Why Do So Many People Demand Proof For God? ,,,

 They cannot disprove God but disbelieve despite that! This is important. They assume that God can be proved (or disproved) when the Bible doesn't attempt to do it but to make Him known. The Bible assumes God from verse one. The Bible says that God’s existence has enough proof in creation to point to faith and that no one has an excuse. (cf. Romans 1:18–21; Psalm 19:1). God is spirit. The question of God is metaphysical and cannot be proved by physical evidence. God’s existence doesn’t fit scientific parameters; He is not subject to laboratory conditions.

Many people believe in things that cannot be proved. What they are trying to do is equate God’s existence to scientific scrutiny. But there is scientific evidence but no proof. The laws of evidence are different for law, history, science, and philosophy. God doesn't wish to be proved but to accept by faith. He will not force faith. Faith is what pleases Him, not human wisdom (“For the world by wisdom knew not God.”—1 Cor. 1:21). It is logical that not believing or denying some premise doesn't make it untrue any more than believing it makes it true.

There can be no default position. Not being able to prove God doesn't mean that the antithesis is true, there is no God. Today many people will not believe anything that cannot be proved scientifically and use science for non-scientific endeavors or issues, harnessing science where it doesn’t apply—called “scientism.” You don’t have to know all the answers to believe in God. And faith doesn't mean you do, atheists don’t know all the answers either. The principle stands: “Lack of evidence is not evidence of lack.”

Addendum:

Science rules out God from the get-go and disbelieves in the supernatural as a possible answer in their live pool of options. They are naturalists believing everything has a natural explanation. But anyone who thinks Christianity and science contradict understands neither—there can be no final conflict in God’s universe. Augustine wisely said, “All truth is God’s truth.” The Bible has proved time and again to be ahead of science in its truths.  The Bible has proved time and again to be ahead of science in its truths with dozens of scientific facts stated before discovered by science with no scientific absurdities.

 Soli Deo Gloria! 

What Is The Significance Of The Theological Dimension?

 What you make of God is the most important aspect of your personality and worldview and it affects your whole life, well-being, and temperament. According to scholar and philosopher Dr. Mortimer Adler, “With the exception of certain mathematicians and physicists, all authors of the Great Books are represented in the chapter on God.” (cf. The Great Ideas Syntopicon).

The study of God or theology is the most important endeavor we can engage in and contains the secrets of life and its meaning, purpose, destiny, and origin. You can't live without your life making some kind of statement for or against God; you’re either light to those in darkness or part of the problem of men in darkness. The highest endeavor we can engage in is in thought.

And thoughts of God humble the mind and expand our thinking and our intellect more than any other subject matter. It boggles the mind and blows us away and leaves us a spiritual workout to broaden our thinking. Theology is the “highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy,” according to Spurgeon. If there is a God, this is the most important of all academic subjects and studies to undertake. Theology has been considered a science in its own right; it’s been called the “queen of sciences.”

But our goal in knowing “about God” must not be second-hand knowledge but first-hand acquaintance and experience—know God personally in a relationship and applying our knowledge to knowledge “of God.” “Taste and see that the LORD is good” The proof of the pudding is in the eating!

NB:  Everyone has a theology and is a theologian; what kind is up to you and how you apply it of most significance.  You cannot avoid theology or the truths of Scripture. You can have a sound theology without a sound life, but not a sound life without a sound theology.  You can also have an orthodox theology without an ethical life which is called praxeology or putting into pactice what we preach.  Getting A's in theology will not profit one if not applied and made real in one's life experience.     Soli Deo Gloria! 

If God Created Time And Space, How Can He Exist Without Time Or Space?

 The Creator is greater than His creation. God must exist to create! Nothing can just happen without cause all by itself. Even science knows something existed. Because He’s eternal from everlasting to everlasting, the Father of time or time/space just doesn't exist apart from the material world of matter/energy. No one knows what the concept of time really is but God is not confined, defined, nor limited by it.

