The text below is the expanded version of a sermon I gave today. It was one of those "I know this isn't going to be the most entertaining sermon in the world, but I'm so excited about the content" kind of sermons...so I thought I'd post it here and see what you think. It's not the tightest, and definitely isn't the most entertaining...but the my main point in the "Father" section is probably one of the top ten best original ideas I'll ever have:
2007-06-17 Faith's Foundations #1: Why believe in 'God the Father Almighty' "?
(Father's Day)
Even though I was raised in a Christian home by unbelievably wonderful parents;
Even though I grew up having great experiences with churches and Christians in general;
Even though I had multiple spiritual experiences with God;
STILL throughout the years I've had times at which I've questioned my faith.
Nathan, are you SURE you believe that?
Nathan, are you POSITIVE you're following the one true God?
Can you relate to that?
Maybe you've been a Christian for years, but then a tragedy comes and suddenly you start to question a little bit perhaps?
Or perhaps you realize you've never been really, truly convinced?
Well don't kick yourself, I think a little questioning and doubt is a part of the human existence for most of us. I know very few long-time Christians who say they've never had at least occasional doubt.
And from the reading I've done from the ancient past, I think it's been like that for centuries.
We regularly examine what we believe…even if just to reassure ourselves.
The ancient Christians, especially in the second and third centuries AD researched the events surrounding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to see what precisely they should believe and what they should pattern their lives after----and eventually several of those beliefs were compiled into what we now call the APOSTLE'S CREED.
They figured out the facts about Jesus, then matched them up with the ancient OT Jewish Faith, and compiled a list of beliefs that people who wanted to commit themselves to Jesus would declare publicly that they believe.
BEFORE BAPTISM: "Do you believe in God?"
"Yes, I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth."
Even today, that's one of the ways we do a baptism ritual, and it's even in our hymnals.
Throughout the summer on each Sunday except youth Sunday, Greg and I are going to preach through all the lines of the Apostle's Creed.
THIS FIRST LINE of what we now call the APOSTLE'S CREED declared that it is foundational to our life that we believe in God the Father Almighty.
And you'll recall from earlier teachings I've done that that "believe" is an active idea-- if you "believe" in the Bible's use of the term, your actions will reflect the idea that you acknowledge and trust in and follow that God.
THEREFORE: If you want to live life the best way, the way you were created to live it, you should--according to Christians throughout the centuries--believe in God, the Father Almighty------meaning that you live as though everything depended on God.
FURTHERMORE: If you want to help your FRIENDS to live life the best way, God may use you to help them to believe in this God, the Father Almighty.
This is a FOUNDATIONAL idea for our lives.
BUT: OCCASIONALLY we may have some doubts….
AND worse, some people today ATTACK THAT IDEA in three ways, corresponding to the three main claims of the first part of the Apostles' Creed:
1) "God Exists."----vs. atheism
2) "God as Father"----vs. some forms of feminism
3) "God as almighty"----why then is there so much pain and suffering?
So, today I'd like to:
■ Encourage you who believe but sometimes have doubts
■ Equip those of you who would like to be better able to help friends to understand your faith
■ And for those who are not yet convinced of the existence of the Christian God, I pray that my discussion might be used by God to convince you more than you were before!!
WHY believe God, exists?
This is a tough question to handle because if the Bible is inspired by God, then God's inspiration hasn't given us many arguments to use!
Gen. 1:1--first verse of the Bible doesn't try to prove God's existence, just says,
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
The Bible ASSUMES people already know there is a God.
That's why Paul writes in Romans 1:18-23:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse
Romans 1:18-21 (NRSV)
Paul indicates that throughout history God has revealed to each person whose mind is functioning properly that there is an invisible, all-powerful God!
The Bible proclaims further:
1 Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God."
Psalms 14:1 and 53:1 (NRSV)
Goodness.
Twice the Bible seems to say that if you refuse to believe in God, you're a fool.
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Atheists use the same language, but to argue the opposite.
They'll say it's foolish to BELIEVE in God!
Both DO sides present arguments for their side, but at the heart of their opinion is the idea that it ought to be just plain obvious that they are right!
Most of the scientists I know who are Christians have said to me, "When people see the complexity of life and the universe, how could they not believe in God!?"
Most of the scientists I know who are Atheists or Agnostics say the same thing with a different conclusion, "When people see the complexity of the universe, why would they ever believe in God?"
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A good friend of mine sent me an article from the online version of The Economist newspaper that gives a brief review of two books by very prominent scientists who come to opposite conclusions about God.
