There are a growing number of people today who seriously doubt the existence of God, or are skeptical of the God of the Christian Bible. This trend does not include hard-core atheists because they have always been around. However, we are seeing growth in what has now become the third largest religious category worldwide known as the “nones” (no religious affiliation). This has been notable since the end of twentieth century and, in my view, one of the biggest reasons is the apparent divide between God and science.
Science classes are often where the battle begins for the minds and hearts of young people today, as well as many adults. This is where you can find ideology threatening truth. When it comes to the topic of life’s origin atheists and secular scientists discard any evidence, scientific or otherwise, that points to the existence of God as the Creator.
Public school curriculum is based on secular humanism and evolutionary philosophy, not science. Evolutionary philosophy is founded on presuppositions that accept only evidence that fits the evolutionary philosophical model. Students in our public schools and universities are given selected information that supports the established teaching of evolution and its philosophical premises. Students are not given, nor are they allowed to evaluate, any evidence that points towards the possibility of an intelligently designed creation.
Science is not an enemy of Christian thinkers. When one takes a truly open examination of the evidence, without any preconceived ideas, it will be easy to see where the science leads. It ultimately takes much more faith to force the evidence into a paradigm that does not allow for the possibility of a Creator than one that does.
Over the next several posts we will overview four major lines of evidence For the existence of an Intelligent Designer, but first, what does the Bible have to say about God as the Creator and sustainer of our Universe?
From a Biblical perspective:
Only fools say in their hearts, “there is no God”. They are corrupt and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! Psalm 53:1
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God…
- God gives His eyewitness account to Moses (Exodus 31:18, 34:1-2, 27, Psalm 111:4, Isaiah 42:9)
- The Bible always assumes, and never argues, God’s existence
- The Bible describes God as the Creator who is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-holy, all-righteous, complete in justice, full of truth and mercy, complete in love and grace, and everywhere present
Additional supporting verses:
- He existed before the beginning of time (Colossians 1:17)
- He existed at the beginning of time (John 1:1-2)
- God is present everywhere in the Universe and is not constrained by time/space (Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 23:24)
- He is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16)
- He is eternal and unchangeable (Psalm 9:7; 1 Timothy 1:17; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)
- He is the sustainer of everything (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3)
- His wisdom is without limit and His understanding is complete (Psalm 147:5; 1 John 3:20)
- He knows the beginning from the end (Isaiah 42:9)
In addition to Biblical evidence for the existence of God there is much evidence outside the Bible. For the skeptic who does not believe that the Bible is the Word of God disciplines like philosophy, science, history, and sociology can help make a very compelling and convincing case. If allowed to examine all of the evidence one cannot deny the stronger possibility of an intelligently designed Universe. Everyone has to answer the question of origin from their own worldview and Christianity is simply claiming to have the best answer to that question, and so much more.
I. Philosophical Arguments for the existence of God:
Anselm’s Ontological Argument:
“God is a being of which nothing greater can be thought. This is a greatness, not in size or space, but in perfection—perfection of intelligence, power, truth, love, and all that makes perfection is found within this being.”
Therefore, if you try to describe God in human terms then He must be greater than what you can describe.
- The Creator of a thing does not fall under, and is not held to, the rules of the thing He created
- God exists outside and inside His created time-space continuum and although everything we know to exist had a beginning God has always existed
- God is the uncaused, first cause of all things and there must be a first uncaused cause for anything to exist – the Creator would have to be, by definition, an uncaused causer
- Something cannot come from nothing, being cannot come from non-being, life cannot come from non-life, and intelligence (a mind) cannot come from non-intelligence
A logical example: A person who designs, builds, and programs a computer does not live in the computer, nor are they held to the rules and limitations of the computer they designed. Is the same not true with God and His design of the Universe?
The Kalam Cosmological Argument:
An infinite number of days has no beginning and no end, but today is an end day of history (history being a collection of all days). There were not an infinite number of days before today otherwise we could never get to today (i.e. time had to have a beginning). For example, count forward—will you ever get to the last number? Count backward (negative numbers)—will you ever get to the beginning? Therefore, life’s history had a beginning.
Reflection
- Philosophy can be a tough area to understand—reflect on the two philosophical arguments. Summarize and critique them in your own words. Go deeper and do some research on them both.
- Prayer: Focus on God’s character and His indescribable ability to have created all that we see in this Universe.
Bible Study
Each week we will do a Bible study to practice our Bible study skills. This week read or re-read 1 Corinthians chapters 1-2, then answer the following questions:
- Summarize what the author says about the wisdom of God versus human wisdom. (1:18-24). Does this relate to our culture today? If so how? Note: The words “Greeks” or “Gentiles” are interchangeable in the writing and basically means anyone who is not Jewish.
- The message of Christ’s death for our sins sounds foolish to those who don’t believe. Why did God choose to do it this way? (1:25-31)
- According to historical records, Paul was not what the world would call a “good looking” man; even in his speech and preaching he seemed weak (2:1-4), yet God was using him to share “His wisdom” once hidden but now known. What is this wisdom that the rulers of this age did not understand? (2:1-9) The clue to this answer is in verse 8.
- Why is it that believers see the truths of God and non-believers (the natural man) do not? (2:10-16)
Join us next week as we continue our case for Christianity and the evidence for the existence of God.
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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