 | Reverend Terry G. Fox is Senior Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church. He is Chairman of the North American Mission Board, member of its Executive Committee and the FamilyNet Broadcast Communications Committee, as well as numerous other subcommittees. He's listed on the Who's Who Among Outstanding Corporate Executives. He is a sought after speaker and has traveled and ministered in many places in the United States, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Rev. Fox and his wife Barbara have three children. You may contact him at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 South Topeka, Wichita, Kansas, 67211; phone (316) 262-1452; or Fax (316) 262-4704. |
Religion
2002-09-01 09:27:00
Apart from the bible... how do we know God exists?
: What is the evidence for God's existence, apart from the Bible?
Answer: The classical answer is: "The Creation". A creation implies a Creator.In recent times, tremendous amounts of work have been done to explain the presence of the universe without a Designer or Maker. If the universe is eternal, then there is no need for an Initiator. As Carl Sagan would say, "The Cosmos is all there is, ever has been or ever will be." However, the unavoidable evidence that the universe is expanding from a point in space with a corresponding starting time. This "Big Bang" has presented a problem for those who do not wish to consider "the creation event". Darwinism is under attack from within. Christians and Jews still repeat, "The Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1)A second answer that has been given through the ages is the instinctive belief of mankind in a spiritual world with a powerful creative god. There is also an universal instinctive belief that there is a system of right and wrong which is above our ability to achieve; this leads to a sense of guilt. Then the strangest thing happens: We make the god to be concerned about our failure to be good! This is the last thing anyone would wish for. I am guilty to Him ! It leads to attempts to appease the god by sacrifices or rituals. Some have even said that one mark of difference between humans and animals is that no animal has ever made an altar or sacrifice, and no human groups have ever failed to do so. (Some modern human groups may seem to be exceptions.) Since all instincts seem to have a reason for being, usually to prevent our harm, this instinct must also have a purpose. Some thinkers refer to "the god-shaped vacuum in every man". Of course, evidence is not proof. Some leap of faith is required to say that God exists. Many people will testify to personal experience with God, but their testimony can be doubted. God has not forced belief on anyone... at least not yet. Christians add to this one more evidence: Jesus Christ. We say that God showed His reality and loving nature by becoming a human after many prophetic promises to do this. He lived a simple yet powerful life and allowed humans to reject and kill Him, rose from the dead, appeared repeatedly for six weeks, then departed from earth. He promised to forgive those who would accept His suffering to pay for their sins and trust Him to direct their lives. He promised to return to judge and end our human system on earth and give eternal life in Heaven to those who trusted Him. Ultimately, we will all know the answer to your question.
