Tuesday, August 16, 2011
A Question Of Origins
Evolutionists eventually admit they cannot explain what caused the universe to come into being. To use their language, they can't explain what caused the Big Bang. They also admit they cannot explain what caused the evolutionary process to begin. I find this interesting because they claim evolution to be a fact of biological history. We also do not observe Darwinian evolution happening. Oh yes we see examples of changes within species through natural selection, but we have never observed a transformation of one species into another. We do not observe new DNA information being introduced. We see variations on information that was already present in the DNA. So evolutionists cannot explain how the universe or evolution began. We also do not observe evolution. So how can this be considered a fact? It sounds more like a faith to me. We don't see Jesus physically today. We cannot explain how Jesus was born. We cannot explain how God is eternal. However we can explain how faith in Jesus began. It began with a well documented and witnessed historical event. The crucifixion and with that the resurrection of Jesus. Nothing else can explain how the origins of the church. So the choice is yours. Either way it is a step of faith, however chosing evolution is a greater step of faith than trusting in Christ and His word. You may question why both cannot be true. They both cannot be true because Jesus Himself endorsed the writings of Moses as the word of God. If we trust in Jesus, then we acknowledge He is God in the flesh. Moses wrote of the creation in such a way that it cannot be compatable with evolutionary theory. Death did not exist until man sinned in the Garden of Eden. Likewise God said He created each creature after its own kind. It does not say he created one creature that became other kinds. So the question is simple. Trust the word of God or the words of man. The words and theories of man are proven wrong everyday, God's word has never been proven wrong. Remember you can't know who you are if you dont know who you came from.
Friday, August 12, 2011
The New Atheism
The New Atheism
Part 1 and 2
By Tim Schaertel
July, 2011
The New Atheism
One of my life verses is 1st Peter 3:15
1Pe 3:14 But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Never be afraid of their
threats, and never get upset.
1Pe 3:15 Instead, exalt Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone
who asks you to explain the hope you have.
1Pe 3:16 But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak
evil of your good conduct in Christ will be ashamed of slandering you.
• The Greek word here in the King James for answer is “Apologia” which means “A
defense”
◦ This is where we get the word Apologetic
◦ We are not apologizing for our faith, but giving a reason why we believe
◦ We are not walking in blind faith, but a reasonable faith
▪ Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool.
• The Hebrew word here for reason is “Yakach” which means: to argue
for, to dispute, to convince, to plead.
• If we have no evidence for our faith, how can we argue, dispute,
convince, and plead with people
▪ Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
• Though we don't see God, we have evidence for Him, and have His
substance through faith
• This means we experience God working in and through our lives
confirming our faith.
• We are called to give a defense as to why we believe the Gospel
• Why would God tell us to defend why we believe?
◦ 1st He tells us this for our own benefit.
▪ When we know what we believe and why, we are that much more confident in our faith
and will be able to stand stronger when the enemy, the world, and the flesh come
against us.
▪ Why do you think God went to great lengths to proclaim the future in advance through
His prophets
▪ He did it to prove Himself to us. To prove that the Bible is indeed His word.
▪ Prophecy alone does not cause us to believe, but it gets our attention, and draws us to
Him.
• In John 4:9-29 we read about how a Samaritan woman encountered
Jesus, and did not take Him serious until He revealed things to her that
He knew about her, that no one could know.
• She perceived He was a prophet and from that point on took Him
serious
• It was then that Jesus convicted her of her sin, and she then recognized
Him as her Messiah
• Joh 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and
saith to the men, Joh 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I
did: is not this the Christ?
• A lot of people poo poo talking about prophecy, but Jesus did often to believers and
unbelievers
• Prophecy is one aspect of giving a defense of our faith.
◦ Our personal testimony is another aspect
◦ Historical testimony, Israel, Archeology, scientific insight, and moral truth are
some other topics we can use to defend our faith.
Now I said all that to say this:
There is a new religion out there. It is called the New Atheism.
• This is not the Atheism that just says they don't believe in God, but are Biblically illiterate
• This New Atheism is made up of intellectuals who are well versed in scripture and are
extremely aggressive towards the word of God
• Their sole purpose is to “Prove” to people that Christianity is a fairy tale.
• They also try to make the case that Christianity is dangerous and doing extreme harm to society
and the world.
• It is not something we can just ignore, because the leaders of this religion have become
evangelistic in that they are going around the world, writing books, making movies, and other
multi-media approaches to spreading their gospel. Their gospel being there is no god.
• Their main “Prophets” have become very well known, especially among young people.
• They are called the Atheistic 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse
◦ Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett
◦ Chances are you may have heard of at least one of the books written by these men
▪ “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins
• Interesting name he chose. I think he chose it not realizing it is a true Biblical
statement
• 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume
with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
• In context this is speaking of The Antichrist, but it applies to Richard
Dawkins in that...
• 1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist
shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the
last time.
• So Dawkins is an antichrist? He is being empowered and led by the same spirit
of Antichrist, that being Satan.
• Dawkins has rejected God because of his love for sin, and like Pharoah, God has
given him over to his sin and hardened his heart.
• This does not mean he still won't someday repent, and we should pray for him.
▪ I have encountered those who have embraced the teachings of these men
▪ Unless we are well versed in what the Bible really says, the arguments these
guys bring forth will cause us to stumble
▪ We need to be prepared to meet these attacks brought forth by these men
head on so that we can adequately make a defense for the hope that dwells
in us.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
• The Hebrew word here for fool is “Nabal” and can mean stupid, but a more
accurate definition is a wicked or vile person
• So God is denied, because of a love for sin, not because of intellect. There are very
simple and extremely intelligent people who are Christians. Likewise there are
people who are just dumb who are atheists, but also very intelligent atheists.
• The only thing they have in common is love of sin.
◦ In fact there are many in the church who are practical atheists, in that they deny God exists
not by their words, but by how they live their lives.
◦ The unrepentant sinner who claims to believe in God is just as much a fool and an atheist as
the person who says there is no God, because they live their lives as if there is no God.
So these New Atheists have put together a more aggressive attack and agenda
• They have an intellectually targeted attack and here are the weapons:
◦ The so called immorality in the Christian doctrine and Biblical text
◦ True science refutes Biblical account of universal history
◦ So called Christians commit atrocities more so than atheists
◦ Biblical contradictions discredits the Bible as the inerrant word of God
• Lets look at the Morality argument.
◦ The New Atheist says the Bible endorses slavery, killing children if they talk back to
parents, slaughtering women and children in war, killing your bride on the wedding night if
she is found to not be a virgin, and discrimination of women.
◦ They say Jesus and Paul also endorsed these things
◦ The New Atheists claim that they are truly moral because they do good works to relieve
suffering, while religious people do good works for a reward in heaven.
◦ The Atheist says if God is real, He is immoral for allowing such suffering in the world.
• Slavery:
◦ Exo 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he
shall go out free for nothing.
◦ Exo 21:20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his
hand; he shall be surely punished. Exo 21:21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two,
he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
◦ Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with
fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
◦ Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with
eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
▪ So whats the deal, is not this immoral, because we all in this country have
testified that slavery is evil.
▪ First the slavery we practiced in this country, was based on skin color.
• God said we are all created in God's image and equal
• Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
• Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening:
knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with
him.
• Slavery allowed under God's law for Israel was a type of welfare system.
◦ If someone could not pay their debt, they would go into slavery to work off the
debt. Regardless of how much they owed, after 7 years they were to be set free.
◦ This made Jews very intent on staying within their means.
◦ What if we had such a program today. Do you think we would have the debt
problems we have, if their was an actual consequence for that sin of not counting
the costs.
◦ Today people are in debt their entire lives, so tell me who is really free. The
individual trying to pay off the high interest rate on their loan or credit card, or
the person who made some mistakes, but became a slave for 7 years, and is now
debt free, and no longer a slave.
◦ The legal threat of physical discipline kept slaves from being disobedient and
not paying their debt
◦ A greater punishment is a greater way to discourage crime.
◦ The slave owner should not want to hurt the person, because he is helping the
slave owner, so the slave had value, but also the law prevented abuse of slaves.
◦ So this is not a moral issue, but a cultural issue that God allowed due to the
sinful nature we are in.
◦ American slavery is not the same. That was based on the slaves not being equal
humans because of the color of their skin.
◦ This idea was supported by Darwinian Evolutionary theory. Published in 1859
• Killing of disobedient children and physical discipline of children;
◦ Deu 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his
father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken
unto them:
Deu 21:19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the
elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
Deu 21:20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and
rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
Deu 21:21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou
put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
• This is a preventative law, meant to cause children to take God's law seriously
◦ If we still had punishments like this, we would have no need for jails, and crime
would be virtually non existent
• The Jews had received so much from God, and to whom much is given much is
required. This means the consequences are greater for sin.
