The Human Predicament Oct. 26, 2024
Christian philosopher Dr. William Lane Craig, said, “Man cannot live consistently and happily as though life were ultimately without meaning, value, or purpose. If we try to live consistently within the framework of the atheistic worldview, we shall find ourselves profoundly unhappy.” Dr. Craig is simply saying that you cannot be happy in the long run without belief in God, for without a little faith in God, life has absolutely no meaning. Believing Christianity is false is akin to existentialism, which never promotes human happiness.
Philosopher Francis Schaeffer suggested that the root of Western culture’s present trouble lies in Hegelian philosophy, which denies that absolute truth exists. The lack of belief in God claims that morality is merely human tradition and customs. Nothing can be condemned or called wrong. Murder, rape, theft, abortion, and every evil act is not considered bad but untraditional. With no belief in God, man can do exactly as he pleases without any fear of punishment or consequences. Who could claim that the values of Adolph Hitler were inferior to those of a saint? The idea of morality loses all meaning in a world without God.
Unfortunately, we are today seeing the fruition of such flawed thinking in our society. Most people now either do not believe in, or seriously doubt, God’s existence. This is tragic for our people and country, for it will end badly with the destruction of our civilization and everything good people have worked years to achieve.
However, Christians have their faith in Christ to rely on. We know that He is returning to earth, probably sooner than later. And we believe He will collect all believers to Himself to live with Him in blissful happiness forever.
Sadly, atheists will not be included in this calling of God’s sheep. They will eventually be judged and later tossed into the Lake of Fire reserved for Satan and his minions. What a horrible fate to contemplate! It is so dreadful that most people refuse to believe it. But not believing in hell does not make it go away.
Dr. Craig most eloquently offers brilliant and logical arguments for the existence of God. He proclaims that life without God would be absurd and meaningless. All man would have would be what he could do and accumulate on earth. He would have nothing to really look forward to. His life and work would have no meaning without the idea of life after death. Incredibly, most people simply refuse to think about these most important of ideas. They just go along living their lives without ever pondering the meaning of life and what will befall their souls after their death.
I like best the famous apologetic put forth by the genius Blaise Pascal. It is called Pascal’s Wager and says, “If one wagers that God exists and He does, one has gained eternal life and infinite happiness. If He does not exist, one has lost nothing. On the other hand, if one wagers that God does not exist and He does, then one has suffered infinite loss. If He does not in fact exist, then one has gained nothing. Hence the only prudent choice is to believe that God exists.”
Again, let me say that life without belief in God can have no real meaning at all. And such a life will always end tragically with the loss of all possibility of happiness both today and forever.
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Ralph Fudge is the pastor of Big Ochlocknee Baptist Church in Coolidge, Ga., and has a Master’s degree in theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.