By John D. Ferrer
In part one[i] we raised a question from one of our viewers in Nigeria at the contentious Islamic/Christian border there. He asked what should Christians do when the other guy is cheating? In this case, Muslims from the north are rigging elections to win political influence over the Christian south. Our answer is don’t sink to their level, but honor God above all. Unless you’re literally forced to lie or cheat, then don’t lie or cheat.
The next logical question is, “Okay, don’t ‘sink to their level.’ But how do we do that?” Here are seven principles for when our opponent isn’t fighting fair.
First, “live not by lies.”
In 1974, just before his exile from the U.S.S.R., Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote an essay that became his farewell address to Soviet Russia. Titled, “Live not by lies,” this essay answered how to stay spiritually grounded in the face of government oppression. Solzhenitsyn distilled his wisdom down to one clear warning: “live not by lies.” Oppressors will press you. They’ll hurt your body, restrict your freedom, and test your faith. But they can’t touch your soul unless you let them. When you let them make you a liar, you’ve volunteered for that corruption.
To be clear, “live not by lies” doesn’t mean be foolhardy. You don’t have to draw a target on your back or invite persecution. But neither should you let them make you a liar. You can be discrete. Measure your words. Be quiet where your words will be misconstrued. Just don’t let them make you a liar. Or a cheat, for that matter. Otherwise, you get pulled into their game. Why would you want to play their game? They’re masters at it. You’re not. And you’ll lose. Plus you’d betray your own conscience and faith just by playing it. Soon you’re no better than they are.
Second, get creative with the influence you do have.
You have more influence than you may realize. Get creative. Be savvy. You’ll be surprised at the ways you can affect positive change. Besides voting and public office, there’s also citizen journalism, signing petitions, starting “go-fund-me” campaigns, peaceful protests, concerts, graphic arts, social media, boycotts, rearing children, and more.
This is Biblical too. Scripture instructs people not just in the law but also in wisdom. There’s a whole genre of biblical books called “wisdom literature” (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon). Scripture guides us with law and wisdom as complementary traditions running parallel like train tracks so we can get where we need to go. We need more than just law-abiding moral behavior. We also need wisdom to find the best way to obey God’s laws. Jesus implies as much when he says to his disciples,
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Mt 10:16)
Third, reframe the game
We should also remember the bigger battle happening here. Stolen elections aren’t just about politics. They’re not just earthly warfare or even just battles between church and mosque. This is ultimately spiritual warfare. When we understand that fact, we can reframe our earthly struggle in terms of the bigger picture.
We could dwell on this point, but for now, just remember that spiritual warfare isn’t a metaphor. It’s literal. It forces everyone to take sides. It engulfs every other battlefield. And it rewrites the rules of engagement. As Paul says, “our struggle is . . . against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God” (Eph 6:12-13).
Fourth, remember the real enemy
Our ultimate enemy isn’t other people but rather Satan and his forces. Before Paul describes this spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 he points out that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (vs. 12). You may be tempted to treat your earthly opponent as the real enemy. But that person might not even be a rebel. He or she could just be a confused and deluded captive who doesn’t know any better. We fight differently against captives than against a rebel army. So don’t forget who the real enemy is.
Fifth, we don’t fight as the world fights
Since our battle is ultimately spiritual warfare, and Satan is the real enemy, it should be no surprise that we need to fight differently. I can’t explain this point any better than St. Paul does.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Sixth, you can’t force divine justice
This world is fallen, it remains fallen, and will keep falling… until Christ returns. In the meantime, we have only hints and bits of justice. They’re like glimpses into the eternal perfection of heaven. God carved out lots of room for us to practice redemptive influence here and now. But be assured that justice isn’t guaranteed till Judgment Day.
If you try to “force” God’s hand, seeking divine justice now, you’re probably using questionable methods. Plus, you might make the same mistake Judas did. Some scholars believe that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus in hopes of triggering an uprising where Jesus would have to lead a revolt against Rome to claim his Messianic crown. We can’t be certain of Judas’s motives, but we can say that in betraying Jesus, even Judas’s best intentions couldn’t redeem those actions. You may be tempted to “force” justice on this side of eternity by taking “creative license” with the law. But this is quicksand. There’s no clear biblical case for vigilante justice in the New Testament.
Seventh, draw courage from believers who’ve gone before you.
We’re not alone in this struggle. Persecution and hardship are normal Christian living (John 16:33). Yet believers across church history have pressed on. And so can you. Whether it was from Roman laws, Jewish zealots, Muslim invaders, state authorities, or rude neighbors, persecution is part of normal Christian living. Countless believers have gone before us setting an example to follow. Some faced persecution. Some died as martyrs. But all of them ran their race and passed the baton to future generations. That’s us. As we “run the race” marked out for us, they are a “great cloud of witnesses” now cheering us on from the stands (Heb 12:1). For their sake, and for God’s, we cannot afford to take shortcuts, bending the rules for some “greater good.”
Final Warnings
So how do we answer whether “turnabout is fair play”? In We need to honor God above all – even when our opponent breaks the law. We talked at length about how to do that. But a few more warnings are in order.
If we cheat because our opponent cheats, then we invite God’s judgment all the same. Plus, we risk losing our integrity. Our character is hard to earn and easy to lose especially if we forget that the ends don’t really justify the means. Also, remember that we represent our family, our church, and our God. So, if we ever lie and cheat for political gains it’s like spraying graffiti on the walls of our home or church: “LIAR!” “CHEAT!” Winning an election is not worth defacing our family name, our church, or the name of Jesus.
Are there any exceptions?
Earlier I mentioned some possible exceptions that don’t apply here. Stay tuned for part 3 in this series where we talk about dilemmas!
