Systematic Theology I Theology Proper The Existence of God

Is There a Unifying Center to All of God’s Activity? Some difficulties in answering this question The diversity of the biblical literature (narrative, wisdom, law, poetry, prophecy, gospel, epistle, etc) make it difficult to find a central thread. The historical difficulty, beginning with creation and ending with the new creation. The difficulty of the wide variety of themes found in the Bible. Can they be summed into one, overarching theme? The difficulty of finding a method for selecting a central theme that is not too arbitrary or selective. Pertinent criteria must include: Patterns of God’s stated purpose: “I will be their God and they will be my people.” Theological importance, i.e., ideas that have to do with God and His dealings as opposed to events and personalities. Historical epochs such as Creation, the Flood, the call of Abram, the Exodus from Egypt, the advents of Christ, etc. Major revelation during these epochs such as covenants and other blocks of revelatory information. Comprehensiveness, the ability to comprehend all of God’s activity and revelation. Put another way, what is God seeking to accomplish as He provides revelation through the various dispensations?

McCune’s Answer “God’s ultimate purpose and the unifying principle of His activity is to glorify Himself by establishing a rule of loving sovereignty and fellowship with human beings in His image and dwelling with them forever” (McCune, p. 137).

Theology Proper

Theories and Ideas about God and the Realm of the Gods “Because of the image of God in man, the human race has always endeavored to account for God, the gods, the realm of the transcendent, or some ultimate reality” (McCune, p. 137).

Theories and Ideas about God and the Realm of the Gods False Ideas about God Animism – teaches that all things (man, animals, plants, rocks, etc.) are actual alive with spirits that are either beneficial or detrimental to mankind. Fetishism – teaches that a spirit may temporarily dwell in an inanimate object, and the object is therefore sacred because the spirit lives there. Pantheism – the belief that god is all and all is god. Panentheism – the belief that god and the physical universe each need each other for integrity and each are in a state of becoming. Henotheism – the belief that many gods exist, but one god is both superior to and is to be worshipped to the exclusion of the rest. (This is the OT milleau). Polytheism – the belief in the existence of many gods, all of which are to be worshipped. Monotheism – the belief that one god exists and is to be worshipped. Deism – the belief in one god who is removed from the world. Deism locks god out of the universe; pantheism locks him in.

Definition of God “God is the infinite and perfect spirit in whom all things have their source, support, and end” (Strong, as cited in McCune, p. 159).

Proofs of God’s Existence The Biblical Assertion and Assumption: God exists! Scripture simply declares what man already knows in his heart – that God is. It does not seek to prove the existence of God. Traditional Proofs: Contrasting Perspectives These go back to the Roman Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas (1224/25 – 1274). The assumption (not a good one) is that one can reason his way, independently of divine revelation, to the knowledge of God’s existence. These proofs are philosophical proofs. Any philosophy majors in here?

Proofs of God’s Existence The Cosmological Argument – Every effect must have a cause; therefore there must be a First Cause, which is assumed to be God. The Teleological Argument – The universe reveals design and purpose, and such order bespeaks the existence of an intelligent designer. The Anthropological Argument – Human concepts of justice, ethics, and moral order presuppose a moral law, which itself presupposes a moral lawgiver. The Ontological Argument – If man has the idea of a Perfect being, God, then such a being exists.

Traditional Proofs: Conclusion These philosophical proofs are inadequate for the purposes of Christian theology for the following reasons: They rest on at least two unbiblical assumptions: The nature of facts. Facts are not independent of interpretation; all facts are what they are because of their place in the plan of God. Unbelieving man hates God and is totally prejudiced against Him. Thus his mind is not impartial. These proofs fail to prove Christian theism, i.e., they do not necessarily lead to the true God of the Bible. These proofs assert no more than the existence of a being who is greater than the universe, not necessarily an infinite being. These proofs only lead to the probable existence of God. They still require faith, though one based on proofs and not on Scripture.

Traditional Proofs: Conclusion “In conclusion, the evidence of order, design, purpose, and moral oughtness in the universe is intelligible only on the basis of Scripture’s testimony. If this evidence is to be used, Scripture’s witness and perspective must be factored in. But, in that case, these proofs cease to be independently-validated and, subsequently, cease to be viable for their original purpose” (McCune, p. 169).

Next Week: Theology Proper The Self-Revelation of God Read Chapter 5 in McCune, pp. 171-187