FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH #1 PM
PROVE GOD EXISTS
What do you say to a person who says, “Prove God exists!” Some Christians may reply, “Prove that He doesn’t” But really the reply should be, “What kind of proof are you looking for?”
The proof one person seeks may be different to what another person requires. What may be convincing to one is rubbish to another! Some different kinds of proof may be:
- Scientific Proof. For example, this article in the Wall Street Journal provides scientific evidence for the existence of God. Some people will read this article and scoff at its trite deductions. Others may find it adds to an accumulating weight of evidence for the rational belief in intelligent design.
- Logical Deduction. Some people are seeking a logical argument for the existence of God. There are some pretty deep logical arguments here which will keep you thinking for hours, yet many would find these empty and lacking force. Pacall’s Wager is a simple logical argument. It merely says, if I’m a Christian and I’m wrong (about the existence of God) then I will never know about it. But if you (an atheist) are wrong then you will spend eternity in hell to think it over, hence the greater burden of proof lies with the atheist.
- Sensory awareness. Some people want to see God in action, or hear His voice, feel His touch in some way to experience God with their senses so that they can know He is real.
- A reason to believe. Other people are seeking a reason to accept God’s existence because they have a blockage or obstacle to faith. They may say, “If God is real then why did my loved one die?” Something doesn’t make sense to them and if that mystery can be unraveled then they may find the reason to believe.
Therefore if someone asks you to prove God exists, then ask them to tell you what kind of evidence are they looking for?
The request for proof can not be separated from the motive of why they want proof. Jesus dealt with this issue a few times in the New Testament.
Story 1 – The Pharisees seek a sign.
Matthew 12:38-42 The Message (MSG)
Jonah-Evidence
38 Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. “Teacher, we want to see your credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a miracle?”
39-40 Jesus said, “You’re looking for proof, but you’re looking for the wrong kind. All you want is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. The only proof you’re going to get is what looks like the absence of proof: Jonah-evidence. Like Jonah, three days and nights in the fish’s belly, the Son of Man will be gone three days and nights in a deep grave.
41-42 “On Judgment Day, the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about ‘proofs.’ On Judgment Day, the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that will condemn this generation, because she travelled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you, and you quibble over ‘evidence.’
The Pharisees motive was to prove Jesus wrong. They had a vested interest in seeing Jesus fail or go away, because the people followed Jesus and it was diminishing the Pharisees power and authority.
Story 2 – The people seek a free meal – John 6:22-30
John 6:22-30 New Living Translation (NLT)
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25 They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” 28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” 29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” 30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?
Why you want proof is an issue not just that you want proof. In other words are you genuinely looking for God? Are you open to find Him and become a believer? Then your journey of discovery is from a motive of seeking and discovering. Others are seeking a proof to justify their independence and lack of need for God. They seek to prove God is not in order to be comfortable in their sin.
16-18 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”
You think with your head and you also think with your heart.
For example, a highly intelligent academic may have all the qualifications of super intelligence but may suffer from addiction problems, or irrational fears, or inability to hold down a relationship. Emotional intelligence is now a recognized form of human knowledge. Again for example, Richard Dawkins is well known for advocating that all Down’s Syndrome infants should be aborted in utero because they are not normal. He makes a logical scientific deduction, but fails the heart test because he does not address the vast numbers of families who have Down’s Syndrome children and love them and would never consider them inferior to another child.
The bible speaks about “As a man thinks in his heart” (Prov 23:7)
In her book, “Who Switched Off My Brain” Author Caroline Leaf, a world recognised Neuroscientist explains, “Toxic stress is particularly powerful because your heart is not just a pump. It is actually like another brain (and you thought you only had one brain!). Science demonstrates that your heart has its own independent nervous system, which is a complex system referred to as the “brain in the heart.” There are at least 40,000 neurons (nerve cells) in the heart – as many as are found in various parts of the brain. In effect, the brain in your heart acts like a checking station for all the emotions generated by the flow of chemicals created by thoughts. It is proving to be a real intelligent force behind the intuitive thoughts and feelings you experience. The heart also produces an important biochemical substance called an atrial peptide (specifically ANF). It is the balance hormone that regulates many of your brain’s functions and stimulates behaviour.
New scientific evidence on the heart’s neurological sensitivity indicates there are lines of communication between the brain and the heart that check the accuracy and integrity of your thought life. The reality is, your heart is in constant communication with your brain and the rest of your body. The signals your heart sends to your brain influence not just perception and emotional processing, but higher cognitive functions as well.”
You think with your heart.
If you are seeking God with your whole heart, then you will find Him. Jeremiah 29:13 New King James Version (NKJV) – 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
If you are seeking proof or evidence for any other reason you will not find God, you will find what you are looking for – a reason not to believe.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The Message (MSG)
9-12 The Anarchist’s coming is all Satan’s work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they’re so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it—gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust truth, they’re banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you believe in God? That God exists.
2. Do you have Faith in God? That God is who He says He is, the creator and giver of all life?
3. Do you believe that Jesus is God?
4. Do you believe that Jesus is who He says He is in the bible? The only begotten Son of God who died for you on the cross?
5. Do you believe that You have accepted the truth of the Gospel and have given your life to Christ to follow Him and live for Him?
If you found this blog helpful (or not) please leave a comment. – Thanks.
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