Making the Case for Christianity: Responding to Modern Objections

Accessible to readers of all levels, Making the Case for Christianity introduces specific intellectual objections to the Christian faith and then demonstrates how these objections might rationally be answered.

Following 1 Peter 3:15: “Always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you,” the book was written to prepare Christians to defend their faith. Topics covered include the existence of God, the Gospels as reliable history, Islam, the resurrection of Christ, the doctrine of salvation, good vs. evil, and atheism.


Endorsements
"Making the Case for Christianity is a carefully reasoned and clearly written defense of some of the central truth-claims of historic Christianity. This collection of helpful and timely apologetics essays responds specifically to some of the popular and controversial claims made by various current critics of Christianity. This volume testifies well to the truth that historic Christianity is a faith that involves knowledge and is indeed compatible with reason."

—Kenneth Samples, Senior Research Scholar at Reasons to Believe, Author of 7 Truths That Changed the World (Baker, 2012)


"This book is a brilliant compilation of fresh articles addressing and answering the major, current objections the devote Christian is forced to address or give in to a murky and intellectually suicidal faith. A murky faith is one that is not critically examined at all, and believed blindly, and an intellectually suicidal faith is one that cannot stand the test of critical objections and inquiry when put to the test. This book demolishes both of these theses. This is an exceptional book that I enthusiastically endorse."

—Khaldoun A. Sweis, PhD, Chair and Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Olive-Harvey College in Chicago, Editor of Christian Apologetics: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Zondervan, 2012) and Debating Christian Theism (Oxford, 2013)


"This book is distinctively Lutheran, patently Christian, and genuinely winsome. As such, believers from all branches of Christendom will find this volume both attractive and beneficial. Although the chapters in this fine text focus on a range of topics and are written by different contributors, their commonality is this: every page of this book communicates the Gospel and exalts Jesus. Indeed, such a Christocentric methodology is the best way to make the case for Christianity."

—David W. Jones, PhD, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina


About the Authors
JOHN BOMBARO (M.Th., University of Edinburgh; Ph.D., University of London) is the pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, San Diego, and Lecturer in the Theology and Religious Studies Department at the University of San Diego. He has regularly contributed essays to such publications as The Clarion Review and Modern Reformation, for which he also serves as an editorial advisor.

ADAM FRANCISCO (M.A., Concordia University, Irvine; D.Phil., University of Oxford) is Associate Professor of History at Concordia University, Irvine. He is the author of Martin Luther and Islam (2007), co-editor of Theologia et Apologia: Essays in Reformation Theology and Its Defense (2007), and a frequently sought speaker on the subjects of Islam and apologetics.

KOREY MAAS (M.Div., Concordia Seminary; D.Phil., University of Oxford) is Assistant Professor of History at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan. He is the author of The Reformation and Robert Barnes (2010), co-editor of Theologia et Apologia: Essays in Reformation Theology and Its Defense (2007), and a regular contributor to both academic and popular periodicals.

ANGUS MENUGE (M.A. and Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison) is Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University, Wisconsin. In addition to dozens of scholarly articles and reviews, he is the author of Agents Under Fire: Materialism and the Rationality of Science (2004), and editor of Reading God’s World: The Scientific Vocation (2004) and Christ and Culture in Dialogue: Constructive Themes and Practical Applications (1999).

JOSHUA PAGÁN (M. Div. and Ph.D., Concordia Theological Seminary) is Continuing Lecturer at Aboite Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has published in theological periodicals such as Logia, and regularly speaks in congregations and institutions of higher education on the topics of worldview and religious philosophy.

CRAIG PARTON (M.A., Simon Greenleaf School of Law; J.D., Hastings College of Law) is a trial lawyer and partner in the firm of Price, Postel, and Parma of Santa Barbara, California, and the American Director of the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism, and Human Rights. In addition to numerous articles and essays, he is the author of Religion on Trial (2008) and The Defense Never Rests: A Lawyer’s Quest for the Gospel (2003).

MARK A. PIERSON (M.A., Concordia University, Irvine; M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary) is Adjunct Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Concordia University, Irvine, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. His published essays have appeared in Learning at the Foot of the Cross (2010) and Theologia et Apologia: Essays in Reformation Theology and Its Defense (2007), as well as periodicals such as Modern Reformation and For the Life of the World.