• It shows how serious God is about His law
◦ Today people disregard God's law because they have no understanding of the
consequences for violating His law.
◦ Today people are not thankful for the abundant mercy and blessings in their life, but
instead have become spoiled rebellious children
• It is actually immoral to bring up your children without discipline and our society is
crumbling because our youth have not been disciplined.
• If children were allowed to get away with rebellion, it would have spread like a virus and
destroyed Israel much sooner.
◦ It has only been a 50 to 60 years in this country that physical discipline
has been condemned, and look at how our society has crumbled
morally.
• This preserved the nation of Israel for thousands of years.
• Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him
betimes.
• Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall
drive it far from him.
• Pro 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod,
he shall not die. Pro 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul
from hell.
• Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his
mother to shame.
◦ These scriptures all point to chastening, or disciplining your child to
keep them in line.
◦ This is to be done in love, but not wavering
▪ Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.Eph 6:2
Honour thy father and mother; (which iged in sex, and the male children that would
grow up to carry on the Midianite culture in the midst of Israel.
▪ God had mercy on the women who had abstained from sex.
▪ God commanded this judgment, not Moses, therefore God who creates life also has the
right to take it as He sees fit.
▪ He dealt swiftly with this cancer of the Midianite idolatrous influence to preserve Israel.
▪ Today there is no command of God to bring judgment upon the nations as He did with
Israel, as He Himself will do that when He returns.
▪ There are religions today like Islam who claim their god commanded them to kill
innocents.
• It goes back to recognizing the true and living God as opposed to a man made god.
• Islam is based on an unfounded, unproven, false god
Killing of your bride if found on wedding night to not be a virgin.
• Deu 22:20 But if this thing be true,(That the groom finds his bride is not a virgin) and
the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Deu 22:21 Then they shall bring out the
damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones
that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so
shalt thou put evil away from among you
◦ This again has to do with God keeping His chosen people faithful to Him, and
swift consequences prevented what we find to be the norm in todays society.
▪ Though the consequences of unfaithfulness for the Jew was swift, we also find examples
of mercy, which we know is also just as precious to God as justice is.
▪ Lets look at a very famous event for insight into God's heart
• Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary
was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the
Holy Ghost. Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man , and not willing
to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
◦ Joseph was called a just man because he did not pursue the full
consequence the law called for. This does not mean he violated the
law, it means he had compassion and mercy on Mary.
◦ Jesus did the same thing with the woman caught in the act of
adultery. He called for those who had no sin to cast the first stone,
and they all walked away.
▪ This is the whole point. God wants us to recognize sin and how serious it is
to Him.
▪ But God also wants to pour out His mercy on us, and wants us to cherish
that mercy
▪ God wants to pour out His mercy through His people
◦ Th e Pharisees were more focused on the law because it gave them
power, though they themselves violated the law.
▪ Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe
of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of
the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to
leave the other undone.
• So you see these were issues of God trying to teach His people the reality of
righteousness, justice and mercy.
END OF PART 1
THE NEW ATHEISM PART 2
So what about the discrimination of women?
Why are women to be submissive to men, not allowed to teach or speak in church?
• Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Eph 5:23 For
the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the
saviour of the body.
• 1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman
to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
At first blush these verses seem discriminant towards women, but this is do to a lack of
understanding of context. Lets look at each of them.
• Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
• Clue #1 to understanding this is that husbands and wives are to submit to each
other in fear of God
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is
the saviour of the body.
• God has chosen the man to be responsible and accountable for the spiritual
leadership in the home.
◦ He did not choose them because they are any better or smarter than women, for the same
reason His chosen nation Israel was no better or smarter than other nations.
◦ Both Men and women were created in God's image
• Submission then becomes a walk of faith for women as long as the man is not
leading them into sin.
◦ If the woman disagrees with her husband in something, she submits to his will as long as he
is
submission to the Father.
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and
they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife
see that she reverence her husband.
• This scripture was not intended to be focused on who is superior, but that 2
become one as Jesus is in perfect unity with the Father.
Now lets look at the other scripture.
• 1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
◦ This is a simple issue in that spending excess time doing these things reveals
that you want to be looked at and admired by others. Not a Godly trait.
◦ This is not to say that women should not wear make up and jewelry, it is
simply something that was out of balance in the environment Paul and
Timothy were ministering in
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
• Good works is Godly make up and jewelry
1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
• So does this mean women cannot serve in ministry?
◦ No it means women are not to teach men, or usurp authority over men in the church
◦ This does not mean women cannot be bosses at work, or president of the USA.
▪ God has given us examples of women in civil authority like Deborah in Judges 4:4.
• She was a judge in Israel and a prophetess
• So she actually served in civil authority and in spiritual ministry as a prophetess
◦ There are many examples of women serving in ministry: Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Huldah
(2nd Chronicles 34:22), Anna (Luke 2:36), Priscilla ( Acts 18:26), and Phoebe (Romans 16:1)
▪ In these examples women were raised up to serve God, but did not have authority over
men serving God.
1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
• So Adam was not deceived, but he failed to lead. Therefore God is continuing that
responsibility that Adam had. When men fail to lead spiritually, sin enters in.
◦ This is the order God has created, just as God the Son follows the Father.
◦ This scripture is also more of a command to men to be responsible for the spiritual well
being of their wife, then it is a limit to a womans role.
• And isn't this more of cultural command, because we have women preachers
today?
◦ This is not a cultural commandment, as Paul links this command to a principle established
back in the garden
◦ Paul has eluded to some requirements being merely cultural, but there is no such
disclaimer on this issue.
▪ 1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a
shame unto him? 1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her
hair is given her for a covering. 1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we
have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
◦ Therefore, it is still not God's will for women to teach and usurp spiritual authority over
men.
1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and
holiness with sobriety.
• This does not mean eternal salvation as we are not saved by works
◦ This salvation has to do with women's unique calling that men do not have, just as men
have the calling to leadership in spiritual things.
◦ The word saved here means to do well, or be whole, or fulfill your unique purpose
▪ This purpose is very special, in that God has given women the priviledge of
bringing a life into the world.
◦ What about women who cannot have children?
▪ God has unique callings for them as well, the childbearing calling applies to most
women.
• So the New Atheist has no leg to stand on when using morality to attack the Bible,
because God established what is moral, and what is not.
• When an Atheist uses a moral argument to support his point he is in great
contradiction.
◦ If there is no Ultimate authority, then there is no universal defined morality
◦ The Atheist tries to stop suffering. This is good, but he is expressing the law God has
written on his heart, rather than the morality of atheism
▪ Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things
contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Rom 2:15
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing
witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
▪ This scripture by itself eliminates any moral argument the Neatural being in a natural world
through observation and experiments.
◦ The claims of the Bible have not been scientifically dis-proven,
▪ Therefore disregarding these claims as possible explanations of our reality
is being scientifically dishonest.
• If our true origins are discovered, then we will more accurately interpret things we
find in the physical and natural world.
• However now when we find a bone, we presume it is a product of evolution and we
presume it to be millions of years older than it may actually be.
When it comes to this definition of science there is a major flaw.
• This definition uses the term natural world and physical world. But how can we
positively identify the reality of our natural and physical world, if we have no idea
how our universe formed.
• New science proclaims evolution to be pretty much a fact, yet they cannot explain
what caused evolution.
• IF WE CANNOT CLEARLY DEFINE ORIGINS, WE CANNOT CLEARLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE OBSERVE.
◦ On top of that, we do not actually observe evolution.
◦ We observe natural selection, but not one species changing to become another.
▪ Natural selection are minor changes within a species, based on DNA information that
was already present in the DNA code.
▪ Evolution states that mutations introduce new DNA information, and this is how they
explain how they got so smart.
• We are all a result of billions of random mutations that luckily caused us to be able
to reproduce, have immune systems, digestive systems, nervous systems, eyes,
fingernails, eyebrows, taste, sexual pleasure, smell, lungs, legs, feet, teeth, voices,
hearts, blood, veins, livers, kidneys, etc...
◦ Oh and luckily we have trees to create oxygen for us to breathe, plants and other
foods to help us have all the vitamins we need, water to be hydrated because we
are made of mostly water, and I could go on
◦ The absolute lunacy that we are some biological accident is the epitome of
foolishness
▪ Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
• The New Atheist claims there is an abundance of evidence for evolution, but this
is dishonest
◦ There is an abundance of evidence evolutionists interpret to point to evolution.
▪ Poodles did not evolve into great Danes, yet in a few thousand years, and evolutionist
will discover the bones of these dogs and claim the poodle evolved into the great Dane
▪ They find human bones and skulls having different shapes and sizes and claim this as
evidence for evolution.
Evolution is not biblical.
• God created each after its own kind
◦ Gen 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the
waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and
God saw that it was good. Gen 1:22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. Gen 1:23 And the
evening and the morning were the fifth day. Gen 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring
forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth
after his kind: and it was so. Gen 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind,
and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and
God saw that it was good. Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air,
and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon
the earth.
