Hello God, Are You Really There?

One of the oldest questions in human history - “Is there really a God?”

The words may not be those exactly… maybe things like “There has to be something more out there?”, “Is there a higher power?”, etc…

This question has been asked in palaces, foxholes, laboratories, in hospital rooms, and many other places.

Modern atheism claims that faith in God is outdated - that science has replaced the need for a Creator.

The Baptist Faith and Message (2000) states: “There is one and only one living and true God… The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being” (Article II). It also affirms that God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe, revealed in the Bible and through general revelation in nature.

Let’s start with the biblical foundation for belief in God.

Scripture never attempts to prove that God exists - it begins with that truth as self-evident

Genesis 1:1 CSB

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 14:1 CSB

1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.

Romans 1:20 CSB

20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

We have 2 types of revelation of God.

The first is natural (through creation and conscience)

The second in special (through scripture and revelation in Christ)

Hebrews 1:1–3 CSB

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

God’s ultimate revelation is through Jesus. The historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection provides powerful evidence for God’s existence.

But let’s look at some commonly used arguments…

1. The Cosmological Argument (The Argument from Cause)

Core Idea: Everything that begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist. Therefore, the universe has a cause — and that cause must be eternal, immaterial, powerful, and personal. This counters the idea of an eternal, self-existing universe by pointing to scientific evidence, such as the Big Bang.

Layperson Explanation: Think about it this way: nothing just pops into existence from nothing. If you see a car, you know someone built it. If you see a painting, you know an artist created it. The universe, with all its stars, planets, and life, is far more complex than a car or a painting. It had a beginning (supported by scientific evidence, such as the Big Bang theory). So, what caused it? It must be something incredibly powerful and beyond our universe – something we call God.

Scriptural Support:

Genesis 1:1 “1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Psalm 19:1 “1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.”

Romans 1:20 “20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.”

Hebrews 3:4 “4 Now every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God.”

Hebrews 11:3 “3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”

Outside Resources

This argument has been developed by philosophers and theologians for centuries, including Thomas Aquinas and William Lane Craig. Craig's Kalam Cosmological Argument (from Reasonable Faith and his article "The New Atheism and Five Arguments for God") states: (1) Whatever begins to exist has a cause; (2) The universe began to exist; (3) Therefore, the universe has a cause—God.

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity compares it to a chain of events needing a starting point, an initial push or planner.

Modern cosmology, particularly the Big Bang theory, suggests that the universe began as an infinitely hot and dense point (a singularity) about 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding and cooling since then. This aligns with the biblical claim that the universe is not eternal, but the Big Bang theory has a problem – where did the material come from?

Christian Response: Only an eternal, self-existent Being — God — can be the uncaused cause of everything that exists.

2. The Teleological Argument (The Argument from Design)

Core Idea: The universe exhibits intricate design, order, and fine-tuning (e.g., precise constants like gravity) that point to an intelligent designer, not random chance.  This designer is God.

Layperson Explanation: Imagine finding a highly complex watch in the middle of a field. You wouldn't assume it just randomly assembled itself. You'd conclude it had a designer. The universe is infinitely more complex than a watch. From the precise laws of physics that allow life to exist, to the intricate design of a human eye, everything seems "fine-tuned" for life. This isn't random chance; it points to an intelligent mind behind it all.

Scriptural Support:

Psalm 19:1–4 “1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. 3 There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. 4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.”

Psalm 139:13–14 “13 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.”

Job 38-41 - God challenges Job to explain the complexities of creation, demonstrating His ultimate wisdom and power as the designer Job 38:4 “4 Where were you when I established the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

Romans 1:20 “20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.”

Isaiah 40:26 “26 Look up and see! Who created these? He brings out the stars by number; he calls all of them by name. Because of his great power and strength, not one of them is missing.”

Isaiah 45:18 “18 For this is what the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, the one who established it (he did not create it to be a wasteland, but formed it to be inhabited)— he says, “I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

Outside Resources

Modern scientific discoveries in fields like astrophysics (fine-tuning of cosmic constants) and biology (irreducible complexity in living organisms) continue to fuel this argument. The universe displays precise physical constants that allow life to exist (the fine-tuning argument).

The complexity of biological systems like DNA — described as the “language of life” — points toward design, not chance. As scientist Francis Collins (The Language of God) writes: “DNA is the most detailed instruction manual ever imagined.”

Craig's Fine-Tuning Argument (in "Five Arguments for God") notes that the odds of life-permitting constants are astronomically low without a Designer. Robin Collins (an evangelical philosopher) compares it to a universe "dialed" just right.

Christian Response: Design requires a Designer. The harmony, complexity, and purpose within creation reflect the mind of a divine Creator — the God of Scripture.

3. The Moral Argument (The Argument from Morality)

Core Idea: An objective moral law that transcends human opinion. This universal sense of right and wrong, or universal moral truths (e.g., it's wrong to torture innocents) exist and can't be explained by evolution or society alone—they require a moral Lawgiver: God.