You can tell their conclusions by their book titles:
■ Christopher Hitchens, an atheist, wrote: God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.
Catchy title, eh??
■ Francis Collins, a Christian, wrote: The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.
After reading these two works, the writer for the economist writes in the very first sentence:
"A writer who believes in science not God; a scientist who believes in both. But why are they that way? Nobody knows."
The last line ends, "either you get it, or you don't."
Honestly, that conclusion isn't half bad.
I can present argument after argument for God, and some academics will say, "how could anyone not believe after seeing all that evidence!?"
An atheist can present their case, and some academics will say, "see, how could anyone believe in God after seeing all that evidence!?"
I've studied both sides, and I'm convinced that both sides have good, intelligent arguments, but that the arguments for God are vastly superior. Others would disagree.
To make things even MORE ponderous, Jesus says in Jn. 6:
Jn. 6:44, "No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me."
Repeats the idea in 6:65.
THAT means we can't on human effort alone either convince ourselves to follow Jesus or convince someone else to follow Jesus.
The Romans passage and John passages and others indicate that God relates to people at a very deep and basic level, showing that He is real and that Jesus is real…and people either accept it or reject it.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
Arguments and intellectual debates may be used in the process, but they are just tools to get people to confront the call of God and challenge them to make a decision.
SO: IF SOMEONE ASKED ME RIGHT NOW--Nathan, why should I believe in God?
The most basic answer I would give is, "Because you know it to be true."
Now, if they want to argue some back and forth…I'll give them some good reasons:
Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence.[
1 Peter 3:15-16 (NRSV)
----Atheistic Scientific faith supposedly depends on what is supported by testable evidence.
BUT Random chance has never been tested or observed to be able to create molecular interactions that resulted in an increase of information in an object or organism…that means we have no testable evidence that can demonstrate that the most basic tenet of evolution could happen without the aid of some kind of other-worldly being.
I got that from Dr. Werner Gitt, a German scientist…
That is an A-level, first-class direct argument against Atheism and indirect argument for the existence of God….but that's STILL not good enough to EVER convince someone without the direct interaction of God.
You can point people to WONDERFUL writers out there who are showing the evidence of God: Werner Gitt, Francis Collins, Lee Strobel's interviews in The Case for the Creator, Peter Kreeft, William Lane Craig, Alvin Plantinga--gigantic intellects, great arguments and reasoning…..
…..but they in themselves will not be enough on their own to convince someone.
People are convinced when God impresses it upon their heart that it is true, and the person says in some way, "I am starting to believe."
WHY SHOULD YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?
Because you know it to be true. God is revealing to you it is true.
It may be some thoughts, or a feeling or impression, or a still, small voice-
You can start to believe a little, and God will reveal even more.
I BELIEVE IN GOD. Further,
"I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER "
WHY do Christians refer to God as "Father" and use masculine pronouns like "he"?
Because that's the kind of language the Bible uses Generally, and Jesus uses specifically.
Some people are REALLY ANGRY at Christians for using the word "Father" to refer to God, and male language such as "he" or "him," even though that is the kind of language the Bible most often uses.
They say it implies that God is a "he" in terms of sexuality…
--which would mean to be more "godly" you have to be more "manly"
--which would mean men are more godly than women!
THUS, even though the Bible is clear that God is spirit and is beyond sexuality, they claim that the Bible must be male-chauvinistic and misogynistic.
SO:
--Is the Bible male-dominant, in that it speaks mostly from a male perspective, was written mostly by men, has men as the majority of the main characters and speaks most directly to men?
Is the revelation of the Bible male-dominant in that way???
YES. Absolutely. No question. Any smart fifth grader who reads the Bible carefully can see that.
Does it give a women's perspective sometimes? YES
Does it speak to women's issues? YES.
Does it exalt women as created equally with men? YES.
But is it male-dominant? YOU BET.
WHY???? Why would God seem to be so chauvinistic as to focus mainly on men in the revelation to humans that we call the "Bible?
WHY!!!??? Is the Bible against women!?!?!? Are you Christians against women!?!?!?
WHY would God ever use such a male-dominated bent in divine revelation!?
Let me suggest an answer, by posing a question.
Q: Would you please shout out the names of the most horrible individuals in the history of the countries of the world.
Cult leaders who were manipulative; dictators; war lords; terrorists; serial killers:
Hitler, Hussein, Bin Laden, Stalin…Jim Jones…Jeffrey Dalmer…Son of Sam…
For any one woman you can name I'll bet you can name 50 men.
