What happens when a homicide detective investigates the Gospels and the evidence for Jesus? You get a fascinating (and compelling) book from my friend J. Warner Wallace! This is a real page-turner and you will find yourself swept into the evidence surrounding the most famous crime scene in history.
Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels is clear, well illustrated, and has many strengths. But for the sake of time (and because I want you to read the book!) I will highlight just four of them.
How to think about and weigh evidence.
In a culture that thinks religious and moral truth is up for grabs, many approach the claims of Christianity armed only with feelings and preferences. But as we all know, our feelings can turn out to be wrong. Feelings are not the best indicators of truth…evidence is. What we desperately need to recover is the ability to think and evaluate claims and the evidence supporting those claims. In Part 1 of this book, you will learn how to be a detective. In other words, a first rate cold-case detective—whose work has been featured on shows like Dateline—will train you in 10 important principles that every aspiring detective needs to master. Along the way, you will hear fascinating stories of real cases and how juries would evaluate different kinds of evidence. After part 1, you will have the tools to assess the evidence of the Gospels.
How to know when enough is enough.
This is principle #9 in Wallace’s book and is worth the price of admission. “It’s important to remember that truth can be known even when some of the facts are missing. None of us have ever made a decision with complete knowledge of all the possible facts. There are always unanswered questions” (132). Well said. There comes a time when juries have to make up their minds and offer a decision regarding the evidence. This is true for all of us. And as Wallace accurately points out, there will always be some unanswered questions. But have enough pieces of the puzzle been put together for us to reasonably trust the available evidence? Which brings me to my 3rd observation.
That the Gospel accounts are reliable.
In part 2 of this book you will examine the evidence—you will apply the principles of investigation that you have learned to the claims of the New Testament. I think you will be surprised by what you discover. Were the writers in a good position to write about this event? Were they biased? Were they accurate? Turns out there’s a pretty impressive ‘chain of custody’ as the truth that was witnessed in the beginning concerning Jesus was reliably passed down from generation to generation. It’s a compelling intellectual journey.
That every Christian is called to be a “case-maker.”
Wallace makes the thoroughly biblical point (cf. 1 Peter 3:15) that each of us needs to become a two decision Christian. We have become a follower of Christ (1st decision) but we also need to make the 2nd decision to become a case-maker. In short, we need to believe and defend the truth. My hope and prayer is that as people read and become convinced that Christianity really is true they will help others do the same.
I could go on, but I think you can tell why I am really excited about this book. I’m not the only one either. Lee Strobel (who wrote the forward), Rick Warren, and Greg Koukl also give Cold-Case Christianity high praise. This book has something for everyone. Whether you have been a Christian for most of your life or if you find yourself unsure what or who to believe, you owe it to yourself to examine the evidence with an expert investigator (and former atheist). And when you’re done reading it, give it to a friend at work or a family member you have wanted to have a spiritually significant conversation with—you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend this book and want to thank Jim for writing it!
Learn more about the important work of apologist J. Warner Wallace here.
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