I feel hopeless alright. A hopelessness for this planet which seeks to look back to the ancient world for insight; The kind of hopelessness which beats one down day after day, year after year. How can one be so certain that they are right without even a modicum of evidence? You say the Buddhist, the Muslim or the Hindu has the look of hopeless despair, but do they really? Would they not tell me that they too have the answers, that only in their ancient culture lies the truth?
@s3tione No evidence ? wow ! you must be kidding right ? if you would actually study history outside the bible alone there is a mound of evidence. How do you think God feels when you say that ? God has over-exaggerated his existence ! where did the sun moon and starts come from ? Monkeys ? how did we get so many languages ? and cultures ? Do you believe something came form nothing ? is that what we are to believe ?
@pitt32671 That's right, no evidence. Where is this "mound" of evidence in history? Looking to the stars only shatters the age-old need for a divine creator; Science has made enormous strides into our understanding of our place in the universe. Is that understanding complete? No. No reputable scientist would ever claim to have all the answers. All your questions have answers, but the current lack of answers for some of them is not evidence of god.
Dr. William Lane Craig's videos might help you understand where Christianity stands in today's world. He talks about reasonable faith. Try looking him up on Youtube. His debates are great. He often proves that there is no good reason to believe that Atheism is true.
@XXXFirebird76XXX I have watched many of WLC's debate, and while i agree the man is well spoken and very well read, his arguments for a reasonable faith, still rely far too much on faith. For example, the Kalam cosmological argument doesn't actually prove god at all; It is just a hypothesis, and an untested one at that. I could dispute all five of his main argument for a "reasonable" faith, but the space here is not sufficient. I'll close by saying, there is no good reason to believe in god.
I've heard all the arguments against Craig's main arguments, but I find them unsatisfactory. Like you, I questioned the science and everything behind God, but unlike you, my belief has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. From a theological standpoint, I think the answer is God working in my heart and mind. From your standpoint, it really doesn't matter, does it? You are just a thing that will no longer exist in a few short years. =)
@XXXFirebird76XXX Well, like I said, Craig's arguments are steeped faith, not sound logic. Consider another argument: Argument from personal experience. Here he tells us that one can know and experience Christ and that's it: sufficient evidence to prove god. From the outside looking in, he might as well be saying, "I know it's real, so it must be." One can consider Craig's arguments logical only within the context of the Christian faith; Outside of it, his arguments are weak at best.
I couldn't disagree more. I believe his logic is sound because Craig's arguments are based on logic. Perhaps you think he is trying to prove the existence of God, but I don't believe that Craig talks about proving God's existence, but rather evidence for reasons to believe in God and pointing out that there is no good reason to believe that Atheism is true.
@XXXFirebird76XXX Yes, Craig's arguments are based on logic, but they only work within a Christian framework. Let me explain. Take the Kalam argument again. The Universe appears to have had a beginning, and since the universe cannot create itself, it must have had a cause outside of time and space. To avoid an infinite regress, God is introduced. Yet, we know almost nothing about the origins of the universe. To say God is responsible is premature; Craig makes a fatal assumption.
What Craig is suggesting is that is it logical to think that a certain kind of power exists that meets the criteria for creating something out of nothing. That power would need to have many of the same qualities as a God-like figure. There is no doubt that Christianity is based in faith, but I think Craig does a great job in pointing out that it is a reasonable belief.
@XXXFirebird76XXX As far as me being a thing, well, I do think of myself as a sentient being which is capable of observing and in a small way affecting the universe around me. Yes, the human life-span is short, and in a few short decades, I will cease to exist, but I will have been fortunate to have been in a position to learn and see some very astounding things. Unfortunately, simply believing in eternal life doesn't make it real.
You say you have a few short decades to live and will have been fortunate to have been in a position to learn and see stounding things. But, upon your death, what makes those things worth anything? The information you speak of obtaining while alive will be gone forever when you are dead. Death is final for you. Where do you get this idea that you will be fortunate? I often feel that Atheists think in a way that gives them value, but I see no evidence for that belief on their part.
@XXXFirebird76XXX Non-existence is certainly more probable than existence. Therefore I feel fortunate. Many people discover and create many things, some of art some of practical value, but when they die, they cannot take these things with them. However, their legacy lives on via society and their children; Immortality sounds great, but that doesn't make it real. Atheism is not a belief (or a non-belief) or a faith, its a conclusion one reaches from the absence of any evidence of the divine.
I find it hard to understand how you see any evidence for your own value. It sounds like such a "man-centered universe" way of thinking. People may discover and create things, their legacy may live on in society and with their children, but all that means nothing when all those things while be lost forever in a relatively short period of time. Let's say God doesn't exist. What makes you more important than a dog?
beautiful, beautiful sermon. I know the feeling of hopelessness :) Now I have hope. For all eternity, hope with Christ and nothing will ever separate me from Him. There is no hope, but Jesus. No other hope for humanity at all.
i wish everyone at my church could watch this..i wish everyone in the world could watch this. it is the Gospel. truly.
hadassah37 1 year ago 2
thank you for this. so much.
hadassah37 1 year ago
I am glad in Christ, may the needy find rest, glory to God our Father in heaven.
