Good morning. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The question is this, is the Christian confession still valid today? If you’re like me, then our answer is a enthusiastic YES. But what about those who reject the validity of the Christian confession?
What can one say to those who do not acknowledge any God, let alone one taking human form in Jesus Christ? By and large, atheists see the universe not as a purposeful creation of God, but as an accidental mass of blind and random forces. Many Christians try their hand at employing intellectual arguments to prove God’s existence, which to them inevitably validates the Christian confession.
First, there is the Empirical argument. This essence of this defense proclaims that the concept of God itself proves that God cannot NOT exist. In other words, the fact that an atheist can conceive of a God to deny proves the existence of the very entity they claim isn’t real.
Second, is the popular Cosmic argument. This proof asserts that every dependent reality must a have a independent cause that explains its existence. Like a watch needs a watchmaker to be brought into existence, so too humankind needs an independent cause to explain its existence and that cause of course is God.
Third, the persuasive Moral Law argument. This justification states that the only reason mankind can distinguish between good and evil is because of the existence of God who established moral law at the beginning of creation. Consequently, the absence of God in the world would necessarily mean the absence of morality in the world. And it is God’s morality that the world depends upon to deplore acts of theft, rape, and murder .
While all three make great cases, the Christian cannot rely on intellectual arguments alone to prove God’s existence. Instead, the Christian’s evidence for the existence of God must also include a living demonstration. In other words, YOU ARE THE PROOF that God exists.
Moreover, we provide incontrovertible proof that God’s forgiveness is real every time you or I forgive the harmful acts of friends and enemies alike. We supply irrefutable evidence that God’s mercy is real every time you or I display mercy on those worthy of both our scorn and our vengeance. We offer indisputable confirmation that God’s love is real every time you or I show love those who have known nothing but rejection and isolation.
So this week I pray each of us will strive to become such a witness to a world as desperate for evidence as it is for healing. Sure there will moments when we doubt if forgiveness is worth the effort. Certainly there will be instances when we question if mercy merits our consideration. Of course there will be times when we wonder if love deserving of my time. But these lingering doubts eventually encounter the enduring truth that when it comes to validating God’s existence, you are the proof.
CJE