Can Smart People Believe in God? Tough Questions
I did not know when I typed these notes that there was a transcript! So feel free to avail yourself of it :-)
[one reason people want to keep objective knowledge in the physical is so they won't be personally and morally constrained by it. they're biased.
many of the world's conclusions come after having ruled out God: since there is no God, Anthropic Principle and multiverse -- something from nothing. since there is no God, evolutionism -- diverse life from no life.]
Integrating Knowledge with Reality
If you're right, it's because you're saved. You're not saved b/c you're right.
The value of being right: it enables you to deal effectively with reality.
Knowledge
Everything that really matters in guiding human life falls outside of science
Christian ministers must reclaim having and teaching knowledge.
We have all kinds of knowledge (e.g., proverbs) that don't fit under science
Knowing God
We can know there is a God and some characteristics
Requirement for knowledge of God: Would you like for there to be a God and what kind?
We intuit that if there's a God it will affect how I live
And you have to seek knowledge to gain it in any area
Want to know God?
1. Come to terms with if you want there to be a God.
2. Seek knowledge of God.
Part of our problem is pre-existing wrong notions about God and heaven
Having dealt with these issues, you can address evidence
the primary evidence is the existence of the physical world
Gen 1, Ps 19, Rom 1
Technically, science does not and cannot explain where the physical world came from, eg, the Big Bang.
[But people draw conclusions that make sense to them given the things science does teach. The #1 presupposition of scientism is that there is not a God. When you rule God out, the Anthropic Principle, multiverses and evolutionism become plausible b/c there is no other more plausible way.]
Physical stuff comes from something else
Is Jesus God?
What you believe about Jesus makes a huge difference in your life
Xianity is not about having minimal right beliefs to get in (like a driver's test)
we become righteous, not by our beliefs, but by trusting God and living from Him
I believe the best way is to learn about X and put your trust in Him. then you have the presence of God helping you.
salvation: participating in the life that God is now living on Earth
advice for seekers: get to know X, let Him validate Himself to you. if he doesn't, that's the end of the story
Assurance of Salvation
no one is reconciled with God by being devout, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian or anything
God looks on the heart
He's in touch with everyone in the world
Will save those who seek Him with all of their heart defined as coming to love Him and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
I can tell you how to be saved: Align yourself experientially with JX and align yourself in this world with the creative power of God, which is eternal living.
eternal life does not happen after we die. it begins now.
[we can live in it now!]
Human Worth
Some of how God is presented in the OT is a concession to the people of that time. It's being contextual.
[they didn't care much about animals and He was willing to have them sacrificed for the sake of His redemptive plan]
individual human life was [almost] worthless. corporate responsibility in the OT.
God meets people where they are, including in the context of history, and leads them on through generations to something that is better.
then, in the fullness of time, X comes.
the Levitical/sacrificial system created a class of people who weren't farming who could advance language and the Scripture.
What Doesn't Dallas Know?
the ultimate nature of God
why God exists
but some things we don't have reasons for
Science and Faith
You have knowledge of something when you can represent it as it is on an appropriate basis of thought and experience.
Jesus
Atheist's Prayer: Oh God, if there is a God, save my soul if I have a soul.
God's Enormity
God is big enough to create the physical universe.
[I really think we have enough familiarity with other-dimensional thinking, not least in fantasy and science fiction, that we can think of God in extra dimensions. Is that right?]
Why is the universe as good as it is?
Human history is the single biggest barrier to belief in a good God. You have to have a good, big God to make human evil turn out right.
JO: The New Atheists say God couldn't exist b/c human history is so bad but then remain optimistic about human future without God
Intelligence Trumps Faith?
Smart people do very dumb things.
What did you do with the evidence you had?
Our best friend is logic. What does and does not follow from what?
The Bible (1)
Read the Bible as a whole. God's message is not one verse, but a fair interpretation of the Bible as a whole.
Interpret Scripture with Scripture.
The Bible (2)
Read repentantly with the idea that you don't know everything you ought to know and that you should be learning, even in the parts that you've read a hundred times, then it will speak. And it will be a blessing to people.
A Blessing
specifically willing someone's good under the invocation of God
Freewill
[one answer to starving children is this is the fall, this is the world we have made and are upholding; what are you doing about starving children?]