Footnotes:
[i] https://crossexamined.org/when-your-opponent-cheats-what-should-you-do
Recommended resources related to the topic:
Is Morality Absolute or Relative? by Dr. Frank Turek DVD, Mp3 and Mp4
When Reason Isn’t the Reason for Unbelief by Dr. Frank Turek DVD and Mp4
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dr. John D. Ferrer is an educator, writer, and graduate of CrossExamined Instructors Academy. Having earned degrees from Southern Evangelical Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he’s now active in the pro-life community and in his home church in Pella Iowa. When he’s not helping his wife Hillary Ferrer with her ministry Mama Bear Apologetics, you can usually find John writing, researching, and teaching cultural apologetics.
The Case for an Eternal Cosmic Observer
2. Does God Exist?, Theology and Christian ApologeticsBy Brian Chilton
Modern understanding of quantum mechanics suggests that an eternal Cosmic Observer may in fact exist. If true, this holds numerous positive ramifications for arguments concerning the existence of God. Before we investigate the data, we must first ask what is meant by an eternal Cosmic Observer. A conscious observer is a living being that observes another entity. For instance, I am currently staring at the words being typed onto my computer screen. I am a living, conscious being that is observing the documentation of this piece. Spectators watching a sporting event are conscious observers of the events taking place in the stadium.
Physicists have observed that conscious beings can have an impact on physical objects and events simply by observing them. This impact precedes the dawning of conscious human beings, and really the existence of anything. Thus, this new body of research argues that all of reality is based upon the prior existence of an eternal cosmic observer. That Cosmic Observer must be God. While this article pushes a conclusion in a direction that is not necessarily implied by the biocentric physicists, it certainly appears that this would be the logical direction that the research leads.
So, what exactly does the data from the quantum world reveal about the Cosmic Observer? This article will note a few areas of considerable interest—biocentrism, consciousness, and time.
Biocentrism and the Case for an Eternal Cosmic Observer
Robert Lanza, MD, and Matej Pavsic, PhD spoke of biocentrism in their book The Grand Biocentric Design. Biocentrism holds that nothing can exist unless a conscious observer observes it. Lanza and Pavsic lay out seven key principles for biocentrism:
While Lanza and Pavsic make connections to conscious human observers, the reality is that the universe existed prior to our conscious observations. If reality depends on life, then it stands to reason that a Conscious Observer must have lived before the creation of the universe. If the findings of biocentrism hold, then we could then say that reality depends on the existence of an eternal living Being. That Being we know as God.[viii]
Consciousness and the Case for an Eternal Cosmic Observer
According to experimentation, photons and electrons could appear, disappear, and rematerialize. The question was, what caused the wave function to “collapse and give birth to the object as an actual enduring entity.”[ix] According to the double-slit experiment, it was observations by conscious entities that made the difference. This finding is not something that is only made by Lanza and Pavsic. Max Planck, John Bell, and Niels Bohr also confirm the change evoked by consciousness.
But what exactly is consciousness? That is the million-dollar question. However, the best understanding of consciousness is that it is an awareness accompanied by volition, emotion, thought, and mind. Some claim that consciousness emerges from the brain.[x] Yet how could it be that the human consciousness is dependent on the brain when reality is dependent on the conscious mind? Rather than consciousness stemming from the physical world, it must be independent of the body while certainly connected to it.
If reality is dependent on consciousness and consciousness is dependent on physical reality, one eventually reaches an impasse. Because if one goes back far enough into the past, then one reaches Ground Zero, a time before physical entities existed. If reality is dependent on consciousness and there is a time when consciousness did not exist, then reality could not have come about. Thus, if reality is dependent on consciousness, then an eternal consciousness must exist independently of the space-time continuum that is our creation. As such, there must be an eternal Cosmic Observer. That Being we know as God.
Time and the Case for an Eternal Cosmic Observer
Lanza and Pavsic later contend that time also depends on a cosmic observer. They aver that “space and time are relative to the individual observer—we carry them around as turtles do their shells.”[xi] This led Lanza to believe that death is merely an illusion for conscious, living beings. While Lanza does not necessarily take a Christian perspective on the passage of death, he does note the everlasting aspect of living consciousness. With the volumes of objective evidence for near-death experiences (NDEs), we have a strong case to believe that death does not bring an end to the conscious, everlasting soul.
Conclusion: What Can We Deduce about the Eternal Cosmic Observer
Biocentrism is a fascinating field of study in quantum mechanics. Though it is relatively new, its findings have tremendous value in how we view the universe. According to the data presented in biocentrism—and if its deductions hold true—all material reality is dependent on consciousness. This is a revolutionary concept! Like NDEs, biocentrism completely shakes the concept of materialism—the idea that all reality is materialistic with no spiritual entities—to the core. Not only does biocentrism show that materialism is dependent on consciousness, but it also logically implies that a form of consciousness existed prior to the creation of the universe.
Furthermore, consciousness created reality. Or, one might say that reality is contingent upon the continued observance of the ultimate Cosmic Observer. These implications align perfectly with what one finds in the pages of Genesis and throughout the biblical text. For it was God who brought creation into existence (Gen. 1:1) and sustains it by his power. For God is “before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17).
Footnotes:
[i] Robert Lanza and Matel Pavsic, The Grand Biocentric Design: How Life Creates Reality (Dallas, TX: BenBella, 2020), 19.
[ii] Ibid., 20.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] Ibid., 21.
[vi] Ibid.
[vii] Ibid.
[viii] For a scholarly scientific article describing the impact of an observer on reality, see Dmitriy Podolskiy, Andrei O. Barvinsky, and Robert Lanza, “Parisi-Sourlas-like dimensional reduction of quantum gravity in the presence of observers,” Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (2021).
[ix] Lanza and Pavsic, The Grand Biocentric Design, 76.
