Christian apologist Frank Turek asks unbelievers this question: “If Christianity were true, would you become a Christian?” While many unbelievers would not, atheist Lee Strobel did! Lee was an award-winning journalist with the Chicago Tribune. When his wife became a Christian, he was determined to use his investigative skills to rescue her from such a superstition. Instead,at the age of twenty-nine, he also became a Christian, He made this lifetransforming decision based on evidence. Now, as a Christian, he has written a series of books focusing on evidence – The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator,The Case for Easter, The Case for Christmas, The Case for the Real Jesus, The Case for Christianity, The Case for Hope, The Case for Grace, etc.
As you probably know, our English word “apologetics”comes from the Greek word “apologia.” It refers to a “reasoned argument or defense of what you believe.” It is used eight times in the N.T. Scriptures (Acts 22:1; 25:16; 1 Cor. 9:3; 2 Cor. 7:11; Phil. 1:7; 2 Tim.4:16;and 1 Peter 3:15) For example: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer (reasoned defense) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) Yes! Christianity is rational!
Among many others, we are indebted to Lee Strobel for information about the conversion of a famous stunt man from a previous generation. His name was Evel Knievel. He was born October 17, 1938, and died November 30, 2007, at the age of sixty-nine. He attempted seventy-five dangerous ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. On September 8, 1974, he attempted to jump over the Snake River Canyon in Idaho on a rocket-powered motorcycle. He failed but was saved from death by deploying a parachute. His attempt to jump the fountains at Caesar’s Palace resulted in serious injuries. In the crash, Knievel suffered a crushed pelvis and femur, fractures to his hip, wrist, and both ankles, and a concussion that kept him in a coma for twenty-nine days. After he recovered he was more famous than ever. During his career he suffered a record four hundred thirty-three broken bones, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. From 1972 to 1977, the Ideal Toy Company sold over $125 million worth of Knievel toys.
Every conversion merits the headlines in heaven. Jesus said: “There is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7). On the earth,however, such famous people as Evel Knievel are given priority. Steve Beard wrote of him: “His rebellious and fearless reputation was enhanced through his bouts with safecracking, bank robbing, prison, bankruptcy, divorce, heavy drinking, high-stakes gambling, and battling the IRS”.
Prior to attending the Daytona Bible Week in Florida, however, “he began thinking more about God . . . and called an old friend whom he had not spoken to for more than thirty years. The man was a pastor, and he told Knievel that he would have his church pray for him. “My daughter had her whole church praying for me in Bozeman, Montana; and my ex-wife Linda, she’s had her whole church praying for me in Butte, Montana,”he said. “And she’s prayed for me for twentyfive or thirty years that I would become a Christian.”
“In his frail state and with labored breath, Knievel said, “I don’t know if it was the power of the prayer, or of God Himself, but it just reached out either while I was driving, or walking down the sidewalk, or sleeping; and the power of God in Jesus just grabbed me. It just took ahold of me so strong; I can’t tell you how strong it was. … All of a sudden I just believed in Jesus Christ!” He continued, “I know that there’s more to life than what I’ve had. I wrote a book called Evil Ways. I said I’ve had a life better than any king, any president, or any prince. Hogwash! I didn’t have Jesus Christ in my life. I was talking about the Rolls Royce, I had five of them, the Ferraris, I’ve had five of them; the Stetsons, and the Lamborghinis, and the jet airplanes, two of them; the diamonds, and the gold, and the racehorses, and the women, and the booze. I want to tell you something, I’ve been a sinner. You’re looking at a real sinner, but not anymore.”
At that point Knievel called the sportscaster, Frank Gifford, and said: “Frank, I had this experience ... 'Who's Jesus?' And Frank said, 'Get that book by Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ. That’ll kind of explain everything.” Evel Knievel read the book, and Strobel wrote: “Evel Knievel ends up having a radical encounter with God … a radical, born-again experience. He has turned onehundred eighty degrees. When he is baptized, he tells his story with such passion and such clarity that seven hunred people came up and received Christ and were baptized on the spot. When he died a couple years later, at his request this inscription was written on his tombstone; it says, 'Believe in Jesus Christ,' How beautiful! Baptism symbolizes the dramatic difference that took place between the “old Evel Knievel” and the “new Evel Knievel.” “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)
John T. Catrett, III Refuge Care Hospice Chaplain 306 North Main Street, Suite E Bristow, OK 74010 918.352.3080