He can see the future as the present all in one moment because of this. God is immaterial and therefore doesn't need space or time as He is not part of the time-space continuum. God is spirit and that means immaterial and not having any physical limits; therefore, not time or space dimensions (God is ultra-dimensional and can enter any dimension He chooses; I AM WHO I AM WHO I AM ….. He decides the terms of His existence which are infinite and incomprehensible to us: the finite cannot grasp the infinite by definition; this can also be interpreted as I CAUSE TO BE.... (God as the First Cause or Uncaused Cause). 

Even science knows that time (the energy clock) began at creation (the Big Bang) and that something or someone must have “existed” before that due to the law of cause and effect; everything that begins to exist has a cause—the universe began and therefore was caused and most likely by God. For nothing can cause or create itself. Soli Deo Gloria! 

Do You Show Respect To Whom Respect Is Due?

"... Be humble, thinking of others better than yourselves." (cf Phil. 2:23, NLT).

"... Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love," (cf Eph. 4:2, NLT).

Respect has its limits. The Roman Empire demanded people to take a loyalty oath: "Caesar is Lord." However, Christians refused and would only admit: "Jesus is Lord." Some were martyred for this refusal and defiance of Rome. We must render to Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's (cf. Matt. 22:21). Only God deserves our ultimate loyalty, reverence, and worship. We must draw the line somewhere. Respect is part of the Ten Commandments where we are to honor our parents and this is inclusive to mean authority figures as Peter said, to fear God and to honor the king but notice he said to honor all men (cf. 1 Pet. 2:17).

The kind of crowd we hang out with may not be God's kind of people and we should know that bad company corrupts good morals (cf. 1 Cor. 15:33). Choose your friends carefully. Show love with discernment (cf. Phil. 1:9). We don't want the unbeliever to spoil us instead of us influencing them. Now, be a good neighbor! We must love our neighbors even if they are not our friends; even the wicked people respect and love their friends and we would be no better than them.

Love is an expression of respect. As Jesus said to love our neighbors, this begs the question of who our neighbor is: Anyone in our obit or circle of influence that needs us and that we can express love to by deeds, not just empty words. The Bible exhorts us to respect those to whom it is due and honor to who it is due (cf. Rom. 13:7). It also says that honor is not becoming a fool (cf. Prov. 26:8). People can say “With all due respect,” but intend to insult them at the same time. But sometimes it's difficult to show respect, and this may be the case in such situations as in the armed forces where we respect the position even if we don't like them personally. We respect our elders for this reason too.

We must realize that what the world respects and esteems is not God's value system. When we appraise a person by his worldly accomplishments such as success, fame, power, wealth, or even just because he's achieved the American dream or has good credentials such as education, status, or reference, when we evaluate a person in these ways we are succumbing to the devil's appraisal means and not what God values such as virtue, character, hard work, loyalty, faithfulness, wisdom, being an elder, or an authority figure.

But we are never to show scorn or disdain because everyone is in God's image even if it is tarnished they have rights and dignity and worth as human beings. Learn to be civil and overlook someone's faults. Even criminals in America have rights. We must regard them that God finds pleasure in and show them worthy of our honor. We show respect in many ways including being polite, courteous, not even exploiting them, but giving people a break and the benefit of the doubt, and sometimes, it's as simple as showing gratitude and not taking advantage of them. Sometimes it is necessary to level with people or offer constructive criticism and speak the truth in love (cf. Eph. 4:15).

It can become problematic to respect and show patience with those who disagree with us, even in politics or doctrinal matters; there are gray areas and we must allow for differences of opinion or even conviction, realizing that the Great Commission is not to convert to our opinions or convictions but to Jesus--we don't preach a creed but a Person. Now, what is the difference between an opinion and a conviction? You hold opinions but convictions hold you! If you may be willing to die for it, it's probably a conviction. Respect a person's right to an opinion or conviction different from yours.

As far as doctrines go, or church dogma, there are major and minor doctrines affecting orthodox faith and then there's heresy. Don't be contentious or argumentative but patient, showing love with restraint and compassion if possible. There are doctrines that sincere believers beg to differ on. Don't major in the minors! Keep the main thing the main thing! If the issue affects salvation, it's orthodox and worth fighting for, but some disagreements are not worth the adrenaline and generate more heat than light. There were certain doctrines the Church Fathers defended and wrote apologetic books against denouncing heresy. We are to" "earnestly contend for the faith: (cf. Jude 3). Augustine quite appropriately said, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

Respect shows understanding. Going hand in hand with knowing God is knowing ourselves. The Greeks of antiquity said, "Know thyself." This entails self-respect as the assumption. If we do find this out, the revelation will be that we'll realize the picture isn't a pretty one because we are all flawed creatures who have feet of clay or weaknesses that are not readily apparent.

