Northwestern professor co-writes book examining the claims of Jesus

Lindsey Medenwaldt, an assistant professor of business and economics at Northwestern College, is co-author with Dr. Douglas Groothuis of a just-released book, “What if Jesus is Right? Examining Jesus’ Claims About Himself in a World Full of Falsehoods.”

The 240-page volume, published by Tyndale Elevate, examines the claims made about Jesus, contrasting popular misconceptions with what Jesus himself said about his identity and mission. The book confronts today’s most common false claims about Jesus, explains why his divinity is essential to the Christian faith, and clarifies why his teachings do not align with radical inclusivity. It also makes a compelling case for the trustworthiness of Jesus’ words and shows how engaging with what he actually said can bring lasting, life-transforming change.

“In the first part of the book, we talk about the fake Jesuses that exist in the world,” says Medenwaldt. “In the second half, we provide evidence as to why we can believe he was a historical figure and his words are reliable. It comes down to the reliability of the New Testament. If we trust it, we can trust that its words are reliable. And if Jesus is speaking truth, what does that mean?”

Groothuis is the author of more than 20 books, including the “Christian Apologetics” textbook and “Unmasking the New Age.” Medenwaldt met him 10 years ago while pursuing a master’s degree in apologetics and ethics at Denver Seminary, where he taught philosophy for three decades.

“He was a joy to work with on this book because he trusted me from our past experiences,” says Medenwaldt. “It was a neat opportunity to work with somebody I value so highly.”

While the authors originally wrote the book with skeptics in mind, Medenwaldt says she hopes both Christians and non-Christians can find something in the text that can help them navigate conversations about Jesus. “My hope is that Christians will be encouraged to find the answer to who they say Jesus is for them. The way you view Jesus affects how you will live your life. If he is truly God and human, your life choices will be aligned with his character, not your own ambition,” she says.

“The world outside Christian circles has created a Jesus for its own use,” says Medenwaldt. “People are developing a Jesus that becomes a life coach or mentor or teacher who tells you how to live a moral life. The problem with those titles is they eliminate the holiness of Jesus and the Godship of Jesus. The good news is that we have evidence supporting the claim that Jesus was not merely human but is also divine.”

Medenwaldt is a lawyer who previously wrote “Bridge-Building Apologetics,” which was published by Harvest House in 2024. She worked at Mama Bear Apologetics as executive director and director of operations and has spoken across the country on topics like bridge-building, world religion, apologetics, evangelism and cults. She joined Northwestern’s faculty full time last year.