| Basic Lessons on Evidences | ||
| Apologetics | The Existence of GodDoy Moyer
Is there a God? Atheism emphatically says that there is no God. Agnosticism says that there may or may not be a God. If there is, He is not knowable. Theists affirms that God is, that He is knowable, and that He is relevant to our lives. The question we ask here is, which view makes the most sense and is consistent with the evidence? Is It Reasonable To Believe There Is No God? 1. It is impossible to disprove Gods existence. This makes the emphatic statement, "There is no God," irrational. 2. Atheists mock "faith," but notice some things they have faith in:
3. Atheism leads to despair. Robert G. Ingersoll stated, at his brothers funeral, that life will pass into "silence and pathetic dust," that every life will, in the end, "become a tragedy sad and deep and dark." Such a view does not contribute to the happiness and peace for which we strive in this life. Is Agnosticism Reasonable? Agnostics do not know whether or not God exists. If He does, they do not feel that He is relevant to life. Thus, the agnostic wont search out the evidence to see if there is a God. Agnosticism neither affirms nor denies the existence of God, but it doesnt make anyone want to find out either. It is a convenient excuse one has not to argue Gods existence. However, not knowing should not be grounds for rejecting God; it should spur one on to investigate the evidence for God. Is It Reasonable To Believe In God? "Show me scientific proof that there is a God," says the atheist. Science involves that which is testable, observable, and repeatable; we cannot put God in a lab to test and observe Him. But it is this way with many things. We cannot expect God to be measured by the limits of modern science, but this does not mean that no evidence exists for God. Out of the mountain of evidence for God, note the following: 1. Design. When one considers how watches, computers, cars, etc. work, it is foolish to argue that they came into existence without help. How silly to say there is no watchmaker! Atheists would defend the fact that a computer did not just happen by chance. Now consider the human eye, the design of the human body, the design of the world and its relation to other creatures. These things dwarf the design of a computer; yet, we are asked to believe that these things happened by chance. Experience and logic tells us that if there is design, there is a Designer. Signs of intelligence imply the existence of the intelligence behind them. 2. Consciousness. What is responsible for our ability to think, feel, and make moral decisions? How does one account for the mind and its reasoning processes? Are we to think that it is all based upon millions of years of chance mutations and natural selection? Atheism cannot explain consciousness. Lifeless matter cannot explain the mind. But God does explain it quite well. 3. Jesus Christ. Ultimately, one must face the evidence for Jesus. If the Bible is true, the existence of God is a foregone conclusion. If Jesus is true, then God is. So What Do We Conclude? The Bible does not go into a detailed argument for Gods existence. It simply begins with, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). It assumes Gods existence and expects people to recognize His handiwork in the creation (Psalm 19:1). There is no excuse for not believing in Him (Romans 1:18-21). Once we acknowledge that God is, we must admit that we are accountable to Him. We cannot do whatever we want anymore. We must submit our will to Gods. Because this is an unacceptable alternative to those who dont want to change, they will simply think, "There is no God." This is foolish (Psalm 14:1). Why not accept the evidence and submit yourself to the Creator? Christianity Magazine, May 1997 |