Stephen Hawking Makes it Clear: There is No God

The following article was written by Chris Matyszezk at CNET.  It was published September 26, 2014.  Please read his article about atheist, Stephen Hawking and then read my response to Mr. Hawking.

If I were a scientist, I’d stick to the Goldman Sachs principle: bet on both sides.  “Believe in science, believe in God” seems to cover all the possibilities and gives you the best chance for a cheery afterlife.

For a time, it was thought that astrophysicist Stephen Hawking had also left a tiny gap in his credo window for a magical deity. However, he has now come out and declared that there is no God.  He gave an interview to Spain’s El Mundo in which he expressed his firm belief that el mundo was the work of scientifically explainable phenomena, not of a supreme being.

Hawking said: “Before we understand science, it is natural to believe that God created the universe. But now science offers a more convincing explanation.”

I’m not sure whether there was a specific moment in which science overtook the deistic explanation of existence. However, El Mundo pressed him on the suggestion in “A Brief History of Time” that a unifying theory of science would help mankind “know the mind of God.”  Hawking now explained: “What I meant by ‘we would know the mind of God’ is, we would know everything that God would know, if there were a God. Which there isn’t. I’m an atheist.”

He added: “Religion believes in miracles, but these aren’t compatible with science.”  Perhaps. But some look at, for example, the human eye and wonder how that exciting ball of jelly could have come about scientifically.

Hawking’s been tending toward such an absolute pronouncement for a while. In a speech last year, he offered an explanation of how the world came to being without God. He mused: “What was God doing before the divine creation? Was he preparing hell for people who asked such questions?”

I do worry, though, about Hawking’s sweetly divine faith in humanity. He told El Mundo: “In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind.”

If that’s true, the human mind still has to develop exponentially to explain everyday phenomena, such as social networking. And then there’s Hawking’s insistence that his speech synthesizer, which gives him a curiously American accent, has had this consequence: “With the American accent, I’ve had far more success with women.”

We definitely need some serious research to explain that.

A Biblical Response from God

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psa 19:1 ESV)

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they did not honor 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.  (Rom 1:19-23 ESV)

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” (Isa 46:9-10 ESV)

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.” (Psa 14:1 ESV)

It is always amazing the exceeding blindness of humanity when God is staring them in the face.  The food we eat, the air we breathe, the earth and all its beauty we behold are reminders that God rules the universe in un-disturbed majesty.  Creation shouts, “God exists!”

Jesus Christ declared, “But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Joh 6:36-40 ESV)

If you would like to know the way of salvation return to our home page and click on Roman Road.

VOICE MAIL FOR PRAYER: A LITTLE HUMOR

We have all learned to live with “voice mail” as a necessary part of modern life. But have you wondered, what if God decided to install voice mail?”  Imagine praying and hearing this: Thank you for calling My Father’s House. Please select one of the following options:

Press 1 for Requests

Press 2 for Thanksgiving

Press 3 for Complaints

Press 4 for All Other Inquiries

What if God used the familiar excuse, “I’m sorry all of our angels are busy helping other sinners right now.  However, your prayer is important to us and will be answered in the order it was received, so please stay on the line”

Can you imagine getting these kinds of responses as you call God in Prayer: If you would like to speak to:

Gabriel, Press 1

For Michael, Press 2

For a directory of other Angels, Press 3

If you would like to hear King David sing a Psalm while you are holding please press 4.

To find out if a loved one has been assigned to Heaven, Press 5, enter his or her Social Security number, then press the pound key.

(If you get a negative response, try area code 666.)

For reservations at “My Father’s House” please enter J-O-H-N followed by 3-1-6.

For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, the age of the earth and where Noah’s Ark is, please wait until you arrive here.

Our computers show that you have already prayed once today. Please hang up and try again tomorrow.

This office is closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday.  Please pray again Monday after 9:30 AM. If you need emergency assistance when this office is closed, contact your local pastor.

