http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDHJ4ztnldQ&feature=related
1. Why won't God heal amputees?
First off, their argument that we need to "rationalize" is exactly paradoxical to what they want. They are assuming that we're wrong and so any attempt to, through our belief system, rationalize our beliefs means that we're making excuses. This is preposterous.
Second, I have to admit. This IS an interesting question. My "excuses" (:P) are these. God does not answer every prayer and God does not heal everyone. Absolutely, God is intimately involved in His children's lives, but often He uses very ordinary means. Sometimes, believers are not healed. It's all part of God's plan. Personally, I can't imagine what it must be like to be an amputee. However, God draws close to Christians who are in this situation. He draws close with His promises and love. Yes, maybe God does have a special plan for amputees. Who are you to plumb the mind of God? God is not a cosmic vending machine. Put in prayer, get out healing. That is not how He works.
2. Why are there so many starving people in the world?
The simple answer is the effects of sin. God created a perfect creation that fell with man in his act of rebellion. Now, we live in a world that is subject to decay and that is ruled by wicked men (aka, all of us.) This is why starving occurs. Starving is a lack of resources and, in almost all cases, is the product of tyranny and corrupt government. Why does God not hear their prayers? Many are not praying to God! Once again, God is not a cosmic vending machine nor does everybody have the ability or desire to commune with Him. The existence of evil and starving is not God's fault, but man's! The question "How can a loving God allow evil to exist" is age old and quite tiresome. Operating from within a biblical viewpoint (aka, reality), it involves some mystery, yes, but the Bible is also quite clear on the point. So, it makes logical sense. However, from a humanistic viewpoint, it makes no sense and cannot be accepted. So atheists sit smugly while we hand them truth and yet they cannot accept it because of their presuppositions about reality.
3. Why does God demand the death of so many innocent people in the Bible?
I hope this one really raised some red flags. Let's consider the verses that he points to. These are all from the justice system of the Israeli state that were instituted by God. Is God somehow not allowed to institute laws that He sees fit? Also, I would point to this covenant being fulfilled in Christ. This was a type and shadow of Christ's fulfillment of the covenant. As my teacher Mr. Uttinger would put it, the Jews were like kindergarteners with lots of rules. Now that the new covenant has been revealed, these rules have been simplified. We are "adults." The bottomline is that these are laws instituted by God and thus these people are not innocent. The only innocent person in the Bible to die is Jesus Christ.
Next, notice this quote, "It doesn't make any sense, does it? Why would a loving God want us to murder our fellow human beings over such trivial matters?" There are so many problems with this, I don't know where to begin. First, God's laws need not make sense to man's sinful mind. Second, just because He's loving, doesn't mean He isn't just. God isn't this fuzzy bunny rabbit in the sky. He is a righteous and just being. Third, it isn't murder if it is instituted by God and is justified. Last, and this is the main problem, these things are NOT trivial. God has instituted them and they violate His holiness. To call that trivial is blasphemy! I cannot stress how wrong this is! God's laws are many things, but trivial is not one of them.
4. Why does the Bible contain so much anti-scientific nonsense?
This question is stupid, because it doesn't. The Bible does not contradict Science. Where Science contradicts the Bible, it is wrong. Yes, miracles occurred, but they were just that, miracles. Miracles are a special act of God in His creation. God made the world! He can do anything He wants!
The things this video's creator lists? They all happened because the Bible says so and science does not contradict 6 day creation or a flood. Now, crap masquerading as science called the theory of evolution does, but that's fiction, not science.
5. Why is God such a proponent of slavery in the Bible?
The Bible was written at a time that slavery was a common and economic practice. People sold themselves into to slavery to pay debt and conquered peoples were placed into slavery. Now, to my knowledge, the Bible never portrays slavery as a good thing. It merely acknowledges it's existence and acts within a society where it is present. Clearly, the slavery of the South (what people think of when you say slavery) was wrong not for the simple fact that it was slavery, but it was morally wrong because of the racism, hatred, abuse, and hypocrisy that had become part of it. God uses slavery as a punishment for His people. Obviously, this is not being a proponent of it, but rather, acknowledging the sadness of such a state. It's not portrayed as something lovely, but it's portrayed in it's stark reality.
6. Why do bad things happen to good people?
Oh, the classic question. Will this question ever stop coming off the lips of snarky atheists? I doubt it because it once again allows them to curl up in their false presuppositions and thumb their noses at reality. This question largely hinges upon a misunderstanding of God and a misunderstanding of the word "good." No one is righteous. Not one. Therefore, the only bad thing to ever happen to a good person was the suffering Christ endured on earth. Now, by worldly standards of good, I can even explain this. God never promises that things will be lovely and rosy for His followers. In fact, just the opposite is promised! We must take up our cross and we are to expect to be hated and mocked. The prosperity Gospel is a lie. Being "good" doesn't earn you a nice life. Bad things happen to people for a variety of reasons. All are because God ordains them, but they tend to have a variety of reasons. One is that it's a logical outcome of their actions. Another is that God is teaching someone to trust Him or to come to Him or maybe even He is testing an individual. Ultimately, God makes the call and God's calls are the best calls. End of story.