• We also know that death did not exist until sin entered the world through Adam and Eve.
◦ Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in
the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death
reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of
Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Though the Bible was never intended to be a scientific text book, we find amazing
scientific insights within its pages. Here are just a few...
• Dinosaurs, Job 40:15-24
• Earth is a sphere, Isaiah 40:22
• The universe is expanding, Psalm 104:2
• Micro-organisms, Hebrews 11:3
• Effects of a nuclear explosion, 2nd Peter 3:10
• The water cycle, Ecclesiastes 1:6-7, Job 26:8
• The law of causality requires an eternal creator for this temporal universe., Genesis 1:1
The New Atheists attack the credibility of Christianity by pointing out horrible things
Christians have done and said.
• This is really a silly argument, because the entire Bible points out the failings of
Gods most faithful.
◦ Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
▪ This is the whole point of scripture, that all sin. Christians are sinners just as Atheists
are.
▪ The difference is that Christians are on a repentant path towards God
▪ Atheists celebrate their sin, and ignore the law written on their hearts.
• The Crusades, Abortion doctor murderers, Holy wars, Television evangelists,
Sexual molestation of children by priests, and pastors, church scandals, hatred
being spewed from churches like the Westboro Baptist church, etc...
◦ These are all examples the Christ rejecting world use to mock Christianity.
◦ None of these examples are representative of following Christ, which is what true
Christianity is.
• Noah, Abraham, Job, Moses, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul, and John all
misrepresented God in some way.
◦ This is why we need to have faith in the cross, because we have all fallen short in our own
righteousness.
So when the New Atheist uses Christian misrepresentation as an evidence against
Christianity, they are only confirming the central tenant of Christianity that only by
faith in Christ can we be saved.
Finally, the New Atheist will use textural criticism to try and disprove the Bible.
• They claim there are many contradictions within scripture which they say proves the Bible was
not divinely inspired, but is a flawed work of man.
• The or is well exposed and documented, as is any translation
issue.
▪ The central doctrines of the Bible are never challenged by any copyist error
• It is not rational to disregard the amazing supernatural aspects of scripture like
prophecy, because of a few grammatical errors made by ancient scribes.
• The New Atheists foolishly disregard prophecy by saying the writers simply wrote
in the fulfillment of prophecy.
◦ This is foolish, because the entire basis of Christianity is the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ.
◦ If Jesus did not do the things the New Testament says He did, the church would have never
gotten started.
◦ There would have been no reason for the first believers in Christ to give up their lives and
voluntarily be persecuted for becoming a Christian.
◦ There was no worldly reward for their conversion. Therefore the motivation of the
thousands that became Christian in those first few years had to have been based on eye
witness proof of the life, death and most importantly, the resurrection of Christ.
▪ 1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also
vain.1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified
of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 1Co 15:17 And if Christ be
not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
• Atheists mock prophecy because they say there are no prophecies that give
specifics or dates
◦ Daniel 9:24-27 gives a detailed specific prophecy that gives an exact timing of when the
Messiah would come. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy to the day.
◦ The prophecy also predicted Jesus would be executed, though He was innocent.
◦ The prophecy also predicted that shortly after the execution of the Messiah,the city of
Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed.
◦ This prophecy single handedly proves the divine authorship of the Bible, as we have
documented evidence that these prophecies were written in Daniel long before these events
happened
◦ We also have modern day fulfillment's that include:
▪ the re-establishment of the nation of Israel, (Isaiah 11:10-12)
▪ The push towards a one world government, (Daniel 7:23, Revelation 13:7)
▪ Israel being the center of conflict in the world, (Zechariah 12:1-3)
▪ The world would come against Israel.(Zechariah 12:1-3)
▪ Natural disasters, disease, false prophets, famine, terrorism, wars all get worse like a
woman having birth pains (Matthew 24:4-8)
We see all these things happening at once. There is no way Christians could arrange to
fulfill these prophecies. This goes way beyond coincidence. This proves Bible period.
In conclusion:
• New Atheism is just another false religion
◦ Religion is something that dictates the direction of your life. It is what you consider most
important. It is the motivational factor behind your decisions.
▪ The New Atheists attack Christianity and no other faith because it is the truth.
▪ Atheists deny Atheism is a religion, yet attest that Buddhism is. However Buddhism
does not believe in a god, but is an atheistic philosophy
▪ The Humanist Manifesto of the early 1970's said secular Humanism is a religion. They
only recently changed that so they can spread their beliefs in schools.
• Darwin is one of the great prophets for Atheists, yet Darwin believed humans who
have weak DNA should not be allowed to reproduce
◦ Margaret Singer was also an atheist. She founded Planned Parenthood, which originally
was designed to promote the Eugenics movement.
▪ Eugenics intended to dictate who was allowed to reproduce and who was not in the
interest of creating a superior race.
▪ Evolution was the key inspiration behind this so called scientific movement.
The New Atheism is an emotional attack on the truth of God disguised as an intellectual
and scientific movement. Upon further investigation you will find that scripture in
Psalm 14:1 is profoundly true.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth good.20is an atheistic philosophy
▪ The Humanist Manifesto of the early 1970's said secular Humanism is a religion. They
only recently changed that so they can spread their beliefs in schools.
• Darwin is one of the great prophets for Atheists, yet Darwin believed humans who
have weak DNA should not be allowed to reproduce
◦ Margaret Singer was also an atheist. She founded Planned Parenthood, which originally
was designed to promote the Eugenics movement.
▪ Eugenics intended to dictate who was allowed to reproduce and who was not in the
interest of creating a superior race.
▪ Evolution was the key inspiration behind this so called scientific movement.
The New Atheism is an emotional attack on the truth of God disguise2C and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified
of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 1Co 15:17 And if Christ be
not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
• Atheists mock prophecy because they say there are no prophecies that give
specifics or dates
◦ Daniel 9:24-27 gives a detailed specific prophecy that gives an exact timing of when the
Messiah would come. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy to the day.
◦ The prophecy also predicted Jesus would be executed, though He was innocent.
◦ The prophecy also predicted that shortly after the execution of the Messiah,the city of
Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed.
◦ This prophecy single handedly proves the divine authorship of the Bible, as we have
documented evidence that these prophecies were written in Daniel long before these events
happened
◦ We also have modern day fulfillment's that include:
▪ the re-establishment of the nation of Israel, (Isaiah 11:10-12)
▪ The push towards a one world government, (Daniel 7:23, Revelation 13:7)
▪ Israel being the center of conflict in the world, (Zechariah 12:1-3)
▪ The world would come against Israel.(Zechariah 12:1-3)
▪ Natural disasters, disease, false prophets, famine, terrorism, wars all get worse like a
woman having birth pains (Matthew 24:4-8)
We see all these things happening at once. There is no way Christians could arrange to
fulfill these prophecies. This goes way beyond coincidence. This proves Bible period.
In conclusion:
• New Atheism is just another false religion
◦ Religion is something that dictates the direction of your life. It is what you consider most
important. It is the motivational factor behind your decisions.
▪ The New Atheists attack Christianity and no other faith because it is the truth.
▪ Atheists deny Atheism is a religion, yet attest that Buddhism is. However Buddhism
does not believe in a god, but is an atheistic philosophy
▪ The Humanist Manifesto of the early 1970's said secular Humanism is a religion. They
only recently changed that so they can spread their beliefs in schools.
• Darwin is one of the great prophets for Atheists, yet Darwin believed humans who
have weak DNA should not be allowed to reproduce
◦ Margaret Singer was also an atheist. She founded Planned Parenthood, which originally
was designed to promote the Eugenics movement.
▪ Eugenics intended to dictate who was allowed to reproduce and who was not in the
interest of creating a superior race.
▪ Evolution was the key inspiration behind this so called scientific movement.
The New Atheism is an emotional attack on the truth of God disguised as an intellectual
and scientific movement. Upon further investigation you will find that scripture in
Psalm 14:1 is profoundly true.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth good.20is an atheistic philosophy
▪ The Humanist Manifesto of the early 1970's said secular Humanism is a religion. They
only recently changed that so they can spread their beliefs in schools.
• Darwin is one of the great prophets for Atheists, yet Darwin believed humans who
have weak DNA should not be allowed to reproduce
◦ Margaret Singer was also an atheist. She founded Planned Parenthood, which originally
was designed to promote the Eugenics movement.
▪ Eugenics intended to dictate who was allowed to reproduce and who was not in the
interest of creating a superior race.
▪ Evolution was the key inspiration behind this so called scientific movement.
The New Atheism is an emotional attack on the truth of God disguised as an intellectual
and scientific movement. Upon further investigation you will find that scripture in
Psalm 14:1 is profoundly true.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Part 1 and 2
By Tim Schaertel
July, 2011
The New Atheism
One of my life verses is 1st Peter 3:15
1Pe 3:14 But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Never be afraid of their
threats, and never get upset.
