#BTColumn – Know God, or no God!

The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Dr André Symmonds

Ready Response

Bible school taught me that every bitter bark doesn’t require a royal roar. The king of the jungle has a winsome way of ignoring the chihuahuas and the jack russells of his day. As I reflect on the public outcry since the hoots of a few heartened humanists, I asked God, the same God whose existence the atheist try to deny, if I should even proffer a response to their baseless diatribe. As theist, believers in God and His infallible Word, do the recent rantings of a few deceived souls merit a response, much less a royal roar?

Perhaps! Apostle Peter recounted, “Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have” (1 Pt. 3:15 ERV).
My phone was blowing up! Within 48 hours of the sadistic seminar, a barrage of messages flooded it.

“Pastor, you saw this?” “Bishop, what’s going on in this country? Where is the voice of the Church?” Scores of persons enquired, not only of me, but of many of my colleagues who help to shepherd parishioners and account to God for the flock that they are privileged to lead.

Dysfunction Junction
As I read the publicised reports and direct quotes that came out of the meeting, I was bereft. Several thoughts crossed my mind. Immediately, God revealed that most of these extremists are hurting. They are oftentimes victims of some unmet need(s). They were likely marooned at some point in their lives and are at some level emotionally wrecked.

Life itself is hardly ever fair. There is almost always a dysfunction junction and when one comes to that crossroad, one can be derailed, especially if that person’s trust in something or someone was utterly compromised and eroded. I’m saying this as a person who wasn’t always religious. God met me at those crossroads of life, so I can speak theoretically and experientially.

Curse The Creator
The same God, whose ontology humanists refute, also revealed that such persons are largely looking for attention. It is a part of our human nature. It’s in our DNA to gravitate towards such. I think it safe to say that humankind craves care and attention. We each have an innate desire to love and be loved.

When that goes unmet for a protracted period of time, there are a myriad of reactions including denial. Some will even curse the Creator who placed this attribute within us. If He doesn’t exist, its easy (they think) to conclude that the imparted attributes don’t either. Without being too unkind or dismissive, our society might do well to ignore the crass unsubstantiated tirade, that was launched against a merciful, loving God.

In his letter to the Church at Rome, Apostle Paul wrote, “ . . .They are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason, God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” omans 1: 20-28 ESV(R).

Three times in thrice as many verses, the same God whose existence they spurn, warns them that if they continue on in their arrogant, blatant, ignorant path, He (God) will give them up. Not in one or two ways, but in three ways. Biblically speaking, three is God’s number of fullness. God is Holy, Holy, Holy; and in lieu of repentance, He will give them up fully.

Wake-up
It is my understanding that at least one of these humanists, has a preacher in the immediate family. This same advocate for humanism was actively involved as a member of an established church in this country and was a known Gospel artiste. I mention this in light the verse that begins “. .
. They are without excuse … they knew God…” (Rom. 1:20 ESV).
This is a solemn reminder that all kinds of persons come into our assemblies for different reasons. The time that we have with them in our services is often limited. This is especially true today. It’s a wakeup call!

As church leaders, it is incumbent upon us to deliver the Word of God to them as clearly and concisely as we can. It is our responsibility to cast the net and call them to Christ and not ourselves. We must preach the living Word to dying men and invite them to accept the Life-giving Saviour. Our world knows several religions but alas, there’s only one Saviour.

Atheistic Anomalies

The removal of references to “God” from local law books, will only hasten God’s verdict upon those who advocate such. Extending farther, the activists of our generation should be reminded that whilst men can tinker with the law of the land,

God’s Law remains unchanged. Jesus said, “…
Until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Mat. 5:18 ESV.) On the business of “blasphemy”, ironically and pathetically, the entire webinar was precisely that.

A sacrilegious, diatribe of ungodliness leveraged against Yahweh. The writer to the Hebrews recounted, “It is a terrible thing to face punishment from the living God” (Heb. 10:31 ESV). It becomes apparent that they are beckoning it. As for the “scrapping of prayer” from our schools? Well, I hope that we’ve learnt from the mistakes of our US counterparts. Their countless mass shootings and genocidal bloodbaths should be sufficient to arrest the conscience of even the most impudent and imprudent of us all.

The use of the term “God” also seemed to have challenged these intellects. This is unfortunate because there are preschoolers on this island who could explain to them that though there are many gods, there can only be one true God. All other gods are the works of men.

Consider this. “The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him”
(Judges 10:6 KJV). Barbados, God is taking copious notes.

Additionally, the God of the Bible is everything but “divisive”. He is all-inclusive. As a matter of fact, “God is being patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to change their ways and stop sinning” (2 Pt. 3:9 ESV). I often tell folks, Christianity is 100 per cent inclusive, and 100 per cent exclusive.

All can come and all are welcome, just as you are – but don’t expect to remain the way you are, because Jesus Christ, God’s Son, changes whosoever He touches. He will touch you and change you for good. He loves us too much to leave us the broken fragmented way we often are when we come to Him. This illusive, inanimate God that the humanists talk about cannot be the God of the Bible!

The God of our Bible is a good, good Father. However, if one chooses not to know God, then for that person, there shall be no God! Jesus said, “According to your faith be it done to you” (Mat. 9:29 ESV). We could continue dismantling the hodgepodge of accusations made against a Holy God. The monarchial melee, the capital and corporal conundrum etc. however, I am not writing to roar, only to bring clarity to some confusion.

Correct Caption Perhaps the most convincing part of the humanists’ rhetoric was the seminar’s caption. “Freedom of thought”. How truºe! God has given us the capacity for free will and free thought. The truth is that we are free to think what we like. But our realities are not predicated entirely upon our thoughts.

Were that so, I could jump off of the Central Bank tomorrow morning and think that I could fly. But in that moment, God’s scientific Law will supervene and no matter how lofty my thoughts are, they will mean nothing. God said as far as the heavens are above the earth so are His ways and thoughts above ours, (Isa. 55:9 KJV).

Finally I have resigned not to be in battle or in bed with these truth seekers. I have found Him who is the quintessence thereof. If this group has been pegged at this time to help charter the way as we approach new sovereign status and a virtual verse, as it now becomes apparent, then so let it be.

Two things are certain.
First, this place is not the believer’s home. Any day now, God and His Church will be checking out. Second, in eternity, there aren’t any unbelievers in God. All who breathe their last breath here, and their first elsewhere, be it heaven or hell, have absolutely no doubt concerning God’s existence.

I pray in earnest for these lovelorn souls, oblivious to the ramifications of their rhetoric and its effect upon our children and grandchildren, should Christ delay His return. There is a hopelessness that comes without God.

At the outset it feels good. It even looks promising.
The yoke is thrown off and one thinks, “Finally, there are no inhibitions.” But the longer you live life, the more fanciful you realise that state of utopia to be. There are always going to be laws. Dos and don’ts.

Additionally, everybody serves somebody.
Jesus invites us to serve Him. Learn of Him. Take His yoke. It’s comparatively easy and His burden is similarly light, (Mat. 11: 29, 30 KJV). Alas, we cannot remove all of the goal posts! We will inevitably set up our own and once that happens, we will have anarchy; a nation of people where everyone does what seems right in their own eyes. It’s a recipe for disaster. Either we devote ourselves to know the God of the Bible, or we decide within ourselves, that there is no God or Bible.

Dr André Symmonds is senior pastor of Calvary Temple Community Church; Bishop/vice-chancellor of Bethel Life International Fellowship, Bethel Life International School of Biblical Studies.