Do Religious Experiences Prove That God Exists?

Here is an interesting article by my good friend Chris Neiswonger from the apologetics.com radio show.

Religious experience is, I think, the basis for a very powerful argument, but only powerful upon people that have had such an experience. (This is a complicated claim that I will expand upon a little later.) With my theological background flowing from the Reformed tradition I would say that all people have such an experience whether they admit one or not. Read more

God Bless,

Doug

James White on Sola Scriptura (Video)

This is a closing argument by James White in a debate on the issue of Sola Scriptura.

The Metaphysics of Science - Carl F. H. Henry

Scientific study is not nearly as disengaged from metaphysical commitments as it is often represented to be. The fact of causality, for example, was for a long time as dogmatically affirmed in the study of physics, and with far less justification, as is the reality of God by theologians. More recently, due to the evident limitations of empirical method, many physicists concede that causality is a non-experimental idea, and they speak more guardedly of observed sequences of events. Yet contemporary science is nonetheless replete with metaphysical postulations. Who has ever seen an atom or an electron? It will be replied, of course, that vast differences separate the celestial beings with which the ancient religions filled the invisible world and natural selection, gravitational fields, electrons and other postulates of modern science. For one thing science is a method of knowing that accepts nothing as final (let it be said with finality!) and stands always ready to revise its finding (the word findings may itself be less than accurate). But if we remember that mathematical formulas reflect statistical averaging, the question arises whether the reported mathematical connection have in all or in some cases ever been observed and whether nature per se corresponds to them. Surely it will be pointed out that the empirical scientist does not simply assume metaphysical realities (a biblical theologian can only welcome reassurance at this point), but instead postulates them for purposes of explanation and then seeks to disprove his hypothesis, whether one speaks of a gravitational field or of electrons. If this is intended to imply that metaphysical affirmations become rationally significant only when both evidence and criteria of verification of disproof are introduced, the emphasis is no less welcome in theology than in empirical science. But if it implies that the empirical scientist additionally has a special way of testing the truth of metaphysical assertions, it is wholly of being correlated with sense verification is giving rise to new doubts. Operational science does not assume but denies the reality of an electromagnetic field. The scientist has on the basis of empirical methodology no legitimate metaphysics at all. Electrons in distinction from centaurs permit deductions which seem at present to sustain rather than to refute them, but whether natural selection and electrons are less imaginative than centaurs may well depend upon which generation of scientists one asks.

Carl F. H. Henry; God, Revelation and Authority, Vol. 1 p. 172

5 Reasons God Exists

The New Atheism's Leap of Faith

There is on the rise something called the new atheism. It has come on the scene thanks to books like Daniel Dennett's Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation and of course our friends the rational responders. Though there really is nothing new in the atheistic belief system itself, since most of them are naturalists, nor in the arguments they are presenting, what seems to be new is that these preachers of atheism have become much more dogmatic in their stance. Some of them are even preaching doom and gloom if religion or belief in God is not eradicated. Most of them though center in on one thing, and that is that they simply want to know the truth, instead of buying into some myth, and this is what everyone ought to be doing.

This idea that everyone ought to be doing this raises a problem though. Putting aside the question for a moment of whether or not there is a God; let us look at this claim of “oughtness” from within their naturalistic worldview. As Ravi Zacharias has so aptly pointed out, “wherever one finds “oughtness,” it is always linked together with a believed purpose in life. Purpose and oughtness are inextricably bound.”

What he is getting at is that the only way we can ever say that something is not as it ought to be is if we know what its purpose and function is. For example, the only way anyone can say that a watch is not working correctly, is if they know how it is supposed to work in the first place, or in other words how it was designed to work. If the watch has no purpose or proper function assigned to it, than there is no way to say that it is functioning incorrectly.

But this is exactly the problem that the naturalist runs into. Since naturalism cannot account for mankind’s purpose or proper function, it has no way of saying how it ought to be. Within the naturalistic worldview, mankind was not designed for any specific purpose; we are the product of a “blind watchmaker” which has no purpose in what it is doing. This lack of purpose makes any real statement of what ought to be, absolutely groundless.

These new atheist with their strong focus on reason and being logical seem to be making blind leap of faith from a purposeless creation, to what they think ought to be. It seems like the responders are not being as rational as they had hoped.