1Pe 3:15 Instead, exalt Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone
who asks you to explain the hope you have.
1Pe 3:16 But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak
evil of your good conduct in Christ will be ashamed of slandering you.
• The Greek word here in the King James for answer is “Apologia” which means “A
defense”
◦ This is where we get the word Apologetic
◦ We are not apologizing for our faith, but giving a reason why we believe
◦ We are not walking in blind faith, but a reasonable faith
▪ Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool.
• The Hebrew word here for reason is “Yakach” which means: to argue
for, to dispute, to convince, to plead.
• If we have no evidence for our faith, how can we argue, dispute,
convince, and plead with people
▪ Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
• Though we don't see God, we have evidence for Him, and have His
substance through faith
• This means we experience God working in and through our lives
confirming our faith.
• We are called to give a defense as to why we believe the Gospel
• Why would God tell us to defend why we believe?
◦ 1st He tells us this for our own benefit.
▪ When we know what we believe and why, we are that much more confident in our faith
and will be able to stand stronger when the enemy, the world, and the flesh come
against us.
▪ Why do you think God went to great lengths to proclaim the future in advance through
His prophets
▪ He did it to prove Himself to us. To prove that the Bible is indeed His word.
▪ Prophecy alone does not cause us to believe, but it gets our attention, and draws us to
Him.
• In John 4:9-29 we read about how a Samaritan woman encountered
Jesus, and did not take Him serious until He revealed things to her that
He knew about her, that no one could know.
• She perceived He was a prophet and from that point on took Him
serious
• It was then that Jesus convicted her of her sin, and she then recognized
Him as her Messiah
• Joh 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and
saith to the men, Joh 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I
did: is not this the Christ?
• A lot of people poo poo talking about prophecy, but Jesus did often to believers and
unbelievers
• Prophecy is one aspect of giving a defense of our faith.
◦ Our personal testimony is another aspect
◦ Historical testimony, Israel, Archeology, scientific insight, and moral truth are
some other topics we can use to defend our faith.
Now I said all that to say this:
There is a new religion out there. It is called the New Atheism.
• This is not the Atheism that just says they don't believe in God, but are Biblically illiterate
• This New Atheism is made up of intellectuals who are well versed in scripture and are
extremely aggressive towards the word of God
• Their sole purpose is to “Prove” to people that Christianity is a fairy tale.
• They also try to make the case that Christianity is dangerous and doing extreme harm to society
and the world.
• It is not something we can just ignore, because the leaders of this religion have become
evangelistic in that they are going around the world, writing books, making movies, and other
multi-media approaches to spreading their gospel. Their gospel being there is no god.
• Their main “Prophets” have become very well known, especially among young people.
• They are called the Atheistic 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse
◦ Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett
◦ Chances are you may have heard of at least one of the books written by these men
▪ “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins
• Interesting name he chose. I think he chose it not realizing it is a true Biblical
statement
• 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume
with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
• In context this is speaking of The Antichrist, but it applies to Richard
Dawkins in that...
• 1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist
shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the
last time.
• So Dawkins is an antichrist? He is being empowered and led by the same spirit
of Antichrist, that being Satan.
• Dawkins has rejected God because of his love for sin, and like Pharoah, God has
given him over to his sin and hardened his heart.
• This does not mean he still won't someday repent, and we should pray for him.
▪ I have encountered those who have embraced the teachings of these men
▪ Unless we are well versed in what the Bible really says, the arguments these
guys bring forth will cause us to stumble
▪ We need to be prepared to meet these attacks brought forth by these men
head on so that we can adequately make a defense for the hope that dwells
in us.
Psa 14:1
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
• The Hebrew word here for fool is “Nabal” and can mean stupid, but a more
accurate definition is a wicked or vile person
• So God is denied, because of a love for sin, not because of intellect. There are very
simple and extremely intelligent people who are Christians. Likewise there are
people who are just dumb who are atheists, but also very intelligent atheists.
• The only thing they have in common is love of sin.
◦ In fact there are many in the church who are practical atheists, in that they deny God exists
not by their words, but by how they live their lives.
◦ The unrepentant sinner who claims to believe in God is just as much a fool and an atheist as
the person who says there is no God, because they live their lives as if there is no God.
So these New Atheists have put together a more aggressive attack and agenda
• They have an intellectually targeted attack and here are the weapons:
◦ The so called immorality in the Christian doctrine and Biblical text
◦ True science refutes Biblical account of universal history
◦ So called Christians commit atrocities more so than atheists
◦ Biblical contradictions discredits the Bible as the inerrant word of God
• Lets look at the Morality argument.
◦ The New Atheist says the Bible endorses slavery, killing children if they talk back to
parents, slaughtering women and children in war, killing your bride on the wedding night if
she is found to not be a virgin, and discrimination of women.
◦ They say Jesus and Paul also endorsed these things
◦ The New Atheists claim that they are truly moral because they do good works to relieve
suffering, while religious people do good works for a reward in heaven.
◦ The Atheist says if God is real, He is immoral for allowing such suffering in the world.
• Slavery:
◦ Exo 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he
shall go out free for nothing.
◦ Exo 21:20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his
hand; he shall be surely punished. Exo 21:21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two,
he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
◦ Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with
fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
◦ Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with
eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
▪ So whats the deal, is not this immoral, because we all in this country have
testified that slavery is evil.
▪ First the slavery we practiced in this country, was based on skin color.
• God said we are all created in God's image and equal
• Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
• Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening:
knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with
him.
• Slavery allowed under God's law for Israel was a type of welfare system.
◦ If someone could not pay their debt, they would go into slavery to work off the
debt. Regardless of how much they owed, after 7 years they were to be set free.
◦ This made Jews very intent on staying within their means.
◦ What if we had such a program today. Do you think we would have the debt
problems we have, if their was an actual consequence for that sin of not counting
the costs.
◦ Today people are in debt their entire lives, so tell me who is really free. The
individual trying to pay off the high interest rate on their loan or credit card, or
the person who made some mistakes, but became a slave for 7 years, and is now
debt free, and no longer a slave.
◦ The legal threat of physical discipline kept slaves from being disobedient and
not paying their debt
◦ A greater punishment is a greater way to discourage crime.
◦ The slave owner should not want to hurt the person, because he is helping the
slave owner, so the slave had value, but also the law prevented abuse of slaves.
◦ So this is not a moral issue, but a cultural issue that God allowed due to the
sinful nature we are in.
◦ American slavery is not the same. That was based on the slaves not being equal
humans because of the color of their skin.
◦ This idea was supported by Darwinian Evolutionary theory. Published in 1859
• Killing of disobedient children and physical discipline of children;
◦ Deu 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his
father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken
unto them:
Deu 21:19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the
elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
Deu 21:20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and
rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
Deu 21:21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou
put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
• This is a preventative law, meant to cause children to take God's law seriously
◦ If we still had punishments like this, we would have no need for jails, and crime
would be virtually non existent
• The Jews had received so much from God, and to whom much is given much is
required. This means the consequences are greater for sin.
• It shows how serious God is about His law
◦ Today people disregard God's law because they have no understanding of the
consequences for violating His law.
◦ Today people are not thankful for the abundant mercy and blessings in their life, but
instead have become spoiled rebellious children
• It is actually immoral to bring up your children without discipline and our society is
crumbling because our youth have not been disciplined.
• If children were allowed to get away with rebellion, it would have spread like a virus and
destroyed Israel much sooner.
◦ It has only been a 50 to 60 years in this country that physical discipline
has been condemned, and look at how our society has crumbled
morally.
• This preserved the nation of Israel for thousands of years.
• Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him
betimes.
• Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall
drive it far from him.
• Pro 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod,
he shall not die. Pro 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul
from hell.
• Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his
mother to shame.
◦ These scriptures all point to chastening, or disciplining your child to
keep them in line.
◦ This is to be done in love, but not wavering
▪ Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.Eph 6:2
Honour thy father and mother; (which iged in sex, and the male children that would
grow up to carry on the Midianite culture in the midst of Israel.
▪ God had mercy on the women who had abstained from sex.
▪ God commanded this judgment, not Moses, therefore God who creates life also has the
right to take it as He sees fit.
▪ He dealt swiftly with this cancer of the Midianite idolatrous influence to preserve Israel.
▪ Today there is no command of God to bring judgment upon the nations as He did with
Israel, as He Himself will do that when He returns.
▪ There are religions today like Islam who claim their god commanded them to kill
innocents.
• It goes back to recognizing the true and living God as opposed to a man made god.
• Islam is based on an unfounded, unproven, false god
Killing of your bride if found on wedding night to not be a virgin.
