A break from politics...let's talk God.

A post from Tony C Today (October 2008) right in the middle of the Presidential election.

Over the 18 months of managing the http://www.stickwithjesus.com/ website (sorry, no longer up), I received a number of interesting emails from both atheist and agnostics. For me, it's easier to relate and respond to the agnostics, because I've been where they are spiritually at a point in my own life. The arrogance of atheists, however, really bothers me (I know, that's not very Christ like…I'm working on it). I had a conversation of the atheist variety this past weekend.

Atheists always want to bring up Pascal's Wager in discussions. Of course, the lack of scientific evidence is also a popular point for atheists, but responding to the point that there is no proof God exists is too easy…"Prove He doesn't exist." I think Thomas Aquinas covered this best almost 800 years ago in Summa Theologica.

So what is Pascal's Wager? Here's a quick refresher for you:

Blaise Pascal was a famous French mathematician, physicist and religious philosopher in the mid-1660's. People my age probably remember the computer programming language named after him in the late 70's and early 80's (and the only subject in college I made a D, thanks Blaise). Needless to say, he was a pretty smart fellow. His philosophy, however, took on a very rigid, structured matrix that didn't allow for more pliable principles and concepts.

In his Wager, Pascal attempts to provide an analytical process for a person to evaluate options in regarding belief in God. This is often misinterpreted as simply believing in God or not. As Pascal sets it out, the options are two: live as if God exists, or live as if God does not exist. There is no third possibility.
Therefore, we are faced with the following possibilities:

You live as though God exists (and follow His word).

• If God exists, you go to heaven: your gain is infinite (best case).
• If God does not exist, you gain nothing & lose nothing.

You live as though God does not exist.

• If God exists, you go to hell: your loss is infinite (ouch, not good).
• If God does not exist, you gain nothing & lose nothing (no time to gloat either).

With these possibilities, and the principles of statistics, Pascal attempted to demonstrate that the only prudent course of action is to live as if God exists. Now that's a nutshell version of the Pascal's Wager, but if you want more detailed information, click on the link above. For those mathmatically challenged, like me, best leave it here...just trust me.

Atheist, for some reason, rally around the Wager as the only possible explanation a rational person could believe in a 'fantasy' like God. When backed into a corner during a heated debate on God, it will come flying from an atheist out of no where…"You're just hedging Pascal's Wager on heaven and hell!" Then you'll get a 'top-that' look in their mind that surely closes the deal…well, not quite.

You see, my belief in God has little, if anything, to do with the fear of going to hell. Besides, you can't base your committment to God on just logic. He wants your love willingly and true. God knows your heart, so you can't bluff or hedge your way into heaven.

I love God because He is gracious enough, merciful enough to love me…yes me. That still blows my mind! The Creator of all that is, all that was, and all that ever will be cares about the most insignificant creation He made…me. Wow!

And how do I know? Because I talk to Him every day. I feel His presence in my life every day. I have His word that has stood the test of thousands of years to read from daily. I don't need the logic of Mr. Pascal and his mathematical equation to tell me to put my faith in God. Jesus took care of that long before Blaise…Hey, maybe we need a programming language based on His teachings.

It would at least be crash-proof.

May God bless you today in your walk with Him.

I know David Johndrow...and sir, you are no David Johndrow!

The past 10 days have been...shall we say...unique for me. It's not unusual at all to be in an exchange via email or on Facebook at any given time with an atheist or agnostic about God. I've also had a number of face to face discussions too. Honestly, I quite enjoy the opportunity to witness for a Savior who has done so much in my life.

But for the past week and a half, I've been engaged with with two agnostics (one a friend through sports broadcasting), two atheist, a Muslim, two close friends who rest their hats on the predestination rack, four young people from church struggling with issues of faith and all the while teaching a Sunday School class on apologetics.

You know what they say about too much of a good thing...

I'm going to exclude my two Calvinist friends because our dialogue has been ongoing for awhile. I also consider both crucial pieces God has used in the puzzle of my life (you're just not corner pieces...lol ). I love my friends...we just happen to read differently.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (New King James Version)
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Paul gave some valuable counsel to Timothy. He would have paid a fortune in psychologist fees today for the stuff Paul laid on him. And we still continue to profit from those words...thank God!

Here's another verse I get beat up with often. Believe it or not, my ongoing correspondence with the Muslim has been very rewarding. We connected through a work associate in Turkey who knew my colors. It just so happens I've read and studied the Koran, and I think my working knowledge has been a definite benefit in explaining why we don't worship the same God.

The young people who are going through a bit of a challenge were hit with another blow as a young man from our church was killed in a tragic accident last week. He was 28, married with a one year old daughter. He comes from a family tremendously strong in their faith in God. Though his death was truly tragic...his lasting testimony will glorify God for many years to come and gave us great talking points to work through.

I too easily relate to the agnostic because of my own journey. Having a common point of reference and empathy for the ongoing search to fill the 'soul hole', my confidence is lifted in providing good discussions. I believe I'm most patient when discussing God with folks from this group.

Now here comes my struggle...the atheist. Wow is it hard to be gentle here Father. I've often remarked, rather offhandedly, that atheism is a mental illness, and maybe that's just not fair. It's definitely not Christ-like. I just get so frustrated trying to convince someone that belief in God takes no more faith than belief there is no supreme being at all. Actually, I'm convinced it takes far more faith to believe the latter...with the gravest of consequences.

I have to keep reminding myself God gave us the ability to choose to believe or not to believe, and I'm not going to change the decision not to believe in some. With apologies to my Calvinist friends of course...