I think the underlying problem with Christ for some people is the issue of faith. Anyone who has received their information from mainstream media or textbooks is likely to have a very skewed idea of the Biblical concept of faith.

Faith is the foundation of any beneficial relationship. Without it, you cannot give or receive anything of intended value.


Receive

For example, if you own a shop that repairs toasters, a person who brings a toaster to you would have to believe that you have good intentions and the ability to fix their toaster. If this person did not believe—or have faith—that you had good intentions or the skill necessary, they would not establish a relationship with you (hopefully).

Now, if this potential customer is prudent, they would seek evidence to support the idea that you have good intentions and skill before blindly believing this. Evidence could come in the form of a recommendation from a friend indicating that they had a good experience with you (a "testimony"), for example.


Give

Now switch the roles.

On the other hand, if your toaster was broken, there may be a person downtown running a shop that fixes toasters. It may be that this person is good at fixing toasters and has good intentions. However, it may be that you've heard some bad things about this person indicating that the toasters they fix break within a week, so you might be inclined not to bring your toaster to this person.

In this case, you are unable to receive what they have to offer (assuming they are well intentioned and skillful) because there is a lack of faith on the part of the receiver.


The Lie

Unfortunately, this information you received may be faulty. In fact, it may have been a rumor that had been started by a person that owns a competing toaster shop. So now this becomes a question of who to believe, i.e., what information is credible, and this requires some research.

In concept, this second store owner wants to take the place of the first in that he wants to take your business from them which will displace the original store's business. He is willing to do anything to get it. This is the ante-store, or, the "in-place-of" store because he is trying to displace your relationship with the original.

Many scholars say the well-known Biblical concept of an anti-Christ (against Christ) would better be translated "ante-Christ" which means, in place of. Interestingly, this has been evils' intent since the beginning: To stand in the place of (play the role of) God.

[color:"brown"]"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."[/color]

—2 Thessalonians 2:3-4


See New Age Bible Versions.


Relationship

A relationship with God is no different. He provides ample evidence for His existence and His good intentions towards us. It is my personal experience—and testimony—that this is true.

If we recognize the value of knowing if God exists or not AND we care enough to do the research necessary to determine if it is true, then we will find it ("seek and ye' shall find"). If we don't care if God exists OR if we don't care enough to do any research, then we won't find out and obviously won't have a relationship with Him.

(If we do our research and find this abundant evidence, we can even go so far as to ask God for help in knowing these things. He is gracious to help us in this endeavor because He has a great desire that we succeed. You may just find that amazing things can happen. I may be sharing my personal testimony about this soon.)

Once this evidence is discovered, we (hopefully) will see that God exists and has good intentions towards us and that He has the skill and power necessary to provide us with what He claims. This will lead us to seek more information—and hopefully—a relationship with Him.

So...

Once faith is established between two people, a strong foundation for love is laid (without faith there can be no love), and this can grow into a wonderful and powerful thing.

(There is a mechanism whereby people can "fall in love" with people they don't trust or even like, but this is really akin to fear and is not love at all.)

Again, faith is the foundation of any beneficial relationship, but blind faith is not expected of anyone. God always provides ample evidence to support faith which will be found by those who care enough to look.

Of course, those who don't care enough to look for-or-at the evidence does not really care about the possibility of the existence of God or for having a relationship with Him. Human emotions are modeled to help us understand God in some ways, for example, ask yourself:

How much do you want a relationship with someone who does not care about you?

Of course, in a search for this evidence of God, one will find Christ (if they complete the search) and will examine His claims and the evidence supporting them. Then, one will find that faith in Christ implies a personal recognition of our faults (through the concept of sin) empowering us to realize that that we are imperfect and that we have a need to change ("repent"). Through our research, we will also realize that Christ provides an ability to receive—through faith in Him—the gift of forgiveness and freedom from guilt.

So...

Seeking evidence in God—if completed—results in self examination, personal growth and change, and real freedom and finally, eternal life (see The Sons of God and Biblical Prophecy, Michael Heiser).

My desire for everyone is that they recognize the value of a relationship with God and that they care enough to do the work required to find the evidence that is the foundation for faith that leads to a loving relationship that leads to eternal life in His presence.

The evidence is there for those who care.