The Existence of God: Revelations Introduced
Introduction
As a volunteer medical interpreter and a chaplain in a rehabilitation hospital, I meet many people with physical disabilities; some are on wheelchairs, using canes or walkers. No one expected to be in hospitals or rehabilitation centers. They ask questions and become bitter or angry with them and at accidents. I understand their bitter emotions, but I also see many of them are at peace with themselves and live as best as they can. They teach me more about life and pain than I offer my service to them. I think to myself, what can a person do to prevent accidents or traumas; no answers come to my mind, and I find no easy answer. I stopped asking such questions and begin look into reality. Reality is that our life is not our own, but it belongs to whom it was given. For Christians, the answer is God. God gives and God takes away.
There are many religions in the world, and many of them offer solaces, comforts and short-answers about a cycle of life. Some religions offer solutions to inquirers: life after death or annihilation or nirvana or become an enlightened person.
In Christianity, believers or Christians looks to Jesus Christ for their salvation and redemption. So we might say that there are two kinds of people in the world: Believers in Jesus Christ and non-believers.
Believers in Jesus acknowledge God’s existence; non-believers deny God’s existence. Here I mean Christian God (God of the Old Testament). We see sometimes non-believers around us. Many of them are sincere and respectable. But they would not accept Christianity. According to them, they do not believe a historicity of Jesus and deny the authority of the Bible as a fiction or unreliable documents. Furthermore, they say they cannot see God so for them there is no God; they insist on visible God. They deny God’s existence because they cannot see God.
There are many Christian apologists throughout the centuries who explained and wrote about the existence of God. It consists of logical reasoning, philosophical persuasions, epistemological arguments, ontological arguments, teleological argument, theological proofs, cosmological argument and so on and so on. Many of them are harder to understand and follow.
Even though we cannot see God, we know that God exists. We can prove it easily. God reveals Himself in two different ways:
General Revelation
In General revelation, God uses natures, people’s actions, and cultural endeavors. In a sense, people’s conscience can be seen God’s voice or leading: such as morality and virtues. But this general revelation will not bring salvation. Only through the Special revelation, one can become a believer. Because, natural people (unconverted person, whose conscience is spiritually dead, can not understand the things of God. Even though they are alive physically. However, that does not mean that there is no conscience. They can still produce good works and contribute to a society. But when God opens their heart, one can hear their conscience calling and response to God’s inner calling. And this is the work of the Special revelation through the Bible.
In General revelation, we can know God’s existence through nature. Nature moves like a clock precision. Let us look at the clock movement. The clock works preciously throughout the day. It tells time by hours and seconds. Even though we have a computer, the alarm clock helps us to keep on time. Who exactly made the clock? Who designed it? Did it come from nowhere? No. There is a designer for the clock. One cannot simply say that there is no designer of the clock, because he or she is not around. It does not make sense.
The earth that we live in is more precise than a computer, and is like a closely knitted living organism. It circles around the sun 24 hours a day. 365 days a year. There is spring, summer, fall and winter. In the springtime, new buds spring out, and in the summer, leaves grow full, and in the fall, leaves fall to the ground and in winter, everything endure cold weather. It functions as the Bible recalls it.
The distance between the earth and the sun is about 2 billion miles, and between the moon and the earth is 238,900 miles. (www. Google.com) it is a long distance and circles harmoniously. According to astrologists, there are more than 300 billion stars out in the universe. (www.Google.com)
Most of the stars in the universe are much bigger than the earth and yet they all orbit orderly centered on the galaxies and milky ways. If one compares the earth with the stars in the universe, the earth is a mere size of a handball. How much more people live on the earth? They are mere specks in a dust, says a poet.
Now who would say that there is no designer of the earth and universe, which is more precise than a computer? In addition, no one can say that there is no designer, because one cannot see the creator. It is absurd. Just like there is a designer of a clock, there is a Designer of universe and the Designer is alive. He is God.
Special Revelation
In Special revelation deals with the Holy Scripture (the Bible). Whereas General revelation is about the creation revelation. God has revealed Himself in creation and provide all of its needs. Through the General revelation, God works continuously throughout all history and its events. Yet the General revelation does not lead to salvation, whereas the Special revelation or the Scriptural revelation leads to salvation.
The Special revelation requires faith through the working of the Holy Spirit; the General revelation is revealed in reason and consciousness.
The Bible tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) In addition, God created the Sun, the moon, the stars, the seas and the universe and beyond.
