In the earlier discussion of “faith versus miracles” I briefly mentioned the problem of denying miracles based on the uniform laws of “nature” when a world founded on random chance gives no basis for such laws. Order can only exist because God designed, created, and sustains the universe. This poses a great problem for atheists because the basis by which they deny miracles is only possible because God exists, a contradiction to their claim. In other words, “the universe is founded on random chance,” but that which is contrary to random chance (i.e., uniform laws of “nature”) proves that biblical miracles are impossible. In this convenient sleight of hand, they deny their worldview to affirm it, or affirm God’s existence to deny it.
For the sake of argument, let’s assume the hypothetical world of the atheist, that all matter and energy came from nothing or have always existed, and that all things in this universe are founded upon and operate according to random chance. Now consider a few problems with such a universe.
First, how can one random chance occurrence without meaning or purpose ascribe meaning or purpose to other random chance occurrences? Picture a universe where the nature, existence, and number of things continually change, where they randomly appear and disappear, where nothing can be predicted and anything can happen at any time, while nothing is related to anything else. Can purpose and meaning exist in such a universe? “If God exists and we are made in His image we can have real meaning,” but if not, all is absurd and meaningless.[1]
Second, how can a random chance occurrence interpret another random chance occurrence if the subject, object, and everything else continually changes, and nothing exists in the same form or relationship to anything else? How can flux interpret flux? All meaningful interpretation would be impossible in such a universe.
Third, how could anything be described with language? Words label things that have constant and knowable characteristics. But, how can a word refer to something that has no continuing trait or existence from one moment to the next? For example, consider a pet cat.
We can use language to describe a cat because it has certain common characteristics that people agree describe a cat. When someone says “cat” we think of a low-to-the-ground furry thing that purrs, takes great delight in ripping up perfectly good carpets, and excitedly runs about the house making an odd kind of celebratory howling noise after using the cat box (it’s the oddest thing). But, to what would the term “cat” refer if everything randomly changes continually?[2]
No word could apply to anything if nothing remains the same from one moment to the next. Language is impossible when words have no fixed and specific meaning.
Fourth, truth and knowledge also require continuity of meaning and existence, for nothing could be true or known to be true of anything if all things continuously and unpredictably change. Truth and knowledge would be impossible in a universe founded upon and operating according to random chance.
Fifth, thought would be impossible. And even if we assume a designed and organized brain, along with all of the designed and organized systems to support it, thought requires the distinct ordering and continuity of language and knowledge, each of which are impossible in a random chance universe.
Atheists may object to this line of reasoning by pointing out that our universe has little or no resemblance to the hypothetical universe described here. And they would be correct, but only because God exists. Things have continuity of existence and operate according to uniform laws because God designed, created, and upholds all things. The universe, as we know it, is quite impossible apart from the genius and power of God and cannot reasonably be explained by random chance.
In the end, atheists rest their claims on untrustworthy and unjustified blind faith in personal opinion, trust in a presumed ability to know what cannot be known apart from God’s revelation, and belief in an impossible explanation of the source and nature of the universe. Created and dependent on God for everything, we could never know God or the ultimate source and nature of all things if He did not reveal Himself and explain to us how and why we are here. And so we thank Him for a faith that stands on His Word to us, Scripture, and agrees with all that we know about His world. We praise Him for removing our hostility toward the obvious testimony of created reality to His power and genius, and for giving us a heart to see and love the excellence of Christ as Savior. Through Christ alone we have forgiveness of sin, eternal life, and eyes to see His universe correctly.
[1] Francis A. Schaeffer, The God Who Is There in Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy (Wheaton: Crossway, 1990; Originally published by IVP, 1968), 76.
[1] Craig Biehl, God the Reason: How Infinite Excellence Gives Unbreakable Faith (Nashville: Carpenter’s Son Publishing, 2015), 35.
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© 2016 Craig Biehl, Adapted from Craig Biehl, God the Reason: How Infinite Excellence Gives Unbreakable Faith, Carpenter’s Son Publishing, 2015.
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