5/15/18 Dean (video) about 50
Why isn’t there just one indisputable proof for the
existence of God available in a convenient, easy to wield soundbite? I mean, wouldn’t that be a great weapon to
use in our debates with atheists, something they just can’t deny?
And what should that proof look like? Since God is a supernatural being, not
beholden to the physical laws of nature, should it be a supernatural feat or
sign of some sort? Who should decide
what evidence is acceptable or sufficient?
I asked Dean, a self-described atheist, what evidence he
would deem acceptable, and he said he would like to see just such an indisputable,
supernatural proof.
But no such proof exists.
Instead, we are left with an overwhelming amount of “clues” as to God’s
existence, which, if taken individually, aren’t always that undeniable. But when we take the time to explore them, to
consider their implications, to meditate on such things as the origins and
order of the universe, the universal belief in morality, beauty and a higher personality
to which we are accountable, and thoughts of eternity; taken together, the
clues for God’s existence are so convincing as to be all the evidence we need.
Paul assures us that, in effect, the clues are indeed
undeniable when he wrote “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible
qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being
understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” He was saying that there really is no such
thing as an “atheist”, because the Creator is evident in the creation. Instead of passively living in unbelief, Paul
would say that atheists are actively living in denial of the obvious.
Problem is, the clues for God are not so obvious that they
can all fit into a quick soundbite or even a half-hour conversation. The mountain of clues are out there, even to
be able to say ours is a reasonable faith, but they require humility, patience,
and perseverance to work through. Instead
of a quick slogan to silence our opposition in one slam dunk, the many clues
require time and effort and communication in order for us to build our
case.
And that requires a willing audience.
How can an atheist be a willing audience, patiently working
through the many clues that make a case for God’s existence, especially if it only
leads to the hard truth that if God does exist they will be held accountable to
Him?
They can’t. Although
the knowledge of God is evident in His creation, the God denier doesn’t see it,
but lives in denial of the obvious.
Instead, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2 that God uses us as believers “…to
spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” Just as there are many pleasant and foul
odors we encounter in life, this “aroma” can either draw people in or drive
them away, because “…To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the
other, an aroma that brings life.”
Because of Christ in us, we are the aroma of life to those who are being saved, and the aroma of death to those who are perishing. But since we can't really know for sure who is who, maybe it’s those quick slogans we look for to win
debates that cause us to smell of death.
Maybe if we are less concerned about winning debates and more concerned
about winning hearts and souls through patience, mutual respect, active listening, and tough love, we
might just have the aroma of life.
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