History has proven that there is one thing that without question men can do
better than women --be destructive.
If you were God and you wanted to save the human race, would you write your book with a slight bent toward men?
YOU BET.
There may be MANY reasons God led Jesus to pray to God using the phrase, "Our Father," but I think at least one of them is that it forces the manly men who may be prideful and macho to have to declare deep in their hearts,
"there is one bigger and stronger and more powerful than me, one who is more manly than I am, to whom I must listen and obey."
The second problem that some feminists have with the Bible's use of the term "Father" for God is that many people have had horrible experiences with their father.
Well, that's true and is an important point to consider…though we'd have the same issue if we called God 'mother.'
Two things I always try to remind people in this regard are that:
a) There is feminine imagery in the Bible for God as well, so we need not get stuck thinking God is a domineering judge just waiting to abuse us.
b) God can substitute in your mind and experience for your real father. Maybe you had an abuse father, or no father present in your life….you can start to heal some by reading and studying about God in the OT and NT and you'll find a balance of mercy and justice, of fairness and discipline, and an abundance of Love that you can start to experience directly from your heavenly father.
BUT HOPEFULLY….especially on this day of Father's Day, you can think of some wonderful qualities of your father that were reflections of what God is ultimately like: loving, sacrificial, patient and kind, generous, protective but empowering….
Remember and be thankful.
I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER
++I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER, ALMIGHTY++
HOW could God be an almighty, loving Father, when there is so much pain and suffering in the world?
If there is a God, then we presume God is responsible for creating the universe.
(That's next week's sermon, which Greg will give)
If God created the universe, then God can manipulate matter and energy in any way God chooses…and is therefore, 'almighty.'
BUT there are still numerous tragedies that God either causes or allows to happen…so how could we possibly believe there is such a God (unless that God is a monster!).
Classic argument: there are little children around the world who live several years only to be abused and killed. With that as an absolute fact, how could we believe in an almighty God?
Whatever your worldview, you HAVE to be able to explain that to have any respect from other people.
SO: The atheist has an answer, though I don't like it.
They won't shout the answer, they'll try to couch it in nicer language, but the ultimate answer if you go with atheism and the logical conclusion of evolution that excludes God entirely, here's the atheist's answer:
--the fittest survive. That child wasn't one of the fittest.
The child was weak, and is now removed from the gene pool.
Period. End of story.
No big deal.
The Christian has answer that on the surface doesn't seem much better, but under the surface is infinitely better.
Almighty God could have prevented it, but didn't…because God knew that in eternity the tragedy is trivial.
People often get hung up on the first part--Christians declare that there is some way that God could have prevented the tragedy and didn't, and yet that same God is almighty and loving!?!?
What!?!?!?
That only makes sense in the light of eternity.
The NT declares that in eternity, after we've died, God is going to redo everything--New Heaven, new earth, new resurrected bodies. Revelation says in that day there will be no more crying or pain for those who have faithfully followed God.
That means bodily wounds will be healed, and memories will be healed--and we'll be in that new condition forever.
At that point, we will not care what happened to us on Earth before…it will be inconsequential…trivial…won't matter AT ALL.
God's actions will overcome EVERYTHING…in the end.
I DOUBT that ANYONE can have a full belief in "God, the Father Almighty" without having a full belief in the eternal life after death for the innocent children and the adults who choose to believe in and follow God.
WITHOUT that belief, we are left with the evidence that, as I heard on Inside the Actors Studio (tv show) Dustin Hoffman quote Robert DeNiro as saying, "If there is a God he has a lot of explaining to do."
I think that explaining has already happened….it's the explanation of eternal life.
THAT heals all wounds and memories and atrocities.
Does the Spirit of God impress upon your spirit that Marcus Fiesel is ok, with God?
With a heavenly Father who loves him and is caring for him as we speak?
Is God almighty?
Yes…I know, because I believe God created everything, and God confirms in my soul that dead children like Marcus are in his care in eternity.
Is God a Father?
Yes…Not in a gender sense, but in the sense that God is bigger and stronger and more powerful than any of the men who try to dominate; and is even more loving, patient, and kind than the most loving of human fathers.
Is God?
Does God exist?
Yes. How do I know?
The same way you know.
God has shown us that he is real.
THEREFORE WE CAN SAY
in all circumstances…in all situations…
and base our lives on the fact that we can say:
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty."
AND NOW we can TEACH OTHERS what we mean when we say:
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty."
economist.com, "To Believe or Not to Believe," May 31, 2007