• Deu 22:20 But if this thing be true,(That the groom finds his bride is not a virgin) and
the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Deu 22:21 Then they shall bring out the
damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones
that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so
shalt thou put evil away from among you
◦ This again has to do with God keeping His chosen people faithful to Him, and
swift consequences prevented what we find to be the norm in todays society.
▪ Though the consequences of unfaithfulness for the Jew was swift, we also find examples
of mercy, which we know is also just as precious to God as justice is.
▪ Lets look at a very famous event for insight into God's heart
• Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary
was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the
Holy Ghost. Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man , and not willing
to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
◦ Joseph was called a just man because he did not pursue the full
consequence the law called for. This does not mean he violated the
law, it means he had compassion and mercy on Mary.
◦ Jesus did the same thing with the woman caught in the act of
adultery. He called for those who had no sin to cast the first stone,
and they all walked away.
▪ This is the whole point. God wants us to recognize sin and how serious it is
to Him.
▪ But God also wants to pour out His mercy on us, and wants us to cherish
that mercy
▪ God wants to pour out His mercy through His people
◦ Th e Pharisees were more focused on the law because it gave them
power, though they themselves violated the law.
▪ Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe
of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of
the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to
leave the other undone.
• So you see these were issues of God trying to teach His people the reality of
righteousness, justice and mercy.
END OF PART 1
THE NEW ATHEISM PART 2
So what about the discrimination of women?
Why are women to be submissive to men, not allowed to teach or speak in church?
• Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Eph 5:23 For
the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the
saviour of the body.
• 1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman
to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
At first blush these verses seem discriminant towards women, but this is do to a lack of
understanding of context. Lets look at each of them.
• Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
• Clue #1 to understanding this is that husbands and wives are to submit to each
other in fear of God
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is
the saviour of the body.
• God has chosen the man to be responsible and accountable for the spiritual
leadership in the home.
◦ He did not choose them because they are any better or smarter than women, for the same
reason His chosen nation Israel was no better or smarter than other nations.
◦ Both Men and women were created in God's image
• Submission then becomes a walk of faith for women as long as the man is not
leading them into sin.
◦ If the woman disagrees with her husband in something, she submits to his will as long as he
is
submission to the Father.
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and
they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife
see that she reverence her husband.
• This scripture was not intended to be focused on who is superior, but that 2
become one as Jesus is in perfect unity with the Father.
Now lets look at the other scripture.
• 1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
◦ This is a simple issue in that spending excess time doing these things reveals
that you want to be looked at and admired by others. Not a Godly trait.
◦ This is not to say that women should not wear make up and jewelry, it is
simply something that was out of balance in the environment Paul and
Timothy were ministering in
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
• Good works is Godly make up and jewelry
1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
• So does this mean women cannot serve in ministry?
◦ No it means women are not to teach men, or usurp authority over men in the church
◦ This does not mean women cannot be bosses at work, or president of the USA.
▪ God has given us examples of women in civil authority like Deborah in Judges 4:4.
• She was a judge in Israel and a prophetess
• So she actually served in civil authority and in spiritual ministry as a prophetess
◦ There are many examples of women serving in ministry: Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Huldah
(2nd Chronicles 34:22), Anna (Luke 2:36), Priscilla ( Acts 18:26), and Phoebe (Romans 16:1)
▪ In these examples women were raised up to serve God, but did not have authority over
men serving God.
1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
• So Adam was not deceived, but he failed to lead. Therefore God is continuing that
responsibility that Adam had. When men fail to lead spiritually, sin enters in.
◦ This is the order God has created, just as God the Son follows the Father.
◦ This scripture is also more of a command to men to be responsible for the spiritual well
being of their wife, then it is a limit to a womans role.
• And isn't this more of cultural command, because we have women preachers
today?
◦ This is not a cultural commandment, as Paul links this command to a principle established
back in the garden
◦ Paul has eluded to some requirements being merely cultural, but there is no such
disclaimer on this issue.
▪ 1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a
shame unto him? 1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her
hair is given her for a covering. 1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we
have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
◦ Therefore, it is still not God's will for women to teach and usurp spiritual authority over
men.
1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and
holiness with sobriety.
• This does not mean eternal salvation as we are not saved by works
◦ This salvation has to do with women's unique calling that men do not have, just as men
have the calling to leadership in spiritual things.
◦ The word saved here means to do well, or be whole, or fulfill your unique purpose
▪ This purpose is very special, in that God has given women the priviledge of
bringing a life into the world.
◦ What about women who cannot have children?
▪ God has unique callings for them as well, the childbearing calling applies to most
women.
• So the New Atheist has no leg to stand on when using morality to attack the Bible,
because God established what is moral, and what is not.
• When an Atheist uses a moral argument to support his point he is in great
contradiction.
◦ If there is no Ultimate authority, then there is no universal defined morality
◦ The Atheist tries to stop suffering. This is good, but he is expressing the law God has
written on his heart, rather than the morality of atheism
▪ Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things
contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Rom 2:15
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing
witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
▪ This scripture by itself eliminates any moral argument the Neatural being in a natural world
through observation and experiments.
◦ The claims of the Bible have not been scientifically dis-proven,
▪ Therefore disregarding these claims as possible explanations of our reality
is being scientifically dishonest.
• If our true origins are discovered, then we will more accurately interpret things we
find in the physical and natural world.
• However now when we find a bone, we presume it is a product of evolution and we
presume it to be millions of years older than it may actually be.
When it comes to this definition of science there is a major flaw.
• This definition uses the term natural world and physical world. But how can we
positively identify the reality of our natural and physical world, if we have no idea
how our universe formed.
• New science proclaims evolution to be pretty much a fact, yet they cannot explain
what caused evolution.
• IF WE CANNOT CLEARLY DEFINE ORIGINS, WE CANNOT CLEARLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE OBSERVE.
◦ On top of that, we do not actually observe evolution.
◦ We observe natural selection, but not one species changing to become another.
▪ Natural selection are minor changes within a species, based on DNA information that
was already present in the DNA code.
▪ Evolution states that mutations introduce new DNA information, and this is how they
explain how they got so smart.
• We are all a result of billions of random mutations that luckily caused us to be able
to reproduce, have immune systems, digestive systems, nervous systems, eyes,
fingernails, eyebrows, taste, sexual pleasure, smell, lungs, legs, feet, teeth, voices,
hearts, blood, veins, livers, kidneys, etc...
◦ Oh and luckily we have trees to create oxygen for us to breathe, plants and other
foods to help us have all the vitamins we need, water to be hydrated because we
are made of mostly water, and I could go on
◦ The absolute lunacy that we are some biological accident is the epitome of
foolishness
▪ Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
• The New Atheist claims there is an abundance of evidence for evolution, but this
is dishonest
◦ There is an abundance of evidence evolutionists interpret to point to evolution.
▪ Poodles did not evolve into great Danes, yet in a few thousand years, and evolutionist
will discover the bones of these dogs and claim the poodle evolved into the great Dane
▪ They find human bones and skulls having different shapes and sizes and claim this as
evidence for evolution.
Evolution is not biblical.
• God created each after its own kind
◦ Gen 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the
waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and
God saw that it was good. Gen 1:22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. Gen 1:23 And the
evening and the morning were the fifth day. Gen 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring
forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth
after his kind: and it was so. Gen 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind,
and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and
God saw that it was good. Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air,
and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon
the earth.
• We also know that death did not exist until sin entered the world through Adam and Eve.
◦ Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in
the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death
reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of
Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Though the Bible was never intended to be a scientific text book, we find amazing
scientific insights within its pages. Here are just a few...
• Dinosaurs, Job 40:15-24
• Earth is a sphere, Isaiah 40:22
• The universe is expanding, Psalm 104:2
• Micro-organisms, Hebrews 11:3
• Effects of a nuclear explosion, 2nd Peter 3:10
• The water cycle, Ecclesiastes 1:6-7, Job 26:8
• The law of causality requires an eternal creator for this temporal universe., Genesis 1:1
The New Atheists attack the credibility of Christianity by pointing out horrible things
Christians have done and said.
• This is really a silly argument, because the entire Bible points out the failings of
Gods most faithful.
◦ Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
▪ This is the whole point of scripture, that all sin. Christians are sinners just as Atheists
are.
▪ The difference is that Christians are on a repentant path towards God
▪ Atheists celebrate their sin, and ignore the law written on their hearts.
• The Crusades, Abortion doctor murderers, Holy wars, Television evangelists,
Sexual molestation of children by priests, and pastors, church scandals, hatred
being spewed from churches like the Westboro Baptist church, etc...
◦ These are all examples the Christ rejecting world use to mock Christianity.
◦ None of these examples are representative of following Christ, which is what true
Christianity is.
• Noah, Abraham, Job, Moses, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul, and John all
misrepresented God in some way.
◦ This is why we need to have faith in the cross, because we have all fallen short in our own
righteousness.