[x] Such is the case implied by Boris Kotchoubey, “Human Consciousness: What It Is and Where It Is From,” Psychology 23, 9 (April 2018), https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00567/full
[xi] Lanza and Pavsic, The Grand Biometric Design, 150.
Recommended resources related to the topic:
How Old is the Universe? (DVD), (Mp3), and (Mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
God’s Crime Scene: Cold-Case…Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe (Paperback), (Mp4 Download), and (DVD Set) by J. Warner Wallace
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com and is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University. Brian has been in the ministry for over 15 years and serves as a pastor in northwestern North Carolina.
Part 2 “When Your Opponent Cheats, What Should You do?”
Theology and Christian ApologeticsBy John D. Ferrer
In part one[i] we raised a question from one of our viewers in Nigeria at the contentious Islamic/Christian border there. He asked what should Christians do when the other guy is cheating? In this case, Muslims from the north are rigging elections to win political influence over the Christian south. Our answer is don’t sink to their level, but honor God above all. Unless you’re literally forced to lie or cheat, then don’t lie or cheat.
The next logical question is, “Okay, don’t ‘sink to their level.’ But how do we do that?” Here are seven principles for when our opponent isn’t fighting fair.
First, “live not by lies.”
In 1974, just before his exile from the U.S.S.R., Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote an essay that became his farewell address to Soviet Russia. Titled, “Live not by lies,” this essay answered how to stay spiritually grounded in the face of government oppression. Solzhenitsyn distilled his wisdom down to one clear warning: “live not by lies.” Oppressors will press you. They’ll hurt your body, restrict your freedom, and test your faith. But they can’t touch your soul unless you let them. When you let them make you a liar, you’ve volunteered for that corruption.
To be clear, “live not by lies” doesn’t mean be foolhardy. You don’t have to draw a target on your back or invite persecution. But neither should you let them make you a liar. You can be discrete. Measure your words. Be quiet where your words will be misconstrued. Just don’t let them make you a liar. Or a cheat, for that matter. Otherwise, you get pulled into their game. Why would you want to play their game? They’re masters at it. You’re not. And you’ll lose. Plus you’d betray your own conscience and faith just by playing it. Soon you’re no better than they are.
Second, get creative with the influence you do have.
You have more influence than you may realize. Get creative. Be savvy. You’ll be surprised at the ways you can affect positive change. Besides voting and public office, there’s also citizen journalism, signing petitions, starting “go-fund-me” campaigns, peaceful protests, concerts, graphic arts, social media, boycotts, rearing children, and more.
This is Biblical too. Scripture instructs people not just in the law but also in wisdom. There’s a whole genre of biblical books called “wisdom literature” (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon). Scripture guides us with law and wisdom as complementary traditions running parallel like train tracks so we can get where we need to go. We need more than just law-abiding moral behavior. We also need wisdom to find the best way to obey God’s laws. Jesus implies as much when he says to his disciples,
Third, reframe the game
We should also remember the bigger battle happening here. Stolen elections aren’t just about politics. They’re not just earthly warfare or even just battles between church and mosque. This is ultimately spiritual warfare. When we understand that fact, we can reframe our earthly struggle in terms of the bigger picture.
We could dwell on this point, but for now, just remember that spiritual warfare isn’t a metaphor. It’s literal. It forces everyone to take sides. It engulfs every other battlefield. And it rewrites the rules of engagement. As Paul says, “our struggle is . . . against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God” (Eph 6:12-13).
Fourth, remember the real enemy
Our ultimate enemy isn’t other people but rather Satan and his forces. Before Paul describes this spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 he points out that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (vs. 12). You may be tempted to treat your earthly opponent as the real enemy. But that person might not even be a rebel. He or she could just be a confused and deluded captive who doesn’t know any better. We fight differently against captives than against a rebel army. So don’t forget who the real enemy is.
Fifth, we don’t fight as the world fights
Since our battle is ultimately spiritual warfare, and Satan is the real enemy, it should be no surprise that we need to fight differently. I can’t explain this point any better than St. Paul does.
Sixth, you can’t force divine justice
This world is fallen, it remains fallen, and will keep falling… until Christ returns. In the meantime, we have only hints and bits of justice. They’re like glimpses into the eternal perfection of heaven. God carved out lots of room for us to practice redemptive influence here and now. But be assured that justice isn’t guaranteed till Judgment Day.
If you try to “force” God’s hand, seeking divine justice now, you’re probably using questionable methods. Plus, you might make the same mistake Judas did. Some scholars believe that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus in hopes of triggering an uprising where Jesus would have to lead a revolt against Rome to claim his Messianic crown. We can’t be certain of Judas’s motives, but we can say that in betraying Jesus, even Judas’s best intentions couldn’t redeem those actions. You may be tempted to “force” justice on this side of eternity by taking “creative license” with the law. But this is quicksand. There’s no clear biblical case for vigilante justice in the New Testament.
Seventh, draw courage from believers who’ve gone before you.
We’re not alone in this struggle. Persecution and hardship are normal Christian living (John 16:33). Yet believers across church history have pressed on. And so can you. Whether it was from Roman laws, Jewish zealots, Muslim invaders, state authorities, or rude neighbors, persecution is part of normal Christian living. Countless believers have gone before us setting an example to follow. Some faced persecution. Some died as martyrs. But all of them ran their race and passed the baton to future generations. That’s us. As we “run the race” marked out for us, they are a “great cloud of witnesses” now cheering us on from the stands (Heb 12:1). For their sake, and for God’s, we cannot afford to take shortcuts, bending the rules for some “greater good.”
Final Warnings
So how do we answer whether “turnabout is fair play”? In We need to honor God above all – even when our opponent breaks the law. We talked at length about how to do that. But a few more warnings are in order.
