"I sincerely hope that nothing of the sort ever happens to your wife Ray [rape], or anyone else close to you, but since we're speaking hypothetically...If it did, how would you explain why the Christian God caused it to happen? A test of your faith? A test of your character? I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this." Culberto

Thank you for your kind sentiments. However, if my wife did get raped, I would never say that God “caused” it to happen. That’s the way an atheist talks. Like insurance companies, they tend to blame God for everything bad and refuse praise for anything good.

It would be the rapist that raped my wife, not God, however, He allowed it. He permits the storms and the pains of life to come to those that love Him, for a reason. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that we don’t get wet when it rains. It even means that if we are in a storm, we are just as likely to get struck by lightning as any other person.

So there are two "wills" of God for the Christian--the permissive and the perfect will of God. If something terrible happens to me or my family--a rape or even a death, I have God’s promise that He allowed it (His permissive will) to fulfill His eternal purposes for my life, and that will always work out for my good (see Romans 8:28). That gives me great comfort.

"Lurker said... Excuse me, Pastor Ray, I enjoyed your service, but I think that it is funny that you bring up the importance of da Vinci's notebooks.... are you aware that Leonardo da Vinci gained valuable knowledge about the workings of the human body by going against the will of the church and dissecting corpses, an act that would have surely landed him in a load of religious trouble? How do you feel about the church's involvement in holding back science and medicine, historically, as well as the role of religious groups holding back science today?"

Lurker...I think you are a little confused as to the biblical meaning of the words "the Church." According to the Bible it's those who love God, irrespective of their denomination. The Church is called a number of things in Scripture--"The Body of Christ," "believers" "saints" and Christians."

It was rather the Roman Catholic church (small “c”) that held back science, imprisoned Galileo, was responsible for The Inquisition (the torture of Christians), The Crusades, etc. The Catholic church is still at it today. It is filled with pedophiles, officially rejects the authority of Genesis, and instead embraces the fairytale of evolution.

By the way, I love Roman Catholics as much as I do atheists. None of the above is untrue. Still, watch atheists call me a Catholic-basher/hater, because I mention these undeniable facts.

"Steven J. said...If God has intervened in the past to punish or prevent evil, why does it seem that He no longer does so? Jesus noted in the gospels that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, but then, that is pretty much what we'd expect from a purely natural phenomenon with no interest in our moral choices....However strongly you subjectively feel that God has revealed Himself to you, Ray, you could be a false convert. You're not infallible; your finite mind could be deluded into thinking it had absolute truth when all it had was unfounded emotional certainty."

Conceded. I may be a false convert, or I may be a false teacher. That's why you should always check out what I am saying against God's Word. Be as the Bereans who "searched the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." You say that God doesn't intervene to punish or prevent evil. How do you know that? I notice that you are careful to ask "Why does it seem that He no longer does so?" The use of the word "seem" is applicable. You don't know. You too speak from subjectivity.

Tell me, where would you expect to hear of God intervening--CNN, ABC, NBC, or maybe on some atheist blog? Don't hold your breath. The Bible makes it clear that the world suppresses the truth about God (see Romans 1:18). Nature program after nature program shows the genius of God's incredible handiwork, without one ounce of praise being given to Him. Instead, it is heaped on the creation itself via evolution. Creation created itself (see Romans 1:21-22).

So if you are waiting for the world to report "Today, God prevented evil in Europe, when a wicked man suddenly dropped dead," (again) don't hold your breath. The reason we don't get reports like that is because we have no idea when God punishes or prevents evil. Our (and your) ignorance of His judgments are clearly addressed in Scripture: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33).

Or are you saying you want God to treat you as you want others to be treated? Do you want Him to punish or prevent evil in your life? If you want that, then you are saying that death should come to you today. That's your "wages." That's what you have earned. That would be God intervening to punish you and prevent you from doing any more evil.

Every time you lust, lie, steal, fail to love God with all of your heart, fail to love your neighbor as yourself, covet, refuse to trust God (therefore calling Him a "liar"--see 1 John 5:10), remain willfully ignorant of the truth, mock the Word of God, etc., you are doing evil things in God's eyes. So today you have a choice. You can remain willfully ignorant of the truth, or you can repent and trust the Savior, know the truth (see John 8:31-32) and pass from death to life.

It's Sunday! Welcome to Atheist Church

If you are a first time visitor, I hope you feel welcome.

Let’s begin with the famous hymn “How Great Thou Art” (sung by a young Elvis).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx59Mi_F_Gk

"O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed."

Today’s Sermon, from Luke chapter 2

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

The shepherds were eye-witnesses of what they had heard and seen. Some years later, the disciples were also eye-witnesses of what they had heard and seen. However, the gospel story is 2,000 years old. Obviously there are no eye-witnesses to its authenticity, so how can we rely on what is said, because it makes no ordinary claim. It claims the supernatural from beginning to end. While belief in its authenticity comes down to “faith”--as does everything else humanity believes about the past, whether it’s faith in what scientists tell us about evolution, or faith in what historians tell us about more recent history.

Surely, if there is a God, He would somehow substantiate the supernatural claims of the gospel story. After all, it is His-story.