Layperson Explanation: Deep down, most people recognize that some things are truly right (like helping someone in need) and some things are truly wrong (like torturing an innocent child). This isn't just a matter of personal preference or cultural upbringing; there's a universal sense of moral obligation. Where does this come from? If there's no God, then morality is just a human invention, and there's no ultimate reason why anything is truly "wrong." But our conscience tells us otherwise. This objective moral standard points to an objective moral Lawgiver – God.

Scriptural Support:

Romans 2:14–15 “14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them”

Exodus 20 (The Ten Commandments): God reveals His moral law to humanity

Matthew 22:37–40 “37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.””

Romans 2:14–15 “14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them”

Micah 6:8 “8 Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Outside Resources:

Even atheistic philosophers (like Jean-Paul Sartre) admit that without God, good and evil become arbitrary.

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity observed: “A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.”

Craig in "The New Atheism and Five Arguments for God" argues: (1) If God doesn't exist, objective morals don't exist; (2) Objective morals do exist; (3) Therefore, God exists. Lewis's Mere Christianity uses the "Moral Law" analogy: Just as gravity pulls you down, moral law pulls us toward good, pointing to God as its source.

Christian Response: We all know some things are wrong (not just culturally). Atheism cannot ground objective morality. Our universal sense of right and wrong, fairness, and responsibility reveals a moral law beyond human invention — grounded in the holy nature of God Himself.

4. The Ontological Argument (The Argument from Being)

Core Idea: God is understood as the greatest possible being, and since existence is greater than non-existence, God must exist in reality. If God exists only in the mind, then a greater being could be imagined—one that exists in reality. Therefore, God must exist in reality to satisfy its own definition as the greatest possible being. This is more philosophical but demonstrates that God's existence is embedded in the concept of perfection.

Layperson Explanation: This one can be a bit more abstract, but here's a simplified way to think about it: If we can even imagine a perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing being (God), then for that being to truly be the greatest possible being, it must actually exist. A perfect being that only exists in our imagination isn't as great as a perfect being that actually exists. So, the very concept of God implies His existence.

Scriptural Support:

Exodus 3:14 “14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.””

Psalm 14:1 “1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.” - This implies that the existence of God is self-evident or rationally undeniable.

Hebrews 11:6 “6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Psalm 90:2 “2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.”

Outside Resources:

First formulated by Anselm of Canterbury, this argument is more philosophical and less empirical than the others. While debated, it remains a significant argument in philosophical theology.

Alvin Plantinga (an evangelical philosopher, building on Anselm) refines this in works like God and Other Minds. Craig discusses it in Reasonable Faith as evidence of God's maximal greatness. Lewis touches on it indirectly in The Problem of Pain, arguing that our longing for perfection points to a perfect God.

Christian Response: God is not a possible being among others — He is the necessary Being upon whom all existence depends.

5. The Argument from Personal Experience/Testimony

Core Idea: The transformative power of God in individual lives, and the collective testimony of believers throughout history, provides compelling evidence for His existence.

Layperson Explanation: While not a "proof" in the scientific sense, the countless stories of lives changed, prayers answered, and a deep, personal relationship with God experienced by millions of people cannot be easily dismissed. For many, their personal encounter with God is the most powerful evidence of His reality. This includes the historical impact of Christianity and the enduring faith of believers even in the face of adversity.

Scriptural Support:

John 3:16 “16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” - God seeks a personal relationship.

The book of Acts - Acts is filled with testimonies of people encountering the risen Christ and being transformed by the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” - There is a radical and observable change in believers.

Jeremiah 29:13 “13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”

John 10:27 “27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.”

Outside Resources:

This argument is often emphasized in evangelical circles, as personal conversion and spiritual transformation are central to the faith. While subjective, the consistency and life-changing nature of these experiences across cultures is significant.

Christian Response: The Lord changes hearts, redeems lives, and brings hope — experiences that consistently affirm His existence across cultures and centuries.

These arguments are cumulative—together, they build a strong case for God as the foundation of truth:

The universe needs a cause (Cosmological)

2. That cause shows intelligence (Teleological)

3. That intelligence is moral (Moral)

4. That moral intelligence is the greatest conceivable being (Ontological)

5. That being can be known personally (Religious Experience)

Practical Application

When sharing these arguments:

1. Start with the person's existing beliefs (Acts 17 - Paul at Athens)

2. Use questions to help them think through issues

3. Remember that arguments remove barriers, but the Holy Spirit converts

4. Share your personal testimony of knowing God

Addressing Common Objections

Who Created God?"

Response: God is eternal - He never began to exist (Psalm 90:2) Only things that begin need causes. Asking "who created the uncreated?" is like asking "what's north of the North Pole?"

“ Science Has Disproved God"

Response: Science studies the natural world; God is supernatural. Many leading scientists believe in God. Science shows HOW God created, not WHETHER He exists

Evil Disproves God"

Response: Evil actually proves objective morality (which points to God). Free will necessitates the possibility of evil. God can use evil for greater purposes (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28)