Anyone trying to dismantle Christianity will say our beliefs are based on circular arguments. And they are kind of right. We believe the Bible is God’s word because it says it’s God’s word. We believe in God because the bible tells us he’s real. While there are other things which point us to God, the Bible is our main source.

Often when skeptics make this objection (like at our recent Easter Debate at the Factory) I am tempted to despair. How can we prove that our circular beliefs are true? If someone doesn’t believe the Bible, how can we make them believe it?

Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit no one will ever trust the Bible as God’s word. But we can help people to see the relevance of the bible by demonstrating how it makes sense of our world.

Love, mercy, forgiveness, and justice are things even unbelievers want to receive. And the proverbs provide great wisdom for both Christians and non-Christians. Take these three for example.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

But the best way to show people the bible is God’s word is to introduce them to God’s Son. As people meet Jesus, by God’s grace, they can be won over to trust him and in turn to trust the bible. Christ’s words and actions are sufficient to prove to us that he is Lord and worthy of our worship.

And we shouldn’t despair when people object. Even Jesus faced objections. As he told people that he was “the light of the world” the Pharisees accused him of being circular. “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid,” they told him. I reckon Jesus’ response makes perfect sense.

Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

Let’s keep directing skeptics to Jesus. His testimony alone is what will win them over.