So when the New Atheist uses Christian misrepresentation as an evidence against
Christianity, they are only confirming the central tenant of Christianity that only by
faith in Christ can we be saved.
Finally, the New Atheist will use textural criticism to try and disprove the Bible.
• They claim there are many contradictions within scripture which they say proves the Bible was
not divinely inspired, but is a flawed work of man.
• The or is well exposed and documented, as is any translation
issue.
▪ The central doctrines of the Bible are never challenged by any copyist error
• It is not rational to disregard the amazing supernatural aspects of scripture like
prophecy, because of a few grammatical errors made by ancient scribes.
• The New Atheists foolishly disregard prophecy by saying the writers simply wrote
in the fulfillment of prophecy.
◦ This is foolish, because the entire basis of Christianity is the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ.
◦ If Jesus did not do the things the New Testament says He did, the church would have never
gotten started.
◦ There would have been no reason for the first believers in Christ to give up their lives and
voluntarily be persecuted for becoming a Christian.
◦ There was no worldly reward for their conversion. Therefore the motivation of the
thousands that became Christian in those first few years had to have been based on eye
witness proof of the life, death and most importantly, the resurrection of Christ.
▪ 1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also
vain.1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified
of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 1Co 15:17 And if Christ be
not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
• Atheists mock prophecy because they say there are no prophecies that give
specifics or dates
◦ Daniel 9:24-27 gives a detailed specific prophecy that gives an exact timing of when the
Messiah would come. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy to the day.
◦ The prophecy also predicted Jesus would be executed, though He was innocent.
◦ The prophecy also predicted that shortly after the execution of the Messiah,the city of
Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed.
◦ This prophecy single handedly proves the divine authorship of the Bible, as we have
documented evidence that these prophecies were written in Daniel long before these events
happened
◦ We also have modern day fulfillment's that include:
▪ the re-establishment of the nation of Israel, (Isaiah 11:10-12)
▪ The push towards a one world government, (Daniel 7:23, Revelation 13:7)
▪ Israel being the center of conflict in the world, (Zechariah 12:1-3)
▪ The world would come against Israel.(Zechariah 12:1-3)
▪ Natural disasters, disease, false prophets, famine, terrorism, wars all get worse like a
woman having birth pains (Matthew 24:4-8)
We see all these things happening at once. There is no way Christians could arrange to
fulfill these prophecies. This goes way beyond coincidence. This proves Bible period.
In conclusion:
• New Atheism is just another false religion
◦ Religion is something that dictates the direction of your life. It is what you consider most
important. It is the motivational factor behind your decisions.
▪ The New Atheists attack Christianity and no other faith because it is the truth.
▪ Atheists deny Atheism is a religion, yet attest that Buddhism is. However Buddhism
does not believe in a god, but is an atheistic philosophy
▪ The Humanist Manifesto of the early 1970's said secular Humanism is a religion. They
only recently changed that so they can spread their beliefs in schools.
• Darwin is one of the great prophets for Atheists, yet Darwin believed humans who
have weak DNA should not be allowed to reproduce
◦ Margaret Singer was also an atheist. She founded Planned Parenthood, which originally
was designed to promote the Eugenics movement.
▪ Eugenics intended to dictate who was allowed to reproduce and who was not in the
interest of creating a superior race.
▪ Evolution was the key inspiration behind this so called scientific movement.
The New Atheism is an emotional attack on the truth of God disguised as an intellectual
and scientific movement. Upon further investigation you will find that scripture in
Psalm 14:1 is profoundly true.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth good.20is an atheistic philosophy
▪ The Humanist Manifesto of the early 1970's said secular Humanism is a religion. They
only recently changed that so they can spread their beliefs in schools.
• Darwin is one of the great prophets for Atheists, yet Darwin believed humans who
have weak DNA should not be allowed to reproduce
◦ Margaret Singer was also an atheist. She founded Planned Parenthood, which originally
was designed to promote the Eugenics movement.
▪ Eugenics intended to dictate who was allowed to reproduce and who was not in the
interest of creating a superior race.
▪ Evolution was the key inspiration behind this so called scientific movement.
The New Atheism is an emotional attack on the truth of God disguise2C and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified
of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 1Co 15:17 And if Christ be
not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
• Atheists mock prophecy because they say there are no prophecies that give
specifics or dates
◦ Daniel 9:24-27 gives a detailed specific prophecy that gives an exact timing of when the
Messiah would come. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy to the day.
◦ The prophecy also predicted Jesus would be executed, though He was innocent.
◦ The prophecy also predicted that shortly after the execution of the Messiah,the city of
Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed.
◦ This prophecy single handedly proves the divine authorship of the Bible, as we have
documented evidence that these prophecies were written in Daniel long before these events
happened
◦ We also have modern day fulfillment's that include:
▪ the re-establishment of the nation of Israel, (Isaiah 11:10-12)
▪ The push towards a one world government, (Daniel 7:23, Revelation 13:7)
▪ Israel being the center of conflict in the world, (Zechariah 12:1-3)
▪ The world would come against Israel.(Zechariah 12:1-3)
▪ Natural disasters, disease, false prophets, famine, terrorism, wars all get worse like a
woman having birth pains (Matthew 24:4-8)
We see all these things happening at once. There is no way Christians could arrange to
fulfill these prophecies. This goes way beyond coincidence. This proves Bible period.
In conclusion:
• New Atheism is just another false religion
◦ Religion is something that dictates the direction of your life. It is what you consider most
important. It is the motivational factor behind your decisions.
▪ The New Atheists attack Christianity and no other faith because it is the truth.
▪ Atheists deny Atheism is a religion, yet attest that Buddhism is. However Buddhism
does not believe in a god, but is an atheistic philosophy
▪ The Humanist Manifesto of the early 1970's said secular Humanism is a religion. They
only recently changed that so they can spread their beliefs in schools.
• Darwin is one of the great prophets for Atheists, yet Darwin believed humans who
have weak DNA should not be allowed to reproduce
◦ Margaret Singer was also an atheist. She founded Planned Parenthood, which originally
was designed to promote the Eugenics movement.
▪ Eugenics intended to dictate who was allowed to reproduce and who was not in the
interest of creating a superior race.
▪ Evolution was the key inspiration behind this so called scientific movement.
The New Atheism is an emotional attack on the truth of God disguised as an intellectual
and scientific movement. Upon further investigation you will find that scripture in
Psalm 14:1 is profoundly true.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth good.20is an atheistic philosophy
▪ The Humanist Manifesto of the early 1970's said secular Humanism is a religion. They
only recently changed that so they can spread their beliefs in schools.
• Darwin is one of the great prophets for Atheists, yet Darwin believed humans who
have weak DNA should not be allowed to reproduce
◦ Margaret Singer was also an atheist. She founded Planned Parenthood, which originally
was designed to promote the Eugenics movement.
▪ Eugenics intended to dictate who was allowed to reproduce and who was not in the
interest of creating a superior race.
▪ Evolution was the key inspiration behind this so called scientific movement.
The New Atheism is an emotional attack on the truth of God disguised as an intellectual
and scientific movement. Upon further investigation you will find that scripture in
Psalm 14:1 is profoundly true.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
When God Kills Children
I often hear people mock the morality of the Bible by pointing to passages where God commanded Israel to go to war against its enemies and kill all its men, women, children, and livestock. From the perspective of an unbeliever who also does not believe in life after death, I can see why they would find this horrific.
However, the reality is that there is life after death and the only thing in question is where we will go. This fact that God commanded Israel to kill women and children I contend was not immoral, but an act of great mercy.
You see the Bible teaches that children who have not reached the age of accountability (which varies from person to person), are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. If these children were allowed to live and grow up in their Pagan culture carrying the bitterness that Israel killed their fathers, they most certainly would have rebelled and fought against the God of Israel. At that point they would be at the age of accountability and if they died in that sin they would have been condemned to Hell. However, because God took them before that could happen, they were ushered into heaven by God's grace and mercy. This is a decision that only God can make, so this does not justify abortion. God never commanded the USA to kill millions of babies in the womb.
As for the adults of these lands, they had plenty of time to repent, but persisted in attacking Israel, so God brought judgement upon them. Again, God will judge each of those people according to what they knew as well.
So using the morality argument to take apart the Bible is a losing battle, because unbelievers do not take into account there is more to our existance than just what we see in this life. God sees the whole picture and acts in the interest of eternal purposes rather than just what benefits us in this life.
Additionally, God does not command the church to kill anyone. He only worked this way with Israel on a national level to protect His chosen people and chosen land. He did this to keep the line to the Messiah pure, and to establish His prophetic purpose. Again this was a different dispensation, so the moral laws of God remained the same, but the consequences for their violation were different.
However, the reality is that there is life after death and the only thing in question is where we will go. This fact that God commanded Israel to kill women and children I contend was not immoral, but an act of great mercy.
