Truth - Relative or Relevant (Page 2)
Society looks at religious beliefs about the origin of the universe as ridiculous and nonsensical. We are often dismissed as ignorant and irrational; and society says that we must keep our secular and sacred lives completely separated! Today, we are going to look at the scientific basis for the claim that there is no God. We will consider several fields of study including: 1) Anthropology, 2) Cosmology, 3) Biology and 4) Astronomy.
Philosophy professor, Ronald Nash, states, “Every philosopher believes that the most serious challenge to theism was, and is, and will continue to be the problem of evil.” This is the issue that we hope to address this morning—“If God is good, why is there so much pain, and suffering, and evil in the world?” Another philosopher, David Hume, poses the problem of evil and sufferance in this way. He says, “Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able to but not willing? Then his is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Why then is there evil?”
The world is divided. The world is confused. The world is antagonistic toward God and His Holy Word. We are not! We believe that the words of Scripture were breathed out by God and “is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT). So let’s take a moment and read God’s Word!
Science and the Bible–can the two coexist? Modern society considers science and faith to be dichotomous (opposed to one another or entirely different). When speaking of science, people talk about “thinking, evidence and rational justification of facts.” On the other hand, people consider faith to be all about “evading evidence and clinging to non-rationality.” Is it possible that the secularists are wrong and that a Christian worldview isn’t less rational but actually more rational?
We should not be surprised when there are people who scoff, or ridicule, those who believe in God. We should seek to answer their questions without being judgmental against them for their unbelief. There are many reasons for people’s doubts, but we must not forget that Scripture tells us to “have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 22). Christianity is not a psychological crutch for those who doubt, but a supernatural cure for the condition of people everywhere.
Apologetics seeks to pave the way for that gospel presentation by first answering any questions or objections a person my have about Christianity. To apologize means to make a defense for something. So as we think about “Apologizing Christianity,” we are NOT apologizing FOR Christianity, but explaining the reasons behind our beliefs in Jesus Christ and the Bible.