-Doug Eaton-

Below is the link to the VLOG version of this post.

The New Atheism's Leap of Faith

Atheistic Naturalism's False Hope

Many Atheists who hold to Naturalism argue that religion, especially Christianity, is the curse of mankind, since it causes men to be held in bondage to myth and oppressive meta-narrative. What mankind needs is to see that this human invention called god is not real, then and only then can they be free to think in light of the way things really are. This newly found “free” thought will enable men to live true lives of purpose and meaning, by doing what really matters, not lives of false purpose built upon myth.

The problem is that this newfound freedom and hope is refuted by their own philosophical belief. The reason for this is that the freedom they promise is snuffed out by the materialistic determinism that their worldview logically demands. If naturalism is true, then we are captive within this closed system of cause and effect, and every thought, action, belief, and hope is merely determined by materialistic cause and effect. This is because our choices and freedoms are merely the phenomena produced by the functions of our brain. And our brains are determined by nothing more than chemical reactions and other physical causes.

The result of this is that the naturalist tears down one thing they think is a myth and false hope, namely God, and holds up another false hope, namely free minds. This then is portrayed as progress toward freedom, when in fact it enslaves us to a new myth; the religion of meaning and hope found in thought without God.

And as German sociologist Max Weber argues, “Man embraces religion at the point of meaning.” And since meaning and purpose cannot be accounted for by the naturalistic worldview, so then any appeal to it tends to digress back to the very thing they are arguing against, and becomes their new god.

Aldous Huxley said it best when speaking about purpose and meaning from within the naturalistic worldview. He said, “Science has “explained” nothing; the more we know the more fantastic the world becomes, and the profounder the surrounding darkness.”

Though this in no way proves the existence of God it shows one of the many self-defeating claims of the naturalist, and exposes a major leap of faith taken by many who hold to this worldview. The leap from a naturalistic world to a world with meaning and purpose: a leap that cannot be made through reason.

-Doug Eaton-

Castle Church: A Social Bookmarking Site

Below is a link you might be interested in if you are looking for a one stop place to find a lot of the good theological articles posted on the internet. The Castle Church site is used to gather links from blogs and other websites that deal with reformed theology, apologetics and other issues facing the church today. You too can join and post articles to the virtual Wittenberg Door.

Castle Church

God Bless,

Doug

On Fearing Hell and Receiving Christ

"There is a great deal of difference between a willingness not to be damned, and a being willing to receive Christ for your Savior. You have the former; there is no doubt of that: nobody supposes that you love misery so as to choose an eternity of it; and so doubtless you are willing to be saved from eternal misery. But that is a very different thing from being willing to come to Christ: persons very commonly mistake the one for the other, but they are quite two things. You may love the deliverance, but hate the deliverer. You tell of a willingness; but consider what is the object of that willingness. It does not respect Christ; the way of salvation by him is not at all the object of it; but it is wholly terminated on your escape from misery. The inclination of your will goes no further than self, it never reaches Christ. You are willing not to be miserable; that is, you love yourself, and there your will and choice terminate. And it is but a vain pretence and delusion to say or think, that you are willing to accept of Christ.

-Jonathan Edwards-

The Last Sin Eater

Truth is Immortal!

Here is a link to a friend of mine who I just found out has been doing some blogging. He tends to have some good things to say, so be sure to check out his blog.

Veritas est Immortalis

Doug

On Limited Atonement: The Sufficient and Efficient Distinction

When the topic of limited atonement comes up there are a couple verses that are sure to be presented as a proof that limited atonement cannot possibly be true. 1 John 2:2 is one such verse, which says, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

This passage seems to be the end of the discussion for many people. If this verse says Christ was the propitiation for the whole world, and Calvinist say that he is the propitiation for the elect only, then surely the doctrine is wrong, and scripture has the final authority. But before we make such hasty conclusions we must be aware that great students of the Bible like Augustine, Calvin, Edwards, Spurgeon, Whitfield and many others were aware of these verses, and did not see them as contrary to their understanding of limited atonement. So how do Calvinists understand their view in light of these verses?

