Hands up if you think Jesus rose from the dead.

Caravaggio

The outstanding NT scholar of our generation has decided it’s optional for Christians to believe Jesus rose from the dead in bodily form. He says, “I have friends who I am quite sure are Christians who do not believe in the bodily resurrection.”

Some things are so foolish that only a scholar could believe them.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, if Christ hasn’t risen, our faith is useless and we’re still dead in our sins.

For twelve months, I’ve been visiting movements around the world and writing up the stories for my next book. The men and women of faith I meet are not sitting around wondering if it’s ok to stop believing in Christ’s resurrection. They are not debating whether they should uphold Scripture on sex and marriage. They’re not spending years discussing these issues.

The brothers and sisters in Iran, Laos, India, Lebanon, or Northern Nigeria wake up every day wondering if today there will be a knock at the door. Wondering if they will be deprived of their freedom, or worse.

The disciples on death row and maximum security in the Texas prison system aren’t debating how they can disobey the teachings of Jesus on sex. Instead, they’re holding each other accountable to honor him with their bodies. They’re appealing to those who want to step out of darkness into his glorious light.

These are disciple making movements on the rise. They know God honors his Word and blesses obedience. God’s future belongs to them.

They know they do not have the option to deny the resurrection and still say we’re following Jesus. Religious institutions love to question the teaching of Scripture, fall into line with the culture, and run headlong into destruction.