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I'm preparing a lecture on the importance of the historicity of the resurrection, and have gotten sidetracked into some thoughts about the nature of the Christian life.I think it's fair to call it common wisdom that even if there is no God or if Christ did not rise, the Christian life is still the best way to live. Even if there is no consequence for sin, surely it is best that I avoid sin and its obviously destructive effects. Even if the Gospel is not my basis for life to come, surely the teaching of Scripture provides excellent principles for living a wise life.Christ or no, the Bible is the way to go, right? I think this is the assumption that underlies apologetics like Pascal's Wager: Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is.But does this common wisdom align with Scripture?In 1 Corinthians 15:19, after defending the historical necessity of Christ's resurrection and explaining the consequences we would face had it not occurred, Paul concludes: If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (ESV)The context of Paul's statement (to me) seems to be a world in which sin exists and its eternal consequences exist, but Christ's propitiating work does not. But later on in verse 32 he seems to address the hypothetical in a more general sense: If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.' (ESV)Paul here seems to be expressing the thought that if Christ did not rise, we would be better off indulging and enjoying the lusts of our bodies, rather than putting them under and submitting ourselves to God. And sure, I get great community and fellowship from my church, but couldn't I also get that with friends at a bar? Have we created a Christian life that has value for us that is honestly not that dependent on Christ? What do these verses mean today for a church that exists (at least in the US) largely free of persecution? Curious to hear your thoughts and how these verses rest on you.2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For a civilization - the greater good is the Christian life.For one individual - Paul says maybe not. Step on others to get ahead, fornicate, drink, divorce, remarry, puff MaryJane, - why not? You only go around once in life, so grab all the gusto you can(sad that I still remember that commercial). Isn't that the definition of the hedonistic lifestyle? Might as well try it since you are going to be dead soon anyway. Pascal knew a lot about computer theory (long before it was possible) - but his wager doesn't line up with Paul

If all that mankind had was the law written on their hearts via creation (Rom 1) and conscience (Rom 2), and if they chose to obey that which God has inscribed in the hearts of all, the world would be a better place indeed. Tragically, we all know that mankind has for the most part chosen not to obey the revelation they do have, and as such are declared guilty (Rom 3).

Amen. I'm taking a homiletics class right now and during the first session the teacher challenged everyone to always ask of the sermons they were preparing: Could I preach this if Christ didn't rise?

If Christ did not rise

then Sartre in his treatise of existential nihilism Being and Nothingness was correct. Why should we live modestly, purely when there is no apparent reason to do so? Not only that there is no meaning to our existence. existentsial nihilism says that to be honest, one must face the absurdity of existence, that he/she will eventually die, and that both religion and metaphysics are simply results of the fear of death.

Perhaps you misunderstand. No one here (so far as I can see) is proposing this as a potential truth.However, one way to understand and communicate the necessity of something is to imagine what it would be like without it. That is what Paul is doing in 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Re: Not sure I agree but ok

Well, I agree with that, but who in this thread is discussing that?

He provided the keys to true meaning of life:You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. - Matthew 22:37You shall love your neighbor as yourself. - Matthew 22:39Treat people the same way you want them to treat you... - Matthew 7:12If mankind could somehow live these principles from the heart, there would be a vast improvement in how we treat one another God-HonoringChrist-CenteredBible-BasedSpirit-Led