In the ‘court case’ of skeptics, atheists and unbelievers against God, the two sides have diametrically opposed arguments. Yet both sides argue from the Bible. So it is very, very important how we understand and interpret Scripture.
# What unbelievers say about God
Richard Dawkins best presents the case of unbelievers by his statement, ‘The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all of fiction: jealous, and proud of it, a petty, unjust unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser….’ 1
- He takes his conclusions out of the history of the Old Testament. So we are obliged to use the Bible as the source of refutation.
- Just to remind the reader – an accusation against God is an accusation against Jesus. In Scripture Jesus says, ‘I and the Father are one.’ 2
# What believers know about God
The Bible tells us the following about God/Jesus:
- ‘I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God. He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.’ 3
- ‘So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.… It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.’ 4
- ‘God is love.’ 5
# Scripture is the basis
- We are exhorted in Scripture, ‘Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who is not ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.’ 6
- Dawkins’ conclusions about God come from Scripture – ‘a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser.’
- The same Bible he uses declares, ‘…for this I [Jesus] came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.’ 7
So… the issue of this court case is, who handles the Bible correctly, unbelievers or believers?
References
- Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, Bantam Books, 2006, p 31
- John 10:30
- Deuteronomy 32:4
- Job 34:10,12
- 1 John 4:10b
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- John 18:37b