God also reveals His existence by giving humankind a religious mind. John Calvin calls it “sense of divinity. (Calvin, I. iii)” One can see and experience this trait in people we meet or talk to. In the past time, Korean ancestors worshiped a mountain spirit in the mountain; a land spirit in the land; a dragon in the water. In addition, they worshiped numerous spirits. It is called “shamanism.” And this is still practiced today in Korea.
Everyone looks to a higher power when they are in serious trouble. It is people’s instinct that they pray and inquire to super natural power.
The Bible tells us that instead of relying on superstitions, people ought to worship true God. God has created a man and a woman for His glory. God does not have beginning. He exists eternally (Exodus 3: 13-14). In addition, He still exists now and controls humankind’s rise, fall; life, deaths; success and failure. Genesis 1: 1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”(NIV)
The primary concern of Christianity is to have faith and acknowledges God’s existence. In the Apostles’ Creed, we confess, “I believe in God the Father the Maker of heaven and the earth.” God exists in one’s heart through our conscience, nature and experience. It is saddening to know that there are still people who do not believe in God.
Conclusion
The Bible says these people are fools. “The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Ps. 14: 1, NIV). When we say that God created the heavens and the earth, it means that He created everything, including known and unknown things such as plants and innumerable planets in the universe, including the Sun, the Moon and God’s masterpiece, namely a man and a woman. Like the psalmist in the past, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” (Ps. 73: 28, NIV) Serving Living God is a blessing and honor, and having Him as my shelter is a double blessing. Reading the Word of God is also good way to know and understand more about God. Nehemiah 8: 7 notes, “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.”(NIV). Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge says the writer of Proverbs. (1:7) Knowledge of God will lead a person closer to Him. It proves that God exists.
Scripture Reference:
Old Testament
Genesis 1: 1
Exodus 3: 13-14
Nehemiah 8: 7
Psalms 14: 1; 73:28
Proverbs 1:7
Ecclesiastes 12: 7
Reference:
Berkhof, Louis. 1941. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids.
Calvin, John. 1960. Institutes of Christian Religion. In two Volumes. Trans. By Ford Lewis Battles. Philadelphia.
Erickson, Millard J. 1985. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids.
Guyton, Arthur G. 1986. Textbook of Medical Physiology. 7th Edition. Philadelphia.
McGrath, Alister E. 2011. Christian Theology: An Introduction. Oxford.
Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, and Matthew D. Lundberg. 2010. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge.
Internet:
www.globalissues.org
www. whattsupwiththat.com
As a volunteer medical interpreter and a chaplain in a rehabilitation hospital, I meet many people with physical disabilities; some are on wheelchairs, using canes or walkers. No one expected to be in hospitals or rehabilitation centers. They ask questions and become bitter or angry with them and at accidents. I understand their bitter emotions, but I also see many of them are at peace with themselves and live as best as they can. They teach me more about life and pain than I offer my service to them. I think to myself, what can a person do to prevent accidents or traumas; no answers come to my mind, and I find no easy answer. I stopped asking such questions and begin look into reality. Reality is that our life is not our own, but it belongs to whom it was given. For Christians, the answer is God. God gives and God takes away.
There are many religions in the world, and many of them offer solaces, comforts and short-answers about a cycle of life. Some religions offer solutions to inquirers: life after death or annihilation or nirvana or become an enlightened person.
In Christianity, believers or Christians looks to Jesus Christ for their salvation and redemption. So we might say that there are two kinds of people in the world: Believers in Jesus Christ and non-believers.
Believers in Jesus acknowledge God’s existence; non-believers deny God’s existence. Here I mean Christian God (God of the Old Testament). We see sometimes non-believers around us. Many of them are sincere and respectable. But they would not accept Christianity. According to them, they do not believe a historicity of Jesus and deny the authority of the Bible as a fiction or unreliable documents. Furthermore, they say they cannot see God so for them there is no God; they insist on visible God. They deny God’s existence because they cannot see God.
There are many Christian apologists throughout the centuries who explained and wrote about the existence of God. It consists of logical reasoning, philosophical persuasions, epistemological arguments, ontological arguments, teleological argument, theological proofs, cosmological argument and so on and so on. Many of them are harder to understand and follow.
Even though we cannot see God, we know that God exists. We can prove it easily. God reveals Himself in two different ways:
- General Revelation
- Special Revelation.
General Revelation
In General revelation, God uses natures, people’s actions, and cultural endeavors. In a sense, people’s conscience can be seen God’s voice or leading: such as morality and virtues. But this general revelation will not bring salvation. Only through the Special revelation, one can become a believer. Because, natural people (unconverted person, whose conscience is spiritually dead, can not understand the things of God. Even though they are alive physically. However, that does not mean that there is no conscience. They can still produce good works and contribute to a society. But when God opens their heart, one can hear their conscience calling and response to God’s inner calling. And this is the work of the Special revelation through the Bible.
