In Toastmasters this last Monday, the lady (Lauren) who evaluated the speaker (Yassi) wanted to congratulate her on an excellent speech, and Lauren said Yassi had used that perfect combination, facts plus emotion, which equals logic.
It struck me that is also true of Christianity. Emotion alone is not enough. Facts alone are dry and easily forgotten. But when you combine the well documented facts surrounding the cross with the emotion it generates, it's only logical that people will decide to follow Jesus.
The facts:
Jesus' birth was predicted by Isaiah and other prophets and King David hundreds of years before Jesus was born. How could anyone have know that far in advance that He'd be born of a woman who had never known a man; that He would be born in Bethlehem; that He would go to Egypt for a while; that He would be raised in Nazareth; and that He would go to the cross, die, and be raised back to life?
Jesus' death was witnessed by many: Romans, Pharisees, and Sadducee's as well as His disciples. Yet He was seen by more than 500 people after He rose from the dead. In fact, about 500 people witnessed Him rising into the clouds not long afterwards.
The emotion:
Can you imagine the fear and joy that young woman, probably about 14 years old, felt when the angel told her she, an unwed woman, would have a baby who would be the Son of God? In that age, women in that condition would be stoned to death at the worst or shunned for life at the least.
Then can you feel her grief as she watched her Son die a tortuous death? Or His disciples' disillusionment? And the joy of Mary Magdalene and the others when they discovered He was alive?
Facts reach the head, plus emotion touches the heart, equals logic. Does it work for you?
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