7. Why didn't any of Jesus' miracles leave behind any physical evidence?
My initial answer would be that I am physical evidence of Christ's miracles. His work on the cross has effected a real and physical change in, not only me, but Christians through all time. The more practical (from a rationalistic point of view) is that the nature of the miracles themselves would not leave evidence. (Other than the Bible, of course. :P) Miracles like healing a sick man or giving sight to the blind would not leave behind physical evidence. These men would later go on to die. Clearly, we can't tell what happened to them in these respects based on their bones. What are you looking for? A newspaper article? Take it from the men who were there and just read the Gospels.
8. How do we explain the fact that Jesus has never personally appeared to you?
Because he never said he would. Again, prayer is not a token we put into the God machine and we receive something we asked for. Christ never said he would appear to me, thus I do not expect him to. Plus, who am I test God and order Him to come down and present Himself to me? That's unfaithful and incredibly arrogant.
9. Why would Jesus want you to eat his body and drink his blood?
Well, this is another question born of a poor understanding of Scripture. Jesus DOESN'T want me to eat his body and drink his blood. Cannibalism is wicked. Christ was using this imagery figuratively to explain His death. He was instituting a sacrament whereby we may commune with him. We partake only through faith.
10. Why do Christian get divorced at the same rate as Non-Christians?
Now, I would really like to see where he got this statistic. I admit that divorce takes place in the church, but I find it highly improbable that it takes place at the same rate as non-Christians. How come I don't know more divorced Christians? Also, the real power of God is present with His people and thus would not allow this to happen. However, Christians do get divorced. Christians are still humans and they are still works in progress. Christians sin and they still make mistakes. But, the point is that they are not bound to sin and that they are being guided by God in a sanctifying process.
I hope that this interested you immensely and it prepared you to give a defense of your faith.
God Bless,
Stanley
One of the things that puzzled me the most was his conspicuous concern for all the weak-minded rationalizing theists in the world. Why, if there is no God, and all that exists is matter in motion, should he care so much for all these other bags of chemicals pushing their way selfishly through the doors of Walmart for that killer deal on a toaster oven? Whence comes this compassion for those happily caught in what he so confidently calls a delusion? His evangelistic fervor sounds almost ... dare I say it ... Christian, in its call for repentance.
ReplyDeleteAnd his blind faith in post secondary academic institutions to teach critical thinking skills ... uh ... might I humbly suggest that is the real delusion.
lol yes, I found that exceedingly odd. He continued to say "the logical thinking skills you've learned in college." I found that quite funny. Overall, these questions need to be answered from a biblical point of view, but the dichotomy between biblical and humanistic viewpoint is so great that he cannot understand where we're coming from and thus blows off our logical answers. It's like looking at a vase. I say the vase is there. He denies it's existence. Thus, we are now operating within two closed systems that are independent of one another. That is what it's like.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about the "amputee" challenge quite a bit the past few days. I thought it was a really well framed question and it got me thinking. No existential crisis of faith or anything, but nevertheless, a thought provoker.
ReplyDeleteIt finally dawned on me that if I am being consistent the only reason I should have a problem with God not miraculously healing amputees on a daily basis, is if I also have a problem with the fact that He provides my food in pretty mundane ways as well. I pray for my food daily and have no problem with the fact that the means by which he answers these gastronomical requests has always been pretty earthy. No manna from heaven. no miracle cheeseburgers suddenly appearing on my plate. I do have some pretty cool stories from my childhood that this dude would just chock up to coincidence so I won't waste the characters. But even that aside I am not thrown into a tail spin of doubt because these prayers have never been answered in the way that this dude says he would find compelling. Neither do I find the fact that God tends to heal through ordinary means reason for a crisis of faith. I do believe God can and does do spectacular miracles. But the fact that my wife was spared from death because God was gracious to put her under the care of a skilled surgeon, doesn't make me any less thankful for God's faithfulness to us.
Sorry dude. This world is one big miracle. If roses, sunsets, conception, eyeballs, gravity, language, taste buds, love, and human digestion are not awe inspiring to you then the healing of an amputee will be as convincing to you as it was to the Pharisees.
Now I think I'll take a moment to thank God for the cup of Good Earth Tea that kept me company while I wrote this.