Who Is God?

For thousands of years people have been fighting over the fact of whether there is a God or not. Many believe there is and yet do not know how to prove it, just as those who say there is not a God. Either there is or there isn't. We need to personally examine the evidence to see who God is.

Arguments Against The Reality of God:

Few who are atheists arrived at that position by seriously examining the evidence of God's existence. Most become atheists because:

1) They could not relate to God

2) Had bad experiences with organized religion

3) Saw no logical reasons for faith

4) Sensed the immense hypocrisy in those who claim to know God

5) Inconvenient to accept the reality and authority of God in one’s life

Lack of Proof

First of all we need to see the idea of having visible proof is not the right concept of God. He is not a man or even a physical being; so don't expect any pictures. That doesn't mean he does not exist.

A number of real things exist that can't be seen with the eye — for example: electricity, sound waves, protons, etc. God is real; and invisible. But we can detect his presence through studying his influence on the world.

It would be as hard to photograph God as to measure out two kilometers of Justice, or to weigh three kilograms of Love. Love does not come in kilograms, but that doesn't make it not real.

Hypocrisy

Since most people who believe in God don't do what they preach, what they believe must not be true. That is not true. A doctor may smoke, and that is not good medically, but that does not mean he is not a good doctor. Or a salesman may be greedy and dishonest, but that does not mean the company's product is worthless; he is just a poor representative.

Hypocrisy among "Christians" does not make Christ's teachings false; only the great need for them to be put properly into practice!

Suffering

Since there is so much suffering in the world, either God is good but not all-powerful or all-powerful but certainly not good. This doesn't work since so much suffering is caused by us (lying, war, drunkenness, stealing, etc.). To root out all suffering God would have to destroy all evil. That means he would have to destroy us!

If the Bible is true, then there is a place without suffering, Heaven! No length of suffering on earth will seem that bad compared to the time we spent with God afterwards.

Ok, so why did he create the world in the first place. Why did he take the chance that it would turn so crazy. Why do many decide to have children? Will you be sure they will turn out perfect, that they will not disappoint us, or even worse, become criminals? No, so why take the risk? For love. The Bible shows us that he created us so that he can love us.

The Real Issue

The real issue is that many do not want to change. Rather than admit that believing in God is inconvenient, they deny the existence of God and justify themselves with some philosophical idea, or complaint about his injustice, or some "contradiction" that supposedly exists in the Bible.

God exists whether we choose to believe in him or not. He is not going to force us to believe in him. But now let's look at the evidence.

There Is A God:

Genesis 1:1 — The Bible never tries to explain the origin of God.

Psalm 14:11 — The Bible says only a fool says there is no God.

Romans 1:18-20 — God has revealed himself in the creation.

The Argument From Design

If there is a design there must be a designer. If there is structure and consistency in the creation, there must be a Creator.

Example: Suppose you were walking in a forest and found a watch in the leaves. You would certainly assume that someone had lost it, and that the watch was originally made by a watchmaker. Since the universe is even more complicated than a watch, we must consider that it has a maker too.

If I suggested that there was no watchmaker, but that a some mice made it, you would laugh. If I said it just "happened", over a very long period of time and through natural processes, you would think I'm crazy. If I said that it had always existed, you would say it should have stopped a long time ago.

The universe is much too complex to be created by a being of lower intelligence like man. Much too complicated to have come into existence by itself. Much too orderly and well-running to have always existed.

The most reasonable explanation is that God created the universe. If there is a universe, and there is, than there must be a God. It's that simple.

Universal Spiritual Awareness

Where did the idea or concept of God come from? Why is it found all over the world? Why would man invent the idea of God if he never had any spiritual contact with God? We don't see any other creatures on earth with these ideas; only humans. Why would we invent the spiritual, if there was no spiritual world in the first place. What about love, hope, joy, faith, etc.? Did they also come into being through scientific processes? Could it not be that God revealed himself to men, and that is why so many believe he exists?

The Character of God:

I Kings 18:27

A lot of us have doubts in whether there is a God, because we do not have an accurate concept of God. Not everyone knows what you mean when we use the word "God". What are some of these inaccurate pictures of God:

Wrong Picture:

The Human God — an old man, with a long beard, who is very lonely, and sits watching the world get out of control. This cannot be, he is not human, and therefore does not have our sinful and weak qualities. This could come from the wrong understanding of "created in his own image". God is not physical, so being in his image cannot include our physical qualities. We are in his "spiritual" image: love, free will, etc.

I Am God — Many eastern religions believe that God is everywhere (true) and everything(false). Since God is identical with the universe and everything that exists must therefore be God, they claim that they are God. If this is true, then obviously everything we say must be true, since we are God. Furthermore, we created the universe, and control all natural laws. Does this make any sense?

Idolatry — Billions of people worship idols. The main error of this is that it gives a physical conception of God rather than a spiritual understanding. It also is our attempt to control God. Example: In Papua New Guinea...have little curtains on the houses for their idols...they close the curtain so their God won't see what is happening...We do the same with church buildings, if we act different when we are inside... we have limited God.

Right Picture:

Isaiah 55:8-9 — God is beyond space and time.

John 4:24 — God is spiritual, not physical. He is not part of the physical world.

Acts 17:28 — God is everywhere at all times.

Luke 20:38 & II Peter 3:8 — God is timeless; not limited by time.

So Why Don't People Believe?

Romans 1:21-32

Sin is the reason people don't believe in God. Sin also prevents those who believe in God to not see the whole truth. We reject God, and as a result we become slaves of sin.

God Does Not Except Excuses:

Acts 17:24-34

• God is the Creator of all things.

• God has a plan for all men.

• God's image is in us.

• God expects repentance and does not tolerate ignorance.

• God will judge the world.

• God has sent his son, and only through him can we be saved.

• God has found you, now you must find him!

More Detailed Sources:

“True & Reasonable” — Douglas Jacoby

“Is There A God” — Johan Oakes, Ph.D.

“God Is Making A Comeback” — Mike Taliaferro

“The Case For Faith” — Lee Strobel