Many point out that the term “whole world” in 1 John 2:2 actually refers to the elect in the “whole world,” and not everyone in the “whole world,” but this seldom satisfies the objector. So in order to take this objection from a slightly different angle, we will assume that the term “whole world” actually refers to every person in the world, in order to present a clearer understanding of limited atonement, because what is frequently missed is the nuanced understanding of the nature of limited atonement.

Is it possible for the Calvinist to say that “Jesus died for everyone in the world,” and then say that “Jesus did not die for the sins of everyone” without contradicting himself? Well, that all depends on what a contradiction entails, and since most of us have studied logic, we know that a contradiction means that something cannot be both A and non-A in the same sense and at the same time. For example, if a person points to water and says, “That is ice” and then says, “That is not ice” either the person has contradicted himself or something has changed. The first thing that could have changed would be time. If this person points to water and says that is ice, and two hours later says, that is not ice, there is no contradiction because time has changed and in fact it is no longer ice because it has melted. The second thing that could change is the sense in which the words are used. If a person says, “That is a bow,” and then says, “That is not a bow.” If the sense of the word “bow” means a device used to shoot arrows in the first use, and then in the second use the word “bow” means a type of knot you put in your shoelaces, then there is no contradiction.

The same applies to the statement. “Christ died for the whole world.” There are two senses in which the statement can be made. The first sense deals with the sufficiency of the payment that Christ made, and the second deals with the efficiency of the payment Christ paid on the cross.

Most Calvinist tend to believe that Christ’s death was sufficient to save the “whole world.” What this means is, if a greater number of people were to be saved then were foreknown, Christ would not have had to suffer more. So in the sufficient sense, Calvinists do say that Christ’s death is the payment for the sins of the whole world just as John 2:2 says.

But there is another sense in which Christ’s death is not the payment of sins for the entire world, and this is its efficiency. The suffering Christ endured is sufficient to be the payment for the sins of everyone, but in actuality His death does not pay for the sins of everyone since many will be paying for their sins themselves. And if Christ had paid for them on the cross and they later pay for them in hell, then the sins would have been paid for twice, and that is not justice. So in the effect, or the actuality of the atonement, Christ did not pay for the sins of the whole world.

So with these two senses the Calvinist can say, Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world, meaning the sufficiency, and also says, Jesus did not pay for the sins of the whole world, meaning in actuality.

Ultimately, it seems the Calvinist and the non-Calvinist can see this in Scripture when thinking about foreknowledge. Though both groups understand foreknowledge differently, they both agree that there is an elect group since before the foundations of the world. In fact, Revelation tells us that their names have been written in the lambs book of life since before any of us came to be, and when Jesus was on the cross He was not in the slightest bit confused about whom He was actually redeeming and who He was not. Nor is He holding out hope that any of the non-elect will actually be saved since He already knows that they will spend eternity in hell before He even creates them.

-Doug Eaton-

The Da Vinci Code and Christians

I realize that posting a VLOG on Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" Is like kicking a dead horse and telling it to die. But when someone asks you an honest question you want to give an honest answer, even if the answer has already been given in a much better way to the extent that the mere mention of the book now makes you yawn. With that said, I was asked to give a response to someone who was asking why Christians take such issue with the "Da Vinci Code" when it is a work of fiction. Below is my response.







The Da Vinci Code and Christians

On Francis Beckwith's Move to Roman Catholicism

Here is a thoughtful post by a friend of mine on Beckwith's Move To Rome.

My conversation with Francis Beckwith about his return to Roman Catholicism.

Logic: An Atheist's Nightmare

I've been having a discussion with a naturalistic atheist over how they account for logic and the meaninglessness of the discussion if their worldview is true. Here is the lastest video on the topic. It exposes some of the major problems with the naturalistic worldview and then it argues that if logic does exist and is eternal, then God must exist. My main purpose in using the argument from logic is to show the logical consistency of the Christian worldveiw. I realize that most non-Christians would not be convinced by this argument.

Logic: Still and Atheists Nightmare

You can see his video at the link below. It is the video I am responding to.

Logic is not an Atheist's Nightmare

God bless,

Doug

The Kisses of God

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Luke 15:20

What a beautiful picture we have here. The prodigal has returned home, but only after forsaking his father and laying waste to his inheritance. The prodigal, living comfortably in his father’s house wells up with pride and forsakes his father’s government. He requests his inheritance and leaves. Filling his life with riotous living, he takes harlots as his companions, and fills his desires for vanity and squanders his father’s precious gifts.

