Osama Obama and the Truth

Shortly after the announcement of Osama Bin Laden's death, people began clamoring for proof that he in fact was dead.  President Obama then began considering the decision whether or not to release the photographs of Bin Laden's corpse.  I believe he made the correct decision not to release the photos.  There is no legitimate need for us to see the photographs.  Bin Laden is dead, that is all we need to know.

But why the clamor about releasing the photographs.  Why do people need proof.  The answer is that too many people did not trust the messenger.  Some people want proof because they will not believe President Obama, just as there are some people who would not believe President Bush.  Some people will not believe because it is the government who tells them.  What I find interesting is that the very same people who will not believe the word most likely will not believe the pictures if they saw them. 

Which leads me to a truth about witnessing.  There are people who have legitimate questions about our faith, which we are called to answer.  We are called to give a reason for the hope that is in us.  And we do have reasons.  Yes, we come to Christ by faith, but our faith is reasonable.  Our faith is not a blind leap but a rational faith based on the evidence. 

Some people who ask us questions are genuinely searching for the truth.  Some who ask questions do not care to have the answers.  They will not believe no matter how reasonable our explanation is.  How do we tell the difference between the two?  Sometimes it is attitude, but sometimes we do not know.  Therefore, we still give the reasons and leave the results to God.