Proof of God’s Non-Existence
Paul Johnson 07/29/2022
In an online paper from Tony Berard, he attempts to disprove the existence of God.
His proof assumptions are two-fold.
1 — God can’t exist and not exist at the same time, therefore if you prove one then the other is false.
2 — You can’t prove a negative. That is not universally agreed upon but for now, let’s see where he takes it.
Since he believes you can’t prove a negative, he starts by trying to prove a positive…the existence of God. When he can’t prove the existence of God he points to his first assumption and claims that since he can’t prove the existence of God then God must therefore not exist because God can’t exist and not exist at the same time.
I’m afraid this guy might have some “splain’n” to do to God on judgment day. Can you imagine him standing before the great white throne of judgment as he looks up at God and says, “You don’t exist, here is my proof.” God has a name for him in the meantime. Psalm 14:1 says “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Searched everywhere for God
Another popular approach to prove God does not exist is to say, “I have searched for God and did not find Him. He is nowhere to be seen.” To say that, that person would have to have searched everywhere, and to do that, they would have to know where everywhere is. For example, say you lost a valuable coin, to say the coin is not anywhere in your house you would have to have searched everywhere in the house. To say you have searched everywhere, you would have to know every nook and cranny of the house including all the small places only creepy crawly things go. Does anyone know their house that well?
Job questions God
Back to searching for God. Job of the Old Testament questioned God for letting him suffer. God’s response was, of course, masterful. In Job 38:4 God asks Job “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” Over three chapters God takes Job on a tour of the cosmos and repeatedly asks him, “where were you” when I created all this? So we would have to ask the same question to the person that says they have searched for God and can’t find him. Where were they when God created the universe? How do they know the vast corners of the universe to look for God in, much less get there to search it?
After God’s direct questioning of Job, he quickly realized the foolishness of what he said to God and replied in Job 40:4 “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I put my hand on my mouth.”
Our friend who claims they have searched for God and since they can’t find Him He, therefore, doesn’t exist should take heed of what God asked Job.
Can’t see God even if we wanted to
As for searching for God and not finding Him, even if one did know all the places where God could be, besides His infiniteness, He is obviously different than us. He appears and disappears, steps through walls, walks on water, and rises in the clouds. Does a mere human even have the ability to even see God if they stumbled over him? Scripture says in Exodus 33:20 “for no man can see Me and live!” That pretty much precludes anyone from seeing God and living to tell you about it. And considering that fate, I’m not sure I want to see God.
Interestingly, for those who say they couldn’t find God. In Psalm 139:7 David writes about God being everywhere when he says “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” You have to wonder where these folks are looking if God is everywhere and yet they can’t find Him.
The wisdom of man
Is anyone confused by all this? Good, that means you have been listening and trying to follow along. Don’t worry. I’ve been sharing from the wisdom of man, which God says in 1 Corinthians 1:25 that “the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind,”
God made it easy for us to find Him
So take all this proving and looking for God and throw it out the window because God made it easy for us. As a matter of fact, He made it so easy that even a child can understand. We know this not only by understanding the simplicity of the gospel but by Jesus’ own words in a prayer where he says in Luke 10:21 “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
Did you catch that? Not only is the gospel understandable by children but it is hidden from the wise. Would that be those who are so wise they can disprove that God exists or search the universe for God?
How to know God
God doesn’t stoop to having to be proven by man’s foolish wisdom. We can know God exists through faith. Hebrews 11:3 says “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God.” We can also know God exists through our personal experience with Him. John 14:17says “You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” And it’s all very plain for us to see. No searching or proving required. Romans 1:19says “what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”
Personal proofs of God
As to proving God exists. Do we need to prove it? Not really. But if you must, ask yourself, how do you know you have a brain? Have you ever seen it? How do you know it exists?
Jesus uses the example of wind in John 3:8 to make a slightly different point but the concept is the same. Has anyone ever seen the wind? Do you experience it? What if I were to give you a very detailed scientific explanation that wind does not really exist? Would you believe it?
Have you experienced God in your life? How He took care of you, calmed you, cared for you, loved you? Yet you have never seen God. In the same way, any theory or proof that says God does not exist should be shunned by you. Ignore it. It’s a hoax.
Practical application
The practical application of all this is, don’t waste your time on fancy convoluted theories and proofs to prove or disprove God. Believe God. Have faith brothers and sisters. God is real. Remember that next time you scratch your head or feel the wind.
Paul Johnson | BCWorldveiw.org, a 501(c)3 Nonprofit