If we cheat because our opponent cheats, then we invite God’s judgment all the same. Plus, we risk losing our integrity. Our character is hard to earn and easy to lose especially if we forget that the ends don’t really justify the means. Also, remember that we represent our family, our church, and our God. So, if we ever lie and cheat for political gains it’s like spraying graffiti on the walls of our home or church: “LIAR!” “CHEAT!” Winning an election is not worth defacing our family name, our church, or the name of Jesus.
Are there any exceptions?
Earlier I mentioned some possible exceptions that don’t apply here. Stay tuned for part 3 in this series where we talk about dilemmas!
Footnotes:
[i] https://crossexamined.org/when-your-opponent-cheats-what-should-you-do
Recommended resources related to the topic:
Is Morality Absolute or Relative? by Dr. Frank Turek DVD, Mp3 and Mp4
When Reason Isn’t the Reason for Unbelief by Dr. Frank Turek DVD and Mp4
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dr. John D. Ferrer is an educator, writer, and graduate of CrossExamined Instructors Academy. Having earned degrees from Southern Evangelical Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he’s now active in the pro-life community and in his home church in Pella Iowa. When he’s not helping his wife Hillary Ferrer with her ministry Mama Bear Apologetics, you can usually find John writing, researching, and teaching cultural apologetics.
Love People with the Truth, Even If They Hate You For It
PodcastGeorge Orwell once said, “In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Those seem like prophetic words as we watched two major news events unfold this past week. The first–Ivan Provorov, the Philadelphia Flyers hockey player who cited his religious beliefs for skipping an NHL-sponsored LGBTQ pride event. And second–Rebecca Phillips, a 17-year-old girl who reported a naked trans-woman she encountered after getting out of the shower in a California YMCA women’s locker room. Both Provorov and Phillips received criticism from the media and the general public for their actions, inciting a social media storm of name-calling and angry comments.
On this midweek podcast episode, Frank takes a look at some of these comments and demonstrates with logic and reasoning how these hollow “arguments” against the actions of Provorov and Phillips point to a culture that puts symbolism over substance. Now more than ever, we need to calmly and reasonably stand in the way of evil by telling people the truth–even if they hate us for it. Why? Because that’s the most loving thing to do!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.
Subscribe on Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/CrossExamined_Podcast Rate and review! Thanks!!!
Subscribe on Google Play: https://cutt.ly/0E2eua9
Subscribe on Spotify: http://bit.ly/CrossExaminedOfficial_Podcast
Subscribe on Stitcher: http://bit.ly/CE_Podcast_Stitcher
How to Teach Your Children (and Yourself) WHY Christianity is True | with Shanda Fulbright
PodcastYour children may know WHAT they believe about the Christian faith but do they know WHY? What happens when they leave the safe comforts of home and someone challenges their beliefs–will they know how to respond? Or maybe your child is already questioning the validity of Christianity and the Bible and you don’t even know it yet.
Don’t panic! Former public-school teacher and certified apologist Shanda Fulbright is here to help! She says skepticism about God, Jesus, and the Bible usually begins during the middle school years, which is why we need to start teaching kids as early as possible about how God’s Word and God’s world connect. She sits down with Frank to explain the layered process parents should use to create a strong foundation for their child’s faith and also shares some of the challenges she faced as a parent and public-school teacher in California.
Shanda also points out that many parents feel ill-equipped to teach their children the objective truth behind the Christian worldview because they were never taught it themselves. That’s where her online course (co-authored with Frank), Let’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God, saves the day! This course was specially designed for 6-8th graders and will take students on a challenging (but FUN!) journey as they dig in and become confident that Christianity is true and not just stories–that Christianity isn’t just an opinion or preference, but a belief based on FACTS.
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
‘Let’s Get Real’ PREMIUM online course for kids: https://bit.ly/3jX4IS1
Shanda’s website: https://shandafulbright.com/
If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.
Subscribe on Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/CrossExamined_Podcast Rate and review! Thanks!!!
Subscribe on Google Play: https://cutt.ly/0E2eua9
Subscribe on Spotify: http://bit.ly/CrossExaminedOfficial_Podcast
Subscribe on Stitcher: http://bit.ly/CE_Podcast_Stitcher
Cosas que dicen los ateos: “Creer en Dios es como creer en Santa”
EspañolPor Timothy Fox
Bienvenidos a la segunda entrega de mi serie “Cosas que dicen los ateos”[i]. (Lea la parte 1 aquí.) Esta serie está dedicada a los malos argumentos y declaraciones que algunos ateos (el tipo de troll de Internet) hacen para desviar una conversación y evitar tener que presentar argumentos o pruebas propias.
Mi intención no es desprestigiar a todos los no creyentes, ya que hay muchas preguntas reflexivas y honestas que los escépticos hacen y que necesitan respuesta. De hecho, ¡hay muchos ateos que están tan cansados como yo de estas afirmaciones sin sentido! Por eso quiero aclarar de una vez por todas algunos de estos eslóganes sin sentido. Pasemos a la segunda:
Mal “argumento” Nº 2: Creer en Dios no es diferente de creer en Papá Noel.
O tal vez lo hayas oído decir: “No necesito refutar a Dios más de lo que necesito refutar la existencia de los duendes”. O de las hadas. O cualquier otro tipo de criatura mítica. El sentido de esta afirmación es igualar a Dios con cualquier otro ser imaginario en el que es ridículo creer seriamente.
El espejismo de Papá Noel
¿Creer en Dios es lo mismo que tener un amigo imaginario? ¿Un papá invisible del cielo? Tal vez, si creer en un hombre gordo con un traje rojo que reparte regalos en un trineo tirado por renos voladores a todos los niños del mundo es lo mismo que creer en un Dios que creó el universo de la nada, trajo la vida de la no vida y fundamenta valores y deberes morales objetivos. Si es así, entonces sí, son exactamente lo mismo.
