jesus-is-gentle:

You can argue for the sake of argument, but I tell you this: If you truly and genuinely seek the ultimate truth from your heart, then get in-touch with your inner child, humble yourself and ask (even if you don’t believe!). Ask and say, “If you are true and real, show me yourself Jesus Christ”. You cannot work it out yourself; so try relying on Him for a minute and see.

Well, I’m a former Christian; this kind of evangelism fails and utterly so being that I am immune to the falsehood that is the Gospel.  I’m not arguing for the sake of arguing; I was addressing MacArthur’s misconceptions—misconceptions that are shared by many Christians.  I am also a former Deist and a former Pantheist with a focus on Eastern philosophy.  If I truly wanted to believe in a god, a force or a transcendent essence, I know that there are better choices.  Christianity only seems like a viable choice due to ad numerum arguments; of course, numbers aren’t indicative of truth.  Moreover, Christ cannot show himself; Christ didn’t exist and every honest Jesus scholar shares that conclusion.  Only the obdurate Evangelicals will disagree and continue to advocate their Messiah theory.  Jesus the man isn’t Jesus the Christ, but even the existence of Jesus the man isn’t set in stone.  “Ultimate truth” is not found in Christianity and I am certain of that.

The Holy Spirit gives you direct advice: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” ~Colossians 2:8

If you wish to quote the Bible as an authority, you must prove that it is authoritative by proving that it is true.  The Bible is not true and it is not the word of god.  Therefore, I advise you to refrain from faulty appeal to authority and tradition.  Ironically, Christianity falls into “the tradition of men.”  Many Christians consider its longevity an indication of its truth; ad antiquitatem is also fallacious.  I gave Christianity enough consideration; perhaps it is time that you give other religions and atheism sufficient consideration.  If your religion be true, you should have no worries; I’ll tell you this however and I speak from experience, you should worry.  If you put your beliefs through the fires of scrutiny, you will be met with ashes.