Foreword
What book would you recommend for my son? I raised him as a Christian, but he’s not a believer any more. Every time we talk, he bombards me with questions. I need better answers. Sometimes I’m not even sure where to begin.”
Emails like this one (from the father of a 19-year-old university student) appear regularly in my inbox. I’m not sure which is more discouraging: the growing number of young Christians who are walking away from the Church, or the regular despair I hear from parents who seem ill-equipped to answer their kid’s questions. As a youth pastor, I saw the problem with my own eyes. We live in a culture that is less accepting of Christianity than ever before. It’s an aggressive culture driven by media, technology, and information. If young Christians are to survive in this setting, we, as the Church, need to be ready “to make a defense to everyone who asks [us] to give an account for the hope that is in [us]” (1 Peter 3:15), by leveraging the media, technology, and information age in which we live.
No one is doing this better than the One-Minute Apologist, Bobby Conway. When I first discovered one of Bobby’s videos and watched him make the case for Christianity in a brief, powerful, online presentation, I thought, “Dang, why didn’t I think of that?” Bobby has been interviewing “the world’s leading apologists to provide credible answers to curious questions” for several years now, and he’s addressed hundreds of questions, challenges, and objections to the existence of God. He’s been sitting across the microphone from the best Christian Case Makers in the land; he’s heard every objection and considered every reasonable response.
More importantly, he’s learned how to engage the culture. Bobby’s video ministry is a “gateway” ministry, introducing believers and skeptics to experts in the field while presenting brief responses to the objections offered by the culture. These videos have been viewed by thousands of people who are looking for an answer, a starting point, or a word of encouragement. Bobby’s visual, targeted, culturally relevant approach has helped many people navigate their doubts and strengthen their faith.
Now Bobby has taken what he’s learned sitting alongside the best apologists and crafted another effective resource for those who have questions about God. Like his video ministry, Does God Exist? is concise, targeted, and culturally relevant. If you’ve got a question about God, I bet there’s an answer in this book. Does God Exist? reflects the diversity of Bobby’s One-Minute Apologist videos. You’ll find responses to important metaphysical questions, refined theological issues, and timely moral concerns. Bobby will help you address the culture effectively even as you answer your own doubts and concerns. This is a book you’ll return to often.
I know the temptation with books like these, however. You will definitely want to give this book to your kids, family members, or friends who have questions about Christianity. It’s perfect for the father who emailed me about his son. But let me caution you: Does God Exist? is more than a book you can give away. It’s a book you need to read and master. This is an incredibly accessible resource; you can easily train yourself to make the case for Christianity by reading each chapter and watching the associated videos. So take the time to examine its contents, think about what you’ve learned, consider the questions at the end of each chapter, and research the expert case makers Bobby has introduced. Does God Exist? will show you where to begin and help you respond with better answers.
J. Warner Wallace, Cold-Case Detective and Author of Cold-Case Christianity and God’s Crime Scene