Pero si creer en Dios es tan ridículo, ¿sabes qué es aún más ridículo? Dar conferencias en contra de su existencia. Debatir sobre ello. Trollear blogs y salas de chat de internet. Escribir libros populares promoviendo la incredulidad. Mientras tanto, no veo a nadie escribiendo “El espejismo de Papá Noel” o “El hada de los dientes no es genial”.
Y supongo que la inmensa mayoría de los seres humanos de todos los tiempos son tan ingenuos como los niños pequeños. Porque todas las culturas a lo largo de la historia han tenido algún tipo de religión o han creído en una deidad de algún tipo. Discutimos sobre la existencia de Dios en las aulas, en la mesa y tomando un café (o una cerveza). Desde filósofos hasta científicos, pasando por creyentes, escépticos y todos los demás. Humanos tontos.
No, en serio
Pero tomémonos este argumento en serio. ¿Creer en Dios no es realmente diferente a creer en Papá Noel? En primer lugar, ¿hasta qué punto está justificado creer en Papá Noel? ¿Qué hace falta para que alguien crea que existe? La evidencia. Y aquí el ateo dice “¡Correcto! ¡No hay pruebas para ninguno de los dos! ¡Por eso es ridículo creer en Dios o en Papá Noel!”. Pero, ¿la evidencia para Santa Claus y Dios es realmente la misma? Bueno, si Papá Noel existe, sabríamos qué buscar: un hombre gordo con un traje rojo que reparte regalos en Nochebuena. Pero, ¿y Dios? Si Dios existe, ¿sabe usted lo que buscaría[ii]? Antes de afirmar que no hay pruebas de algo, asegúrate de saber qué tipo de pruebas debería haber si ese algo existiera.
Para que fuera razonable creer que Papá Noel existe, tendría que ser la mejor explicación de la existencia de los regalos de Navidad. Pero, ¿existe otra explicación mejor? Tal vez alguien más puso los regalos bajo el árbol, como los padres. Quizá los regalos surgieron de la nada. O quizá llevan ahí toda la eternidad. Probablemente ya veas por dónde va esto. ¿Cómo llegó aquí el universo? ¿Apareció de la nada, siempre ha estado ahí, o es razonable creer que algo o alguien provocó que empezara a existir?[iii] Dios es la mejor explicación de toda la realidad. Y aunque no estés de acuerdo, sigue siendo una opción legítima, ¿no?
Pero tal vez Santa existe y sólo se esconde. Por eso nunca ha sido observado, ¡igual que Dios![iv] De nuevo, ¿cuáles son las razones para creer que Papá Noel existe? ¿Hay alguna? Porque hay muy buenas razones para creer que Dios existe, como el argumento cosmológico, el argumento moral[v], el argumento del ajuste fino[vi], etc. ¿Se puede decir sinceramente lo mismo de Papá Noel? Por supuesto que no.
Además, ¿qué consecuencias tendría que Papá Noel no existiera? Entonces los niños deben recibir sus regalos de Navidad de otra manera, porque sabemos por experiencia que los regalos existen (a menos que estuvieras en la lista de los malos, supongo). ¿Pero si Dios no existe? Entonces el universo surgió de la nada sin ninguna razón. La vida surgió de la no-vida y la conciencia de la no-conciencia. No hay moral ni valores objetivos. ¿Exactamente lo mismo? No. Ni por asomo.
Conclusión
Espero que todos podamos ver lo ridículo que es igualar a Dios con algún ser imaginario o mítico. No se trata de algo tan trivial como quién reparte los regalos de Navidad o cambia dinero por dientes; estamos hablando de la Primera Causa que creó y sostiene todo el universo. Hay buenas razones y argumentos para la existencia de Dios. Así que a los que dicen que creer en Dios no es diferente de creer en Papá Noel, por favor, paren ya de hacerlo. Son ustedes los que hacen afirmaciones ridículas, no nosotros.
Para otro buen y exhaustivo tratamiento de esta cuestión, consulte el artículo de Reasonable Faith [vii] ¿Es Dios imaginario?[viii]
Para más artículos como Cosas que dicen los ateos: Creer en Dios es como creer en Papá Noel visite el sitio de Tim en FreeThinkingMinistries.com
Notas al pie de página:
[i] https://crossexamined.org/stuff-atheists-say-youre-almost-an-atheist/
[ii] https://freethinkingministries.com/evidence-for-god/
[iii] https://freethinkingministries.com/logic-science-god-the-kalam-cosmological-argument/
[iv] https://freethinkingministries.com/why-god-hides/
[v] https://freethinkingministries.com/an-ought-from-an-is/
[vi] https://www.reasonablefaith.org/finetuning
[vii] https://www.reasonablefaith.org/
[viii] https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/is-god-imaginary
Recursos recomendados en Español:
Robándole a Dios (tapa blanda), (Guía de estudio para el profesor) y (Guía de estudio del estudiante) por el Dr. Frank Turek
Por qué no tengo suficiente fe para ser un ateo (serie de DVD completa), (Manual de trabajo del profesor) y (Manual del estudiante) del Dr. Frank Turek
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A Timothy Fox le apasiona equipar a la iglesia para que pueda influir en la cultura. Es profesor de matemáticas a tiempo parcial, y esposo y padre a tiempo completo. Tiene un máster en Apologética Cristiana por la Universidad de Biola, así como un máster en Educación Matemática de Adolescentes y una licenciatura en Informática, ambos por la Universidad Stony Brook. Vive en Long Island, Nueva York, con su esposa y sus dos hijos pequeños.
Traducido por Yatniel Vega García
Editado por Monica Pirateque
Fuente del Blog Original: https://bit.ly/3iMiXsx
When Your Opponent Cheats, What Should You do?
