In his book Mircea Eliade and the Dialectic of the Sacred, Professor Thomas J. J. Altizer calls for: “a forthright confession of the death of the God of Christendom, a full acknowledgement that the era of Christian civilization has come to an end …all moral values that were once historically associated with the Christian God have collapsed …God has died in our time, in our history, in our existence.” (p.13) He is not the first to have made such statement, nor will he be the last. To claim that God has died or never existed is such a crazy notion that it hardly calls for an answer.
The existentialist philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) in his parable The Gay Science portrays a madman who enters a market place carrying a lantern and who calls out: “I seek God, I seek God”. Much to his annoyance, no one is listening. Instead, they just find the man’s antics amusing. Turning on the people, the deranged man cries out yet the more, “Whither is God? I shall tell you. We have killed him ― you and I.”
God is dead in our time and remains so along with everything for which He is held responsible ― or so we are led to believe. Of course, God is far from being dead. He is as He always was and ever will be. To accept God’s demise is a terrible delusion. A blind man may not see the light of the sun, but this does not mean it is not shining.
Many look with disdain on those who still believe in God. They view a belief in God as a support for those to lean on whose understanding, particularly of science, is limited or they see it as some kind of emotional or psychological aid to help the feeble minded through life. Believers live in Lalaland!
Yet the evidence for God’s existence is unmistakeable and all around us. It is only the inwardly blind who cannot see it.
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Go outside, look at the fields, the forests, the animals, the birds in all their splendour. Look at the vast stretches of ocean, the fishes large and small. You still cannot see it? Then the problem lies with you. Where do you think this all came from? Evolution and pure chance? You are pulling my leg, surely? You must be, because your assertions make no sense. In fact, big bangs and other explanations of the origin of the universe demand far more faith from me than a straightforward trust in the plain account of creation I read in Holy Scripture.
God has revealed Himself, so everyone is without excuse
To get a clearer picture, let us pause for a moment and see what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christian Church in Rome.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:18-22)
In this passage we note that there are two sources of evidence for the existence of God. First, we see that creation itself reveals God to us: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Creation tells us quite a lot about what God is like: an eternal, omnipotent and almighty God. His deniers are without excuse because the world around us that God has created is there and testifies to His eternal power and Godhead. The voice of the true God, not simply a God, is to be heard everywhere we look. The whole world around us is a manifestation of the truths of God. The Holy Spirit works to set forth the fulness of this revelation before our eyes.
Second, those who say there is no God are denying the knowledge of Himself that He has placed within us all: “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them”. In actual fact, this knowledge of God is inescapable. It is an intricate part of being human. No one can be conscious of themselves without at the same time being conscious of God. Without it, we would be less than human. This knowledge within is more than simply a sense of deity; it is a revelation found within us all of the one true God. It is also a revelation of Christ Himself, so that when the Gospel of Christ is preached it awakens a recognition in the godless heart. Yet, somehow because of inner blindness, men refuse to acknowledge who He actually is. The God-denier seeks violently to suppress the voice of God that persists in speaking to him through his created nature.
“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (John 1:9-10)
There is yet a third consideration in chapter two of Romans.
“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: 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;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:14-16)
No one is excused from prosecution in the civil world because they were not aware of the law of the land. In a similar way, no one is excused of breaking God’s law because they have never read the Scriptures. Not only do men have a knowledge of God within, but they also understand perfectly well that when they do wrong it is against God’s law and they are sinning, because they have that law written in their hearts.
A rejection of God leads to depravity of the worst kind
It is this inner knowledge that every God-denying sinner is seeking to shake off. Everything related to God he tries to suppress. The result is quite stark. Having refused Him and on these evidences, God simply gives God-deniers over to their own sinful ways to do as they please and face the consequences. It is this judgement upon them, the abandonment of them to their sins. The apostle in this chapter gives us a frightful list of barely mentionable depravity, evils that we see daily around us, all are a direct result of refusing God. Wickedness is here directly attributed to a rejection of God.
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Romans 1:28)
God-deniers hold the truth in unrighteousness. The truth is, all men know God is there because they have a knowledge of Him and His law within them and without they have the testimony of creation. However, they have invented all kinds of ways to persuade themselves that He does not exist and that creation is a myth. Denying God is less a matter of science or philosophy, but of a spiritual malaise. They want to cast off the bonds they recognize tie them to the reality that is God and be left to pursue a false freedom. So, the futile attempt is made against Almighty God to drive Him out of the world He created and still sustains.
