Why Believe in God’s Existence, When It Can’t Be Proven Scientifically?

By Dan Vander Lugt

Why believe in God’s existence, when it can’t be proven scientifically?

Something that can be demonstrated by the scientific method is a scientific fact. But it doesn’t follow that just because something can’t be demonstrated scientifically it is less “real” or important than “scientific fact.”

For example, the survival of human civilization depends on the distinction that most people make between good and evil. Yet moral values like good and evil can’t be scientifically proven. Does the fact that moral values can’t be proven imply that they are less real—less “factual” in an ultimate sense—than the things that science can prove?

Most people would consider it morally evil for a man/woman to abandon his/her wife/husband and young children to begin a new life with another woman/man. Most people would consider this a serious moral failure, one of the “worst” things a person could do. But is there any compelling “scientific evidence” that could be brought to bear on such behavior to “prove” that it is wrong?

What “scientific evidence” could prove that murder, rape, and robbery are wrong? What would become of our system of justice if the prosecution had to scientifically prove that it is wrong for one person to kill, rape, or rob another person!

The existence of love, evil, and good are not “falsifiable hypotheses.” Yet most people—including atheists—admit that values like “love,” “goodness,” “friendship,” and “loyalty” are moral/spiritual realities that truly exist. Theists, whether Christian or non-Christian, have long considered the mind-boggling complexity of the material universe as evidence of a Creator. Although the scientific “spirit of the age” of the 20th century once insisted that the material world was nothing more than the product of impersonal, random evolution, today’s scientific consensus is shifting towards the conclusion that the universe was consciously designed (with incredible exactitude) for the development of life.1

Just as it is reasonable to assume that everything in physical reality has a cause, it is reasonable to assume that everything in spiritual reality has a cause. Immaterial spiritual values like love and goodness are even more amazing than the material wonders of the universe.

God’s existence cannot be proven scientifically. But although God’s existence can’t be proven, reasonable people acknowledge that the small number of alternative explanations for the wonders of material and spiritual reality can’t be proven either. Although faith is as much a matter of the heart as the mind, and belief in God is a moral as well as a rational decision, the rational case for the existence of God as the source of all reality is stronger than any other explanation.

Anthony Flew, an eminent British philosopher who has been widely published as one of the world’s most intellectually capable and well-known atheists, has recently become a theist on the basis of scientific evidence for design:

Darwin himself, in the fourteenth chapter of The Origin of Species, pointed out that his whole argument began with a being which already possessed reproductive powers. This is the creature the evolution of which a truly comprehensive theory of evolution must give some account. Darwin himself was well aware that he had not produced such an account. It now seems to me that the findings of more than fifty years of DNA research have provided materials for a new and enormously powerful argument to design.

What We Really Need

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing’

Revelation 3:17

Veruca Salt, one of the not-so-sweet characters in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was notorious for demanding whatever she wanted. Her indulgent parents didn’t know what to do, especially when they couldn’t comply. The result? A foot-stomping, arms-flailing, out-of-control tantrum.

Most of us have probably learned to control our tantrums, but our inner desires still burn within us. We crave what we want until we get it—or get mad and depressed if we don’t. Yet, often what we thinkwe really want is not actually a need at all. What we really are after is peace, security, and a deep-down sense of joy, purpose, and meaning in life. But with our eyes fixed on the next best thing, we miss the fact that what we really need is a deeper, more reliant relationship with Jesus. Everything else is at best temporary and sometimes, quite frankly, not all that good for us.

This is why Jesus is so bothered with the Laodicean believers inRevelation 3:14-21. They thought they had gotten all they needed, but, in reality, they had forgotten their real need for Jesus. This was so offensive to Christ that it made Him sick.

Could it be that He is bothered with us for the same reason? Could it be that we are so consumed by the clutter of stuff and the clamor of our desires that we barely hear Jesus knocking? Where does it leave Him when we are spinning out of control in our self-sufficient world? On the outside.

