A common argument of many atheists is based on a proposition that says people who believe in God are ignorant. They argue that Christians are not scientifically knowledgeable and they lack common sense. Why do they think this way? They often point to an experience they had with a Christian where the Christian made some bizarre argument like, “Why not believe in God? If you believe and you turn out to be wrong, you haven't lost anything. But if you don't believe and you turn out to be wrong, you lose everything.” That is a ridiculous line of reasoning and if that is the best defense a Christian can come up with, there should be no wonder why atheists think the way they do. Sadly, that is not the worst argument I have heard.
The New Testament teaches Christians to “contend for the faith” (Jude :3). To contend for something means to fight for something. It requires effort and skill. When a boxer gets into the ring he is prepared. He has trained for the fight. Should Christians be any different? Boxers fight for a title and for glory. Christians fight for the most noble of causes. Christians are to fight for God. We should be able to make a logical defense, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1Pe 3:15). Shame on us if we must depend on desperate, half-baked, nonsensical ramblings. If we are going to claim Christ, then we should be prepared to answer simple questions. We must heed Paul when he said, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Ti 2:15).
I do not believe that Christians lack common sense. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The Christian looks at science and nature and sees what God put there, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Rom 1:20). A study of science and nature shows a definite design. A design demands a designer.
The heart is an example of a design. Your heart has four chambers. An electrical impulse causes each chamber to contract. They MUST contract in an organized pattern or death could result. The heart pumps around 2,000 gallons of blood per day. You need to pump blood through your body so that oxygen and nutrient rich blood can reach all the parts of your body. Without blood, your muscles starve and die. Your heart is a necessity for life.
The heart was designed; it was not an “accident” or a “coincidence.” When contemplating science and nature, one who lacks common sense denies a designer.
Michael