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phi 4:6-7 ESV)

 

The Shy Member of the Trinity by Jason Meyer

What do I do when I don’t desire God? What do I do when I don’t have joy? How do I seek the Spirit’s power when I feel weak? Look directly to Christ, and you will have the Spirit’s power. The Spirit does not reveal himself (he is the shy member of the Trinity), he reveals Christ. I love how John Piper makes the same point:

In seeking to be filled and empowered by the Spirit we must pursue him indirectly—we must look to the wonder of Christ. If we look away from Jesus and seek the Spirit and his power directly, we will end up in the mire of our own subjective emotions. The Spirit does not reveal himself. The Spirit reveals Christ. The fullness of the Spirit is the fullness that he gives as we gaze on Christ. The power of the Spirit is the power we feel in the presence of Christ. The joy of the Spirit is the joy we feel from the promises of Christ. Many of us know what it is to crouch on the floor and cry out to the Holy Spirit for joy and power, and experience nothing; but the next day devote ourselves to earnest meditation on the glory of Jesus Christ and be filled with the Spirit.

Look at the unified work of the Trinity. The Spirit shows us Christ, and Christ takes us to the Father. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the Spirit’s work in Christian hedonism is essential. Joy is not a work of the flesh. We do not drum it up or grunt it up. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Scripture is clear on the connection: Joy and the Holy Spirit go together. “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52).

Jason Meyer is Sr. Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN.

Whoever has the Son

Years ago, a wealthy man and his devoted young son shared a passion for art collecting.  Together they traveled and collected fine art from around the world.  Works by Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet hung on the walls of their estate.  The widowed elderly man looked with satisfaction at his only son & his work.  They not only loved fine art.  They loved one another.

One winter their nation went to war.  The young man left his Father in order to serve his country.  But after a few weeks, the father received a telegram.  His beloved son was missing in action.  The art collector anxiously waited for news concerning his son.  Within days, his fears were confirmed, his son died saving a soldier’s life.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness.  No longer would he behold the face of his son.  On Christmas morning a knock on the door awakened the depressed Father.  As he walked to the door, he passed masterpieces which reminded him of his son.  As he opened the door he was greeted by a soldier carrying a large package.

The soldier introduced himself by saying, “I was a friend of your son.  I was the one he was rescuing when he died.  May I come in?  I have something to show you.”  The soldier told the elderly man how the son had loved his father and how he talked about the mutual love each had for fine art.  At this point the soldier opened the package; it was a portrait of the son.

Though the world would never consider it a work of genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail.  The father was overcome.  After the soldier left, the elderly man hung the picture above the fireplace.  He pushed aside millions worth of art to give prominence to the portrait.  All Christmas day he stared upon the precious gift.

During the days and weeks that followed reports came about how his son’s life had touched so many; how he had rescued or protected many.  Stories of his son’s gallantry filled him with fatherly pride and eased his pain.  The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession.  He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and died.  The art world, knowing that the man’s son was dead, awaited eagerly the auction of his great art.  According to the will of the old man, the auction would be held Christmas.  As expected, art collectors from around the world gathered to bid.  On that day, dreams would be fulfilled.

The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list.  It was the painting of the man’s son.  The auctioneer asked for a bid.  Silence.  “Who will open the bidding with $100?” He asked.  No one spoke.  Someone yelled, “Who cares about the picture of a son.  Get on with the good stuff.”  Voices echoed in agreement but the auctioneer repeated, “This picture is first.”

“Now who will take the son?  Finally, a neighbor of the old man spoke.  “Will you take $10?  That’s all I have.  I knew the boy and I’d like to have it.”  “I have ten dollars.  Will anyone go higher,” called the auctioneer.  After more silence, the auctioneer said, “Going once, twice, gone.”  The gavel fell.

Cheers filled the room.  Someone exclaimed, “Now we can get on with it.”  The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over.  The crowd was stunned with disbelief.  Someone asked, “Why?  We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son.  What about all of these paintings?  There are millions worth of art.”

The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple.  According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son gets it all.”

In John 3:16 the Bible says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him will never perish but have everlasting life.”