One Truth, Many Evidences: 20 Compelling Evidences that God Exists

Breakpoint with Chuck Colson ^ | 7/28/2006 | Chuck Colson

[Mr. Silverback]

In the first chapter of their new book, 20 Compelling Evidences that God exists, Ken Boa and Robert Bowman write, “We don’t mean to discourage you from reading the rest of this book. But in the interest of full disclosure, we should tell you that, in a sense, there is only one good reason to believe that God exists: because it’s true.”

That statement is both profound and well expressed. Unfortunately, these days it’s not the kind of statement you can make in public without having scorn heaped upon your head. As the authors jokingly point out, the popular viewpoint regarding truth is, “Anyone who believes that he is right and others are wrong is intolerant.” Now that’s self-contradictory on its face, but it’s almost certain to be thrown at you if you assert a truth claim.

That’s why Boa and Bowman have titled their book 20 Compelling Evidences that God Exists—because they recognize that for any claim to truth to be taken seriously in today’s culture, it needs solid evidence to back it up. As the authors write, “There are many such evidences, but they all have value because they help us see that the God of the Bible is real.” In fewer than two hundred pages, they clearly and concisely examine some of today’s most pervasive worldviews and their flaws. Then they present their case for God’s existence and His revelation of Himself through Jesus Christ.

What kind of evidences are they talking about? There’s an amazing variety. They don’t state it right upfront, but they are organizing their “20 compelling evidences” in a way that takes readers through the doctrines of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration—the four basic elements of the Christian worldview that I set forth in How Now Shall We Live?

They start with evidence about the universe and the origins of life. And they talk, for example, about how finely our solar system and our planet had to be calibrated to support life. At “an extremely conservative estimate,” they say, the probability of our planet being capable of sustaining us is about one in a billion. It had to be at just the right place in the solar system, which had to be at just the right place in the galaxy. Even the expansion of the universe had to happen at just the right rate in order for all of us to be here today.

From evidence about the universe, the authors move on to evidence of humanity’s sinful nature; then evidence of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection; and finally, evidence of those who have lived and died for Christ. Examining concepts ranging from Greek philosophy to archeology to the Big Bang theory to postmodernism, the authors make a powerful case for the existence of a loving Creator.

In short, I highly recommend Boa and Bowman’s book. They provide in a very readable form an excellent apologetic resource for Christians wondering how to defend their faith in a world that’s “tolerant” of everything except Christianity.

Ken Boa is a great apologist—one of the most engaging and popular teachers in our Centurion’s training program. You can visit our website, BreakPoint.org, to find out how you can get 20 Compelling Evidences that God Exists. While you’re there, be sure to check out some of our other Christian worldview resources.

[Leroy S. Mort]

We've already sent messages to likely stars. In a universe that almost certainly contains millions of planets, no one has decided to aim one at us, or aim one at another system that we end up overhearing?

Keep in mind that radio astronomy is not my field

That seems self-evident.

[thomaswest]

Re 258: I am sympathetic to your plight--trying as best you can without any evidence.

If you believe the concept of a soul is wacky, you must believe the Holy Bible is also wacky. . Certainly. All texts from 2000 years ago got most things wrong. Stone age writers did not have clue about molecules, sex, genetics, DNA, or democracy. No reason to believe them on any topic.

Does it make you feel good to deride Christians? Does it give you a sense of worth that your own life is lacking? or Do you feel it's your duty to convince as many as possible that there is no God? Delusion are what they are. Delusions about psychics, faith healing, witch doctors, feng shui, magnetic 'energies', homeopathy, allahs, nostradamus, gods, ghosts, aliens, etc., are all the same.

Which supernatural stuff you choose to believe in is your business.

Just don't think that every one else should believe it.

[RipSawyer]

Or do you care?
No I dont.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Are you not commanded by God to care about your fellow man and his response to your attempt to witness to him for God?
Why do you not care?

[RipSawyer]

I suspect that believers are very insecure, because they know in their hearts that Noah's Flood never happened;
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Insecurity is common among humans of all stripes. Actually there may have been a catastrophic flood which formed the basis of the legend of Gilgamesh and the Noah story. On the other hand the spectacle of animals entering a huge wooden vessel two by two, with or without the Irish Rovers unicorns, leaves me somewhat sceptical. I spent about nine months on an aircraft carrier and I never could figure out how to fit all that on board, let alone how to put them all on a much smaller wooden vessel. The fact that I grew up on a farm didn't make the problem seem any easier.
By the way, I am certainly no Atheist, as I say in another post I consider trying to prove or disprove the existence of God to be futile. I am however, constantly amazed at the willingness of some "Christians" to see almost the entirety of the human race cast into eternal torment. I cannot conceive of a God so merciless, I come from a background that would be considered extreme poverty today and grew up in a Southern Baptist church of which I am still an official member but I cannot subscribe to many of the beliefs officially endorsed by the church. I can say from experience that trying to reason with the average "true believer" is an exercise in futility.

[Paved Paradise]

logic for belief or against belief?

[M Kehoe]

Good morning.

This is a variation of the old "There are no atheists in foxholes" cliche. It's not true, either way.

I know this is anecdotal, but I have NEVER met an atheist in a foxhole.

You never know, one day science may develope the ability to measure God. In your case, that may be a capital "OH SH*T!" moment.

;^)

5.56mm

[GulfBreeze]

I have to agree.

I think th reason Proverbs says that a fool says in his heart there is no God, is because he has put the opposite knowledge into us inheritly. Denying what exists inside of us and is not going away is foolish.