God creates a world to allow the greatest possible good to come to pass. The best thing in this world is a good human being, an eternal, beautiful thing that will live forever in the presence of God, glorifying Him.
'Would you like for there to be a god?'
If you have a big enough God, there is no problem of evil. -- Hume
Unanswered Prayers
The biggest problem with suicide is being unable to do good for others.
No one struggles with the meaning of life if they are invested in service to others.
Inflow of spiritual reality strengthens you.
[Dallas' position on spiritual reality has been so helpful to me]
Natural Disasters
c.f. Freewill above
World with genuine risk
Was religion formed purely as a crutch to our fear of the unknown?
There is a place for crutches, but that's not the only reason.
Does any one religion have all the answers?
Religions are not all the same. No others have the position expressed in Jn 3.16.
It's an insult to other religions, not just Xianity, to say they're all the same.
Why is His way the true way?
I have seriously looked at the alternatives. Xianity is a living contact with God. c.f. living God in OT.
Why is Jesus such a big deal?
There isn't anything like Him on the human scene.
Answering questions with questions is helpful.
What are the differences in religions?
Jesus affirms human worth now. Buddhism does not. Best thing is you can stop existing.
He supplies the direction and the power to live it.
[Thank God!]
Jesus doesn't teach much different about what is good, but He shows you how to do it.
Can we talk more about Jesus?
Some of Christmas is an attempt to do justice to His greatness
Don't start with the big doctrines. Start with the baby.
Think about His impact: what kind of person must He have been?
If He was just a man, show us some other cases that compare.
Other religions have truth in them (common grace, I think-SM).
It would be surprising if God didn't love someone. God is love.
George Fox taught that you address the Christ in other people, which gives you a basis for loving them.
Does Christianity really produce better people of truth and grace?
The biggest threat to God's Kingdom in my life is my kingdom.
God hides so that if we don't want Him we don't have to have Him.
How do I find God?
Do the next thing that you know to be right and follow that path. And immediately you will be thrown upon the mercy of God to sustain you. Do what it right and trust God to bail you out.
If you want to go to heaven, go now. It's already here. Step into it by doing the things you know to be right. We often lie to people because we think they need it. But being truthful leaves them to God, commits them to God's care, and us to God's care, too.
Vague Christian responses
God's Power and Goodness
Learn to have a life with God in a world where a lot of bad things happen, but we still pray and trust God.
God's Breadth
God has to be big enough to create the physical universe. And God is not physical.
We are not physical beings.
Prayer
The universe is designed for us to work with God (power steering example)
Superstition v. Science
Creation of the universe
Christian Arrogance
Sexual orientation
Love means wanting what is best for the other person, caring for them, not necessarily agreeing.
We do not always agree with those we love, especially about things that are bad for them.
[We see this so clearly with our children and even with other adults but usually refuse to see how it applies to us.
In fairness, I don't struggle with homosexuality. It's easier for me to say sexual identity does not have to be paramount. But it doesn't.
Since sexuality in so powerful in people's identity, if we disagree with those choices (or call it a choice when they insist it's a nature), they are offended. We seem to be denying what they perceive to be their identity.]
And, unfortunately, love is not all that common among people who think that they're right.
Don't start with homosexuality. What do they think about God? It is more basic than sexuality.
Hell
God will let anybody in who can stand it. He's trying to get people in. But He's going to be the biggest thing there. God dominates heaven. Would you like that?
In Scripture, anyone who sees God dies.
Heaven is not Disneyland, a pleasure factory, a spa, or your concept of paradise.
[You think the Sun's powerful. God created billions of them with a word.]
Heaven is a loving community in which this magnificent, personal God dwells and continues His work in the universe forever
[and don't forget: non-physical heaven is no one's ultimate destiny]
we will reign for ages of ages and reigning means having supervision of what is good and creative and right
think of your best, most creative day at work
You will never be able to think you're in charge in heaven and anyone who insists on being in charge, beginning with their life, won't go there
we see that people who win the lottery aren't prepared to deal with the responsibility (or pro athletes who get a big contract)
the biggest challenge to us is growing to the point where we can be reliable with power
Goodness without God
we can know we are in God's hands: start doing the things that Jesus said, trusting Him. as you do that, you become aware of the reality of the life that is eternal because it's living in you.
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