Richard Dawkins: Faith and evidence

Richard Dawkins addresses many things in his mini-series The Root of all Evil. He's lucid and persuasive, but the timeframe limits him to simplistic arguments which I'm told are much better developed in his book, The God Delusion. I thought I'd add my 2 bob's worth in regard to how evidence operates in the life of your regular Christian.

Regular Christians may not go to any great length to investigate the evidence for their beliefs, and yet they think that having evidence for their faith is essential. "[I]f Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead . . . . if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Corinthians 15: 14-15a & 17-19)

So why do regular Christians think there is evidence for our faith? Because the people through whom God wrote the Bible saw Jesus killed and three days later saw him alive. Many of them died proclaiming this truth.

This is how Luke introduces his account of Jesus' life, death and rising: "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." (1:1-4) And this is the importance that the disciple John places on evidence in his biography of Jesus: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (20:30-31)


For what is hopefully a thorough, reasoned and loving rebuttal of Dawkin's arguments, see The Dawkins Delusion?: Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine (Alister McGrath and Joanna Collicutt McGrath).

Men and boys

Here's my current thoughts about relating to men. Thanks to the godly men who have given me insider tips, who I have observed leading and disciplining boys etc. I'm far from an expert on the subject, not being married and not being a man - so I would appreciate and learn from anyone's thoughts.

One proviso before you begin: This reflection is directed at women and so runs the risk of coming across as patronising to a male reader. Please think of it as if I were teaching women how to follow in salsa. There is a real skill and character to following well. But it is not some sort of back-door way of women being in charge. It certainly does not guarantee that the man will lead well, though a good follower no doubt helps and is no doubt a pleasure to dance with if you are a good leader. And though I do have respect for the man I dance with simply because he is taking the lead (and because I know it's a hard job), he does also earn greater respect from me if he is a good leader (decisive, clear, respectful, fun, graceful, manly, oh there's quite a few).

Men, at best, are Men. They are leaders, whether humbly, of wife and family, or leaders of many. [Women too can be leaders. I am myself. But leadership is not part of women's fundamental identity. It may be true of an individual but it is not true of her, as a woman.]

Leadership then, is the key to relating to men - and boys. They need to see and to be treated with the respect we have for them. And if they do not have our respect, then it is generous and kind to give them the opportunity to gain or regain it.

The easiest way to show your respect for men's leadership is to let them lead. This doesn't mean women can't be heavily involved, it just means that men lead. [This principle should be particularly clear in Christian relationships, and yet it may be harder to spot - because Christian leadership is counter cultural. Christian leadership is still that of initiating, of making the final call, of protection; but it is also servant leadership. It chooses self-sacrifice, it is humble, it serves the other.]

But there are times when a woman is in leadership over a man - as a university lecturer for example, or perhaps running a short training course before church. How can we respect men's inherent leadership in these situations? Perhaps by deferring to them when we can, in expectation that they will be wise; just as we defer to other women, respecting their worth and contribution. We should also recognise that these situations aren't inherently disrespectful. They involve teaching of a specific area, which does not imply that men's fundamental, general authority is deficient.

There are also times when boys need to be told their boundaries and both men and boys need to hear of their wrongs. How can we do this without belittling them? We should first of all recognise that it can be cruel to men's egos to be constantly rebuked (just as it can be cruel to women's self-worth). So we might choose to let some things pass. We should realise that men are rightly ashamed when they have not been Men, and boys are understandably belittled when everything is prescribed and the initiative to be good is taken from them. So we should perhaps get rebukes over with quickly and only set rules when we have to.

We need to establish rules or rebuke knowing that men - people - are sinful. Yet we must also have the expectation that, by the Spirit, they will of course want to become good men. We need to look honestly at sin, grieve for it and yet have hope and confidence in our men and in our God.

Betrayal

Hanging out with friends on the weekend, we made a kid welcome. He later nicked a ball and lied about it. One of my friends said that lying's the thing she hates most; it's a betrayal of trust. So I got to thinking, is that all that lying is? Is that the only reason why it's horrible? What about lying about other things? . . .

The Bible says that in our hearts we all know there's a God: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4) or “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20). We lie when we say we don't believe he exists.

But does the lie matter? Maybe it's dumb, but it doesn't hurt anyone, it doesn't make you a bad person. You aren't betraying anyone's trust.

This is true if God is god, a force, fact, concept or philosophy. But what if he is a personal God?

What if it's like saying a person doesn't exist? You are dead to me; I no longer have a son. This is so much more than a betrayal of trust; it's betrayal and rejection of everything you ever shared together, everything they ever did for you and meant to you and you to them, it's betrayal of them. And this of your Creator God? He who knit you together in your Mother's womb and who daily gives you food and breath?

Your lie spits in his face.

Of all who you might betray, he is the one to whom you owe allegiance. He is the one who should never be betrayed.

He is right to be angry. He is right to cast you from him, you who first cast him away. He is right to destroy you.

And he will, for to overlook such betrayal would mean it never really mattered.

So in your place, he sent his Son, that he might cast the Son away and destroy him, for you. That it might not be overlooked but that you might never suffer judgement. In place of punishment, standing before us – the betrayers – is the risen Lord Jesus. He says, I have paid the price. Be sorry for what you have done. Accept my gift. Be my brother and my sister. Be my Father's beloved child once more.