You see the Bible teaches that children who have not reached the age of accountability (which varies from person to person), are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. If these children were allowed to live and grow up in their Pagan culture carrying the bitterness that Israel killed their fathers, they most certainly would have rebelled and fought against the God of Israel. At that point they would be at the age of accountability and if they died in that sin they would have been condemned to Hell. However, because God took them before that could happen, they were ushered into heaven by God's grace and mercy. This is a decision that only God can make, so this does not justify abortion. God never commanded the USA to kill millions of babies in the womb.
As for the adults of these lands, they had plenty of time to repent, but persisted in attacking Israel, so God brought judgement upon them. Again, God will judge each of those people according to what they knew as well.
So using the morality argument to take apart the Bible is a losing battle, because unbelievers do not take into account there is more to our existance than just what we see in this life. God sees the whole picture and acts in the interest of eternal purposes rather than just what benefits us in this life.
Additionally, God does not command the church to kill anyone. He only worked this way with Israel on a national level to protect His chosen people and chosen land. He did this to keep the line to the Messiah pure, and to establish His prophetic purpose. Again this was a different dispensation, so the moral laws of God remained the same, but the consequences for their violation were different.
Friday, June 3, 2011
A Letter To An Atheist
I recently had the painful joy of listening to an audio book called "Letter To A Christian Nation" by Sam Harris. I found it painful to listen to because of the arrogant tone filled with misrepresentations of my faith. I found it a joy because as I began to meditate more on some of the issues brought forth by Mr. Harris, and my faith in Jesus Christ was only strengthened, which I'm sure was not the author's intention. No his intention was clear, he wants his book to convert people to atheism.
It was a well written representation of the faith of an atheist. You may be confused by the term "The Faith of an atheist." However, after hearing the case presented by Sam Harris, I am convinced that he is a very faithful man. He is committed to his belief that the God of the Bible, or any god for that matter does not exist. This belief is not based on any evidence he has that God does not exist, only on his personal belief. He is committed to spreading the gospel of evolution. He is equally committed to eliminating any religous influence or representation in government. He is also committed to a fully secular world because he believes faith in any god is dangerous, and is holding back the advancement of humanity in many ways. In fact he even makes the case that Christian faith is actually immoral in several instances. In reality he is trying to impose his faith on others through government. Atheism is a faith in the sense that it makes us all our own gods with our own standards of what is good and what is bad. If you are an atheist, you answer to no higher authority of morality than yourself, which I find scary. So what he is trying to do is no different and no more or less dangerous than Christians imposing our faith into government. He makes the claim that his view is based on evidence and fact, but all of the points he asserts with great conviction were not backed up with any sort of objective evidence. He failed to provide any evidence as to how he knows there is no god, and all religions are foolish.
You see this is an act of faith on his part. He readily admits he cannot prove there is no god. He also admits that he cannot explain the origins of the universe or even how evolution got started. These are crucial points to skip over in making the type of bold assertions he makes in his book. So if his beliefs are based on his own personal faith and not fact, then what gives him the intellectual right to say Christianity is "False?" That is not a rhetorical question, it is an actual question. I will assert what the Bible says about atheists, and I will back it up with evidence that shows we can trust the Bible. Sam Harris backs up his claims with his own interpretations and opinions to back up his claims. Why should I trust or believe anything Sam Harris has to say. He cannot even tell us how the core of his faith (evolution) began. The Bible however provides prophetic, archaelogical, historical, philisophical, and scientific evidence that it indeed is a credible and trustworthy source for the truth about our common existance.
Though Sam Harris seems to be a very intelligent and well read individual, he does make several errors in his understanding of faith in the God of the Bible. So I will begin a series of responses to the points Sam Harris made in his book.
Sam Harris attacks several areas of the Bible that have to do with the consequences for violating the law under the covenant given to Israel through Moses. For Example: “We read the Golden Rule and judge it to be a brilliant distillation of many of our ethical impulses. And then we come across another of God’s teachings on morality: if a man discovers on his wedding night that his bride is not a virgin, he must stone her to death on her father’s doorstep (Deuteronomy 22:13-21).”
Sam Harris is making the point here that decrees like this are immoral. He goes on to make assumptions that Christians believe this verse applies to how we are to conduct ourselves. First of all this consequence for sin was not part of the universal moral law God gave, it was part of the judicial penalties He called for to be enforced by Israel. The Church has no mandate to stone anyone for violating the law of adultery. God deals with each person individually with great mercy and grace. God delt with Israel as a nation under strict observance of His perfect standards of righteousness to show us how serious He is about sin. To the extent that we are offended by God's judgement, is equal to how far we have fallen from God's love of righteousness in our hearts.
Sam Harris is missing the point of the Old Testament law and the righteousness of God. Harris is applying his own standard of good to these issues. His implication is that pre-marital sex is not bad enough to warrant the death penalty. That point fails to prove any sort of immorality in the scriptures. The law was given to show us God's standard of morality and how serious sin is to Him. The law also gives us an appreciation for God's mercy through Jesus Christ, because we are all deserving of death for the sins we have willfully comitted. There is an example of a woman caught in the act of adultery, yet Jesus did not condemn her. Scriptures say that Jesus did not violate any aspect of the law. This shows us that stoning this woman was not part of the law, but was the judicial penalty for breaking the law. Jesus being God, chose to have mercy on that woman, as he has mercy on His church today. The covanent was given to Israel to show us what we deserve. Scripture is clear about this, in fact Paul the Apostle goes to great lengths explaining this concept. The fact that Sam Harris does not get it, does not prove that the God of the Bible does not exist. It just shows that Sam Harris is judging right and wrong by his own corrupted standard, and not by the standard of his Creator and Savior. More to come...
It was a well written representation of the faith of an atheist. You may be confused by the term "The Faith of an atheist." However, after hearing the case presented by Sam Harris, I am convinced that he is a very faithful man. He is committed to his belief that the God of the Bible, or any god for that matter does not exist. This belief is not based on any evidence he has that God does not exist, only on his personal belief. He is committed to spreading the gospel of evolution. He is equally committed to eliminating any religous influence or representation in government. He is also committed to a fully secular world because he believes faith in any god is dangerous, and is holding back the advancement of humanity in many ways. In fact he even makes the case that Christian faith is actually immoral in several instances. In reality he is trying to impose his faith on others through government. Atheism is a faith in the sense that it makes us all our own gods with our own standards of what is good and what is bad. If you are an atheist, you answer to no higher authority of morality than yourself, which I find scary. So what he is trying to do is no different and no more or less dangerous than Christians imposing our faith into government. He makes the claim that his view is based on evidence and fact, but all of the points he asserts with great conviction were not backed up with any sort of objective evidence. He failed to provide any evidence as to how he knows there is no god, and all religions are foolish.
You see this is an act of faith on his part. He readily admits he cannot prove there is no god. He also admits that he cannot explain the origins of the universe or even how evolution got started. These are crucial points to skip over in making the type of bold assertions he makes in his book. So if his beliefs are based on his own personal faith and not fact, then what gives him the intellectual right to say Christianity is "False?" That is not a rhetorical question, it is an actual question. I will assert what the Bible says about atheists, and I will back it up with evidence that shows we can trust the Bible. Sam Harris backs up his claims with his own interpretations and opinions to back up his claims. Why should I trust or believe anything Sam Harris has to say. He cannot even tell us how the core of his faith (evolution) began. The Bible however provides prophetic, archaelogical, historical, philisophical, and scientific evidence that it indeed is a credible and trustworthy source for the truth about our common existance.
Though Sam Harris seems to be a very intelligent and well read individual, he does make several errors in his understanding of faith in the God of the Bible. So I will begin a series of responses to the points Sam Harris made in his book.
Sam Harris attacks several areas of the Bible that have to do with the consequences for violating the law under the covenant given to Israel through Moses. For Example: “We read the Golden Rule and judge it to be a brilliant distillation of many of our ethical impulses. And then we come across another of God’s teachings on morality: if a man discovers on his wedding night that his bride is not a virgin, he must stone her to death on her father’s doorstep (Deuteronomy 22:13-21).”
Sam Harris is making the point here that decrees like this are immoral. He goes on to make assumptions that Christians believe this verse applies to how we are to conduct ourselves. First of all this consequence for sin was not part of the universal moral law God gave, it was part of the judicial penalties He called for to be enforced by Israel. The Church has no mandate to stone anyone for violating the law of adultery. God deals with each person individually with great mercy and grace. God delt with Israel as a nation under strict observance of His perfect standards of righteousness to show us how serious He is about sin. To the extent that we are offended by God's judgement, is equal to how far we have fallen from God's love of righteousness in our hearts.