Oh’ but the child of God is never outside their Father’s providence, and famine hits the foreign land of the prodigal. The prodigal’s hopes are soon dashes upon the rocks of vanity and sin, as he finds himself in bondage. He is joined to a citizen of that country where he is required to feed pigs. In this state, the lords of this country do not offer him anything but to eat and sleep in the pig stalls. Sin brings temporary satisfaction but piles on long lasting burdens, impossible to remove. He is in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction, and insanity. But the grace of God is far reaching, and the prodigal comes to himself and says, “It would be better to be a slave in my father’s house then to live here”. What a shame it is, that many never come to themselves and never feel the burden of sin on their back, and what a shame many that do feel it, never venture to go home. They die in their despair, seeking some way to have the burden removed. They sink ever slowly into the “slough of despond”. What a shame, many have even taken their own lives in this despair.

But, In his unworthy state, covered in the stains and wounds of the foreign land that he had desire to live, the prodigal walks slowly home, crestfallen, seeking only servitude in the house of his father. But unworthy of even that, for not honoring your father and mother is a crime worthy of death under the law.

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion. Our Father’s eyes are ever on us, even when we can’t see Him. When our heads are down dejected from our sin, He looks and has compassion. How His heart aches when His children hurt, even from their self-inflicted wounds. He then ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Before the son could say a word, the father had placed his lips upon his son. He did not wait until the filth was washed. Nor was he concerned with any of the scoffing that the community might bring.

Oh’ the kisses of the Father say so much. The kiss shows much love for the son. There has been no loss of love in the heart of the father. No uncertainty in the value of his child has occurred due to his son’s crimes. The kiss demonstrates full forgiveness, as it speaks of absolution. The debt the son incurred has been forgotten, and the burden of sin and guilt is gone. In the kisses of God we see full restoration. The son is as much a son as he had ever been; the thoughts of servitude are to be done away with. No more food fit for swine, nor clothes fit for prisoners. For there shall be a feast fit for royalty, a new robe is to be placed upon him, and a ring to signify to the world, that he is part of his father’s family. The son has full restoration, and all this before he can speak his confession, which he has undoubtedly been rehearsing.

There is a beauty in true humility for it does not flow from our natural self, but is the direct result of the working of the Spirit of God. Nevertheless, the son proceeds to confess before his father. True repentance is shown in this way, that even those accepted by the father long to confess. It is almost as if the son is making sure the father realizes what he has done. He wants to make sure his sin is fully realized, before accepting the welcome. Oh, but the father knows, and this kiss was no mistake.

Those who come to the father by faith, in repentance will receive all the kisses of God. We are given the kiss of a new heart and new spirit as our hearts of stone are turned to hearts of flesh by the very grace of God. And we are kissed with strong assurance. Though the prodigal may have intense fears of walking away again, we see that the father is not apprehensive that son may disgrace his mercy and forgiveness. For the Father knows that, of those who are His, He will not loose one of them.

There is also the kiss of intimate communion. The kisses that God gives are not like the kisses of Judas. These kisses, He only gives to those that are in an intimate relationship with Him. Our Father, looks at us and sees everything we are, all of our depravity, yet He places His lips upon us and kisses us with intimate communion. The kiss He gives is more intimate than any kiss a husband could give his wife, or a wife could give her husband.

Children of God and those who long to be, run to your father while there is still time. Satan tells you that you are unworthy of the kisses of God, and the truth is you have never been worthy nor will you ever be. But that is the very reason you must go. Only the kisses of your father can offer you anything. The world will offer you its kisses but they are the kisses of Judas. Betraying kisses that will lead to your demise. Reject the kisses of this world and run to your Father.

There are kisses for every one of your despairs. Every wound and disease that eats at your soul can be addressed by the kisses of God. It would be worthwhile to quote Charles Spurgeon at length here, for much of this was drawn from his influence.

