If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, then what is it to have no fear of God at all?
I frequent a few websites whose members certainly think of themselves as more than usually intelligent and well-educated. Some of them are atheists, and they criticize, or even mock and insult, Christians for believing in God. The phrase they always toss around is “your God”–as if the God who made the heavens and the earth were some kind of possession of ours, rather than the other way around.
It’s “your god didn’t do this” or “your god shoulda done that,” blah-blah. They claim that not a word in the Bible constitutes true history, it’s all just made-up stories, and then burst into rage because God wiped out the Canaanites–I mean, why get so upset about something that you say never happened?
They pat themselves on the back for believing in Science. For us, science is a method of learning about God’s created reality. For them it is an idol to be worshiped. A substitute for God. They created it themselves, and then they worship it. Like a poor benighted heathen bowing down to a thing he carved out of a chunk of wood.
Science tells them God didn’t create anything because, of course, God does not exist (they hate Him anyway). Everything sort of evolved. And it all got rolling–by merest chance!–when it rained on earth’s primordial rocks… and the rocks came alive.
I find I just can’t get comfortable with all this “your god” stuff and can’t take it in stride. I come from a time when people didn’t talk like this. And I come from a belief that God hears what we say and will hold us to account for it. So to me such talk seems very dangerous.
The Bible assures us that the fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 13 and elsewhere).
When fools do things, it doesn’t turn out well.
Which, I think, explains this age.
First, let me say that I’m unspeakably grateful to call the one true living God, Creator of everything, my God, my Savior, my Lord.
The deniers tread on very dangerous ground and I pray they have a change of heart. If they truly knew what awaits unbelievers, they may not have such a haughty attitude. I couldn’t bear the thought of eternal separation from the love of Christ
Word study of the Greek word for ‘destruction’ – 3639 ólethros (from ollymi/”destroy”) – properly, ruination with its full, destructive results (LS). 3639 /ólethros (“ruination”) however does not imply “extinction” (annihilation). Rather it emphasizes the consequent loss that goes with the complete “undoing.”
That definition brought me a mental picture of utter desolation, a ghostly figure wandering in a fog filled forest with broken, leafless branches on lifeless trees, mourning doves crying from the empty branches – searching endlessly. Desolation.
Since I’m far from being a writer, it’s difficult to convey the emotions tied up in those thoughts, but I assure you, it was eternal utter desolation and emptiness, with no hope of escape – through death or any other means. Their fate by then is sealed.
Pray for the lost that they be found, the sleeping that they awaken, and the backslidden to return and repent. In Jesus’ Precious Name. Amen.
Amen!
Actually God didn’t create mankind, it was the other way around.
I could delete this comment, but God has already heard it.
Why do you feel the need to speak on behalf of God?
why do you feel the need to visit Christian blogs and speak on behalf of atheism?
Because nature cannot speak for itself in the most part, so I am content speaking for it. God does not have such limitations, surely? I’m just intrigued as to why I only ever hear of this God through people… It truly seems like mankind created God.
God commissions us to proclaim Him and to declare His truth. We are His people, so that’s what we do.
Have you ever thought about not doing it?
No–and I don’t quite see the point of this conversation.
You are speaking of atheists in a blog post and then struggle to see why a conversation with an atheist would be of value? Maybe you do need guidance from a God.
In answer to ‘Sam’
I have thought about ‘not doing it’ many times, and have done so; sometimes in order not to cast my pearls before swine, other times through selfishness, doubt, sin in my life, etc.
This is called disobedience, and is a sin.
God and His Christ directly command us to bring the lost to Him, and so we do, in our beggarly sort off meager fashion; we direct sinners to their only Savior.
I asked someone who does it a lot, “In conversing with atheists, have you ever succeeded in budging one of them off his position?” Of course the answer was no: but he did add, “I do it for whoever else might be listening or reading.” Wise words!
Matthew 12:36 “on the day of judgement, people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken…” I try to be very careful for
the words I speak, and those who speak without knowing whereof they speak, will have a very rude awakening.
The ancient Greeks had the same debates about God over two thousand years ago. The Greeks that believed in a creator made their argument by observing nature, the cosmos, and logically deducing there had to be a designer. That sentiment is echoed in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” With the advancement in Molecular biology, evidence of a designer has become even more apparent. To not acknowledge that is to be willfully blind.
The more I have pondered evolution the less sense it makes to me. Evolution doesn’t explain how life began, how living matter could have come from inert matter. It takes more than matter and energy to produce life, it takes information. Where did the information come from? There is no known observable process by which new genetic information can be added to an organism’s genetic code. If life could have happened so easily, we should be able to re-create life in a lab. However, science can’t even make a single blade of grass from nothing. The fact is we have never seen macro evolution in action, that is the changing of one kind to another kind.
Darwin’s doubt was that the fossil record didn’t support his theory, but he was confident discoveries would eventually be made. Over one-hundred years later and the missing link has still not been found. Indeed, there would have to be thousands upon thousands of transitional changes for every creature that has ever lived. Instead we see sudden emergence of life, as with the Cambrian Explosion. Even if evolution were true, it still would not disprove God. For God could have just as easily used evolution to fulfill His plans, although I don’t believe that to be the case. In the end, evolution is a creation myth without a creator.
In closing, there’s a quote I like that sums it up, ““Can you “prove” the existence of God? No. Can you establish strong reasons for believing in the existence of God? Yes. Can an atheist “prove” that God does not exist? No. Can they establish strong reasons for not believing in the existence of God? No.”” -Mark McGee
It amazes me that so many in science feel it is their duty to “debunk” God. The more I learn about life, about the earth, the cosmos and about the animal kingdom, the more I am struck by the need for design.
As Watchman pointed out, life requires information. All of the ingredients of life cannot become life without information. The proteins which form the building blocks of the cells are ordered in a certain manner, much to complex to happen randomly.
While I believe in God as a Person, I think that it is helpful to remember that His laws permeate everything. His laws are in the vast expanses of the Universe and they are in the tiniest sub-atomic particle. His laws are in the simplest cell, they are infused in all living things. When we live according to the laws of the Bible, we are putting our lives in harmony with the rest of creation.
When the ancient Canaanites sacrificed their children to Moloch they brought upon themselves God’s judgment. It wasn’t a decision God made, the Canaanites themselves made that decision. If one decides to dash out on a highway just as a semi-truck is coming the results are both tragic and predictable. The same is true if one flaunts the natural law and sacrifices their children to an idol. God was actually patient, telling Abraham that his seed would not possess the Promised Land for another 400 years, because the iniquity of these people had yet to fully develop. Their iniquity did develop and God gave them into the hands of the sons of Israel at that point in time.
To me, the lesson is well taken in our time. There are people whom flaunt God’s law in all sorts of ways. We hear of dishonesty, immorality and cruelty to our fellow man. Many people that practice these things seem as if they are getting off Scot free, but they aren’t. If we practice immorality it will have a lasting effect. Likewise for dishonest gain. Those whom sacrifice their children in the modern practice of abortion will he held responsible for their iniquity.
All sin is forgivable in Christ, but we are fooling ourselves if we believe that forgiveness on God’s part means that we can sin with impunity. If we allow our own iniquity to grow, we will end up no better off than the inhabitants that were removed from the land of Canaan in ancient times.
Very true my Brother; God bless you.
thank you for that!
Indeed true and I love how you handled the conversation with the atheist that commented on this post. God deliver him in JESUS name. Amen.
Some people don’t want to be delivered. That one thought he spoke for “nature.”