Theology and Christian ApologeticsBy John D. Ferrer
You may have heard the phrase, “turnabout is fair play.” If your opponent on the soccer pitch, football field, or basketball court is illegally pushing, shoving, and elbowing you, then it’s only fair that you can push back, right? Turnabout, as they say, is fair play. And as long as it’s not against the law, immoral, or physically harming anyone, then that principle might work fine at least for ball games and boardgames. But what about the game of politics?
Frank and I had a podcast on this topic too. Check it out at:
When Your Opponent Cheats, What Should You Do? | with Dr. John Ferrer
How far should we take this idea of, “turnabout is fair play?” A gentleman from Nigeria by the name of Austin sent us a question about this last week.
Austin is clearly concerned for more than just apologetics. He yearns for justice. Beneath the looming weight of political corruption and injustice, he is staring down one of the largest militant fronts of modern day Islam. He’s rightfully concerned that religious and political opponents have rigged the system. Of course, he wants to do something about it!
If his opponents in the Muslim north are cheating and abusing the system to stay in power, then perhaps Christians in the South can use the same tactics to stand against the spreading Islamic caliphate. The Christians would have good motives. The other guys cheated first. So, is it okay to lie and cheat if the other guy is doing it?
In short, no.
While I sympathize with Austin in Nigeria, I can’t condone that behavior. He’s asking a practical question, of whether the “ends justify the means.” That axiom is the centerpiece of Utilitarianism[i], a non-Christian ethical theory coined by Jeremy Bentham. Sure, lying and cheating might help you win elections. And you might be cheating the same way your opponents are. But the ends don’t justify the means. The means need to be justified themselves.
Moreover, lying and cheating won’t preserve the integrity of the church or showcase the light of Christ to the world. Now, we’ll get into some exceptional cases later. But at this point, if you aren’t literally being forced lie and cheat, then you shouldn’t lie or cheat.
Heart check
Perhaps the best starting point for unpacking that answer is to do a heart-check. Ask yourself: Do you fear and love God more than anyone else?
By that I mean, do you fear God as the sovereign judge and King more than you fear anyone else? And do you love God as your heavenly Father, more than you love anyone else? When we can answer this heart-check with a resounding “Yes!” then we’re in a good position to face hardship and do the gritty work of apologetics.
This heart-check was Peter’s advice to first century believers. Apologists love to quote him in 1 Peter 3:15b, “always be prepared to give an answer.” But just before that classic call to defend the faith, Peter sets it inside a persecution context. In verse 14 he says, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” Answering how to do that, Peter says to put Jesus first. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord” (vs15a). The surrounding passage, 1 Peter 3:9-17[ii] reinforces this point saying, “do not repay evil with evil,” “or insult with insult,” “repay evil with blessing,” “keep [your] tongue from evil and lips from deceitful speech,” and “suffer for doing good” rather “than for doing evil.”
That’s easy for you to say
Of course, it’s easy for me to say all this. My job, my family, my way of life, are all safe. There are no political enemies or religious invaders beating down our door. My home church faces no real danger of conquest, at the hands of radical Muslims, militant Hindus, or even snarky atheists. It’s easy for me to tell folks to endure persecution heroically when it’s their persecution and not mine. That’s why I’m not speaking on my own authority. Apostle Peter said it first. I’m just agreeing with him. If I ever face persecution like my brothers and sisters in Nigeria are facing, I pray I’d have the courage to take my own advice, I pray I would follow St. Peter in honoring Christ as Lord and suffering well.
How do we do that?
At this point, you may be saying to yourself, “Okay, be righteous and don’t ‘sink to their level.’ I get it. But how do we do that?” That’s a great question. I’m glad you asked! Stay tuned for part 2 where I explain seven principles we should all follow when our opponent isn’t fighting fairly.
Footnotes:
[i] https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/
[ii] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A9-17&version=ESV
Recommended resources related to the topic:
Is Morality Absolute or Relative? by Dr. Frank Turek DVD, Mp3 and Mp4
When Reason Isn’t the Reason for Unbelief by Dr. Frank Turek DVD and Mp4
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Dr. John D. Ferrer is an educator, writer, and graduate of CrossExamined Instructors Academy. Having earned degrees from Southern Evangelical Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he’s now active in the pro-life community and in his home church in Pella Iowa. When he’s not helping his wife Hillary Ferrer with her ministry Mama Bear Apologetics, you can usually find John writing, researching, and teaching cultural apologetics.
Who Made God?
2. Does God Exist?, Atheism, Theology and Christian ApologeticsBy Bobby Conway
Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with a skeptic only to be asked in gotcha fashion, “Well, who made God?” Asking the question, “Who made God?” is like asking, “How did Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata taste?” It just doesn’t fit. The question is a classic category mistake. God wasn’t made and Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata can’t be tasted. Adding to this blunder, the famed atheist Bertrand Russell notoriously said, “If everything must have a cause, then God must have a cause.” Yet, it’s not true that everything must have a cause. Only that which begins to exist must have a cause. And herein God is perched up in a category all His own.
Think about it. Everything that had a beginning had a cause. And every beginning had a Beginner. And every product has a Producer. And every initiative must have an Initiator. If there is an origin, there must be an Originator. And since there is a genesis, there is a Generator.
That generator my friend is, well, you guessed it.
God.
The Scriptures exclaim from the very first verse, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Far from being made, God is the maker of all things made.
Again, note the distinction. The difference between God and everything else that exists is everything else began to exist whereas God just exists. Do you remember what God said to Moses when He appeared to him in the burning bush? Moses said,
What was God saying to Moses? He was revealing Himself to Moses as the self-existent one. As the one who wasn’t made. God was saying, “Moses, go tell them that the One who never began to exist sent you. The unmade One.”
