DOES GOD EXIST

flowing water“There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life!” These provocative ads ran on the sides of buses in 12 countries including Britain, the United States, Canada and Germany from the latter part of 2008 into 2009.

These provocative ads ran on the sides of buses in 12 countries including Britain, the United States, Canada and Germany from the latter part of 2008 into 2009.


They were a response to Christian bus ads running on the sides of buses in London, England that asserted non-Christians would burn in hell for all eternity.


Atheists raised money to fund opposing bus ads, which were then endorsed and financed by the British Humanist Society. The word ‘probably’ was included so the ads would be allowed to run. In advertising parlance probably allows you be boastful without being challenged or sued, because it’s still your opinion.


Should Christians fear these ads? No.  If they stimulate discussion and help us defend our faith more clearly then bring them on! The ads pose a danger to less grounded spiritual seekers who may become more skeptical, and for unprepared parents who have to scramble for explanations when their children begin to ask questions. If parents aren’t grounded in their faith and can’t give adequate answers they may risk losing their pre-teen or teenager to this atheist way of thinking.

flowing waterAtheists may be surprised to know the Bible doesn’t try to prove God’ existence. It is clearly stated as a fact that God exists. Genesis 1:1 asserts in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth - Take it or leave it. The Christian life has always been about faith, as Hebrew 11: 6 explains;" and without faith it is impossible to please God. Because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." One of the Bible’s aims is to assert the existence of God and offer reasonable evidence that He created the universe.


Famed atheist Bertrand Russell was once asked what he would say if after death God confronted him about his unbelief: “Not enough evidence God, not enough”. The atheist has faith, after all how does he know a car will stop at a red light and not run him over? Because of pride he chooses not be believe in God.


Some Proofs for God’s Existence

Intelligent Design: One of the classic arguments is that of Christian apologist, William Paley who reasoned that when you see a watch with all its complex parts you wouldn’t assume it made itself or it evolved over time.  You assume a watchmaker. Christians and reasonable people believe a divine watchmaker made this universe and is still involved in this planet with all its intricate life forms and complex eco systems.

Law of Causality- in its simplest form this law contends, the universe had a beginning. Therefore it is finite. Anything finite is caused by something other than itself.

Moral Laws –every society has social customs e.g. marriage, family, and laws designed to preserve life, keep order, etc., e.g. laws against stealing, murder, adultery .To be sure certain cultures will differ on size of family and number of wives, etc, but in all cultures There are certain values that are always promoted and prevalent such as honesty, integrity, courage. Where these ideas are promoted these societies tend to persevere. When they are not, the society falls into chaos. Why did so many people all over the world just come to these conclusions? If there is a moral law there must be a moral lawgiver.


We can also look at the life of the disciples in the Bible.  Before Jesus Christ died they were cowardly, egotistical men. After his resurrection they were emboldened to spread the Gospel throughout the known world at the time. All were persecuted, according to Church history and tradition, except John (the writer of Revelation) who met martyrdom. There is no record of any of them recanting before their execution by saying, “We made this whole thing up”. People may believe a lie but no one will knowingly die for a lie.

Any serious skeptic should also study the life of Christian apologist C.S. Lewis. Lewis was one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th Century. He turned from an atheistic background to faith in Christ. His greatest treatise on reasons to believe in the Christian faith is "Mere Christianity". One of the book’s most famous quotes about Jesus Christ is…

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be great moral teacher. He would either be lunatic-on a level with the man who says he’s a poached egg-or else he would be the devil of hell…either this man was and is the Son of God or else a madman or something worse.”

The atheists may not realize, that while they take shots at God. God also takes shots them.
"The fool says in his heart there is no God. They are corrupt, their deeds are vile There is no one who does good”.
 Psalms 14:1-3. God gave man the freedom to accept or reject him. Faith in the Christian God is still primarily an act of the will.

God has also given man enough light to accept or reject him- to be sure some were given more than others. Titus 2:11-12 asserts 'for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men’. However everyone will be judged by how they followed the light they were given including those from non-Christian societies to our present age …Abraham asked the rhetorical question ‘will not the judge of all the earth do right’. Genesis 18:25

I chose not be too detailed with the evidence presented in this column. Anyone who chooses not to believe could readily pick apart anything presented here and offer alternative explanations. To them I offer another C.S Lewis quote: "There are only two kinds of people in the end: Those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell choose it."(The Great Divorce)

Article Written by: Trevor Burnett

1 Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Used by permission of Zondervan. All Rights Reserved.

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