Sam Harris is missing the point of the Old Testament law and the righteousness of God. Harris is applying his own standard of good to these issues. His implication is that pre-marital sex is not bad enough to warrant the death penalty. That point fails to prove any sort of immorality in the scriptures. The law was given to show us God's standard of morality and how serious sin is to Him. The law also gives us an appreciation for God's mercy through Jesus Christ, because we are all deserving of death for the sins we have willfully comitted. There is an example of a woman caught in the act of adultery, yet Jesus did not condemn her. Scriptures say that Jesus did not violate any aspect of the law. This shows us that stoning this woman was not part of the law, but was the judicial penalty for breaking the law. Jesus being God, chose to have mercy on that woman, as he has mercy on His church today. The covanent was given to Israel to show us what we deserve. Scripture is clear about this, in fact Paul the Apostle goes to great lengths explaining this concept. The fact that Sam Harris does not get it, does not prove that the God of the Bible does not exist. It just shows that Sam Harris is judging right and wrong by his own corrupted standard, and not by the standard of his Creator and Savior. More to come...
Thursday, May 19, 2011
A Message To All Bloggers
Although I greatly appreciate any comments, questions or even disagreements anyone may have, I am not doing this blog to be mocked or insulted. I do not tolerate any inappropriate language. If one does engage in this behavior, I have no reservations about deleting any comments written in such a tone. If one chooses to engage in this type of communication it means to me that this person has no interest in seeking truth, but in fact is so full of pride, they have convinced themselves they know it all. Not to mention the lack of common decency in treating another human being with respect. I apologize to those who have commented in a civil and respectful tone, for this posting.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Science and Philosophy Require the Existence of God
When dealing with the universe we have only two options to explain how the universe came into being. We know that the universe itself is not eternal. There is an abundance of evidence that supports the fact that at some point in time the universe did not exist and then did. The law of causality requires a deeper explanation for the genesis of the universe than the big bang theory. The big bang theory does not define a cause, but only a process. If something like the big bang happened ( which is a weak theory in and of itself), a cause is still required. This means a self existent, eternal designer is required. We can't just say this dependent universe came out of another dependent universe. At some point an eternal, self existent creative designer is required to explain the law and order we observe in our universe.
We also observe a natural moral law that is common throughout creation. Several studies have determined that moral law is not a product of environment, but it is written in our genetic make up. Therefore not only do we have a creative designing force, but we have a personal creator who has shown there is an intention or a purpose for our existence.
The athiest is not thinking this issue through. The athiest is basically saying " Because I cannot see my thoughts, my thoughts must not exist." This is no different than their approach to God. However the natural world has the fingerprints of a personal, moral, and creative designer all over it. To ignore this is called foolishness by the author of the Bible. The apostle Paul declared in Romans chapter one that we can know God exists through observing His creation.
It is actually quite simple. When we look at a painting, how do we know a painter exists. We look at the painting and know in our hearts that someone designed this painting personally and with a purpose. We can't prove scientifically that there was a painter but we know there was one, because paintings don't form themsleves by chance. How much more is this true when we look at the complexity and design of the natural universe. Once the so called athiest comes to terms with the fact the God exists we can move forward and start a discussion about how we can know the God of the Bible is the very God that created our universe.
We also observe a natural moral law that is common throughout creation. Several studies have determined that moral law is not a product of environment, but it is written in our genetic make up. Therefore not only do we have a creative designing force, but we have a personal creator who has shown there is an intention or a purpose for our existence.
The athiest is not thinking this issue through. The athiest is basically saying " Because I cannot see my thoughts, my thoughts must not exist." This is no different than their approach to God. However the natural world has the fingerprints of a personal, moral, and creative designer all over it. To ignore this is called foolishness by the author of the Bible. The apostle Paul declared in Romans chapter one that we can know God exists through observing His creation.
It is actually quite simple. When we look at a painting, how do we know a painter exists. We look at the painting and know in our hearts that someone designed this painting personally and with a purpose. We can't prove scientifically that there was a painter but we know there was one, because paintings don't form themsleves by chance. How much more is this true when we look at the complexity and design of the natural universe. Once the so called athiest comes to terms with the fact the God exists we can move forward and start a discussion about how we can know the God of the Bible is the very God that created our universe.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Are We Better Than Osama Bin Ladin?
In light of the recent events involving the killing of Osama Bin Ladin, I thought it was important to take a sober look at the situation from the perspective of God's Word. Many Americans and others have expressed great joy and actually celebrated the death of O.B.L.. My first response was my personal memory of people in the Middle East celebrating in the streets when the events of September 11th, 2001 happened. I was disgusted with anger then. Today I am disgusted with sadness.
I am saddened by this response Americans have had primarily because God said in Ezekial 33 that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Secondly I am saddened at the spiritual blindness of our nation. Jesus said if we hate someone we are as guilty as a murderer. Most people who reject the Bible reject this statement and defend themselves by saying they would never do what O.B.L. did. I would add that God also said "If not for His grace, we would do the same evil."
Think about it. Lets say you were born in O.B.L.'s family, environement and nation. Already the chances of you becoming a hate filled terrorist has increased signifigantly. Now lets say you also were indoctrinated with the same garbage he was, and you had the same temperment. It is likely you would follow the teachings of Muhammud and become a terrorist unless some eye opening intervention took place.
You see we all have the capacity within us to become something evil. We hide alot of our hate and evil in our thoughts, but God knows our thoughts. God placed us in this society where it is likely we will not be tempted to become terrorists. So then the question that demands to be asked is this: Is God then not just because He allows people to grow up in environments where they can be tempted to be something so evil such as the case with O.B.L.? The answer is no. I can say this because God sees sin as sin. Here in America we sin in our thoughts, in Osama Bin Ladin's world, his sin manifested into his acts. God sees both the same. Therefore we have no right to celebrate the death of a wicked man, because we too are just as wicked. The only thing that could have saved Osama Bin Ladin, would have been him responding to God's call to repentance, and then him receiving Jesus Christ as his savior. I don't know if O.B.L ever heard the gospel, but as far as I can tell, I saw no repentance of his sins. True repentance, would have led him to the cross of Christ. God gave O.B.L. a conscience, so he knew what he was doing was evil. However he hardened his heart to God's love and then was blinded to the truth about Islam. That truth is that it is a religion created by Satan himself.
Most Americans have also hardened their hearts to God and need to repent. For those who claim they are not as evil as O.B.L. and yet live their lives rejecting God's call to repentance; they will end up in the same environment Osama Bin Ladin may have ended up in...The Lake of Fire.
I am sure this may have offended you, but the reality is that we are all dead in our sin, and can only be saved through what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. We cannot be saved by being religous, and we cannot be saved by just trying to be "Good People." By God's standards, we are incapable of being "Good People." Therefore we need the grace and mercy of God that is given to us through Jesus.
I am saddened by this response Americans have had primarily because God said in Ezekial 33 that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Secondly I am saddened at the spiritual blindness of our nation. Jesus said if we hate someone we are as guilty as a murderer. Most people who reject the Bible reject this statement and defend themselves by saying they would never do what O.B.L. did. I would add that God also said "If not for His grace, we would do the same evil."
Think about it. Lets say you were born in O.B.L.'s family, environement and nation. Already the chances of you becoming a hate filled terrorist has increased signifigantly. Now lets say you also were indoctrinated with the same garbage he was, and you had the same temperment. It is likely you would follow the teachings of Muhammud and become a terrorist unless some eye opening intervention took place.
You see we all have the capacity within us to become something evil. We hide alot of our hate and evil in our thoughts, but God knows our thoughts. God placed us in this society where it is likely we will not be tempted to become terrorists. So then the question that demands to be asked is this: Is God then not just because He allows people to grow up in environments where they can be tempted to be something so evil such as the case with O.B.L.? The answer is no. I can say this because God sees sin as sin. Here in America we sin in our thoughts, in Osama Bin Ladin's world, his sin manifested into his acts. God sees both the same. Therefore we have no right to celebrate the death of a wicked man, because we too are just as wicked. The only thing that could have saved Osama Bin Ladin, would have been him responding to God's call to repentance, and then him receiving Jesus Christ as his savior. I don't know if O.B.L ever heard the gospel, but as far as I can tell, I saw no repentance of his sins. True repentance, would have led him to the cross of Christ. God gave O.B.L. a conscience, so he knew what he was doing was evil. However he hardened his heart to God's love and then was blinded to the truth about Islam. That truth is that it is a religion created by Satan himself.
Most Americans have also hardened their hearts to God and need to repent. For those who claim they are not as evil as O.B.L. and yet live their lives rejecting God's call to repentance; they will end up in the same environment Osama Bin Ladin may have ended up in...The Lake of Fire.
I am sure this may have offended you, but the reality is that we are all dead in our sin, and can only be saved through what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. We cannot be saved by being religous, and we cannot be saved by just trying to be "Good People." By God's standards, we are incapable of being "Good People." Therefore we need the grace and mercy of God that is given to us through Jesus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)