November 1 | Does God Exist?

Dear reader:

As I mentioned yesterday’s post rounding out #Blogtober 2023, I plan to delve further into apologetics and evangelism on The Devotional Guy™ as there appears to be a real need and growing interest in finding answers about the foundational tenets of our Christian faith. In addition to those seeking answers, the number of doubters, naysayers, and scoffers challenging the pillars of our beliefs is growing madly every day. People have questions. People have doubts. Maybe together, we can find some satisfying answers.

What is evangelism?

Evangelism is considered a fundamental part of fulfilling the Great Commission, a command given by Jesus to His followers in the Bible to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). It plays a central role in the expansion and growth of the Christian faith.

Evangelism is the act of spreading the message of a particular faith, often with the goal of persuading or inviting others to embrace that faith. In the context of Christianity, evangelism involves sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging individuals to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

What is apologetics?

Apologetics is the branch of theology and philosophy that focuses on defending and providing rational explanations for the beliefs and doctrines of a particular faith, often in response to objections or criticisms. In the context of Christianity, Christian apologetics aims to provide reasoned arguments and evidence to support the truth of Christian beliefs and teachings.

After some contemplation, I’ve decided the best place to begin is with a question familiar to each of us, whether we are a believer seeking a deeper understanding or a skeptic seeking answers.

The question? Glad you asked.

Does God Exist?

This is a foundational and much debated topic in our society.

If you’re my age, you’re probably familiar with the holiday story of Virginia, a little girl who writes to her local newspaper asking them to verify the existence of Santa Claus.

Published as an editorial in The New York Sun in 1897, Francis Pharcellus Church responds to 8-year-old Virginia O’ Hanlon. Church tells Virginia and the newspaper’s readers that Santa Claus represents the spirit of generosity, kindness, and the joy of giving, rather than a literal person.

I think many people, skeptics and professing believers alike, view God as an idea more than a real person or being.

Have we always questioned the existence of God?

Yes, questioning the existence of God has been a recurring theme throughout human history. The extent to which previous generations questioned the existence of God varied depending on cultural, historical, and philosophical factors.

1. Ancient and Classical Periods: In ancient civilizations, belief in gods or a higher power was often intertwined with daily life and culture. While there were philosophers and thinkers who raised questions, widespread atheism as seen in some modern contexts was extremely rare.
2. Enlightenment and Modernity: The Enlightenment period (17th to 18th centuries) in Europe saw increased skepticism and the rise of secularism. Thinkers like Voltaire and David Hume raised significant challenges to religious beliefs that continue to fuel skeptics in our post-pandemic era.
3. Contemporary Secularism: As you surely know, in recent decades, especially in Western societies, there has been a noticeable increase in secularism and atheism. The questioning of religious beliefs has become more prominent, partly due to advancements in science, technology, and a growing focus on secular education. For some reason, people cannot understand that these advancements prove God’s existence rather than discount it.
4. Global Variations: Of course, in our post-pandemic times, attitudes toward religion and the existence of God vary greatly by region and culture. In some parts of the world, religious belief remains very strong, while in others, skepticism is more prevalent.

So, while questioning the existence of God is not a new phenomenon, the prominence and open discussion of atheism and secularism in our post-pandemic society seems far more prevalent today. Societal shifts, access to information, and changing cultural norms are all contributing factors to the varying degrees of belief and skepticism in the post-2020 era. Let’s face it: these are confusing and troubling times we live in. I believe this has led to an increased need to answer the question, “Does God Exist?”

How is the Existence of God a Relevant Question in our Post-Pandemic Times?

As I mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, the existence of God is extremely relevant in defending the Christian faith because it serves as the foundational belief upon which the entire faith is built. That’s as true today, if not more so, than it’s ever been.

Acknowledging God’s existence is central to understanding the origin and purpose of the universe and humanity.

Answering the question about God’s existence provides a foundation for our values, virtues, and our basic sense of right and wrong.

In our post-pandemic world, heavily influenced by a marked increase in secularism and skepticism, addressing the question of God’s existence is extremely important and relevant if we, as Christians, are going to be faithful to Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations.”

In upcoming posts, I aim to explore this topic and address the question of God’s existence.

I hope you’ll join me as we examine the question, “Does God Exist?”

As you go out into the world and seize the day, I encourage you to consider these three questions from my post How Do Our Lives Reflect the Image of God?:

1.  Is my life today marked by order or is my life one that creates chaos?

2.  Do I shine light into the lives of others and deliver hope into the darkness?

3.  Do my words lift and encourage others or do I wound and discourage people with my tongue?

Abundant blessings and continued happy blogging my friends!

The Devotional Guy™

Rainer Bantau