For this reason, we must humbly judge our fellow man and say, "There but for the grace of God go I." (George Whitefield). Paul confessed similarly: "I am what I am by the grace of God." (cf. 1 Cor. 15:10). If we do judge someone, remember your sinfulness and their humanness. Give them a break! Remember: "There is, therefore, no condemnation for those who in Christ Jesus..." (cf. Romans 8:1). When we know ourselves and God, we can respect others who need God.

We are but a step from death and must acknowledge the grace God gives us that we take for granted. Our self-assessment should echo Paul's who saw himself as the chief of sinners and of John Bunyan who wrote his autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. Reflecting on the fact that grace is getting what we do not deserve, cannot pay back, cannot earn, nor even improve upon! Only God knows the cost of our salvation that Jesus paid. None of us deserves our blessings. We are all the recipients of grace and good from God (cf. Psalm 149:5; James 1:17).

Another sign of respect and salvation is the inclination to forgive and not to be harsh in your judgments. We must forbear and forgive one another as the Lord forgave us (cf. Col 3:13). Remember that if we cannot show forgiveness and mercy to others we may not have experienced it ourselves. Once you've experienced it, you want to pass it on! Some people just need to learn a little respect!

In showing our love for our neighbor as is the second of the two greatest commandments, sometimes we must show love to the unlovely or the unloved, love can be difficult and God doesn't require a touchy-feely type of love but to demonstrate it with our deeds. Love can be tough! Anyone can tell someone they love them, but do they live it out? Don't let it be mere lip service. The Golden Rule comes to mind and this is the highest ethic ever offered; Jesus truly raised the bar and He actually lived it out. He practiced what He preached and preached what He practiced without duplicity. Soli Deo Gloria!

Why Do People Believe In God, Not Science?

That’s a false dichotomy. But to have your ultimate allegiance to what science says rather than God is wrong. You can believe in God and be a scientist: of the first fifty scientists who began the scientific revolution, only one was not a Christian. Christianity is the mother of modern science and Sir Francis Bacon founded the scientific method. Anyone who thinks there’s a contradiction between science and God understands neither. There can be no final conflict for Augustine declared: “All truth is God’s truth.” But science has its limits. It cannot make value judgments or philosophical statements To harness science for unscientific reasons is not science but “scientism.”

Belief in God is self-evident and God says no one has an excuse for denying Him, and only fools do. There’s plenty of evidence in nature and in the Bible. Besides, Jesus came to answer our questions once and for all by rising from the dead and proving He is God with “many infallible proofs,” according to historian Dr. Luke. This fact is more attested by various proofs than any fact of antiquity.

Evidence isn’t necessarily conclusive or compelling. There are proofs pro and con. Believing evidence doesn’t make it true and denying the Bible’s evidence doesn't make it false. It must be weighed. You go in its direction according to the facts, or with the preponderance of it. You cannot disprove God because this is a philosophical not a scientific matter; it’s metaphysical, not physical. God will not subject Himself to anyone’s laboratory analysis.

People usually believe the evidence that fits their worldview and believing or disbelieving it doesn't make it true or false—called confirmation bias. Christians don't claim to know all the answers, but scientists and secularists don't know them either. If you believe in science that makes you a person of faith too; faith in science is still faith. It’s not a matter of faith versus science, fact, or reason, but faith versus faith. All of it depending upon which set or presuppositions you are willing to accept.

You are greatly misinformed if you think science has undermined the Bible. If you think there’s a contradiction you understand neither. The Bible contains dozens of scientific facts that were ahead of its time and yet no scientific absurdities. Archaeology has verified biblical references with over 25,000 digs. Many who have tried to disprove the Bible have become believers in the process, including skeptical archaeologists. No amount of evidence will make a person believe who doesn’t want to. There is plenty of evidence for the Bible if you look for it objectively.

