As followers of Christ, we have every reason—and every duty—to live up to that legacy.
For more information about the nature of Biblical faith and a strategy for communicating the truth of Christianity, please read Forensic Faith: A Homicide Detective Makes the Case for a More Reasonable, Evidential Christian Faith. This book teaches readers four reasonable, evidential characteristics of Christianity and provides a strategy for sharing Christianity with others. The book is accompanied by an eight-session Forensic Faith DVD Set (and Participant’s Guide) to help individuals or small groups examine the evidence and make the case.
The post Why You Have a Duty to Be A Christian Case Maker? appeared first on Cold Case Christianity.
Cold Case Christianity