The case for Christ

Lee Strobel received a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master of studies in law degree from Yale Law School before a 14-year newspaper career that included a stint as legal affairs editor of the Chicago Tribune. After nearly two years of studying the life of Christ, Strobel became a Christian in 1981. His book The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Zondervan, 1998) has sold 1.5 million copies and been translated into nine languages. Now an author and evangelist, Strobel also has been a teaching pastor at two of the nation’s largest churches, Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., and Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif. Strobel, 51, recently talked with News Editor John W. Kennedy.

PE: Why did you write The Case for Christ?

STROBEL: I wanted to help seekers and other people who were far from God to understand the historical basis for Christianity. Having been an atheist myself and having suffered the consequences of living the atheistic lifestyle, I have a lot of empathy for people who are outside the family of God and are skeptical about the claims of Jesus. The book also is designed to help Christians solidify what they believe and dialogue with nonbelieving friends.

PE: How did your background in investigative journalism and law help you in writing this book?

STROBEL: It helped me formulate questions to consider what constitutes reliable and persuasive evidence and to compile the case for Christ in a cumulative way that demonstrates the overall arguments in favor of Christ. A lot of historical evidence for Jesus’ being the Son of God can be investigated using techniques that an investigative journalist would use in pursuing an important news story.

PE: What kind of feedback have you had from non-Christians?

STROBEL: One scholar I interviewed told me that we’re living in a postmodern world where nobody is interested in the historical evidence for Jesus. But within a short time after the book was published a young person in Mississippi wrote a review online. He had been an atheist, but he read the book and now he’s a follower of Christ. Hundreds of people have contacted me saying they have found faith in Christ because the Holy Spirit used this book to help them. One agnostic guy in Chicago was in a bookstore and he sat down to look at a magazine and sat on my book. He started flipping through it then threw the book aside. Afterwards he had a strong sense that the book was not there by accident. He bought the book and read it. As a result he became a follower of Jesus.

PE: Did you anticipate the blistering negative reaction to the book from some quarters?

STROBEL: The book penetrated the stronghold of atheists, agnostics and skeptics. They have tried to attack it from a variety of angles. But the opposition shows that atheists were forced to take the book seriously. I’m glad they haven’t been able to disprove it.

PE: How has becoming a Christian transformed you?

STROBEL: I once lived a very immoral, self-centered, self-destructive life. I felt my atheism freed me to pursue personal pleasure despite the cost to others. When I accepted Christ, my values and character began to be changed. When I was an atheist I felt no guilt over helping arrange an abortion for a young woman in college. Back then you could have given me a hundred scientific and moral reasons why abortion was wrong and I wouldn’t have listened. Now I understand the evil of abortion because I see it from God’s perspective.

PE: Do you miss journalism?

STROBEL: I loved the daily fray of journalism in a highly competitive city. But nothing else I have ever done can approach the thrill of helping people meet Jesus personally.

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