Celebrate Reason?

Albert Schweitzer, accepting the Nobel Pease Prize-

Humanism, in all its simplicity, is the only genuine spirituality.

Christmas is a time of celebration for many, but it has increasingly become a source of controversy.

David Silverman, president, American Humanist, said-

The invisible man in the sky is a myth.

Watch this CNN video clip- (by Jeanne Moos, CNN reporter)

Lets compare the two billboards-

Billboard- American Atheist- (picture of billboard)

You KNOW it’s a Myth

This Season, Celebrate REASON!

Catholic League- (picture of billboard)

You Know it’s Real.

This Season, Celebrate Jesus.

If you believe in Jesus- can you be a person of reason?

Does faith in God undermine our ability to reason?

Is believing in God a crutch for weak minded people?

Good place to begin to talk about Christmas this year.

Man on the street- if you were interviewed, how would you respond to the billboards?

Polls show that 15% of Americans claim no religion.

Atheist feel this number is higher- many closet atheist.

Atheist- a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.

Some words that we might find confusing-

Agnostic- one who believes- impossible to know anything about God or the creation of- universe.

Infidel- nonbeliever of some particular religion.

Skeptic- one who doubts and is critical of all accepted doctrines and creeds.

Are you-atheist, agnostic, infidel, skeptic-or- believer?

If you are a believer, what do you believe?

Two major issues that plagues Christians-

-misinformation about God- false image

-unbelief- doubt, skepticism

Many- unbelieving believers today- closet unbelievers.

Unbelieving believers profess to be Christian’s but practically live their lives like unbelievers.

Num 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (NAS)

Instead of doubting God’s Word- doubt your doubts.

Are the Bible and Reason in Conflict?

Many believe- Bible cannot be harmonized w/science- therefore how we can we be people of reason?

However, in the past, scientists believed that the starting point of knowledge was the Bible.

A Biblical world view was the foundation for interpreting scientific observations.

God created a rational universe- and man, a rational creature, can discover how that universe works.

There is much talk about evolution/intelligent design.

When we talk about evolution, the problem is the philosophy behind it which is inherently atheistic.

It is based on the belief that life evolved by a random natural process over long periods of time without a creator.

Apart from the philosophy behind evolution-

-evolution itself does not prove/disapprove- God

-belief in ID is not in contradiction to science

Science/reason do not invalidate- integrity of God’s Word- we must not be intimidated by our culture.

The Invisible Magic Man

David Silverman, American Atheists, Inc-

We do know that the invisible magic man in the sky is a myth. We know God is fake and we know that Christianity stole Christmas. God and Santa Claus are the same thing- He sees you when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, etc.

Lets look at this invisible magic man in the sky-

Matthew 24:30 (NAS)

30“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. (also Rev 1:7)

The invisible magic man in the sky is indeed not a myth and will return just as He left-

Acts 1:11 (NAS)

11 … “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

The Bible has much to say about this invisible man.

You can talk about God in the public arena, but once you mention Jesus Christ it results in controversy.

Behold

Look what- Bible says about this invisible magic man.

In both the OT and NT- find a word translated Behold!

Behold- Here! Look! See!

to call attention to or point to something-

-what I am about to say is important,

-you better listen to this.

BEHOLD, JESUS- THE BABY.

Isaiah 7:14 (NAS) (also Isa 9:6)

14“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Why are the circumstances of Jesus birth significant?

BEHOLD, JESUS- THE LAMB OF GOD.

Jn 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (also Rev 5:12)

By sacrificing His life, what did Jesus do for us that we could not do for ourselves?