Toward the end of His comments to the Laodiceans, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). I love the fact that Jesus, though offended by our sense of flagrant independence, still wants us! He still longs for the intimate fellowship that occurred around the dinner tables of the ancient world. And don’t think you are off the hook just because you think that the knocking on the door metaphor is about non-Christians accepting Christ. Don’t miss the point! Jesus is talking to us in this text—specifically, to those of us who no longer feel the need to sing the old song, “I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee!”

So, He calls us to repent and to open the door of our hearts to let Him in. To pursue the riches of fellowship with Him and to covet the things that money can’t buy but that He can supply: Purity of character—“gold refined in the fire.” The covering of His righteousness—“white clothes.” Wisdom to see life from His point of view—“salve” for our eyes (Revelation 3:18).

If our needs today are all about physical treasures and temporal pleasures, we’ll assume that we’re fine without Jesus. But Jesus tells us that we’re not. And so He knocks and invites you to open the door of your heart to Him and to know that what you really need is deeper fellowship with Him. When we know that we can count on it, He will be sure that we have what our hearts truly long for.

-by Joe Stowell

Christians Can Look Like They Are Not

Disappointment is often attached to our encounters with people who don’t measure up to what we had hoped them to be. This is true of Christians as well. Followers of Christ sometimes fail to match the ideals of our own faith, or the expectations of a watching world. Still, is it possible to be a Christian, yet not act like it? This brochure offers careful thought on this challenging issue.

Disappointment With God

Many church people seem to be saying with their actions what they would never admit with their mouths. Even the expressions on their faces suggest that they are unhappy and bored. Their behavior makes it difficult to believe that their faith gives them any real satisfaction. How can others be expected to trust a God who hasn’t lived up to the expectations of His followers? One answer offered by the Bible is that some who claim to be followers of Christ are not authentic. For a while they look genuine. But they are not (Matthew 7:21-23; 13:24-30; 1 John 2:18-19). The infiltration of impostors, however, is not the whole story. The Bible does not hide the fact that real people of faith also have been disappointed with God. Both Old and New Testaments give examples of people who were distraught and even angry with God because He allowed them to suffer circumstances they expected Him to protect them from (Numbers 14:1-4; Psalm 73 ).

Distraction

Under pressure, and even in times of prosperity, real Christians can be distracted from the confidence that their ultimate well-being doesn’t lie in the hands of other people or circumstances. Because of ever-present diversions and distractions, the Bible urges the people of God to renew their minds continually by remembering what God has done for them (Romans 12:1-2). The Scriptures urge believers to keep their hope and faith alive by stirring up the memories of what they already know (see 2 Peter 1:1-15). The reason is clear. A lack of basic Christian behavior can often be attributed to a critical lapse of memory (Deuteronomy 6:10-12).

Dangerous Relationships

Jesus was known by the company He kept. He ate and drank with people other religious leaders wouldn’t think of associating with. But Jesus did not eat and drink with such people because He was attracted to their way of life. He did it to be the best friend a sinner ever had. With the wrong motives, the relationships He cultivated would have been dangerous. Without His strong and loving purposes, the accusation that He was a “friend of sinners” would have been more damaging. His own apostle Paul would later write, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning” ( 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 NIV ). Even the wise King Solomon paid dearly for such forbidden relationships ( 1 Kings 11:1-13). The resulting confusion caused him to act like someone who had never known God ( Ecclesiastes 1-12).

Unchanged Tendencies

Genuine Christians have made decisions of faith that signal a change of direction in their thinking about God and themselves, but they have not overcome their struggle with self-centeredness. Neither are they morally superior to non-Christians. Their capacity to be self-centered remains unchanged (Romans 7:14-25). The downward pull of desire remains as predictable as the law of gravity. When real Christians stop living under the influence of the Spirit and the Word of God (Galatians 5:16-26), it becomes as natural for them to revert to self-interest as for a kite to drift slowly to earth when the wind stops blowing.

