THREE ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

From the West Meadow
By Pastor Wesley Higgins

Atheism is on the increase around the world and in Europe, it's militant atheism. In my mind it takes a lot of faith to be an atheist, or an evolutionist for that matter -- especially in the face of modern science. All science supports a starting point -- a creation. Science reveals intelligent design - a designer. Science operates on infinite and provable laws -- laws that had to be put in place and sustained: a lawgiver and sustainer. The list can go on, yet in all this there is still a growing movement against belief in God.

As Christians, we are admonished to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (I Peter 3:15). So how do we answer the atheist or even our own doubts, when a trial is so severe that even we wonder and question God's love and existence?

I have three simple, basic arguments which are time tested and irrefutable. These arguments come from the book, "A Country Parson", by George Herbert. This book was first published in 1652, long before major scientific input.

Parson Herbert's first argument is Nature. "He sees not how a house could be either built without a builder, or kept in repaire (sic) without a house-keeper" (all quotes from ch. 34, "The Parson's Dexterity"). No one in his right mind will look at a house and think that it just evolved from nothing or that it stays in good repair without help. Yet the same people look at the earth and all its creatures, and in their vain assumptions think they come from nothing.

Parson Herbert even discussed climate change. It's interesting that in 1652, climate change was a topic (as I understand global climate patterns, in 1652 the earth was in a cooling down trend and didn't start another warming cycle until the 1800's). Parson Herbert wrote, "let the weather be what it will, still we have bread, though sometimes more, sometimes less; wherewith also a careful Joseph might meet." In other words, don't waste your time fighting what God has set in order - natural climate change - but be a "careful Joseph" by spending time and effort on making the most beneficial use of the naturally occurring changes (in our case, "global warming").

"Secondly", the Parson says, "for the Law, there may be so evident, though unused, a proof of Divinity taken from thence, that the Atheist...can have nothing to contradict." Now at this point, when I think of laws I think of the God-created and God-sustained laws of science and nature. But Parson Herbert points in proof to God's word and law given to the nation of Israel. "The Jew yet live", he wrote, "and are known. They have their law and language bearing witness to them and they to it..." He cited Isaiah 43:12, "Therefore you are My witnesses", says the Lord, "that I am God.'" The very existence of the Jews in his time, scattered throughout the world, and in our time even after a concerted effort to completely destroy them, and even now living in the shadows of nations where a voiced goal is to "destroy them from the face of the earth", proves beyond a shadow of doubt the Divinity of God.

The Parson's third argument is "for grace" - God's love. He points to several fulfilled prophecies from the New Testament. The Parson wrote, "Now a prophecy is a wonder sent to Posterity. Lest they complain of want of wonders. It is a letter sealed, and sent, which to the bearer is but paper, but to the receiver, is full of power." One of the prophecies the Parson refers to is found in Matthew 26 and John 12. It is the story of Mary who anointed Christ and wiped His feet with her hair. The proof is in verse 13 of Matthew 26, "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." Nearly 2000 years later, the proof still exists - the story is still told. God, therefore, exists.

The Parson finished his argument for grace by talking about God's inherent love for His creation. "So that man...has two pledges (or proofs) of God's love - one in his (man's) being, the other in his sinful being". God's love for man is the ultimate unanswerable proof of His existence. We can despise that love, we can reject it, but we can't exist without it. "The thrusting away of His arms makes us only not embraced."

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