Category: What do you think?

Do you add to the scripture unintentionally?

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Jeff Turner, TexasGospel.org

How do you respond when someone has a different view of scripture?

I’ve been involved in more spirited Biblical debates than any other topic, and most come down to the same thing. I believe it’s perfectly fine to say I’ve read a specific scripture and it leads me to believe such-and-such.  But I strongly disagree with those who begin a sentence by saying, “The Bible says…” and then complete the sentence with anything other a quote from scripture.  To be clear, it’s my position that once a sentence includes the phrase, “and what that means is,” it is no longer scripture, but someone’s understanding of the Word. Presenting one’s understanding as scripture itself is misleading.

It’s interesting that the Deuteronomy 12:32 says, “See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.” And Revelation 22:18 says, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book.” I believe these scriptures implore us to be careful that we not misrepresent our interpretation as holding Biblical authority.

What are your thoughts?

Are atheists belief free?

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Is it true that atheists are simply people who are not convinced there is a God?  For some who claim the title “atheist” this is the case even though Webster says the difference between an atheist and agnostic is that an atheist BELIEVES there is no God.  But I question those who claim in online debates that they have no belief when some very strongly take the position that there is no God.   I question their position even more firmly when they resort to calling God my “imaginary friend.” To say that God is imaginary goes beyond simply not believing that He exists.  It is not honest for an individual to say God is imaginary while claiming they do not have a position.

There are anti-religious organizations for those who believe there is no God. Arguably one of the largest is the Freedom From Religion Foundation.  Billboards such as the one recently put up in Cobb County Georgia that reads, “Supernatural belief – the enemy of Humanity” make it clear the organization is anti-religion.  A press release from the organization claims that by giving up supernaturalism, we all can have a more fulfilling life, though it does not say how. Would it make sense to claim that belief in the supernatural is harmful if one had no opinion on the matter?  To believe faith in God is harmful is to have a belief.

People are individuals.  Each of us finds fulfillment in our own way.  It is obvious that some atheists do not find fulfillment in a life devoid of spirituality.  Gabriel Ross Parker, for example, fatally shot two classmates.  He said he did it because he was an atheist and his life and the lives of others had no purpose, something that came out in testimony following the shooting. Here is the video.   I make no claim that being an atheist leads everyone to become homicidal.  To say this would be to make a hasty generalization similar to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s billboard that says all belief in the supernatural is harmful.

So why would an atheist who believes there is no God claim he or she simply has no opinion? Well, one reason is that it is a good debate tactic.  A person who makes a claim has the responsibility of providing evidence for their claim.  To take the position that one is not making a claim shifts the burden to the other individual. But it strains credulity when a person who says they are not making a claim refers to God as imaginary and supports a billboard saying religion is the enemy of humanity.  Is it not more likely that the god of this world has blinded them to the truth?

Why don’t we give Old Testament punishments today?

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A non-believer asked this question:  If the Bible is infallible, and God never changes, should we stone people today for violating Old Testament law as directed in the 15th chapter of Numbers? The simple answer is No, this is an oversimplification and it ignores context of who is speaking to whom and under what circumstances.

At times, God gave specific instructions to specific groups of people because of what they were doing and the situation man created at that time; and these situations are spelled out. The book of Numbers records specifically Israel’s exodus from Egypt and God’s directives to Israel. God gives detailed instructions to the Israelites. It’s clear they are going into the wilderness of Sinai. Nowhere does it say everyone now and in the future should go wander in the wilderness; it is clear the directive is to this group only.

To be clear, it is God’s people and their situation that is changing, not God.

Think of it this way. If I’m teaching one of my kids to drive and we come up to a traffic signal and the light is red, I’m going to say stop or you’ll get a ticket. If I give my child a driving lesson the next day and we approach the traffic signal and it is green, I would tell my child to drive through the intersection. Would it be odd for him to ask me why the law changed? The law didn’t change, the situation in which my child was changed.

What are your thoughts?

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

Hebrews 7:12

Do we have evidence of God’s hand in creation?

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While my faith is not based on scientific discovery, I find evidence of God’s creation interesting.  I also find it interesting to note how strongly some anti-theists work to discredit evidence of God.

Just one of the evidences, often called the “fine-tuned universe” goes something like this: against incredible odds, the numbers in basic physics are exactly what they need to be for life. They have to be so precisely what they are for life that it stands credulity on its head to say that it happened just by chance.  The ball had been thrown into the anti-theists court.  Discussion of the latest physics of the matter was avoided by anti-theists, at least until the multiverse theory came along.

The multiverse theory threw the ball back into the theists’ court.  It provided a refutation to the fine-tuned universe.  The rebuff at that time was basically this: There are so many plausible variations in a multiverse that at least one fine-tuned universe would be expected. Now, talk of the latest science was in fashion again among anti-theists.  The ball has been shot back to the theists’ court.  Then, a new paper was published following the death of Stephen Hawking and the ball had been returned.

The last published paper by Stephen Hawking and Thomas Hertog says if a multiverse exists, it would not have an infinite number of physical properties.  If the infinite number of possible physical properties goes away, then the multiverse theory is not the kill shot to the fine-tuned universe as previously thought.

Throughout all of this fuss about fine tuning, and other evidences of God, I find it amazing how some anti-theists accept or reject the physical evidence as an indicator of God based on whose court the ball happens to be in at the time. At the end of the day, a relationship with God has nothing to do with the latest scientific discovery.  It has everything to do with our acceptance or rejection of God and his precious gift of salvation.

Have you accepted his gift?

Romans 1:19-20

because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.