In General revelation, we can know God’s existence through nature. Nature moves like a clock precision. Let us look at the clock movement. The clock works preciously throughout the day. It tells time by hours and seconds. Even though we have a computer, the alarm clock helps us to keep on time. Who exactly made the clock? Who designed it? Did it come from nowhere? No. There is a designer for the clock. One cannot simply say that there is no designer of the clock, because he or she is not around. It does not make sense.
The earth that we live in is more precise than a computer, and is like a closely knitted living organism. It circles around the sun 24 hours a day. 365 days a year. There is spring, summer, fall and winter. In the springtime, new buds spring out, and in the summer, leaves grow full, and in the fall, leaves fall to the ground and in winter, everything endure cold weather. It functions as the Bible recalls it.
The distance between the earth and the sun is about 2 billion miles, and between the moon and the earth is 238,900 miles. (www. Google.com) it is a long distance and circles harmoniously. According to astrologists, there are more than 300 billion stars out in the universe. (www.Google.com)
Most of the stars in the universe are much bigger than the earth and yet they all orbit orderly centered on the galaxies and milky ways. If one compares the earth with the stars in the universe, the earth is a mere size of a handball. How much more people live on the earth? They are mere specks in a dust, says a poet.
Now who would say that there is no designer of the earth and universe, which is more precise than a computer? In addition, no one can say that there is no designer, because one cannot see the creator. It is absurd. Just like there is a designer of a clock, there is a Designer of universe and the Designer is alive. He is God.
Special Revelation
In Special revelation deals with the Holy Scripture (the Bible). Whereas General revelation is about the creation revelation. God has revealed Himself in creation and provide all of its needs. Through the General revelation, God works continuously throughout all history and its events. Yet the General revelation does not lead to salvation, whereas the Special revelation or the Scriptural revelation leads to salvation.
The Special revelation requires faith through the working of the Holy Spirit; the General revelation is revealed in reason and consciousness.
The Bible tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) In addition, God created the Sun, the moon, the stars, the seas and the universe and beyond.
God also reveals His existence by giving humankind a religious mind. John Calvin calls it “sense of divinity. (Calvin, I. iii)” One can see and experience this trait in people we meet or talk to. In the past time, Korean ancestors worshiped a mountain spirit in the mountain; a land spirit in the land; a dragon in the water. In addition, they worshiped numerous spirits. It is called “shamanism.” And this is still practiced today in Korea.
Everyone looks to a higher power when they are in serious trouble. It is people’s instinct that they pray and inquire to super natural power.
The Bible tells us that instead of relying on superstitions, people ought to worship true God. God has created a man and a woman for His glory. God does not have beginning. He exists eternally (Exodus 3: 13-14). In addition, He still exists now and controls humankind’s rise, fall; life, deaths; success and failure. Genesis 1: 1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”(NIV)
The primary concern of Christianity is to have faith and acknowledges God’s existence. In the Apostles’ Creed, we confess, “I believe in God the Father the Maker of heaven and the earth.” God exists in one’s heart through our conscience, nature and experience. It is saddening to know that there are still people who do not believe in God.
Conclusion
The Bible says these people are fools. “The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Ps. 14: 1, NIV). When we say that God created the heavens and the earth, it means that He created everything, including known and unknown things such as plants and innumerable planets in the universe, including the Sun, the Moon and God’s masterpiece, namely a man and a woman. Like the psalmist in the past, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” (Ps. 73: 28, NIV) Serving Living God is a blessing and honor, and having Him as my shelter is a double blessing. Reading the Word of God is also good way to know and understand more about God. Nehemiah 8: 7 notes, “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.”(NIV). Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge says the writer of Proverbs. (1:7) Knowledge of God will lead a person closer to Him. It proves that God exists.
Scripture Reference:
Old Testament
Genesis 1: 1
Exodus 3: 13-14
Nehemiah 8: 7
Psalms 14: 1; 73:28
Proverbs 1:7
Ecclesiastes 12: 7
Reference:
Berkhof, Louis. 1941. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids.
Calvin, John. 1960. Institutes of Christian Religion. In two Volumes. Trans. By Ford Lewis Battles. Philadelphia.
Erickson, Millard J. 1985. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids.
Guyton, Arthur G. 1986. Textbook of Medical Physiology. 7th Edition. Philadelphia.
McGrath, Alister E. 2011. Christian Theology: An Introduction. Oxford.
Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, and Matthew D. Lundberg. 2010. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge.
Internet:
www.globalissues.org
www. whattsupwiththat.com