Self-Reliance

The God of the Bible asks His people to trust Him on His terms rather than their own. He urges them not to rely on their own understanding but to use their best judgment and sense of reason to rely on Him. He invites His children to let Him live His life through them. Those who forget this principle of God-dependence fail in practice to distinguish themselves as genuine Christians. Even the original disciples of Christ learned about the danger of self-reliance the hard way. On the night of Jesus’ arrest, one of His closest followers, a tough-minded fisherman named Peter, announced that he was ready to follow his teacher to prison or to death (Luke 22:33). But within a few hours, he found himself denying repeatedly that he even knew the man from Galilee. His mistaken confidence was recorded for our warning.

Prayerlessness

Look-alikes have a reputation for being hypocritical in their prayers (Matthew 6:5-8). People of genuine faith use prayer, not as a means of impressing others but as an honest means of giving thanks, confessing sins, and asking for direction and help. They know that prayerfulness is not optional for anyone who wants to develop a personal relationship with God. When followers of Christ do not show their dependence in prayer, they can end up acting like anyone else (James 4:1-6). Jesus warned His disciples about this likelihood on the night of His arrest. Pausing from His own struggle in prayer, He urged, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). They didn’t understand. They slept instead of praying, and within a few hours all had abandoned Him.

Carelessness

King David was a man of authentic faith. By his love for the law of God, he distinguished himself as someone committed to avoiding moral and spiritual failure (Psalms 1; 119:11). The Bible itself acknowledges that he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). His record of spiritual accomplishments, however, did not keep David from becoming an adulterer and murderer. One night, as others fought his battles, and as he stood in apparent security on his own palace rooftop, David used the power of his office to pursue another man’s wife. In an unguarded moment, David discovered the meaning of the statement, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

An Unexamined Heart

As a teacher of the heart, Jesus reminded us that unexamined motives can result in complicated forms of self-deception. Many years earlier, the prophet Jeremiah acknowledged the dangers of “inner darkness” when he wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Modern psychology has confirmed our tendency to avoid emotional pain through subtle forms of transference and denial. It has documented habits of the heart by which we attempt to blunt the pain of real or false guilt. Psychology, however, cannot change the heart. We all have reason to join King David in his prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24).

An Unseen Enemy

The people of Christ have a spiritual enemy who is attempting to confuse them and neutralize their impact. This adversary is fighting a war of attrition. There are many casualties. Countless numbers of real Christians are rendered ineffective by one who is far more subtle and clever than they think. While he can’t make Christians sin, he and his demons are constantly looking for weaknesses that give him an inroad into the lives of genuine believers (Ephesians 4:27; 6:10-20). Like a predatory animal, he looks for vulnerable prey (1 Peter 5:8).

A Lack Of Accountability

People don’t develop into spiritually mature persons by doing what comes naturally. Neither do they grow in Christlikeness by being left to themselves. Even the strongest Christians were never meant to go it alone. Jesus taught His disciples not just to make converts, but to train them thoroughly in His ways (Matthew 28:19-20). A few years later, the apostle Paul likened followers of Christ to a human body where all members are dependent on one another (1 Corinthians 12). While many in our day have developed a spirit of independence, such an attitude does not reflect the original intent of Christ for His church. He made it clear that He calls people not only to Himself, but also to one another.

You’re Not Alone

You’re Not Alone.

You’re not alone if you find yourself honestly unconvinced about whether Christ rose from the dead. But keep in mind that Jesus promised God’s help to those who want to be right with God. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17 NIV).

If you do see the reasonableness of the resurrection, keep in mind that the Bible says Christ died to pay the price for our sins, and those who believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for effort, but a gift to all who in light of the evidence put their trust in Him.