Unlike us, God is what philosophers refers to as a necessary being, an independent being. And each of us, unlike God, are contingent beings and, therefore, dependent. The universe is also contingent because God spoke it into existence. This means that all things that began to exist are dependent on God for existence.
It turns out there is a problem with the question, “Who made God?” The word made can’t be said of God. For God is the unmade Maker. As expected, he’s in a league of his own.
Recommended resources related to the topic:
Why Science Needs God by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD and Mp4)
Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Does Science Disprove God? by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD and Mp4)
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Bobby serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry called, One Minute Apologist, which now goes by the name Christianity Still Makes Sense. He also serves as the Co-Host of Pastors’ Perspective, a nationally syndicated call-in radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby earned his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, his Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham (England) where he was supervised under David Cheetham and Yujin Nagasawa. Bobby’s also written several books including: The Fifth Gospel, Doubting Toward Faith, Does God Exist, and Fifty-One other Questions About God and the Bible and the forthcoming Christianity Still Makes Sense to be published by Tyndale in April 2024. He’s married to his lovely wife Heather and together they have two grown kids: Haley and Dawson.
How Should We Read the Book of Genesis? | with Dr. John Walton
PodcastJust when you thought there was nothing new to be said about the Book of Genesis, Dr. John Walton shows up! Dr. Walton is an Old Testament scholar and Professor at Wheaton College and has written many books on the Old Testament and its ancient Near Eastern background, including a commentary on Genesis, and his popular Lost World series.
In this midweek podcast episode, he sits down with Frank to discuss why being faithful to the context lies at the heart of our understanding of what the Bible communicates to us about God as our creator. In other words, we need to stop viewing it through a modern lens and placing our cultural expectations on it–demanding it to answer questions it was never intended to address.
Some of the ideas and questions they discuss include:
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
Resources mentioned during the show:
The Lost World of Genesis One: https://a.co/d/a76qyNN
Wisdom for Faithful Reading: https://a.co/d/0k3LrXL
Old Testament Theology for Christians: https://a.co/d/bxzYb5x
Dr. John Walton at Wheaton College: http://bit.ly/3jXdn6H
If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.
Subscribe on Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/CrossExamined_Podcast Rate and review! Thanks!!!
Subscribe on Google Play: https://cutt.ly/0E2eua9
Subscribe on Spotify: http://bit.ly/CrossExaminedOfficial_Podcast
Subscribe on Stitcher: http://bit.ly/CE_Podcast_Stitcher
Will You Stand UNSHAKEN? | with Alisa Childers and Natasha Crain
PodcastWho or what are we worshiping? Are we bowing to the one true God, or to the god of the self? We’ve all witnessed the Western world change quite dramatically, especially during the past few years. It goes from faith “deconstruction” to woke ideology to radical gender theory. Anti-Christian ideas haven’t just crept into our homes. They’ve kicked the door down and pulled a chair up to the table!
Christians feel immense pressure to bow down to these false idols as we watch the culture (and many of our loved ones) being shaken up all around us. Once you decide to take a stand for Christ and His authority, how do you hold your ground and live boldly in a world that is downright hostile to the idea of objective and Biblical truth?
That’s the BIG question Alisa Childers, Natasha Crain, and Frank will be tackling in the first-ever UNSHAKEN Conference which is set to take place in Dayton, Ohio on 1/28 along with three other locations later this year! In this podcast episode, Alisa and Natasha sit down with Frank to give us a glimpse into some of the content they’ll be sharing at the conference, which is set to be unlike any other apologetics conference you’ve ever seen before!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
UNSHAKEN conference info + tickets: https://unshakenconference.com/
If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.
Subscribe on Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/CrossExamined_Podcast Rate and review! Thanks!!!
Subscribe on Google Play: https://cutt.ly/0E2eua9
Subscribe on Spotify: http://bit.ly/CrossExaminedOfficial_Podcast
Subscribe on Stitcher: http://bit.ly/CE_Podcast_Stitcher
Cómo Jeremías 29:11 es mucho mejor cuando se interpreta correctamente
EspañolPor Brian Chilton
Algunos versículos de la Biblia se han popularizado tanto que a menudo se sacan de su contexto. Al hacerlo, el pasaje bíblico pierde el impacto que tiene. Peor aún, el texto puede recibir un mensaje que nunca pretendió transmitir. Jeremías 29:11 es un ejemplo.
El versículo es una promesa de Dios que dice: “Porque yo sé los pensamientos que tengo acerca de vosotros, dice Jehová, pensamientos de paz, y no de mal, para daros el fin que esperáis.” (Jer. 29:11, RVR60). El versículo se ha aplicado mal a menudo, ya que se ha convertido en un elemento básico de las tarjetas Hallmark, placas y chucherías de graduación. Para algunos, el versículo encierra la promesa de que Dios nunca permitirá que la persona sufra malas experiencias o problemas. El graduado que recibe tales cosas puede pensar que Dios sólo traerá cosas buenas a su vida. Pero, ¿es eso realmente lo que dice el pasaje? Una interpretación bíblica adecuada revela tres verdades teológicas que superan el cliché cursi en que se ha convertido el versículo.
Jeremías 29:11 Indica que Dios puede ser encontrado en días difíciles.
Es sumamente importante señalar que Jeremías 29:11 forma parte de la carta de Jeremías a los israelitas que se convertirían en exiliados babilónicos. Esto es clave para entender el contexto del versículo. Si el intérprete pasa por alto este punto, no comprenderá la naturaleza del versículo. Francamente, no sé si alguien querría que este fuera su tema de graduación, porque Dios le está diciendo a la nación que le esperan días difíciles.
