01.04 - Chapter 4 - Arguents for the Existence of God

Chapter 4 ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD28 The Ontological Argument The Ontological Argument (ont, to be; ology, study of) is an argument for the existence of God based upon the meaning of the term God. It may be stated in this way: "The human mind possesses the idea of an absolutely perfect Being therefore that Being must actually exist." Dr. Samuel Clarke, a nineteenth century theologian says that, “It is certain that ‘something’ has existed from all eternity. Absolute non-entity is inconceivable. Whatever has eternally existed is self-existent, and whatever is self-existent is necessarily existent, and what is necessarily existent cannot be conceived as non-existent. The material world cannot be the ‘something’ that has eternally existed, because we can conceive of its non-entity [or its non-existence at one time]. Therefore, the ‘something’ which has eternally existed is God.”

Evaluation of the Ontological Argument The Ontological Argument has been universally regarded as valid. "No nation has been exempt from it. All histories of former and later ages have not produced any one nation but fell under the force of this truth." (Stephen Charnock) The Ontological Argument finds confirmation in the Scriptures. The Divine revelation declares that God is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalms 90:2). "The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting." (Psalms 93:2) The Cosmological Argument (cosmos, the universe; logos, study of) The Cosmological Argument for the existence of God is derived from the law of cause and effect which says that every effect must have an adequate cause. The universe is an effect, therefore it must have had an adequate cause. The question comes, "Who or what caused the universe?" Certainly the universe did not cause itself to come into existence, for then it would be both cause and effect. That is illogical. No, the universe is an effect, which is proven by the fact that everything in the world is subject to death and decay. The question returns: "Who or what caused matter to come into existence as a composite of various elements? Where is the beginning of life?" Basic logic compels a belief in a First Cause whom the Bible calls, God. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1). Hebrews 3:4 declares that, "Every house is builded by some man, but he who built all things is God."

Resistance to Reason

One person who resisted the Cosmological Argument in his day was a Scottish philosopher named David Hume (1711-1176). Hume took the position that no one can know anything of original cause. Since no-one has ever seen how worlds are made, no one has right to conclude that the world had a cause. In other words, nothing should ever be assumed. Proof should be demanded. God, as the First Cause, should be proved, not assumed. A Reasonable Response

One response to Hume’s demand for ultimate proof of a First Cause is to invite consideration of the unchanging order of things. The true sequence of all things is this: first a cause, then the effect. This order indicates that there is something in the cause that produces the effect. The effect never precedes or produces the cause. For example, thunder does not precede lightning, and heat does not precede fire. Lightning causes thunder, and fire causes heat. There is an order. In like manner, the Divine creative power caused the universe that in turn produced the effect, which is its very existence. In the course of discussing this point, it should be kept in mind that it is not necessary to observe every instances of cause and effect before a legitimate declaration is made that, "Every effect must have an adequate cause." When the Law of Gravity is seen even once, the observer is qualified to declare that the Law of Gravity is in operation. The conclusion is this:

“Every effect not only has a cause, but must have one.”

Now, "it is impossible for any to give a beginning and being to itself: if it acts it must exists, and so exist before it existed. A thing would exist as a cause before it existed as an effect. He that is not, cannot be the cause that he is, if therefore, God doth exist, and hath not his being from another, he must exist from eternity." (Stephen Charnock)

While the Cosmological argument does not by itself prove the existence of God, it can be placed as a link in the chain of evidence. Together, all the links of logical arguments for the existence of God become persuasive, especially when alternative explanations for the origin of the universe are set forth, such as evolution. Certainly the doctrine of evolution cannot explain the universe for no effect can transcend, or be greater than, its cause.

• The stream cannot rise higher than its source.

• Something cannot come from nothing.

• Life cannot arise from non-life.

• Intelligence cannot proceed from the non-intelligent.

• Personality cannot come from the impersonal. A process of development requires a maker of the process. Evolution has no maker and no explanation of the cause of everything. All evolution can do is to assert that Nothing + Time + the Impersonal + Space + Chance = Everything. The attempt of evolutionary thought to dismiss God is foolish. It will never be able to explain the First Cause nor will any other system of belief without returning to the Genesis account of creation, "In the beginning God." (Genesis 1:1)

"Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof?" (Job 38:6) The honest heart humbly confesses, "God this all of this and more." The Teleological Argument (telos, purpose; logos, study of) The Teleological Argument is an argument from the design or purpose of the universe.

