wishful thinking (among non-believers)
From the middle of Dave Stone's sermon this weekend...
"Usually, when they say they don't believe the Bible, it is not based on study; it is not based on knowledge; it is not based on research. Usually, it is based out of convenience and a lack of desire to lead self-controlled lives."
Dave then quoted Ravi Zacharias:
"A man rejects God neither because of intellectual demands nor because of the scarcity of evidence. A man rejects God because of a moral resistance that refuses to admit his need for God."
posted by Eric Schansberg @ 5:26 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
I believe in God, and I believe that God is at work in my life and in the world. But belief in the Bible is not necessary to have faith in God. Indeed, there is much in the Bible that is difficult to believe—and it is very unfortunate to suggest that persons who have trouble believing in the Bible do so because of their moral failings.
That's not what either Dave or Ravi said.
In any case, Dave provided an out-- with the term "usually". In my experience as well, that is the norm. And in my experience with you, you are not in that norm: you seem to wrestle considerably with faith, truth, etc. I wish many more people approached these things in that manner.
I would still question the word "usually". But sorry if I took this personally!
We could also differentiate between belief in God and belief in the Christian God and Jesus as both Savior and God. I'm reminded of James 2:19- You believe that there is one God, good, even the demons believe that and shudder. This is not to be taken personally it's merely making a point. One debate is believing in a God or not believing in a God. Another entire debate is whether the bible is the inspired word of that God.
There is much about the civil war, the enlightenment, the Roman Empire, and about all history that is unbelievable. Not many question history, except when it comes to the history of the Jews and Christians. We weren't eye witnesses to any of the events I've mentioned- how do we know that Abe Lincoln was President, freed the slaves, and was assassinated? It's all hearsay, hyperbole and antecdotel as far as we're concerned.
I do know this. In my personal life, I never had an issue with the intellectual demands or scarcity of evidence. I was convicted by my lack of self control. I thought that life as a Christian would mean I had to give up all the fun (emptiness) I had from my life of drunkenness and debauchery (sin). I sure was wrong up until 8 years ago.
John 8:32
Thanks, Bryce, for your insights and your testimony.
Thanks, William, for your earnest wrestling with these things.
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