God: "The Monster of the Bible" A Critical Review of the book, "The God Delusion" 2

God: "The Monster of the Bible" A Critical Review of the book, "The God Delusion" 2
Brad Reiches
May 8 2007 12:47AM

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FREE BOOK OFFER                          

"Change the World Month!"   

May 1 - 31 is "Change the World Month" in the GodThoughts Ministry.  Each year, beginning this year :), we  ask all who have been blessed by GodThoughtsWired! to participate in a fun and meaningful event that will literally change the world as well as increase your "eternal assets" (see Philippians 4:17).

WHAT:  Beginning May 1, SET ASIDE ALL POCKET CHANGE (pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters) to be invested in the GodThoughts Ministry at the end of the month.  Literally, on May 31, go to the bank and exchange the change for a money order made out to GodThoughts and send in the "Change the World Envelope" provided to all participants.

WHO:  You!  If the GT ministry is of value to you, then this is for you.  Over the years, and especially recently, so many of you have shared that you wish you were able to support this ministry financially, but you cannot.  Well, NOW YOU CAN!  :)  Not only is this possible for you, but it will be fun and meaningful.  Literally, May 2007 may well provide the vessel of participation that you've been waiting for.  Many of you have prayed about how to support this ministry and this is an answer. 

Some of you Partners are always on the lookout as to how to have a greater impact through this/your/GodThoughts ministry and here's another way!

ARE YOU WITH ME?  If so, please reply immediately by typing in the subject box, "I'm With You Pastor Brad!"  Then please include your snail-mail address so I can send you the special May 31 "Change the World Envelope."

In July's edition of the GodThoughts Update Newsletter I will formally publish your name for the world to see (see Matthew 5:14-16).  I know, I know, someone's thinking...ooh, I don't like that, I want my giving to be private.  Well, that's fine, but please read Matthew 5:14-16 to understand my motivation here.  God has clearly shown me that for GodThoughts to become all that He desires, this ministry must become a TEAM THING!

CAN YOU SEE IT?  The July Newsletter revealing the hundreds?  Thousands? of co-owners of the GodThoughts Ministry!

TWO MORE THINGS:  1.  E-mail me now.  2.  Start Emptying those pockets!  :)

FREE BOOK OFFER:  As an expression of my appreciation to all who participate in "Change the World Month," I will send a coplimentary copy of our newest book, The Bible Says, Volume 1:  Sin & Salvation; Grace & Truth (see article below).

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Tuesday, May 8, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

"God...The Monster of the Bible"

The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins

Part 1

"There are still some people who are persuaded

by scriptural evidence to believe in God.  A common

argument...states that, since Jesus claimed to be

the Son of God, he must have been either right or

else insane or a liar:  'Mad, Bad or God'.  Or, with

artless alliteration, 'Lunatic, Liar or Lord.'"

p. 92.

With all the "hype" surrounding this book, I must admit that I was a bit surprised at how easily refuted Dawkins arguments are.  In regard to "Arguments for God's Existence," the author declares - "The arguments turn out to be spectacularly weak" (p.2).  In truth, I would suggest that the same could be said of his (arguments).

One of the GREAT! (I would suggest) arguments of apologetics does indeed suggest that the only three possible outcomes regarding who Jesus is are, "Liar, Lunatic, Lord."  Nonetheless, Dawkins retorts,

"The historical evidence that Jesus claimed any sort

of divine status is minimal.  But even if that evidence

were good, the trilemma on offer would be ludicrously

inadequate.  A fourth possibility, almost too obvious

to need mentioning, is that Jesus was honestly mistaken.

Plenty of people are."

(p.92)

"Ludicrously inadequate?"  Hmmm...let's take a look at the evidence:

1.  Jesus clearly claimed on numerous occaisions that He was an eternal being.  In one instance He told others that He had been around for thousands of years, "Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:58).  Another example is seen while Jesus was in prayer with His Heavenly Father.  He declares, "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was" (John 17:5).  On several other occaisions the Jews tried to kill Him because, "You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God" (see John 10:26-33).  Indeed, Luke 22:70 is pretty clear, "And they all said, 'Are You the Son of God, then?'  And He said to them, 'Yes, I am.'"

"Honestly mistaken?"  I DON'T THINK SO!  Either Jesus was who He said He was or...HE WAS LUNY TUNES!!!  What would you say if one of your relatives was walking around claiming to be thousands of years old?  And, then, you overheard him/her in prayer talking about returning to the eternal state that they had with God before the world ever existed? "Oh, honey, don't worry about it; they're just 'honestly mistaken?"  I DON'T THINK SO!

The three options regarding Christ as either "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord" ARE NOT "ludicrously inadequate,"  indeed, they are the ONLY OPTIONS!  And, ironically, later in his book, Dawkins himself accidentally and unwittingly recants his own argument:

"I have described atonement, the central doctrine

of Christianity, as vicious, sado-masochistic and

repellent.  We should also dismiss it as barking mad,

but for its ubiquitous familiarity which has dulled our

objectivity.  If God wanted to forgive our sins, why not

just forgive them...Jesus had himself tortured and executed,

in vicarious punishmnet for a symbolic sin commited by

a non-existent individual?  As I said, barking mad..."

p. 252 (bold mine)

Crazy?  Maybe.  Honestly mistaken?  No way.