Grace and the Miracles of Gandalf and Frodo

I watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy over Easter. It gladdened my heart.

Gandalf reminds me of the older, wiser people who understand. Who speak and live with truth and provide example and teaching and solidity when all is in turmoil. Who, from their soft hearts, speak simple concern and comfort.

Frodo is one of those who suffer. He is at once very weak and very strong. He thinks himself nothing special; and though he realises the importance of his quest, each day is just another hard day. He would be baffled to know that if even the mighty beheld his journey, they would be humbled. When Frodo takes another step, when he speaks kindly to Gollum, when he apologises to Sam, we clap our hands. And the devil cries out.

Before Frodo set out, Gandalf gave him this counsel: 'All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'. And what to do with the little strength we have.

Simon's Funeral

This week I went to a funeral for a man I had the honour of knowing a little. He had suffered greatly in recent years and I am so glad that we have a merciful God who did not let him suffer more than he was able, but took him home. I never expected such mercy and kindness. In the world's eyes Simon was an just ordinary man, a single guy who didn't have a job. But I've little doubt that in God's eyes he was one of the great men of our faith, and for that, his reward in heaven will be great. If I can ever learn to love God as well as Simon, to follow Christ as resolutely and to treat others as kindly and generously as he did, I will be glad.

Simon was a Christian and a Catholic. His funeral service was beautiful and many truths were spoken and praise given to God. There were a few points, however, where I felt uncomfortable because Jesus was subtlely dishonoured and his once for all sacrifice diminished. I was expecting this though, so it wasn't a big suprise. What did surprise me was the emotional effect it seemed to have on the congregation - it seemed like their lack of certainty about Simon's fate caused them to suffer some anxiety and gloom, where there might have been praising.

Thank God for taking Simon home! Thank God that Simon is with him, the Saviour he dearly loved! Rejoice at the awesomeness and wonder and joy of it all! Thank God that, though our pain will be great and we will dearly miss him, there is nothing to be sad about for Simon. He has been released from all pain into rest and joy and praising. Rejoice for he will be enjoying a great reward for his faithful, persevering, loving, humble service! Praise God for the comfort these truths, being truths, bring!

Plagiarism: The Existential Kicks

Epiphanies are coming thin and slow, so I've resorted to stealing other peoples' material. This is an excerpt from a sermon on Jesus' family tomb by my friend and pastor Mikey Lynch. He's talking about what it would mean were clear evidence found to show that Jesus is dead, never risen and ruling.

You get the existential kicks, sure. You have community, which is nice. You have spirituality, which is lovely. You have a hope for the future, which is not real but it sort of helps you now. You have some morals to guide you. You have a sense of meaning.

Sure you have the existential kicks, but ultimately forgiveness of all the things you’ve done wrong, your guilty conscience, trust in the forgiveness given by the death of Christ – you don’t have that. You’re still carrying with you your guilt. All of the failures and the hurts you’ve caused, none of that’s washed away because Jesus didn’t die for it. It’s still with you. You are still in your sins. You still have no right to ignore the guilt that is legitimate in your life.

And hope after death – well not in Jesus it’s not available. If he’s dead, well then his offer for life after death is annulled. So death is still, at least a nothing, if not facing God’s judgement without a Saviour.

Approval and Pride

Seeking man’s approval and being unduely proud if I get it are ongoing struggles of mine. I am well aware these things are wrong, but have recently realised their foolishness - thanks largely to Don Carson's exploration of 1 Corinthians 1-4 in The Cross and Christian Ministry (2004).

“[T]he message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). It is his power and his wisdom (1:24b). The world’s wisdom is not merely less than God’s wisdom – it is so far removed that God calls it “foolish”, just as the world calls true wisdom “foolish”. The most talented people of this world do not with their intelligence discover “God’s secret wisdom” - Jesus Christ - and when they are presented with him they scoff (2:7a & 1:20-21). The people who discover Jesus are the people who recognise their needy state. These lowly people discover Jesus when he calls them (1:26) - “so that no one may boast before him” (1:29).

The message of the cross eclipses the world’s wisdom in its wisdom and in its eternity. “God destined [it] for our glory before time began”, wheras even the rulers of this age “are coming to nothing” (2:7b & 2:6b).

Christians have been blessed with the Spirit, enabling us to see the cross for what it is. The Spirit gives us discernment of all things (2:15), so that we are no longer seduced and blinded by human wisdom.

So we should no longer be proud of our stock of worldly wisdom, for it is foolishness. Our talents can however be viewed and appreciated and used with God's wisdom. Yet even then we should not boast in ourselves - for “[w]hat do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (4:7) And it is foolish to compete with each other when we are to use our God-given talents for “one purpose”, as “God’s fellow workers” (3:8-9). It is also foolish because we forget ourselves, we forget that we are no more than sinners who God chose to save. And it is foolish when we do have great glories and wisdom we should boast of - “All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future – all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” (3:21b-23). We are no longer bound to this world; this brief life is not all we have; death is vanquished; and the present and future are all governed by and lived under our Lord.

“If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a ‘fool’ so that he may become wise . . . . So then, no more boasting about men!” (3:18 & 21a). We should instead imitate Paul as he follows the example of Christ (11:1) in living out the ‘foolish’ cross – “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.” (4:11-13). Very foolish, yet truly wise. I pray I will feel ashamed of my foolish pride and instead boast in and follow my Lord!