Did you know that in 1861, the French Academy of Science declared fifty-one scientific facts that controverted the Bible? Today, none of these so-called facts are believed and the Bible was proven correct.

To answer the question, believers worship God because they love God (“We love Him because He first loved us.”) and have the Spirit of God living in them. They want to worship, not have to. Mankind is a religious being as Dostoevsky said, and if he doesn’t worship God, he’ll worship someone else. People who worship God know God and the appropriate response is a love expressed in worship.  Soli Deo Gloria! 

Why Do Some People Demand Proof For God?...

 They cannot disprove God but disbelieve despite that! This is important. They assume that God can be proved (or disproved) when the Bible doesn't attempt to do it but to make Him known. The Bible assumes God from verse one. The Bible says that God’s existence has enough proof in creation to point to faith and that no one has an excuse. (cf. Romans 1:18–21; Psalm 19:1). God is spirit. The question of God is metaphysical and cannot be proved by physical evidence. God’s existence doesn’t fit scientific parameters; He is not subject to laboratory conditions.

Many people believe in things that cannot be proved. What they are trying to do is equate God’s existence to scientific scrutiny. But there is scientific evidence but not proof. The laws of evidence are different for law, history, science, and philosophy. God doesn't wish to be proved but to accepted by faith. He will not force faith. Faith is what pleases Him, not human wisdom (“For the world by wisdom knew not God.”—1 Cor. 1:21). It is logical that not believing or denying some premise doesn't make it untrue any more than believing it makes it true.

There can be no default position. Not being able to prove God doesn't mean that the antithesis is true, there is no God. Today many people will not believe anything that cannot be proved scientifically and use science for non-scientific endeavors or issues, harnessing science where it doesn’t apply—called “scientism.” You don’t have to know all the answers to believe in God. And faith doesn't mean you do, atheists don’t know all the answers either. The principle stands: “Lack of evidence is not evidence of lack.”  Soli Deo Gloria! 

Can The Supernatural Be Explained By The Laws Of Nature?

By definition, the supernatural is beyond the natural, not coincidences or flukes (i.e., the laws of nature) like the metaphysical is beyond the physical. But accepting the fact of the supernatural is not the stance of the scientific community. They are naturalists who believe in a natural explanation to everything; i.e., no supernatural. The laws of nature do demand an explanation for their being or existence and that leads to a Supernatural God or Lawgiver.

You cannot explain away a miracle by the laws of nature. Miracles are events not producible by the elements in question considering the time and manner of events available. Jesus is an example of someone who defied nature by walking on water and calming a storm. It is circular reasoning to say that miracles don’t happen because they are impossible—or haven’t been scientifically examined.

For God is a law to Himself and able to overrule the laws of nature for He made them. For instance, the force of gravity is specifically tuned to an almost infinitely small degree and if changed, no life would be possible. Why? Why is the speed of light what it is or is DNA only composed of four letters that seem to be the language of God? (Doesn’t this imply a Supreme Mind?) Science can discover the know-how but not discover the know-why. Why does the universe seem so fine-tuned for life? This Anthropic Principle needs an explanation if not from God as the Designer and Creator. Why are there laws of nature if not a God of nature? Soli Deo Gloria!

The Genesis Of Faith...

 Faith must begin somewhere!  It is not mere emotion or intellectual capacity but an act of the will; one decides to believe freely. God has given mankind the power of volition and freedom of choice to believe to disbelieve in Him. A forced faith would not be faith.  The conception of faith arises in the Word of God itself as it is the gift of God as one hears the preaching of the Word of God; God has chosen the foolish means of the world to defeat the wisdom of man.  So Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by the hearing and the hearing of the Word of God."  That's it, it's a gift of grace but God intends for us to exercise this faith; it's His gift but our act!  

I might add that God plants the seed and opens the heart!  (cf. Acts 16:14; 14:27).  He can make the unwilling willing (cf. Phil. 2:13) and make believers out of us by grace.  In fact, we believe through grace (cf. Acts 18:27).  Faith is a gift and we cannot take credit for it but are stewards of it. (cf. Romans 12:3; cf. 2 Pet. 1:1). 