-by RBC Ministries, publisher of Our Daily Bread

阅读报告：《标杆人生》

姓名：王小真
书名：《 标杆人生 》
页数： 313

这是一本采用了很多圣经中神的话语而写成的一本书。很多人虚度每天的时光 ， 不然就是埋头的做工因他们不知他们为何而活。我们究竟为何而活？？很多人都想知道这个答案。读完这本书 ， 你就能清楚的知道答案了。

这本书清楚的写出人生有5个目标。我们必须清楚的知道我们所做的一切都是为主而作。当然 ， 也是靠着主的力量来完成。
这本书让我学习到很多 ， 尤其在思想上。我们是为上帝而活 ， 而我们的全在也绝非偶然。虽然有时会觉得自己似乎是那么的不起眼 ， 但上帝给了我们每个人重要的使命。我们塑照是为了服侍神。

上帝给我们各人不同的特色。有容易软弱的，有容易退缩的。但我们不可因为这样而自暴自弃。上帝自有它的计划。这一切的一切都是为了让我们成长 ， 为了更像基督。
此外 ， 我们又如何看待苦难呢？苦难是一定会有的 ， 只是看我们各人如何去看待。这本书教导我们苦难让我们经历。我也学习到如何去扶持其他跌倒的人。而 ， 一次又一次的失败 ， 跌倒让我们变得更坚强 ， 更有能力去战胜试探。

此外 ，我们的成长也包括其他基督徒。诚实的相交是我们在孤单挣扎对付顽强试探时的解药。神在雅各书5:16对我们说：“所以你们要彼此认罪 ， 互相代祷 ， 好叫你们得医治”。
我还学习到使用神给我们的一切。随时准备去服侍人 ， 留意周围人的需要 ， 也忠于神的事工。叫人和睦 ， 彼此相爱。当然也少不了每天灵修和祷告的生活。

希望大家有兴趣阅读这本书。

阅读报告:《与巨人同行》

6月份 阅读报告
By: Daniel Ting 快乐王子
书名：《与巨人同行》
作者：『美』约翰•麦克斯威尔

这本书是我导师介绍我阅读的，里头是关于旧约圣经里头特出人物的在上帝的带领下的生活见证。本书是以剧场的方式介绍圣经人物，把个个圣经人物在他们跟随上帝的脚步路途的经历都写出来，让大家学习他们对上帝的诚心的态度。这些圣经人物大概都有3个对上帝的态度，就是对上帝有信心，相信上帝为他们预备的道路，还有具有很大的勇气来实行上帝给他们的计划。这些圣经人物有挪亚，以斯帖，约瑟，摩西，利百加，亚伯拉罕，尼希米，小使女，大卫和约拿单。

我就简单地介绍10位里头我比较喜欢的3位圣经人物吧，第一位是约瑟。若是我遇到像约瑟被兄长出卖的情况，可能我都会沮丧和埋怨。但是约瑟没有，约瑟反而对上帝有很大的信心来生活。约瑟的生涯是经历了顺境和逆境的磨练。他在这些艰苦的磨练中都要学习该放弃或该坚持什么，不过他给我们的劝告是不要放弃你的梦想。还有一点我们值得学习的是无论在什么时刻，上帝都与我们同在。约瑟的状况是在最坏的环境下锻炼自己，他相信，虽然身在困境，应加以学习知识，才可东山再起。

第二位我想要介绍的是以斯帖。这位智慧皇后是拯救犹太人的特别人物。上帝给以斯帖一个特别的位置，是为了犹太人的预备。本来以斯帖是不敢随意去打扰皇帝的，因为她已经30天没见到亚哈随鲁王了。后来，经过末底改的话改变以斯帖的想法。她就吩咐仆人和侍女禁食三昼三夜，为她冒着生命危险前去见亚哈随鲁王来祷告。最后，以斯帖皇后灭除宰相哈曼想要杀死所有犹太人的念头，成功保住犹太人的性命。她给我们的鼓励是当你明白上帝在你人生中的计划，你就会充满力量去实行。