Only fools say there is no God
“Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” (Psalm 2:3-4)
They laugh at the idea of God, whilst God views them with derision and holds them for fools. To deny God makes you a fool, because all the time He is there when you have pushed Him out of your mind.
“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.” (Psalm 14:1)
We are always confronted with a known and recognizable revelation of God. We, not God, are responsible for our own sin and rebellion because we are without excuse.
Those who deny God are simply not being honest with themselves. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” God-deniers are not being super-intelligent or clever, but grossly foolish. They desperately want to chase God out of His universe, an impossibility. It is because they know deep within that they are rebels and must one day give an account of themselves to Him from whom they run, avoiding all talk of Him.
Oh, the wise scientists and philosophers, who imagine themselves to be so exalted in the light of their own knowledge, but in view of the truth they are actually in darkness and have made themselves to be fools. Day by day all that they handle and look at is God’s handiwork. Everything they examine proclaims them liars.
Even if there is a God, they muse, He is far away from here and has nothing to do with the day to day running of this world. Not so, for not only did God create the world, but He also sustains it so that everyone of us owes our day-by-day existence to Him. He provides for us. “God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22)
Finding God
“Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” (Job 11:7)
Augustine, bishop of Hippo (AD 354-430), famously wrote this in his Confessions: “…for Thou hast made us for Thyself and our heart is restless, until it find rest in Thee.” Stated in simple terms, the heart of man was created for God and it will not find rest until it rests in the Father’s heart. We may seek God on earth when He is in heaven, afar when He is actually near. He is found inn the high and holy places with him that is of a contrite heart.
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15)
Men seek Him, if they might feel after Him and find Him.
“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:27-28)
The denial of God’s existence or the acceptance of Him are serious issues. Make a mistake and you are in serious trouble. It is something every one of needs to face and address lest we fall on the wrong side. Men seek God, whilst at the same time, they flee from Him. Although they refuse all knowledge of His ways, yet they cannot do without Him. They are attracted by Him, yet at the same time repelled. Born a son of the house, the sinner finds himself gorging on the husks intended for the swine in a foreign land. He forsakes the fountains of living waters and hews out broken cisterns that can hold no water.
“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)
All God’s works in words or deeds are constituent parts of the one comprehensive continuing self-revelation of God. From His revelation of Himself, we learn to know Him. We shall find no rest until we rise above and beyond the creature to God.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Christ Jesus and the Holy Scriptures
The whole revelation of Scripture converges on the person of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. In the Old Testament we find the promise. In the New Testament we find the fulfillment.
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:1-4)
God cannot be found by searching, but only when and where He has chosen to reveal Himself. Without this revelation, the best we can arrive at is a god created by us in our own image, an extrapolation of our own thoughts. God has revealed Himself in the created universe and within our own hearts. Most of all He has revealed Himself in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” (John 14:9)
Christ is no longer with us physically on earth for us to see, but He has given us His inspired Word, the Holy Scriptures and we can find Him there. Jesus Himself said:
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)
The Bible is authoritative on every subject it touches and it speaks of everything directly or indirectly. It is the indispensable light on the whole of life. We need to use the Bible, use the Word of God, to awaken that which the God-deniers know already but are seeking to suppress and pervert.
Taken by the Holy Spirit, He will use Scripture and apply it to convict and convert.
“If true religion is to beam upon us, our principle must be, that it is necessary to begin with heavenly teaching, and that it is impossible for any man to obtain even the minutest portion of right and sound doctrine without being a disciple of Scripture.” John Calvin, Institutes, I, VI, 2
When the God-denier is presented with the truth as found in Holy Scripture, God speaking to men, we can be sure that there will be some kind of response in every heart. It may not be a favourable one, rejecting the claims of God. Despite this, they will invariably recognize the words as legitimate and as a result suppress them in their hearts.
Where there is no God there is no sin, no accountability before our Maker. This is a very foolish and also a dishonest position to take. Be rid of God and judgement before God falls away! Say God doesn’t exist and we escape Him! Not true. Be sure of this, willingly or unwillingly, this will inevitably happen to you:
“…behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)
“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:11-12)
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12)
No one can hide from God by denying His existence or in any other way. God sees everything and misses nothing. Such a delusion will eventually be exposed.
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13)
“Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalm 139:3)
“Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:24)
Extract from a larger booklet by the same name. Available free of charge fom me.
Email: d.norris064@btinternet.com
