1) Is God Real?

If you’re asking “Is God real?” you’re not alone. Many people feel caught between what they hope is true and what they can confidently believe.

What Christians mean by “God”

The Bible doesn’t describe God as a vague force. It reveals a personal Creator—holy, loving, and just—who made all things and is not limited by creation. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

Reasons the question won’t go away

1) The universe had a beginning

Everything that begins to exist has a cause. The universe is not eternal—meaning the most reasonable conclusion is that something outside the universe caused it. Christians believe that cause is God.

2) Moral reality points beyond us

Most people know some things are truly right or wrong (not just opinions). The Bible explains why: God is the standard of righteousness. (Romans 2:14–15)

3) Your hunger for meaning is real

We crave purpose, beauty, love, and eternity. The Bible says God “hath set the world [eternity] in their heart.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

But what about the times God feels silent?

God’s reality doesn’t depend on our feelings. The Bible is honest that people can seek and still wrestle, but it also promises: “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

A simple next step

Try this prayer—honest and direct:

“God, if You are real, show me. Open my eyes to the truth. I’m willing to follow You if You will lead me.”

And start with Jesus. Christianity rises or falls on Him.

Next Steps

Read John 1–3 (KJV) and write down your questions.
Visit Start Here on Grace & Reason.
Submit your question on Ask a Question (anonymous is okay).

2) Why Does God Allow Suffering?

This is one of the hardest questions—and one of the most human. If God is good, why pain? If God is powerful, why not stop it?

First: the Bible doesn’t deny suffering

Scripture never pretends the world is fine. It describes a creation that is broken and groaning. (Romans 8:22)

Why suffering exists (big picture)

1) We live in a fallen world

God created what was good. Sin brought corruption, death, and disorder into the human story. (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12)

2) God allows real choices

Much suffering is caused by human sin—abuse, violence, greed, lies. God is not the author of sin, but He permits real moral freedom.

3) Not all suffering is punishment

Some trials are not because of a specific sin. Jesus corrected that thinking. (John 9:1–3; Luke 13:1–5)

Where is God in suffering?

Christianity gives a unique answer: God entered suffering.
Jesus was betrayed, beaten, mocked, and crucified. He understands pain from the inside. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:4)

What God promises (even when we don’t understand)

God can use suffering to shape us and deepen faith. (Romans 5:3–5)
God is near to the brokenhearted. (Psalm 34:18)
God will judge evil and make all things new. (Revelation 21:4)

The hope that holds

The cross says: God is holy and takes evil seriously.
The resurrection says: suffering will not have the last word.

Next Steps

If you’re hurting, read Psalm 23 and Psalm 34.
Write your story and your hardest “why.”
Submit it through Ask a Question—you don’t have to carry it alone.

3) Is the Bible Reliable?

The Bible is the foundation of the Christian faith—so it’s right to ask if it’s trustworthy.

What we mean by “reliable”

We don’t mean “easy.” We mean: is it honest, preserved, and worthy of trust as God’s Word?

The Bible claims: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Three simple reasons Christians trust the Bible

1) It’s rooted in real history

The Bible names places, rulers, nations, and events. It reads like history—because much of it is.

2) It includes embarrassing details

The Bible doesn’t flatter its heroes. It records failures, sin, doubt, and fear. That kind of honesty is a mark of credibility.

3) It has a unified message across many writers

Across centuries and authors, the message is consistent: God is holy, humans are sinful, and God rescues through His promised Redeemer—fulfilled in Christ.

“But haven’t translations changed it?”

Translations are not the same thing as “changing the message.” Christians who use the KJV believe it faithfully communicates God’s Word in English.

The real test

Read the Gospels and ask:

Who is Jesus?
What does He claim?
What does He demand?
What does He promise?

Next Steps

Start with John (KJV). Then read Luke.
Keep a question list.
Ask your toughest Bible question on Ask a Question.

4) Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?

This is the central claim of Christianity. If Jesus rose, He is Lord. If He didn’t, Christianity collapses.