Faith needs an object to be valid; it is only as reliable as its object.  You can have strong faith in the wrong object or God and it is invalid and does no good. God doesn't demand perfect faith, but only unfeigned, sincere faith  (cf. 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:5). Paul said that the Jews were zealous for God but according to knowledge (cf Romans 10:2; Prov. 19:2).  Jesus said to those skeptics that if anyone is willing to do God's will, then he shall know the truth (cf. John 7:17).  

Only in a world where faith is difficult can it exist!  Easy-believism is a self-contradiction biblically speaking.  The road to faith has never nor meant to be an easy one.  We all have doubts; the disciple who wanted a healing told Jesus:  "I believe, help mine unbelief."  That means that doubt is not the opposite of faith but an element of it; it's not just a religious problem but a human one--we have doubts or are capable of them. But we believe in many things we don't have all the answers to and doubt can survive alongside faith.  Everyone's faith must be tested in fire to see if it's genuine (cf. 1 Pet. 1:7).  

We all have a "measure of faith" given by God and are appropriately tested and responsible for it as a steward of this gift (cf. Romans 12:3). But not all have faith (saving faith that is) though everyone believes in something. It can take more faith to deny God, for instance, than to just accept him by default and put Him to the test: "Taste and see that the LORD is good." (cf. Psalm 34:8). Our God invites scrutiny!  Test God in this manner because the proof of the pudding is in the eating. 

We all have trials, tribulations, and adversities to endure by faith. But if you wonder why, the same sun melts the butter hardens the clay. It is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God (cf. Acts 14:22).  Similar events sow faith in some and agnosticism or skepticism in others.  God is testing our hearts and motives.  He doesn't want us to merely believe because of fear of hell as some kind of fire insurance, but as a loving response to God's love and grace.  We love Him because He first loved us!  (cf. 1 John 4:19). Perfect love casts out fear (cf. 1 John 4:18). 

Now, faith isn't about how strong you believe or much you are convinced of the truths of the Bible but in your application of them. It's more about how much you obey than how much you believe.  That's why the only test of genuine faith is obedience (cf. Heb. 3:18-19). Dietrich Bonhoeffer, martyr from the Nazis, claimed:  "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes."  These two are juxtaposed in Scripture and we must not divide what God has joined together. Repentance is also linked to faith and goes hand in hand in complementary fashion (cf. Acts. 20:21; Heb. 6:1). In that case, it may not be a matter of having enough faith but not having a thorough enough repentance. 

Remember, the struggle with faith is not lack of faith so much as faith itself.  Only in a world of disbelief existing can faith exist.  God refuses to make Himself as obvious as the sun in the sky to believe but wants us to search with all our hearts to find Him. What pleases God is faith, not intelligence or wisdom (cf. Heb. 11:6). Jesus was asked to do miracles on demand and to do a biggie miracle to impress the Pharisees, but Jesus wouldn't accommodate them because they had the prophets to bear witness of Him for the Scriptures bear witness of Him (cf. John 5:39).  He said that despite His miracles, they would [not could not] believe in Him (cf. John 12:37).     Soli Deo Gloria! 

What Good Is Faith Without Works?

 Karl Broberg, Blogger/Bible teacher (10+ yrs), researcher, life coach

Answered 3h ago

The Reformers taught that we are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. If it is not accompanied by works it is dead faith—which cannot save (cf. James 2:26). Even the demons believe and tremble (cf. James 2:19). Faith must produce fruit and have the natural byproduct of good works or deeds. We are to be known by our fruits (cf. Matt. 7:16). We are not saved by works, but neither without them. Works validate and authenticate our faith and prove it is saving faith. No fruit means no faith!

God has redeemed Himself a people “zealous of good works” (cf. Titus 2:14). James 2;18 says that James would show you his faith by his works! Anyone can say he has faith but will they use it to glorify God? For example, by faith, Abraham obeyed God and went out (cf. Heb. 11:8). There is no such thing as being a disobedient disciple because we are called to obey Christ by faith, as Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey His commands (cf. John 15:10). How can you call Him Lord, and not obey? “All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” (cf. Acts 2:21). “No man can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit,” (cf. 1 Cor. 12:3).

