If given my preference with an audience of persons who doubted God, I would begin, not with Genesis 1:1, but with Hebrews 11:6. The verse in Hebrews is magnificent for a forensic debate in that it truly begins at the beginning for a thoughtful mind open to appropriate persuasion. It recognizes presuppositions, grounds on which, if true, the ensuing debate will rest. The writer of this biblical book presupposes two presuppositions: 1) God is; and, 2) God communicates (rewarder), so to offer knowledge about related human life and faith meaning related to God.
We have often heard that this or that policy is important because it leads to peace, not war. The presupposition is that peace is a good thing. We do not prove peace. We accept it and believe it – unless we don’t. It is a faith principle for us. There are those who argue that nations need wars now and then: to shock them out of depressions; to recover certain benefits like freedom; to vault them forward in the discovery of new processes and products; and, to offer means for solving otherwise insoluble problems. For example, the Civil War in America is sometimes called the irrepressible conflict necessitated to end slavery. Even so, we believe peace is preferred.
The Christian draws upon the presupposition that God exists and he communicates. Christians worship verifying their belief that God exists. Revealing himself as personal, God gives some legitimate communication. Once presuppositions are granted, even for the sake of argument alone the debate may proceed. It is hoped that it is well ordered. Theology, which is reasoned theistic philosophy, has held strong position in the history of thought and life. Limited to its base, Scripture, it does very well indeed. It does not depend upon the performance of those who claim belief. It has much to defend it in the balances of history, and rejects, but lives with, distortions of it brought on by misguided, hypocrites, renegades, even honest atheists and uninformed pundits. The communication of God acknowledges the Judases, Herods, and Balaams, of the world.
Once presuppositions are granted, the story opens for us to debate. God knowing mankind is without help or recourse determined to rescue us. The effort is motivated by love. God is found as friend to us, even though the gulf between mankind and God is greater than mankind can bridge. Human beings, even if sinless, could not bridge the gap, but sin adds a spiritual issue to be resolved. To resolve it and keep his integrity, God enters our experience through Jesus Christ. All this must be on God’s terms, revealed in Scripture. Those obedient to the divine message are rewarded with divine grace, which is unmerited favor. The matter finally returns to the all important issue of faith: believing that God is present and cares. Those who accept Christ in a redemptive relationship find proof enough in forgiveness, prayer, obedience, inner peace, love, and hope for eternity. None of these benefits, in divine special meanings, attend the unbelievers’ experience. Doubters are not seeking diligently. Not seeking, they will not find. The benefits are not theirs. They find their comfort in their own patterns – if they find comfort. At the end of life they may be brave, but without hope. Biblical hope is related to immortality. Not to own it is not to know it, as the Scripture defines the difference between the natural person and the spiritual person. The faith person is argued for in other religions. For the Christian the spiritual is the redeemed person, so recognized by holding relationship with Jesus Christ. Similarities in various factors with other faiths, do not bridge that relational difference. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020