[Paved Paradise]

That was cool. I never heard of Greenleaf (amazing). Thanks a bunch.

[GulfBreeze]

Thank God, You've self converted!!!

[BritExPatInFla]

Without getting into any metaphysical rants, of course God exists. Why has humankind always had some kind of belief in a power greater than themselves---even if it were animistic or shamanistic.

Mainly because, as animals themselves when it comes down to it, humans feel better if they can think there is some 'higher power' in control, looking out for them. Tests of faith, such as disasters, deaths of loved ones, senselss death of children, etc, are usually explained away with "It must have been (Insert Deity Here)'s Will". For many that's a good enough answer, for many, it's not.

[BritExPatInFla]

Atheists always like to depict all religions as basically the same. They aren't.

But, every religion feels the same, i.e. that IT is the one true religion. How do you, as a christian, prove that THEY are wrong, and not YOU?

To a Jew, the whole argument of going to heaven or not depends on 'accepting' Jesus Christ as their savior, is a non issue, So they are all going to be punished at some point for that?

I don't disagree that many need a deity or faith in some higher power, but I do disagree with the idea that 'My deity is better than your deity'. To each his own. ANY person who kills in the name of religion is a fool, I don't care if they are Muslim, Christian, etc. They are killing in the name of a superstition.

[tgambill]

Read "Reasons to Believe"..and "The Fingerprint of God"....by Hugh Ross. It is locked solid with scientific proof of God's existence. Even Einstein came to the same conclusion based on his own theories that there was a "Higher Reasoning Power"...because he did not believe in a God but has to reconcile his belief because of his own theories. This was considered the biggest mistake of his life...due to it giving him an epiphany when before he was an athetist. This is well documented by quotes and scientific research by Einstein himself....why do you think Doubting Thomas existed? God knows this, and has given the doubting Thomas's all the proof they need even without having the "FAITH".....So, just because it's true, doesn't mean this is the end of it. God knew that there would be doubters...therefore he has provided the truth in scientific evidence as well.....Good article....

[TheGunny]

Gee, how nice to know you have all the answers. Do you realize how insulting this is? Or do you care? I'm sure there are a billion or so Moslems out there who are saying that you will find out that one day, you'll find out that your belief system in Jesus Christ was completely wrong and eventually, you'll be paying homage before Mohammed... on bended knee.

I said I didnt care...

You said:Are you not commanded by God to care about your fellow man and his response to your attempt to witness to him for God?
Why do you not care?

Are you serious? That question doesnt make any sense. Do I care about his contempt for the living God?? Yes. Do I care that the truth of that gospel offends him and others? No!

[antiRepublicrat]

Ah, but the problem is that given any reasonable odds of life developing, we would have heard radio noise by now.

Let's say there's somebody out there 100 light-years away. A broadcast they make registers as a million watts one hundred kilometers away (that's an absurdly powerful artificial signal). By the time it gets here, if I got my calculations right, the wattage at our end would be about 0.000000000000000112 watts, considering a perfect vacuum and no interference (a star between us). And we're supposed to detect that amid all the other electromagnetic radiation from closer and stronger natural sources? SETI is a fun exercise, but it's a shot in the dark.

[MineralMan]

"I am pleased to hear your egotistical father survived the war by his piloting skills ( as a WW2 vet I salute his abilities and good fortune)----no doubt he can pinpoint just what gave him the ability to be so good as a pilot since his ego is so great----I would assume he never gave any thought to the possibility of a God who was protecting any one of the other crewmen aboard since your fathers massive ego took precedent over any other possible reasons for the B17 to survive that ordeal other than 'his' supreme abiliies---your story disproves nothing IMHO, just shows up one more braggart who was able to pass his beliefs down to his family who appear to accept his aethism with pride---some day we will all find out just who is correct and what do I lose by believing in my Redeemer and Lord--"

My goodness! You obviously have never met my father.

[MineralMan]

"Now that Great Pumpkin fellow is a horse of a different color.
"

No kidding. The Great Pumpkin always disappoints. Santa, on the other hand, can be depended upon.

[MineralMan]

"Stay on topic. He wasn't in a foxhole. Foxholes are the only true path to God.
"

Dang! How could I have missed that distinction. [grin]

[MineralMan]

"Why do we swear on a Bible in a court of law? You know, "I swear to tell the truth so help me God". Is a court of law no longer a government institution?"

We don't. In no court in the USA are you ever required to use a bible or say "so help me God," in any oath. You're completely mistaken. You may always simply affirm your intention to tell the truth.

Too many Perry Mason shows, I'm guessing.

[Zionist Conspirator]

I'll take the Enlightenment over the Dark Ages.

What "dark ages?" Are you referring perhaps to King Solomon, who knew more than you ever will?

Fascinating how much we learned once we determined that "God did it" wasn't a sufficient explanation.

Fascinating how much the Jewish Sages knew thousands of years before Copernicus or Bacon or Voltaire.

BTW, what was the name of the scientist who discovered objective morality? After all, we don't need G-d to have one, do we? I'm sure someone found it in a test tube in the nineteenth century.

[kanawa]

A group of explorers came back from journey
and reported finding a wonderous city of gold.
Three friends heard the story and were sceptical.
One dismissed the reports out of hand as being pure fancy.
One sought to find if the city existed and began to search here and there,
all over the world for the fabulous city.
The third friend also wondering if the story was true
listened carefully to the directions the explorers gave and followed their path.