There are those who say, and believe, that one can live a full and content life without God. They deny that there is a Creator, they attribute everything they see around them to some other source, and they believe that they are control of their own existence. If there is anything out there that affects our lives, it is a blind force (physics perhaps) to which we owe nothing and from whom nothing is owed.
However, if we are the products of blind chance and physical processes, what is our purpose for being here? Why should we care? Are blind forces responsible for things like love, justice, good, evil, etc.? Or are those things merely human constructs, designed to decrease friction amongst earth dwellers and increase peace and harmony (more intangible ideas)?
Let’s assume that there is no God. Where did love come from? Those who do not think God exists would say that these attributes ‘evolved’; they are ‘common sense’. If so, how did the human race last long enough to realize these ‘common sense’ ideas? In a world where these ideas would have had to ‘evolve’, our ancestors would have killed each other off before having the opportunity to realize that was a counterproductive course of action.
How about justice and our concept of right and wrong? Anyone who has lived a decade or so has witnessed the way what we consider moral or immoral, right or wrong, good or bad changes with the whim of society. It defies logic to assume that, somehow, in our illustrious past, humanity had the presence of mind to determine right from wrong. Human, by nature (i.e. without God), are self-centered, greedy, untrusting folk who are more concerned with self-preservation than any altruistic sentiments.
Consider this: if morals are a human construct (common sense, product of evolution, etc.), who says that what is moral today may be immoral tomorrow, or vice versa (that is actually what we are seeing now, things that were considered taboo or immoral to our ancestors are readily accepted, or tolerated, as moral today). There would exist no true good or bad, right or wrong. There would only be subjective evaluations of human actions and these evaluations would fluctuate with the cultural bias of the day. The Bible tells us that God has given us objective truth, objective standards, objective morals that do not change with the whims of humanity. It is to these standards we are called accountable.
The truth is that, if there were no God, there would be no morality. The Bible tells us that our condition, without God, is bleak and hopeless, “There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips” (Romans 3:11-13 NASB). Does this sound like a group of people with the ability to create moral, loving, helpful, caring standards and statutes? Not hardly.
And this condition universally affects every person, all of humanity, no one is immune: “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NASB) and, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NASB).
The Bible tells us that “God is love” (I John 4:8, 16). Therefore, no God means no love. However, many want to deny God’s existence while continuing to experience love. They want to enjoy the benefits God gives without being accountable to Him; therefore, they attempt to deny His existence. God calls these people ‘fools’: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good” (Psalm 14:1 NASB, also Psalm 53:1) and, “The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, “There is no God” (Psalm 10:4 NASB).
Our purpose in life is to “Love God with all our hearts, soul, mind, body, and strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5, 11:1,13,22, 30:16; Joshua 22:5, 23:11; Psalm 31:23, 97:10; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27; I Corinthians 16:22). We have meaning and purpose because God exists; otherwise, “...all is vanity and striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14 NASB).
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Arguments against Christianity...and some responses
Atheists look determined to disprove the existence of God. They attempt to provide some arguments that suggest there is evidence that God does not exist. A reader, in the comment section of one of my articles, supplied me with several of these arguments. I thought I would address some of them as I find the time. While everyone will not accept all of my reasons, they are offered in the spirit of love with the hope that those who are truly seeking answers will realize that they do exist for these challenges and that believing in God is not unreasonable.
Atheist Argument: The “Conflicted Religions” Argument notes that many religions give differing accounts as to what God is and what God wants; since all the contradictory accounts cannot be correct, many, if not all, religions must be incorrect.
Response: There is no argument here. All of the competing religions can be wrong, but, they cannot all be right. Therefore, one must ask which one is most reasonable. Which one has the most verifiable historicity? Which one answers life’s questions best? Which one most fully explains the world we see around us? The claims of Christianity are the most reasonable and have the best explanatory power of any religion. All other religions claim that you can work your way to heaven; only Christianity tells us that God has done all that is required. We must simply stop rebelling against Him and believe what the Bible tells us. He will change our lives, forgive our sins, and guarantee us an eternity together with Him.
Atheist Argument: The Disappointment Argument claims that if, when asked for, there is no visible help from God; therefore, there is no reason to believe that there is a God.