Viviendo en una época de lujo y de autocomplacencia, es fácil pensar que Dios sólo traerá cosas buenas a nuestras vidas. Casi vemos a Dios como si fuera un entrenador de superación personal en lugar de un Padre Celestial. Quizás a algunos les gustaría más Dios si fuera lo primero en lugar de lo segundo. Sin embargo, Dios nunca promete que el camino del creyente será fácil. Más bien, Dios nos promete que su presencia nunca nos abandonará ni en los buenos ni en los malos momentos. Si sigues leyendo el texto, Dios les dice a los que están a punto de sufrir el exilio: “Entonces me invocaréis, y vendréis y oraréis a mí, y yo os oiré; y me buscaréis y me hallaréis, porque me buscaréis de todo vuestro corazón.” (Jer. 29:12-13, RVR60). La presencia de Dios está siempre con sus hijos (Mt. 28:20).
Jeremías 29:11 indica que Dios es soberano tanto en los buenos como en los malos momentos.
Jeremías 29:11 es comparable a Romanos 8:28 en el hecho de que el profeta sostiene que Dios es soberano sobre todos los tiempos y ocasiones. ¿Por qué permite Dios que ocurra el mal? Esta cuestión, también llamada teodicea, queda fuera del alcance del presente artículo. Sin embargo, hay que entender que Dios puede permitir que ocurran cosas malas para lograr un fin mayor.
Hoy he hablado con un miembro de la iglesia sobre el libro de Job y el tema teológico principal del libro. Dios le dice a Job que debe confiar en él porque lo puso todo en marcha desde el principio de la creación. La vida y el funcionamiento del universo son mucho más complejos de lo que nadie podría imaginar. De forma parecida, Dios les dice lo mismo a los que pronto serán exiliados de Babilonia: “Confía en mí”. El autor de Hebreos señala que no hay que “tomar a la ligera la disciplina del Señor ni desanimarse cuando uno es reprendido por él, el Señor disciplina al que ama y castiga a todo hijo que recibe”. Soportad el sufrimiento como disciplina: Dios os trata como a hijos” (Heb 12,5-7). Cuando llega la disciplina divina, nunca es para hacernos daño. Más bien, la disciplina de Dios es siempre para hacernos mejores. El Salmo 94 señala que una persona es bendecida cuando recibe la disciplina del Señor porque se le está enseñando a guardar la ley (Sal. 94:12). Dios incluso le dice a Jacob: “Tú, siervo mío Jacob, no temas, dice Jehová, porque yo estoy contigo; porque destruiré a todas las naciones entre las cuales te he dispersado; pero a ti no te destruiré del todo, sino que te castigaré con justicia; de ninguna manera te dejaré sin castigo.” (Jer 46:28 RVR60). El pueblo de la época de Jeremías no había sido fiel, lo que provocó las medidas disciplinarias de Dios. Sin embargo, Dios señala que sigue siendo soberano tanto en los malos tiempos como en los buenos. Le está diciendo al pueblo: “Confía en mí”.
Jeremías 29:11 Indica que Dios Bendecirá a Sus Hijos Fieles al Final.
Una vez más, Jeremías 29:11 puede compararse con Romanos 8:28, que dice: “Y sabemos que a los que aman a Dios, todas las cosas les ayudan a bien, esto es, a los que conforme a su propósito son llamados.”. Del mismo modo, Dios dice a los desterrados: “Restauraré vuestra suerte y os recogeré de todas las naciones y lugares donde os desterré… Os devolveré al lugar de donde os expulsé” (Jer. 29:14). Aunque el pueblo se enfrentaría a graves dificultades en los días venideros, podía vivir con la seguridad de que Dios restauraría la fortuna de su pueblo y de su tierra. Del mismo modo, nosotros formamos parte de la comunidad del pueblo de Dios. No siempre hacemos las cosas bien. Sinceramente, es probable que metamos la pata más de lo que hacemos bien. Sin embargo, Dios tiene un día mejor para sus hijos: un día en el que no habrá más lágrimas, ni dolor, ni angustia, ni divisiones, ni muerte (Apocalipsis 21:3-4). Y lo que es más importante, ese día no habrá más separación de Dios (Apoc. 22:4-5). Nuestra fe estará a la vista (2 Co. 5:7).
Jeremías 29:11 es un versículo maravilloso. Pero no se puede cavar en la profundidad de sus minas teológicas a menos que uno se tome el tiempo de entender el versículo en su contexto apropiado. Aunque puede que este versículo no sea tan deseable para colocarlo en las tarjetas de graduación como lo fue una vez, el versículo se vuelve más intenso y fuerte especialmente cuando llegan los problemas. El plan final de Dios para nuestras vidas es traer grandes bendiciones. Pero esas bendiciones a menudo pueden quedar envueltas en los sinsabores de la vida. Al colocarnos en las presiones de la vida, Dios nos convierte en diamantes.
Recursos recomendados en Español:
Robándole a Dios (tapa blanda), (Guía de estudio para el profesor) y (Guía de estudio del estudiante) por el Dr. Frank Turek
Por qué no tengo suficiente fe para ser un ateo (serie de DVD completa), (Manual de trabajo del profesor) y (Manual del estudiante) del Dr. Frank Turek
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Brian G. Chilton es el fundador de BellatorChristi.com y es el presentador de The Bellator Christi Podcast. Recibió su Maestría en Divinidad en Liberty University (con alta distinción); su Licenciatura en Ciencias en Estudios Religiosos y Filosofía de la Universidad Gardner-Webb (con honores); y recibió la certificación en Christian Apologetics (Apologética cristiana) de la Universidad de Biola. Brian actualmente está inscrito en el programa Ph.D. en Teología y apologética en Liberty University. Brian ha estado en el ministerio por más de 15 años y sirve como pastor en el noroeste de Carolina del Norte.
Traducido por Yatniel Vega García
Editado: Jennifer Chavez
Fuente del Blog Original: https://bit.ly/3zu0g1j