The Bible states it plainly: Christ “was buried, and… rose again the third day.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

Why the resurrection matters

It confirms Jesus is who He claimed to be. (Romans 1:4)
It proves sin and death can be defeated.
It makes forgiveness and eternal life more than wishful thinking.

What the earliest Christians claimed

The first followers didn’t preach “good vibes.” They preached an event: Jesus is risen. They were so convinced that many suffered for that testimony.

Common questions

“Could it be a legend?”

Legends take time to grow. The resurrection message appears immediately in the earliest Christian preaching and writings.

“Could the disciples have lied?”

A lie might be told for power or comfort—but these men faced loss, persecution, and death. People may die for something they think is true. They don’t die for what they know is false.

“Could it have been a hallucination?”

Hallucinations don’t explain an empty tomb, group appearances, or the explosive growth of the early church centered on a physical resurrection.

The invitation

God doesn’t ask for blind faith. He calls you to consider Christ—and then respond.

Next Steps

Read Luke 24 and John 20 (KJV).
Ask yourself: What would have to be true for me to follow Jesus?
Send your objections through Ask a Question.

5) Isn’t Christianity Anti-Science?

Some people think Christianity means rejecting evidence. But historically, many early pioneers of modern science believed the universe was orderly because it was created by a rational God.

Christianity and science answer different kinds of questions

Science: How does the natural world work?
Christianity: Who made it, why are we here, what is good/evil, and what is ultimate?

The Bible never teaches that learning is evil. It teaches that wisdom begins with reverence for God. (Proverbs 1:7)

What Christians reject (and what we don’t)

Christians don’t reject science.
Christians reject the idea that science is the only way to know anything (a belief that can’t be proven by science).

Why faith isn’t the enemy of reason

The Christian worldview says the universe is:

real (not illusion),
orderly (not chaos),
meaningful (not pointless).

That’s a strong foundation for scientific exploration.

Where tensions usually come from

Often the conflict isn’t “science vs Christianity,” but interpretations—of data, of philosophy, or of Scripture. Grace & Reason is a place to talk honestly about those tensions without mockery.

Next Steps

Write your biggest science/faith conflict in one sentence.
Read Psalm 19 (KJV) about creation declaring God’s glory.
Submit your question on Ask a Question.

6) What’s the Gospel (Plain + Clear)?

The gospel is not “be a better person.” It’s good news about what God has done for sinners through Jesus Christ.

The gospel in plain words

God is holy. We are sinful. Jesus saves.

1) God is holy

God is perfect, righteous, and just. (Isaiah 6:3)

2) We are sinful

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Sin separates us from God, and “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

3) Jesus Christ died for our sins

God loves us, and Christ took our place: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

4) Jesus rose again

He conquered death. (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

5) Salvation is a gift received by faith

“For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works…” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
God calls us to repent and believe. (Acts 20:21)

A simple response

Admit you are a sinner.
Turn to God (repent).
Trust Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Next Steps

Read Romans 3–6 (KJV).
If you want to talk with someone, use Ask a Question.
Go to How Do I Start Following Jesus? (next post).

7) How Do I Start Following Jesus?

Following Jesus begins with a real turning of the heart toward Him—not joining a club.

Step 1: Come honestly

God already knows you. Come as you are. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

Step 2: Repent and believe

Repentance is not perfection. It’s a change of mind and direction—turning from sin to God.
Salvation is trusting Christ, not trusting yourself. (Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2:8–9)

Step 3: Call on the Lord

The Bible says: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Here’s a simple prayer you can mean from the heart:

“Lord Jesus Christ, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn to You. Forgive me, save me, and lead me. I put my trust in You. Amen.”

Step 4: Take your next steps

Read the Bible

Start with John, then Romans.

Pray daily

Simple and honest: thank God, confess sin, ask for help, pray for others.

Connect to a Bible-believing church

Christianity is lived in community. (Hebrews 10:25)

Be baptized

Baptism doesn’t save you—it’s an act of obedience that follows faith. (Matthew 28:19–20)

If you’re unsure

You can begin seeking without pretending. Bring your doubts into the light—God can handle them.

Next Steps

Read John 1–3 (KJV).
Write down your questions and obstacles.
Submit your story through Ask a Question.