|
November 2009 Solid Ground Cover Letter
In an odd sort of way, Christians
have abetted atheists in their efforts to cast doubt and even derision on
believers. Here’s how.
Atheists have tremendous confidence that science will continue its
record of silencing superstition.
As knowledge waxes, foolishness wanes. Consequently, there’s no need for sticking God in the
so-called “gaps.” Science will
fill them soon enough.
Atheists are buoyed in their confidence by what they consider an
inverse relationship between knowledge and faith. The more you have of the first, the less you need of the
second.
Faith is merely a filler for ignorance. As knowledge increases, silly superstitious beliefs are
discarded. As science marches
forward, ignorance will eventually disappear and faith will simply dry up.
Simply put, faith and knowledge
are functional opposites. The only place for faith, then, is in the
shadows of ignorance.
Ironically, this same perspective has been promoted by Christians
themselves. “If I know that God exists,” they challenge,
“or that Jesus rose from the dead, or that Heaven is real, then where is room
for faith?” Note the same inverse relationship between knowledge and
faith held by atheists: Faith and knowledge are functional opposites.
This view is obviously false if you pause to think about it. The opposite of knowledge is not faith,
but ignorance. And the opposite of faith is not knowledge, but unbelief. It’s certainly possible to have
knowledgeable faith and ignorant unbelief.
More importantly, the knowledge vs. faith equation is not what the
Bible teaches. In fact, Scripture
affirms just the opposite. In this
month’s Solid Ground, I lay out the case that biblical faith
is based on knowledge, not contrary
to it. Once you see the textual
evidence, I think you’ll agree that faith and knowledge are compatible, shoring
up our confidence in the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
This year is fast coming to an end and as it does the relationship
between the support of STR by friends like you and the outreach efforts of STR
is brought into sharp focus. STR
has been a gift from God…and His provision through the gifts of His people has
filled our sails and kept our ship on course.
Your
participation in the work of STR through a gift this month is critical as our
year of ministry draws to a close. The finish line is just ahead, but we are
just a little behind where we should be financially. You can provide that little bit of extra wind at our back
when you send a gift today.
[More Issues] |
With confidence in Christ,
Gregory Koukl
President, Stand to Reason |
This letter may be reproduced or forwarded via e-mail without change and in its entirety for non-commercial purposes without prior permission from Stand to Reason. ©2004 Gregory Koukl
For more information, contact Stand to Reason at 1438 East 33rd St., Signal Hill, CA 90755
(800) 2-REASON (562) 595-7333 http://www.str.org/
|