最后一位我较喜欢的圣经人物是约拿单。约拿单有了长远的目光，协助大卫逃避扫罗的追杀。约拿单的行为是因为他知道上帝所拣选的新王不是他，而是大卫。他是明白上帝的旨意的人，知道有更适合的人来做皇帝，才协助大卫做王。

总儿来说，旧约圣经里头的人物有许许多多我们都应该学习的地方。这本书让你认识这些人物如何在不同的环境下来跟随上帝的脚步。是值得我们学习里头知识的一本书。

信心

“信心就是行动中看见那还没实现的果效。
信心是靠着神的话成为我们脚前的灯。”

对的 ， 上帝的恩典一定够我们用。一次又一次的经历更证明了这一点。当然 ， 我的pharmacy第二学期年终考试也是靠着爱我们的上帝 ， 它浓浓厚厚的恩典以及它大能的手度过的。

一直体弱的我心想到底我该怎样度过这次的考试呢？难道我将要在这次的考试中“战死”考场吗？？？上帝说：“不”。平常容易因考试而紧张的我 ， 这次竟不是很紧张也可以说没怎样的紧张吧！

最多份notes的biochemistry是最令我头痛的。相信每个pharmacy学生都是这样觉得吧！但 ， 靠着一颗相信和一直祷告的心 ， 我豁出去咯。诗篇118:5也如此说 ， “我们要振作起来伸手祷告交托。”。也感恩因上帝的安排 ， biochemistry是第一课考。这样我们就有足够的时间去准备。当然也少不了身边朋友的鼓励 ， 尤其是温暖又可爱团契中的契友在祷告中纪念。就这样 ， 考完咯！！

愿我们时时刻刻都有一颗依靠主的心。保罗说：“我将我所有的精力专注在一件事上 ， 就是忘记背后 ， 努力向前”。 因此 ， 我们要专心竭力追求目标 ， 我们心里所想要的 ， 神会赐给我们但也要跟着它的旨意。阿门。
By:小真姐妹

John Waller : While I Am Waiting

John Waller
While I Am Waiting
Take a minute and imagine this :

you are STARVING.
You finally found a restaurant.
But, it's full of people.
You have no choice, this is the only restaurant you can find.
You grumble to yourself and you join in the super long queue.
You waited and waited.
Sweats are dropping from your hair, and they stink.

What would your response be?
A) Complaining
B) Angry
C) Wondering why is this happening to yourself
D) All of the above

Obviously the answer is D.

Very often, when we wait for something, we tend to get impatient.
Then all the whining, complaining, anger, will come along.
And often, we might just walk away.

This is no difference when we see our walk with God.
We face problems and difficult situations in life. They tear us apart, they worn our souls out, they rip away our faith.
We pray, and we wait.
But very often, in the process of waiting, frustrations, anger towards God tag along and sometimes we even start to wonder if the so called God really exists or not.
Some just stray away from Him, when they think that they have waited for too long.
All the anger, complaints overshadowed the faith that we should have.
We focus on our own earthly emotions, that we zoom in to the negative things and we let it swallow the light which we will find at the end of the tunnel.

I was sort of being awaken when i came across this song.
John Waller sings,

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint

I was shocked, actually.

Especially by ''while i'm waiting, i will worship".

Ashamed, but true, i have never done that before.
Each time when a problem strikes, and i wait for the answer.
However it never comes along with the thought of worshiping Him while waiting for the answer. What we always ended up doing is, asking Why Me? Why this? Why now?
And we worry about it all the time, all of our prayer will only be filled with "God, why?"

We got so lost and busy with our own whys and anger that we forgot how to praise Him and worship Him.
It is just like, something bad just happened, but you still have to give thanks to God who let that happened.
It's hard to be done.

But, when we fully understand Jesus, it is not hard to be done at all.
All you need, is, faith.
When we have faith in Him, all things are possible.
Just like it's said in Philipians 4:13 -I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me-

It is tough times like these, when we have to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)
And in times like these, we should learn how to worship and serve Him while waiting. Because very often, these are the times when God is working something through us.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

By：Ashley