Ramon Arias | December 9, 2013
It is amazing to me that when atheists demand proof of God’s existence the majority of Christians run for cover when it should be the other way around. Since the dawn of human history God has been on trial by inquisitive finite minds that cannot accept the reality of His existence.
Atheists have valid questions and many good reasons to distrust Christians due to the multiple complexities and dissimilarities in the Christian denominations. In other words, there is no solid testimony to an unbelieving world from a cohesively united Christian camp. This historical inconsistency in Christianity has opened the door for atheism to conceive and propagate the non-existence of God successfully gaining ground in the nations of the world. They have become bolder in their attacks against Christianity and other religions, even though their main adversary is Christianity.
Atheists that demand answers for the existence of God should never intimidate Christians. Neither should Christians run for cover when they are asked to give an explanation for all the evil and suffering in the world.
Atheists are irrational. I should know I was one of them for many years. But hold on, most Christians come across as irrational too due to their lack of a true biblical worldview. There are millions of Christians who deny the relevancy of God’s Word by their lifestyle. Millions of Christians do not believe in the Sovereignty of God and His moral law as the foundation for solid meaningful lives as well as for social institutions. Millions of Christians deny that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. They talk about God as the Creator but deny He can manifest the same power on behalf of His people as He did in times past.
Atheists attack the Bible in spite of the overwhelming archeological evidence that confirms the truthfulness of Bible stories. This fact alone would debunk their theory of life, the world, universe, death and the afterlife. Christians should know by heart that without the Bible modern science would not have developed the way it did had it not been for the European Biblical Reformation of the early 16th Century. It should be common knowledge to Christians that atheists fear people who consult God’s moral law, which defines proper ethics for human and social progress at all levels. The knowledge that it is not possible for a society to enjoy freedom outside of Biblical principles is a powerful weapon not used enough to defend the biblical faith with the evidence history affords. Christians are naïve in not understanding that atheism is a religion that wants to dominate the world and will not stop at anything. They do not pause to consider the historical destruction atheism has caused to the human race. Generation after generation they have reinvented themselves but come back with the same old worldview with “new” terminology.
Let us go back to our subject at hand of Christians “running for cover when atheists demand proof of God’s existence”. Let me briefly share my response: The proof of God’s existence can be summed up as follows, Jesus Christ. That’s right; Jesus is the proof of God’s existence.
From the dawning of man’s history the question whether God exists or not has been in people’s minds followed by mountains of other questions. No, I’m not giving an ingenuous answer. One of Jesus’ disciples, Philip, had a similar question:
“Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us,’” John 14:8.
Here is a Jew, who accepted to be Jesus’ disciple and had been with Him for three years. He witnessed all the evidence that Christ was the one whom the Scriptures said would come to save the world from the slavery of lies and sin, but he was now asking, show us God, and it will be enough evidence for us of His existence.
Pay close attention to Jesus’ answer:
“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves,’” John 14:9-11.
No matter what anyone says, the historical Jesus is real and for thousands of years before His appearance on earth the purpose for His coming was announced. I guaranty you it was not to establish a religion with man’s doctrines, much less to create all the confusion His followers have created. I have good news for you, be encouraged, the confusion will greatly melt away with the next Biblical Reformation.
Facts are facts and Jesus made it clear: God and He were one. In other words: He told Philip, when you see me you see God, end of story!
Before His arrest, Jesus was in conversation (praying) with the Father and stated:
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed,” John 17:4-5.
Jesus is the only human who knew where He came from, what work He came to accomplish and once He finished He was ready to go back to the original position He had before the world and the universe existed.
Jesus is someone I can follow, be discipled by and do the works He expects of me. I believe every word He said that is registered. I have no doubt in my inquisitive mind that He is who He said He was and is today.
The facts presented to all of us about Jesus are more than sufficient to satisfy the most demanding mind. The historical facts are not only overwhelming but also convincing for anyone who truly is searching for the truth.
Two thousand years ago, a Greek medical doctor with his academic and scientific mind determined to find facts about all that had been said about the extraordinary life of a Jew by the name of Jesus. Beginning with His conception, life, teachings, power, death, resurrection and ascension beyond all galaxies to a place called heaven. He wanted to give an accurate historical account to a prominent man by the name of Theophilus. In the introduction of his writings he stated:
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4.
Before His arrest, Jesus defines what His followers should look like:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father,” John 14:12.
The famous actor Ben Johnson said:
“I know no disease of the soul but ignorance, a pernicious evil, the darkener of man’s life, the disturber of his reason, and common confounder of truth.”
As the atheists and an unbelieving world witness more of Christ’ true life in His followers, they will know that God exists.
By knowing Jesus, we know God, and the whole purpose of the universe, the world and the human race. It all makes sense.