I’m am one of several thousand people who recently saw the ABC News Nightline debate between Christian evangelists Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort and two avowed Atheists (who shall remain nameless on this blog). Please click here to view the debate.
I really commend both Kirk and Ray based on their revelation that they both came from backgrounds that has a vested interest in the denial of Jesus as God's Messiah. Kirk was himself an Atheist and Ray is Jewish. During the debate, both Kirk and Ray presented their cases with humility, earnestness and respect for everyone present including their Atheist counterparts. As one might expect, you could not say the same for the Atheist presenters. Say what you will about their positions on God, their demeanor and countenance was decidedly arrogant, sarcastic and lacking in a similar respect for their colleagues on the stage. If a person had come into the auditorium or tuned into the broadcast and knew nothing about the subject matter, it is highly likely that you would not wish to spend any quality time in the company of the Atheists given their demeanor and arrogance. This is not too surprising, given that in reality Atheists’ main argument is not really with mortal and fallible human beings (who happen to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior), but in reality, Atheists are arguing with the true and living God himself. It is obvious that is an argument they cannot win. Hence the anger and sarcasm. In the natural sense it appears aimed at their human adversaries, however deep down they know the truth. They’re angry at the omnipresence of God. They’d love to remove the invisible presence of God in the consciousness of most of society, Christians and non-Christians alike; in nature, in the law and yes even in the sciences.
One of their main arguments is that God could not have created all things, simply because God Himself does not exist. However, day in day out the creativity of God screams loudly in their faces. The sun rises in the east; it sets in the west, the birds fly, the wind blows, the air is breathed easily through their nostrils, as they utilize the organs that God Himself created. It is a pretty daunting task to get millions of reasonable people to discard their “lying eyes”.
To be sure, Atheists have their cadre of followers some probably counting into the millions. However, as a percentage of the total population, it is sure to be relatively small. This is however not to say that the followers of Christ is in the overwhelming majority. That large figure is probably reserved for the uncommitted…people who know intellectually that God exists, and as such the promises of a Heaven and a Hell exists, but who so far do not show a willingness to humble themselves and their sins before Him and ask for true forgiveness.
One of the main refutations that these Atheists and many others have about a disbelief in God is the argument that since Christians claim that everything was created and God is the creator of all things, what or who created God? As a Christian we should stipulate that simply put “we don’t know”. The Lord God has not yet chosen to reveal all things to us (through the His Word the Bible). However God has given us the Lord Jesus Christ and through Him we have salvation and eventually we will have the knowledge of all things: As the Bible puts it… “He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Colossians 1:15-22 NIV - parenthesis mine).
As Christians we live by faith…not by sight (or pure knowledge). We know what God (through His Holy Spirit) has chosen to reveal to us, and we should be content in those things that He has not (yet) chosen to reveal to us. Atheists may call this being intellectual weak. By earthly standards that may be (though I don’t believe it) however as the Apostle Paul stated: For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ… (1 Corinthians 4: 9 & 10 NIV)
One final note, the Atheists in this debate has created what they call “The Blasphemy Challenge” where they invite people to blaspheme the Holy Spirit and in doing so to commit the unpardonable sin quoted in the Bible: I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." (Mark 3:28-29 NIV). However I find it interesting and ironic that these same Atheists who claim not to believe in God feel that they can actually blaspheme the God that they claim not to believe in. If God doesn't exist how can He be blasphemed or He exists and therefore can be blasphemed...which would seem to refute their entire argument of non-belief.
I really commend both Kirk and Ray based on their revelation that they both came from backgrounds that has a vested interest in the denial of Jesus as God's Messiah. Kirk was himself an Atheist and Ray is Jewish. During the debate, both Kirk and Ray presented their cases with humility, earnestness and respect for everyone present including their Atheist counterparts. As one might expect, you could not say the same for the Atheist presenters. Say what you will about their positions on God, their demeanor and countenance was decidedly arrogant, sarcastic and lacking in a similar respect for their colleagues on the stage. If a person had come into the auditorium or tuned into the broadcast and knew nothing about the subject matter, it is highly likely that you would not wish to spend any quality time in the company of the Atheists given their demeanor and arrogance. This is not too surprising, given that in reality Atheists’ main argument is not really with mortal and fallible human beings (who happen to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior), but in reality, Atheists are arguing with the true and living God himself. It is obvious that is an argument they cannot win. Hence the anger and sarcasm. In the natural sense it appears aimed at their human adversaries, however deep down they know the truth. They’re angry at the omnipresence of God. They’d love to remove the invisible presence of God in the consciousness of most of society, Christians and non-Christians alike; in nature, in the law and yes even in the sciences.
One of their main arguments is that God could not have created all things, simply because God Himself does not exist. However, day in day out the creativity of God screams loudly in their faces. The sun rises in the east; it sets in the west, the birds fly, the wind blows, the air is breathed easily through their nostrils, as they utilize the organs that God Himself created. It is a pretty daunting task to get millions of reasonable people to discard their “lying eyes”.
To be sure, Atheists have their cadre of followers some probably counting into the millions. However, as a percentage of the total population, it is sure to be relatively small. This is however not to say that the followers of Christ is in the overwhelming majority. That large figure is probably reserved for the uncommitted…people who know intellectually that God exists, and as such the promises of a Heaven and a Hell exists, but who so far do not show a willingness to humble themselves and their sins before Him and ask for true forgiveness.
One of the main refutations that these Atheists and many others have about a disbelief in God is the argument that since Christians claim that everything was created and God is the creator of all things, what or who created God? As a Christian we should stipulate that simply put “we don’t know”. The Lord God has not yet chosen to reveal all things to us (through the His Word the Bible). However God has given us the Lord Jesus Christ and through Him we have salvation and eventually we will have the knowledge of all things: As the Bible puts it… “He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Colossians 1:15-22 NIV - parenthesis mine).
As Christians we live by faith…not by sight (or pure knowledge). We know what God (through His Holy Spirit) has chosen to reveal to us, and we should be content in those things that He has not (yet) chosen to reveal to us. Atheists may call this being intellectual weak. By earthly standards that may be (though I don’t believe it) however as the Apostle Paul stated: For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ… (1 Corinthians 4: 9 & 10 NIV)
One final note, the Atheists in this debate has created what they call “The Blasphemy Challenge” where they invite people to blaspheme the Holy Spirit and in doing so to commit the unpardonable sin quoted in the Bible: I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." (Mark 3:28-29 NIV). However I find it interesting and ironic that these same Atheists who claim not to believe in God feel that they can actually blaspheme the God that they claim not to believe in. If God doesn't exist how can He be blasphemed or He exists and therefore can be blasphemed...which would seem to refute their entire argument of non-belief.