Anything designed implies a Designer. The world exhibits design, therefore it has to have an intelligent Maker. A beautiful watch with all of its intricate parts demands the recognition of a design and beyond that, a designer. No rational person would ever believed that a watch just happened to come together by a fortunate accident. So it is that the world is full of design. The delicate snowflake, the flight of the bumblebee, the colorful sunset, and the great canyons of the earth reveal a wonderful Designer, God.

Objection to the Teleological Argument Not surprisingly, the Teleological Argument has been rejected by some, especially evolutionist, on the basis that it can be argued that adaptation may be accidental as well as designed. Just because the universe sustains life, it does not have to mean that the universe was designed to provide subsistence to life. It could all be a wonderful cosmic accident. Or could it?

“The practical problem for those who object to the Teleological Argument is how to account for all the accidents in the universe and all the adaptations. To take just one fact, it is obvious that the eye was designed for sight and was no mere or even fortuitous accident. How is the eye to be explained if there is no Designer? Too many denials invite a justified incredulity.” (David Clark)

There is too much design in the universe. There is too much wisdom displayed. Only God could have such wisdom, and He does. "To God only wise be glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:27) "Men acquire wisdom by the loss of their fairest years; but his [God’s] wisdom is the perfection of the Divine nature, not the birth of study, or the growth of experience, but as necessary, as eternal, as his essence. He goes not out of himself to search wisdom: heneeds no more the brains of creatures in the contrivances of his purposes, than he doeth theirarm in the execution of them. He needs no counsel, he receives no counsel from any (Romans 11:34 cp. Isaiah 40:14). He is the only Fountain of wisdom to others." (Stephen Charnock) The Moral Argument The Moral Argument for the existence of God notes that individuals have a virtuous nature. There is a sense of responsibility. There is a universal belief that people ought to answer for what they are and for what they do. When Hellen Keller was first told by Phillips Brooks of the great and good Being called God, she smiled radiantly and replied, "Why I have known Him all the time only I did not know His name.” The Author of this moral nature must be a superior, moral Being who is aware of good and evil, and who rewards the good and punishes the evil. That Being is God whose holiness He has instilled in those made after His image. "The sum of all God’s attributes, the outshining of all that God is, is holiness." (R. A Finlayson) The Bible says that, "He is glorious in holiness." (Exodus 15:11) "Holiness belongs to God originally. He is the source and fountain of all holiness. Any holiness seen in the creature is from Him. Holiness belongs to God underivatively. It being original with Him is derived from no one, or thing. Even when God dwelt alone He was the great Holy One. Holiness belongs unto God perfectly. All holiness that is within the creature has a flaw, but in God it is infinitely perfect, with nothing being added unto it. Holiness belongs to God immutably. He always has been, He ever will be the Holy One." (Ferrell Griswold) The Historical Argument The chronicle of the world provides abundant testimony to an over-ruling power and to Divine providence. The presence of God in human history will not be dismissed after a careful consideration of the facts.

♦ Psalms 75:7 "But God is the judge, he putteth down one and setteth up another."

♦ Daniel 2:21 "And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding."

♦ Daniel 5:21 And he [Nebuchadnezzar] was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most High God ruled in the kingdom of men and he appointeth over it whomsoever he will." The Bible reveals that the dominion of God is extensive and complete. The rule of the Lord is natural, spiritual, and over all. God’s dominion is: Natural, which is absolute over all creatures, and founded in the nature of God as Creator. "Spiritual, or gracious which is a dominion over His church as redeemed, and founded in the Covenant of Grace. A glorious kingdom, at the winding up of all, wherein He shall reign over all, either in the glory of His mercy, as over the glorified saints, or in the glory of His justice, in the condemned devils and men." (Stephen Charnock) God is the final cause, or end of all, He is Lord of all: "for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11) ’The Lord hath made all things for Himself" (Proverbs 16:4) It is only reasonable that God should govern the affairs of His creation in a sovereign manner with wisdom and justice.