Why should any one have to accept ancient hearsay as evidence for the existence of a god?

A skeptic asks: “Why should any one have to accept ancient hearsay as evidence for the existence of a god? If Jesus is who he said he was, then he shouldn't have any problem personally convincing me of that fact, especially considering the penalty with which he is supposedly ready to zap anyone who doesn't believe. In fact, I'd say, all things considered, he is a twisted monster for not doing just that.”

You are right to be suspicious about fallible people. But if God really is omnipotent, there is no reason why He cannot use fallible people to carry out His plans—including plans to reveal Himself and get it right.

God does not promise to prove Himself unequivocally to those who believe that He is a “twisted monster,” but to those who approach Him in humility. It may be a good idea to think about your own fallibility as a judge in these things.

The apostle Paul, writing to people in Rome, did not appeal to “ancient hearsay” at all, but to their own present experience. He pointed to their awareness of the fingerprints of the Creator in the grandeur of creation. He also pointed them to their need for salvation because they all fell short of the moral judgments they made of others. There (we) are all hypocrites, in need of mercy.

More information on-line

INFALLIBILITY - How can the Bible be infallible if it is written by fallible humans? Answer
What is the “Word of God?” Answer
Inspiration of Scripture by God
When we say that the Bible is the Word of God, does that imply that it is completely accurate, or does it contain insignificant inaccuracies in details of history and science? Answer
What about those CONTRADICTIONS in the Bible that I have heard about? Answer
INTERNAL HARMONY - A skeptic questions whether the Bible's internal harmony is evidence of its Divine inspiration - He suggests that the existence of the James Bond film series disproves that argument. See our response…
How can I know the Bible is TRUE? Answer
Canonization of Scripture
What is the Bible?
Questions for Skeptics
Discover the HOPE that Jesus Christ provides - GO…
Learn God's Story: From Creation to Eternity - GO…
Is Jesus Christ the answer? GO…
With so many denominations and religions, how can I decide which are true and which are false? Answer
Judging from all the hypocrisy in the church, why would I want to be a Christian? Answer

Author: Richard B. Keyes. Text supplied by AIIA Institute.

Richard Keyes is Director of L'Abri MA, a residential study center in Southborough, Massachusetts. L'Abri was founded in Switzerland by the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer in 1955. Mr. Keyes is also and author and lecturer. Since 1997 he has served as an AIIA Resource Associate (worldviews).

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