“Perhaps one whom I am addressing says, “even though I confess my sin, and seek God’s mercy, I shall still be in sore trouble for through my sin, I have brought myself down to poverty.” “There is a kiss for you,” says the Lord: “Thy bread shall be given thee, and water shall be sure.” “But I have even brought disease upon myself by sin,” says another. “There is a kiss for you, for I am Jehovah-Rophi, the Lord that healeth thee, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.” “But I am dreadfully down at the heel,” says another. The Lord gives you also a kiss, and says, “I will lift you up, and provide for all your needs. No good thing will I withhold for them that walk uprightly.” All the promises in this Book belong to every repentant sinner, who returns to God believing in Jesus Christ, his son.”

Child of God, let the world scoff and the consequences of your sin run their course. You have the kisses of God. For every trial, even the self-inflicted ones, can now do you no harm. All things work together for the good of those who love Him, even the effects of our sin we now life with. And everything in this world will pass away, and we will one day enter the kingdom of our Lord. Where every tear will be dried and sadness will be no more. The world may continue to wound, and people may even look at you with disdainful eyes, remember it is not their approval you need, you have the kisses of God.

It would beneficial to address those sit and ponder their sin. Feeling proud that they are not like the great sinners being spoken of here. For they feel that they have not done such a great evil that they should drop their heads in shame. May God be merciful and show you your misery. For like the Pharisee, you fulfill your ritual of prayer in the public places, but remember the Pharisee walked away unforgiven. It was the tax collector that beat his own breast as if to say, “it is I who should be accursed”. The image of beating his breast symbolizes that he did not see his sin as intellectual mistakes, but flowing from his very soul. For that is what sin is, our very nature mocking the Holiness of God. He cried to God, “have mercy on me a sinner”, and how lovingly the Father kisses Him with forgiveness and acceptance.

There are still others who started out strong but have begun to be choked out by the cares of this world. Pleasures, promotions, and the search for prestige has taken you captive, and begun to steal your time away from the things of God. May God grant you repentance for many start strong down the narrow path only to taken away by such lusts never to return. They become like the man despairing in the cage in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, who took the hand of his lusts and could not repent because he loved them so. They overtook him and blinded him of his need for salvation, and he proved never to be a child of God.

Come to His feet in repentance, for it is our only hope. The wrath of God will be poured out on sinners. Lest we accept the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, who did what we could not and lived a sinless life, yet was crucified in our place. For scripture states “He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. The repenting sinner is the only one who can receive a crown of righteousness, and it is not our righteousness but Christ’s.

How can we neglect so great a salvation? Make your election sure. May all those who are children of God, and those who long to be, come to Him today and be ravished by His kisses.

-Doug Eaton-

The Non-Christian Cannot Please God!

Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God; they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God. And yet, their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God.

-Westminster Confession-

Worldwide Socialites Unite!

At the top of the social ladder I speak
Let me welcome you here officially
To the back drop of martini clatter
Break the ice with superficial chatter
I'm glad to be this year's MC
To greet the chic and the elite
Yeah, you finally get to mix and mingle
Pressing flesh until your fingers tingle

Worldwide socialites unite
OK, alright

The band is grander than I recall
The talk is cultured, if a little small
Keep parading your charading manners
Keep pretending that it really matters
Don't ask, don't tell
And please don't stare at the emperor
In his underwear
Special thanks to the snack committee
Heavens, don't those tarts look pretty

Worldwide socialites unite
Enjoy the conversation
But try to keep it light
Just avoid the friction
And if you feel conviction
Well then, baby, step outside
Let's keep the "lite" in social
Let's keep the social light
Let's keep the "lite" in socialite

Worldwide socialites unite
Avoid the dreaded question
The meaning of our lives
And as to God's existence
Well, that's your private business
And, quite frankly, impolite
Let's keep the "lite" in social
Let's keep this social light
Let's keep the "lite" in socialite

-All Star United-

Islam's Core Beliefs: Allah

Islams Core Beliefs: Allah

This is a short video on what Muslims believe about Allah, and how he differs from the God of the Bible.

Atheists

Romans Chapter 1 applied to a church sign.

What is Justification?

What is Justification?

As short video explaining that justification is more than Christ paying the penalty for our sins (as wonderful as that is).

God Bless,

Doug

Total Depravity

I found this funny and thought I would pass it along.

Total depravity anyone?