I’ve been reading two books recently that deal with the existence of God and intelligent design – is there really a God and did He in fact create all that is? As I near the middle of the first book and the end of the second, I am struck with two things. First, I’m astounded at how the authors can take the simple and make it remarkably complicated and profound! Second, (and in sharp contrast) I am reminded and amazed by Jesus’ teaching because He took the profound and made it refreshingly simple and understandable.
Back to the existence of God and intelligent design. Both authors, by employing several good, solid arguments, do an admirable job of debating and dismantling arguments for atheism and the Darwinian theory of evolution. The authors philosophically pit notable Christians like C.S. Lewis, Norman Geisler and Francis Schaeffer against avowed atheists like Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins. Great stuff!
Just one problem: in addition to the fact that I’ll not remember all of it, I am not gleaning much that I can take to the coffee shop with me. Perhaps the following anecdote is simplistic enough to be more usable.
Two men, one an atheist and proponent of evolution and the other a staunch believer in God and His creative prowess, were walking through a forest. As they walked they discovered a small glass sphere lying on the ground. There were no footprints or any other visible sign of anyone having placed it there. Nevertheless, both men agreed it was quite obvious from the presence of the sphere that someone had to have put it there. The believer seeing an opportunity for presenting his view that God exists and that He created the universe said, “What if the sphere was 10 feet in diameter. Would you still insist that someone had put it there?” “Of course”, the atheist replied. “The size of the sphere makes absolutely no difference!” “What if the sphere were a mile in diameter?” Again he responded emphatically, “Yes, someone put it there! And with something that size I would want to know who placed it there and why!” The believer, thinking that he had now established a solid foundation for a logical and affirmative response boldly asked, “What if the sphere was as large as the universe? Would it still need a cause…someone to have put it there?” “Of course not!” snapped the atheist, “The universe is just there!”
Perhaps I should have mentioned, I’ve been reading another book along with the other two. It is remarkably clear and simultaneously profound and understandable. It begins with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). He put it there!!
— Pastor Ross Helgeton is senior pastor at Erskine Evangelical Free Church