Response: By this reasoning, when a child asks his or her parents for something, and the parents do not supply it, this means that there is no reason to believe the parents exist. However, in this analogy, the parents decide whether it would be wise or unwise to give the child what he or she has asked for. When we pray to God, asking Him for something, He decides whether or not He will give us what we ask for. The Bible says that, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (I John 5:14 NASB). This text says He will answer “according to His will” not according to our wants. What chaos would ensue if every prayer we prayed, the selfish as well as the selfless, were answered in the manner we wanted? Is it not much better to leave it up to God, trusting in His omniscient wisdom to give us what He knows we truly need?
Atheistic Argument: The “Historical Induction” Argument concludes that since most theistic religions throughout history (e.g. ancient Egyptian religion, ancient Greek religion) and their gods ultimately come to be regarded as untrue or incorrect, all theistic religions, including contemporary ones, are therefore most likely untrue/incorrect by induction.
Response: So, does this apply to everything? All but the most current scientific theories have been proven false, that is why the ‘current’ theory is the ‘current’ theory; therefore, are we to expect every scientific theory to be proven false? These false religions are exactly what we would expect to find if people groups rejected the true God. When one rejects the truth, a substitute must take its place. Godless humanity excels at creating religions that cater to our selfishness and pride. Our rejection of the truth does not mean it doesn’t exist.
Anyone honestly desiring to know the truth should truly think about the claims of Christianity. The God of the universe is calling out to all people, and He has done everything it takes for us to be reconciled to Him. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17 NASB).
Atheist Argument: The “Conflicted Religions” Argument notes that many religions give differing accounts as to what God is and what God wants; since all the contradictory accounts cannot be correct, many, if not all, religions must be incorrect.
Response: There is no argument here. All of the competing religions can be wrong, but, they cannot all be right. Therefore, one must ask which one is most reasonable. Which one has the most verifiable historicity? Which one answers life’s questions best? Which one most fully explains the world we see around us? The claims of Christianity are the most reasonable and have the best explanatory power of any religion. All other religions claim that you can work your way to heaven; only Christianity tells us that God has done all that is required. We must simply stop rebelling against Him and believe what the Bible tells us. He will change our lives, forgive our sins, and guarantee us an eternity together with Him.
Atheist Argument: The Disappointment Argument claims that if, when asked for, there is no visible help from God; therefore, there is no reason to believe that there is a God.
Response: By this reasoning, when a child asks his or her parents for something, and the parents do not supply it, this means that there is no reason to believe the parents exist. However, in this analogy, the parents decide whether it would be wise or unwise to give the child what he or she has asked for. When we pray to God, asking Him for something, He decides whether or not He will give us what we ask for. The Bible says that, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (I John 5:14 NASB). This text says He will answer “according to His will” not according to our wants. What chaos would ensue if every prayer we prayed, the selfish as well as the selfless, were answered in the manner we wanted? Is it not much better to leave it up to God, trusting in His omniscient wisdom to give us what He knows we truly need?
Atheistic Argument: The “Historical Induction” Argument concludes that since most theistic religions throughout history (e.g. ancient Egyptian religion, ancient Greek religion) and their gods ultimately come to be regarded as untrue or incorrect, all theistic religions, including contemporary ones, are therefore most likely untrue/incorrect by induction.
Response: So, does this apply to everything? All but the most current scientific theories have been proven false, that is why the ‘current’ theory is the ‘current’ theory; therefore, are we to expect every scientific theory to be proven false? These false religions are exactly what we would expect to find if people groups rejected the true God. When one rejects the truth, a substitute must take its place. Godless humanity excels at creating religions that cater to our selfishness and pride. Our rejection of the truth does not mean it doesn’t exist.
Anyone honestly desiring to know the truth should truly think about the claims of Christianity. The God of the universe is calling out to all people, and He has done everything it takes for us to be reconciled to Him. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17 NASB).
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Book Review: "Tower of Babel" by Bodie Hodge
"Tower of Babel" by Bodie Hodge is a new book that traces the ancestry of modern humans back to the dispersion of mankind at the Tower of Babel". I found that Mr. Hodge's research was very in-depth and thorough. At times, I was actually overwhelmed by the amount, and the detail, of his findings.
For anyone who believes that the Biblical record is true, this is a faith-building book. Mr. Hodge treats the account of the global flood, and of the language-confusing dispersion of the people at Babel, as fact and then proceeds to trace lineages of the dispersed people through time to us. For those who deny the biblical record, this book will challenge your belief system.
As Mr. Hodge lays out lineages for the reader, he also touches on several other subjects that I found both fascinating and informative. Mr. Hodge begins the book by looking at how the word “Babel” is pronounced, citing some etymological background. He also explains some of the attacks on the account of Babel from secular, and Christian, groups. Mr. Hodge rightly (in my opinion) says that the denial of the account of Babel is tied into a denial of the authority of God’s Word overall.