God bless you all
veeunbound 1 year ago
Is Grace Community Church (where htis is as) the Grace Community Church of John MacArthur?
xchampx 1 year ago
@xchampx We are GCC in San Antonio, Texas, not affiliated with John MacArthur's
illbehonest 1 year ago
Excellent message ! There is no hope outside Jesus Christ !!
krisv001 1 year ago
I feel hopeless alright. A hopelessness for this planet which seeks to look back to the ancient world for insight; The kind of hopelessness which beats one down day after day, year after year. How can one be so certain that they are right without even a modicum of evidence? You say the Buddhist, the Muslim or the Hindu has the look of hopeless despair, but do they really? Would they not tell me that they too have the answers, that only in their ancient culture lies the truth?
s3tione 1 year ago
@s3tione No evidence ? wow ! you must be kidding right ? if you would actually study history outside the bible alone there is a mound of evidence. How do you think God feels when you say that ? God has over-exaggerated his existence ! where did the sun moon and starts come from ? Monkeys ? how did we get so many languages ? and cultures ? Do you believe something came form nothing ? is that what we are to believe ?
pitt32671 1 year ago
@pitt32671 That's right, no evidence. Where is this "mound" of evidence in history? Looking to the stars only shatters the age-old need for a divine creator; Science has made enormous strides into our understanding of our place in the universe. Is that understanding complete? No. No reputable scientist would ever claim to have all the answers. All your questions have answers, but the current lack of answers for some of them is not evidence of god.
s3tione 1 year ago
@s3tione
Dr. William Lane Craig's videos might help you understand where Christianity stands in today's world. He talks about reasonable faith. Try looking him up on Youtube. His debates are great. He often proves that there is no good reason to believe that Atheism is true.
XXXFirebird76XXX 1 year ago
@XXXFirebird76XXX I have watched many of WLC's debate, and while i agree the man is well spoken and very well read, his arguments for a reasonable faith, still rely far too much on faith. For example, the Kalam cosmological argument doesn't actually prove god at all; It is just a hypothesis, and an untested one at that. I could dispute all five of his main argument for a "reasonable" faith, but the space here is not sufficient. I'll close by saying, there is no good reason to believe in god.
s3tione 1 year ago
@s3tione
I've heard all the arguments against Craig's main arguments, but I find them unsatisfactory. Like you, I questioned the science and everything behind God, but unlike you, my belief has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. From a theological standpoint, I think the answer is God working in my heart and mind. From your standpoint, it really doesn't matter, does it? You are just a thing that will no longer exist in a few short years. =)
XXXFirebird76XXX 1 year ago
@XXXFirebird76XXX Well, like I said, Craig's arguments are steeped faith, not sound logic. Consider another argument: Argument from personal experience. Here he tells us that one can know and experience Christ and that's it: sufficient evidence to prove god. From the outside looking in, he might as well be saying, "I know it's real, so it must be." One can consider Craig's arguments logical only within the context of the Christian faith; Outside of it, his arguments are weak at best.
s3tione 1 year ago
@s3tione
I couldn't disagree more. I believe his logic is sound because Craig's arguments are based on logic. Perhaps you think he is trying to prove the existence of God, but I don't believe that Craig talks about proving God's existence, but rather evidence for reasons to believe in God and pointing out that there is no good reason to believe that Atheism is true.
XXXFirebird76XXX 1 year ago
@XXXFirebird76XXX Yes, Craig's arguments are based on logic, but they only work within a Christian framework. Let me explain. Take the Kalam argument again. The Universe appears to have had a beginning, and since the universe cannot create itself, it must have had a cause outside of time and space. To avoid an infinite regress, God is introduced. Yet, we know almost nothing about the origins of the universe. To say God is responsible is premature; Craig makes a fatal assumption.
s3tione 1 year ago
@s3tione
What Craig is suggesting is that is it logical to think that a certain kind of power exists that meets the criteria for creating something out of nothing. That power would need to have many of the same qualities as a God-like figure. There is no doubt that Christianity is based in faith, but I think Craig does a great job in pointing out that it is a reasonable belief.
XXXFirebird76XXX 1 year ago
@XXXFirebird76XXX As far as me being a thing, well, I do think of myself as a sentient being which is capable of observing and in a small way affecting the universe around me. Yes, the human life-span is short, and in a few short decades, I will cease to exist, but I will have been fortunate to have been in a position to learn and see some very astounding things. Unfortunately, simply believing in eternal life doesn't make it real.
s3tione 1 year ago
@s3tione
You say you have a few short decades to live and will have been fortunate to have been in a position to learn and see stounding things. But, upon your death, what makes those things worth anything? The information you speak of obtaining while alive will be gone forever when you are dead. Death is final for you. Where do you get this idea that you will be fortunate? I often feel that Atheists think in a way that gives them value, but I see no evidence for that belief on their part.
XXXFirebird76XXX 1 year ago
@XXXFirebird76XXX Non-existence is certainly more probable than existence. Therefore I feel fortunate. Many people discover and create many things, some of art some of practical value, but when they die, they cannot take these things with them. However, their legacy lives on via society and their children; Immortality sounds great, but that doesn't make it real. Atheism is not a belief (or a non-belief) or a faith, its a conclusion one reaches from the absence of any evidence of the divine.
s3tione 1 year ago
@s3tione
I find it hard to understand how you see any evidence for your own value. It sounds like such a "man-centered universe" way of thinking. People may discover and create things, their legacy may live on in society and with their children, but all that means nothing when all those things while be lost forever in a relatively short period of time. Let's say God doesn't exist. What makes you more important than a dog?
XXXFirebird76XXX 1 year ago
Great message!
Itrytotestify 1 year ago
beautiful, beautiful sermon. I know the feeling of hopelessness :) Now I have hope. For all eternity, hope with Christ and nothing will ever separate me from Him. There is no hope, but Jesus. No other hope for humanity at all.
RozyczkaProAna18 1 year ago 2
Wow Such a Powerful and Convicting Message that all Hope is in Christ! I was deeply encouraged by this message.
Bearkiller777 1 year ago