The whole point of salvation is a changed life and becoming a new creature per 2 Cor. 5:17 (doing works fit for repentance, cf. Matt. 3:8; Luke 3:8; Acts 26:20). The idea of “no-lordship salvation” or easy-believism has been around for decades and Dietrich Bonhoeffer called it “cheap grace.”

There are only three ways one tries to get saved:

1. Works alone equals salvation (religion)
2. Works plus faith equals salvation (legalism)
3. Faith equals salvation that’s not producing works (Antinomianism or libertinism)
4. Faith equals salvation resulting in works. (correct).

NB: Antinomians are usually believers in “no-lordship” salvation or that you need not accept Christians the record of your life to be saved which would entail obedience. In other words, works need not result from salvation. It is works of the flesh that don’t please God. Our works must be wrought in God through the Spirit (cf. Hosea 14:8; Isaiah 26:12; Amos 6:13; Romans 15:18). In the final analysis, obedience is the test of faith and is linked in Heb. 3:18–19.  Soli Deo Gloria! 

Is There Any Foolproof Argument For God?

 Now, there’s a difference between an argument for God and proof. No one can prove or disprove God, it takes faith both ways. Evidence is another thing altogether. There is evidence! (Scientific, historical, literary, philosophical, and testimonial.) Evidence isn’t always conclusive or compelling but can be circumstantial or indirect, subjective or objective. There may be evidence pro and con to an argument. There’s no foolproof argument but there are plenty of arguments or reasons to believe.

But the best argument (but no argument is foolproof but only a reason to believe) that I can see that is shaking up (in that as many as ninety percent of them believe in God now) the cosmologists and astrophysicists is that the Big Bang was the beginning of everything in our reality and the Bible calls this the moment of creation. “In the beginning God created…”

The point proves that the theory of an eternal universe is untenable and it had a beginning and this implies and logically necessitates a Beginner! Nothing causes or creates itself, It must be determined what or who is responsible for it. Everything that begins to exist or any event must have a cause. Who banged the Big Bang? This discovery brings new challenges.

Even Einstein mused: “God doesn’t play dice with the universe.” And he also said that the harmony of natural law indicates a Supreme Intelligence. Creation was pre-programmed with some fifty universal constants called the Anthropic Principle (The fine-tuning of the cosmos) implying a Designer and Supreme Mind at work. Nothing can cause or create itself and this implies as Aristotle thought, a First Cause, because it’s impossible to cross infinity and an infinite regress of causes is impossible. God’s name also means “I CAUSE TO BE” Note: This is not the complete argument but a synopsis and volumes could be written to support it.

An atheist will use circular reasoning to refute arguments: I don't believe in miracles because they are impossible. I don't believe Jesus is God because I don’t believe He claimed to be. Even if they lost the argument you would not convince them; you cannot argue someone into God’s kingdom nor rationalize God to an infidel. They will tell you: There is no God because I have not experienced or seen Him or that He cannot be proved beyond a shadow of a doubt. They want it as easy to believe in God as to believe in the sun or the moon in the sky.

But know this: You can not disprove God either as a philosopher will tell you that it’s impossible to prove a universal negative. There are many arguments for God and much evidence from science, literature, history, philosophy, and personal testimony. But there is no “smoking gun” argument that is absolutely foolproof and if you don't want to believe you cannot be forced to. God will force Himself on no one.

Brilliance and intellect don’t please God. Only faith pleases Him (cf. Heb. 11:6), “the world by wisdom knew not God” (cf. 1 Cor. 1:21). Jesus said that “if a man is willing to do His will, then he shall know” (cf. John 7;17). The proverb goes, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” No amount of evidence will make someone believe who doesn’t want to: Jesus said in John 12:37 that although the Pharisees had seen many miracles they would not believe, not could not believe—it’s a person’s stubborn heart. Remember all the miracles Moses had done? Israel still refused to believe! (cf. Psalm 78:32).

But the atheist has faith too! He has faith in science or in man’s reasoning and logic. Faith in science is still faith! It’s not a matter of faith versus reason as he thinks but faith versus faith and it all depends upon what presupposition you are willing to accept. Both sides of the equation contain people of faith. In fact, it takes more faith to be an atheist than a theist because there’s so much evidence! All knowledge is contingent and starts with faith, not just about God. Soli Deo Gloria!