Mr. Hodge tackles supposed contradictions associated with the Babel account. He goes on to present his well-researched viewpoints as to why the people were dispersed at Babel, where Babel was located, what was the purpose of the Tower of Babel, and what kind of tower it was. Mr. Hodge has obviously done much research on this subject.
The question of just what is meant in Genesis 10:25 concerning the, “…days the earth was divided”. Mr. Hodge lays out a convincing view that this refers to the division of the people not the division of land masses which he says, and I agree, happened during and after the Flood. The false belief that dark-skinned people resulted from the “Curse of Ham” (found in Genesis 9:25) is addressed and shown to be unfounded.
The long ages lived by early humans is also explained quite handily by Mr. Hodge, as is the cause of our ever-decreasing longevity. I found the chapter on the origin of writing to be especially interesting as it is something in which I am very interested. Although, I don’t believe there is a lot to investigate concerning the origin of writing. My viewpoint, and Mr. Hodges, is that God gave Adam and Eve the ability to speak, there is no reason for Him not to give them the ability to write also.
When one takes the Word of God at face value, instead of trying to make everything we see fit an evolutionary (or even an old-earth) model, one sees history in a completely different way. We have never been apes, fish, or any other lower form of life which developed over great amounts of time into what we are today. We were created by an almighty loving God to whom we owe everything. Mr. Hodge’s book “Tower of Babel” approaches history with this presupposition…and he delivers a book that powerfully upholds the authority of God and His Word.
One quote that stood out to me concerns those who think that they must have every question answered in order for them to believe the Bible. Mr. Hodge writes, “Remember, the Bible gives us sufficient information, not all information” (p. 196, italics his). God has answered, in His Word, all the questions that we need answered in order to love, worship, obey, and have a saving relationship with Him. All we have to do is read His Word to know these things.
For anyone who believes that the Biblical record is true, this is a faith-building book. Mr. Hodge treats the account of the global flood, and of the language-confusing dispersion of the people at Babel, as fact and then proceeds to trace lineages of the dispersed people through time to us. For those who deny the biblical record, this book will challenge your belief system.
As Mr. Hodge lays out lineages for the reader, he also touches on several other subjects that I found both fascinating and informative. Mr. Hodge begins the book by looking at how the word “Babel” is pronounced, citing some etymological background. He also explains some of the attacks on the account of Babel from secular, and Christian, groups. Mr. Hodge rightly (in my opinion) says that the denial of the account of Babel is tied into a denial of the authority of God’s Word overall.
Mr. Hodge tackles supposed contradictions associated with the Babel account. He goes on to present his well-researched viewpoints as to why the people were dispersed at Babel, where Babel was located, what was the purpose of the Tower of Babel, and what kind of tower it was. Mr. Hodge has obviously done much research on this subject.
The question of just what is meant in Genesis 10:25 concerning the, “…days the earth was divided”. Mr. Hodge lays out a convincing view that this refers to the division of the people not the division of land masses which he says, and I agree, happened during and after the Flood. The false belief that dark-skinned people resulted from the “Curse of Ham” (found in Genesis 9:25) is addressed and shown to be unfounded.
The long ages lived by early humans is also explained quite handily by Mr. Hodge, as is the cause of our ever-decreasing longevity. I found the chapter on the origin of writing to be especially interesting as it is something in which I am very interested. Although, I don’t believe there is a lot to investigate concerning the origin of writing. My viewpoint, and Mr. Hodges, is that God gave Adam and Eve the ability to speak, there is no reason for Him not to give them the ability to write also.
When one takes the Word of God at face value, instead of trying to make everything we see fit an evolutionary (or even an old-earth) model, one sees history in a completely different way. We have never been apes, fish, or any other lower form of life which developed over great amounts of time into what we are today. We were created by an almighty loving God to whom we owe everything. Mr. Hodge’s book “Tower of Babel” approaches history with this presupposition…and he delivers a book that powerfully upholds the authority of God and His Word.
One quote that stood out to me concerns those who think that they must have every question answered in order for them to believe the Bible. Mr. Hodge writes, “Remember, the Bible gives us sufficient information, not all information” (p. 196, italics his). God has answered, in His Word, all the questions that we need answered in order to love, worship, obey, and have a saving relationship with Him. All we have to do is read His Word to know these things.
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