Christian’s Christian testimony
Published: 24 March, 2001 (GMT+10)
Christian Huls, who lives near Memphis, Tennessee (USA) is a young Bible college
student and a supporter of our ministry. In addition to his studies in Bible and
apologetics (i.e., defending the Bible), he actively participates in the Evangelism
Explosion (EE) witnessing program. Although he has only been a Christian for two
years, he has matured in his knowledge of the Word and has seen a dramatic transformation
in his life. Here is the testimony that we asked him to share, which includes the
importance of the creation/evolution issue in leading Christian to become a Christian…
I was raised in a Catholic family and we attended Mass every Sunday. I went to Catholic
grade school, where I was taught the theory of evolution as fact. At the age of
11, I began questioning my faith. [Eventually] I gave up all my childhood beliefs,
which included the belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Then, free
of any moral restraints, I began to live the way I wanted.
By the time I was 15, I was a complete atheist. Adding the building blocks of secular
history such as the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition to the foundation of evolution,
I concluded that Christ’s very existence was a fabrication used for power
and oppression.
Evolving to become God?
A friend introduced me to meditation, from which I formed my own New Age philosophy
on life. I carried out evolution to its next logical conclusion–that man would
evolve to become God. The beauty of it was that it didn’t infringe on my life
style to believe in a God that we ourselves would one day become. Whatever I did
was right in my own eyes as long as it didn’t seem to hurt anyone else.
I believed that enlightenment came from all writings and all religions, and that
there was no absolute truth. This idea gave me a false hope and a reason to live.
I now had a responsibility to become the best that I could be for the ‘betterment
of mankind.’
As my ego grew, I sincerely believed that I might play a role in our transition.
I began reading everything I could get my hands on, especially science books such
as ‘Hyperspace’ and ‘A Brief History of Time.’ I even proselytized
several friends, and many converted.
A few people attempted to share the Gospel with me, including my fiancée’s
sister and brother-in-law whom I considered very fanatical because they are Baptist.
I also engaged in conversations and debates about truth, spirituality, and other
related topics with a Christian co-worker of mine. He continuously argued that the
Bible is the Word of God; therefore it is the only source of absolute truth.
Nevertheless, I continued refuting his argument, questioning why the Bible should
be set apart from other religious writings. I believed that since anyone could write
something and claim that it was an inspiration from God, that it would be naiive,
at best, for us to blindly accept it. Even if it were true, I had a hard time believing
that this was the case with the Bible since it didn’t agree with the theory
of evolution.
Evolution refuted!
One day our discussion led to the topic of evolution. He suggested that I listen
to an audiotape on the scientific problems with evolution. When I finally listened
to it, my eyes were opened. It presented the typical arguments against evolution,
such as the fossil record, the false ‘ape-men,’ the scientific laws
of entropy and abiogenesis, the impossibility of chance, and several young Earth
evidence. I was skeptical at first, so I listened to the tape a second time, taking
notes and investigating all his claims. I knew the two scientific laws, but I had
never applied them logically to evolution since I had been brainwashed into believing
in billions of years and chance. The rest of his arguments, such as the lack of
missing links in the fossil record and the evidence for a young Earth, were verifiable.
He was telling the truth and I couldn’t deny it.
I suddenly believed all those Biblical stories that I had learned as a child, such
as the Flood and the parting of the Red Sea, were true. This meant that my philosophy
on life was wrong. It was a humbling experience.
My fiancée and I agreed that we were not living as we should and that we should
start going to church. We decided to visit [a co-worker’s] church. They taught
that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh,
and that He died on the Cross for our sins. We began to attend regularly. Within
two years, we became members and got married. Although our pastor would mention
the term ‘relationship’ [with Christ], the full meaning didn’t
dawn on me until much later. I had only attained the intellectual assent of Jesus
Christ, but I was still trying to lead a good life in order to get to Heaven.
One evening my wife and I were discussing the subject of prophecy. On a curious
whim, we read the Book of Revelation together. I had always been fascinated by that
particular book as a child–even a little scared. This time it upset me again
because I didn’t understand any of it, except for the verse where Jesus promises
a blessing to those who read it.
A life left behind!
… I began reading a fictional book based on Revelation….and immediately
related to the main character, who went through a dramatic change. He began reading
the Bible, not because he thought he should, but because he wanted to. He began
worshipping regularly, fellowshipping with other Christians, and praying all the
time.
The most convicting thing to me was when something was wrong, the character would
get together with other believers and they would all get on their knees together
and pray. I was uncomfortable just reading about that! I knew that something was
wrong. The same ego that thought I might help change the world was humbled. I stopped
reading, got down on my knees, and I asked Jesus to forgive me. I asked Him to save
me! It was December 1998.
My life was transformed immediately and I grew very rapidly in my faith. I had a
hunger for God’s Word, and I read or listened to most of the Bible in a few
months. In addition, I read several books about the Bible and theology. I started
listening to the local Christian radio station on a regular basis–I couldn’t
bear to listen for more than a few minutes in the past, but now it seemed that I
couldn’t hear enough.
A week after I received Jesus, my wife asked me, ‘Why are you so different
lately?’ I told her why, and the next day she affirmed that she, too, had
prayed the previous evening! The emptiness that I had been trying to fill was replaced
with fulfillment in Jesus.
Since that time, I have been growing and resolutely studying apologetics. Every
time that I had a question that caused me to doubt my faith, I wouldn’t rest
until I found the answer. I would search the Scriptures and any resource that I
could find relating to that topic. It seemed as if I would just finish researching
a particular subject when my brother-in-law would raise the very same question!
It’s amazing how God works, preparing me to answer his questions and refute
his arguments. This relationship has been flourishing for two years.
Six months after we received Jesus, my wife and I found our church home where I
am now involved in the Evangelism Explosion training programs [founded by Dr D.
James Kennedy]. I have a growing burden for the lost, and I want to share the Good
News with everybody, especially those who have been indoctrinated and misled as
I was about science, evolution, and the reliability of God’s Word.
I continue studying apologetics in order that I may ‘be ready always’
to make a defense to everyone who asks me to give an account for the hope that is
in me (I Peter 3:15). Since very early in my Christian walk, I have felt that the
Lord is calling me into the ministry. It seems He is guiding me towards apologetics
and youth evangelism.
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