Does God Believe In Atheists?

DOES GOD BELIEVE IN ATHEISTS?

Psalm 19.1-6

S: Atheism

C: Rational belief in God

Pr: THE ARGUMENTS FOR GOD DEMAND EXAMINATION.

Type: Proposition

The ____ argument for God is…

I. CAUSE

II. DESIGN

III. MORAL

IV. SPIRITUAL

V. WITNESSES

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Acknowledge it takes faith to be an atheist.

• Acknowledge that God has given adequate evidence.

• Acknowledge that science is not the only way to obtain knowledge.

• Find God and believe.

Version: ESV

RMBC 18 November 07 AM

INTRODUCTION:

Last Sunday, we were introduced to a group called the “new atheists.”

Though there are many, these three, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens, stand out because they have written best sellers over the past three years.

These new atheists are nothing less than evangelistic, and are, in a way, militant.

They will not let anyone off the hook simply because they are not neutral regarding theism.

They condemn not just belief in God, but respect for belief in God.

Religion is not only wrong; it’s evil.

A battle has been joined to wipe religion off the map.

Not all atheists agree with the tone of these “new atheists.”

An atheist and Associate Professor from Georgetown University Jacques Berlinerblau questions, “Can an atheist or agnostic discuss any aspect of religion for more than 30 seconds without referring to religious people as imbeciles, extremists, mental deficiencies, fascists, enemies of the common good…(or) irrationalists?”

Harris, Dawkins and Hitchens seemingly cannot.

But I do not question why.

It makes sense to me.

For…

1. Loyal Darwinists understand the implications of their belief.

They understand that…

1.1 There is no God.

ILL Evolution (S)

As Richard Dawkins puts it…

any creative intelligence, of sufficient complexity to design anything, comes into existence only as the end product of an extended process of gradual evolution.

And as a result of the “fact” there is no God…

1.2 There is no life after death.

1.3 There is no foundation for morality.

1.4 There is no purpose to life.

ILL Proof (H)

There was a philosophy professor teaching a course and he warned the class he was going to give them a test. When the day came, he entered the classroom, wordlessly placed his chair on the table and, turning to the blackboard, wrote, “Prove to me this chair does not exist.”

Most of the nervous students began intently scribbling out long dissertations. But one member of the class wrote down just two words, and then handed his paper to the teacher.

The professor had to smile when he read the student’s answer: “What chair?”

I think that is often what happens when a determined atheist is asked to…

2. Consider the evidence (Psalm 19.1-6).

Consider the evidence.

And when that is encouraged, the atheist says, “What evidence?”

But the psalmist says…

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat. (NIV)

Consider this…

ILL Creation (S)

Did you know this vast galaxy we live in is spinning at a speed of 490,000 miles an hour but even at that speed it would take 200 million years to make one rotation?

Did you know there are over 1 billion galaxies just like ours in the universe?

Did you know astronomers have found a wall of stars 40 billion light years long, 20 billion light years wide and 10 billion light years deep and, 1 light year is equivalent to a trillion miles; and they can’t see past it!?

Did you know the sun is 93 million miles away; yet if the earth was any closer we would burn up; and if were any further away life just could not exist?

ILL Creation (S)

Sir Isaac Newton said,

“This most elegant system of suns and planets could only arise from the purpose and sovereignty of an intelligent and mighty being. He rules them all as the Sovereign Lord of all things.”

If you come today as one who does not believe in God, or you are just not sure, please understand that I come to our topic today from a Christian worldview.

I consider it my task today to persuade you in this regard.

I want you to understand this.

It is my hope that you will honestly consider the evidence.