That God Exists Is A Doctrine Worth Defending

September 2010 – Grace & Truth Magazine

That God Exists Is A Doctrine Worth Defending

When we talked about using this Feature topic in 2010, someone asked, “Why such a basic topic?” I knew the question was rhetorical – asked to make a point rather than seek an answer. But since then I’ve talked to the parents of a college student who told them, “I don’t think I believe in God anymore.” Their question – “Why is this happening?” – was not rhetorical.

The answer is bad news: A group of “New Atheists” has recently launched an attack against any and all belief in God. In the past few years books by three of them have appeared on bestseller lists. In addition to spreading unbelief on the college lecture circuit, they have sold more than three million books worldwide. And billboards questioning God’s existence have popped up in Europe and North America – one of them encouraging unbelief with this question and answer: “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.” Lately the news media has been covering this atheistic upsurge, giving it even more publicity.

But there’s also good news: This upsurge in atheism is meeting with strong opposition. Books defending the existence of the one true God have recently appeared on bestseller lists. Defenders of the faith, like Chuck Colson, are writing about leading evolutionists who are rethinking the origin of life. One of them, Anthony Flew, said, “I followed the evidence where it led” and concluded that God is a better explanation of the origin of life than the “Big Bang.” The atheistic billboards are nothing compared to the “God Speaks” boards appearing in major cities in the USA, with messages such as “The Big Bang Theory? You’ve Got To Be Kidding! – God.” And Campus Crusade’s website (www.ccci.org) speaks convincingly to the need of the college student mentioned above.

There’s a battle going on today. It’s a battle over basics, like the existence of God. To prepare yourself the Bible says, “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Eph. 6:16 NIV). And then read this month’s Feature articles. They’ll help sharpen your defense.

By Larry Ondrejack