THE message of the Bible is a solid rock that has endured for thousands of years, changing millions of lives and easily withstanding countless attacks to ban it, burn it and discredit it.

THE message of the Bible is a solid rock that has endured for thousands of years, changing millions of lives and easily withstanding countless attacks to ban it, burn it and discredit it.

Nick Harding comments that Christianity is another name for sun worship. How could anyone seriously make such a statement? To worship the sun and to expect stars to direct the course of your life is pointless. Yes, we do worship the Son, God's Son, Jesus Christ. He gives us a solid hope, a purpose and direction to every aspect of our lives.

If everyone took the teachings of Jesus seriously, what a massive transformation there would be in our world. Our focus would be how we can help others. There would be no more injustice, meanness, disrespect, no more hunger, no war, no crime, and so on.

Whatever else the cross may stand for, for a Christian the cross is a reminder of Christ's death for us, God's Son paying the price for all our wrongdoing. It is an empty cross because Christ has risen. All four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, speak of Jesus being crucified, and John records how Jesus carried the cross- beam towards the place of His torture and death.

As an eye witness, John also records the time when Jesus, risen from the dead, appeared to His disciples and showed the nail prints in His hands. Why does Mr Harding say otherwise? The Bible contradicts him.

Concerning whether Jesus lived, independent accounts prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the historicity of Jesus Christ. Ancient historians such as Tacitus and Josephus wrote of him. Our year 2009 dates from the birth of Christ. All history before that time is BC 'before Christ'. Across the course of history, Jesus Christ stands supreme.

I could say much more but I have to be brief. A final point, Mr Harding speaks of inconsistencies. The Bible contains 66 books, written by over 40 authors over a period of 1,500 years. Yet there is a unity which binds the whole together. The letters (epistles) of Paul harmonise perfectly with the gospels, explaining the purpose of Christ's life, death and resurrection.

The Bible is the world's bestseller, and its message, thousands of years on, speaks powerfully to those who press in to know the truth about God, because it is God's book.

JANET BROWN

Cornwallis Avenue, Weston