There’s good news for those who want to know the truth. While the evolutionary theory is confined to the natural world and is quiescent, the gospel story is supernatural and miraculous in the truest sense of the word. By that, I mean that we can have as much assurance as to its reality, as the shepherds had that amazing night.

This is because God backs His Word with power. Think of a group who called themselves "athetricals." These were a people who mock the thought that electricity exists, and find fault with a book that instructs in its use. One day, one bold athetrical decides to do what the book says. He plugs an extension cord into a power source and to his amazement, the light comes on in his house.

God extends His power to all who obey His book. He will give them light, and those who experience the power will spend their lives glorifying and praising God for all the things that they have heard and seen.

Announcements
The winner of this week’s $100 is Philip Malaby.


Collection
This service is free.

Benediction
This week may God bless you with the knowledge of His salvation, and the best of health for you and your family.

The winner of the Dundee vest is Keith Landrum. It will be mailed out today.

$100 worth of groceries

If you are an atheist who is feeling the economic squeeze, and you would like to be in the draw, you must send your name to BNA@livingwaters.com today. This is open to atheists outside of the United States. We will announce the winner during the announcements at the Atheist Church on Sunday.

What Atheists Believe . . .

"Atheists believe that 'nothing created the universe' in the same sense that christians believe that 'nothing created their deity.' So, tell us Ray. What was it that created your deity, if it wasn't nothing?” Pvblivs

If that’s true and you are speaking on behalf of atheists, then they are all believing something that is unscientific. The universe cannot be eternal. This is because of entropy (or the Second Law of Thermodynamics). Everything is running down. It is degenerating--from the sun, to rocks, to fruit, and even your own body. If you leave an apple on your table for a month, it won’t get better. It will get worse--it will rot. Everything material does. That’s common knowledge and a scientific fact.

If the earth was eternal, as you say that you and atheists apparently believe--that it is multiple quattuordecillion of years (plus) old, then it would have crumbled to dust trillions of years ago.

God is a Spirit (he is not material) and He is eternal--without beginning and without end, and He is the Creator of all things. He is nothing like what you conceive Him to be. He is not bound by time or space, is utterly perfect--something called "perfect holiness." When God spoke to Israel they thought they were going to die, because the experience was so fearful. So dash any image you have of an old man in the sky, reaching out to a naked Adam. That’s idolatry. Instead, study the Scriptures and you will begin to understand what you must face on Judgment Day. If you get a right understanding of the character and nature of the One who gave you life, that will bring you to the Savior.

eBay Potential

My motive in making leather vests and jackets is to try and help those of you who are struggling financially, so I don't mind if you resell any of these on eBay. Today's gift may have potential to get a good price. It's genuine leather with a crocodile imprint. If you would like to be in the draw, send a note to BNA@livingwaters.com saying you are interested in the Crocodile Dundee vest--this is only open to atheists in the U.S.

"The Celtic Chimp said... Wow, 'nothing created everything' again. Doesn't matter how many times you correct him, he keeps on telling the lie. Ray Comfort, I charge you with deliberately lying. You apparently believe that to lie like that is immoral and yet you do it in spite of continual correction. You are a liar Ray and I believe you know you are."

Instead of playing the ad hominem card and calling me a liar, tell me what was it that created everything if it wasn't nothing?
Are you also saying that Richard Dawkins doesn't believe that nothing created everything? Here are his own words:

"The fact that life evolved out of nearly nothing, some 10 billion years AFTER THE UNIVERSE EVOLVED OUT OF LITERALLY NOTHING is a fact so staggering that I would be mad to attempt words to do it justice."

There are a few things that the professor and I agree on. One is that we both despise the horrible hypocrisy within organized religion, blame it for mass atrocities down through the ages, as well as rampant pedophilia among its priests. And we both can only think of two alternatives to creation. Either something created everything or nothing is responsible. You have another. Enlighten us. But don't try and redefine the word "nothing." That's ridiculous.

Or are you just trying to create something out of nothing, with unfounded accusations? That would make your words make sense.

No doubt you won’t inform me as to what it was that created the universe, but instead will say that I "quote-mined" Richard Dawkins, so here it is in context:

"If, as returning host, I reflect on this whole pilgrimage, my overwhelming reaction is one of amazement. Amazement at the extravaganza of detail that we have seen; amazement, too, at the very fact that there are any such details to be had at all, on any planet. The universe could so easily have remained lifeless and simple - just physics and chemistry, the scattered dust of the cosmic explosion that gave birth to time and space. The fact that life evolved out of nearly nothing, some 10 billion years after the universe evolved out of literally nothing, is a fact so staggering that I would be mad to attempt words to do it justice. Even that is not the end of the matter. Not only did evolution happen: it eventually led to beings capable of comprehending the process, and even of comprehending the process by which they comprehend it." The Ancestor's Tale, Richard Dawkins

Julie Murray got the jacket. It went out via UPS today.

Here's a nice pic. of a family of atheists enjoying their time at Red Lobster (published with permission). I appreciate those of you who have sent thank you emails.

The winner of the vest (with the $100 bill in the pocket) is Jeremy Payne. We will send it out today.

"ATHEISTS DON'T BELIEVE IN A 'CREATION'. There is no creation! The universe wasn't created, it isn't a creation, it's just a thing. An event happened and then the universe was there, or the universe was always there, or something else, which doesn't matter. The point is, the universe wasn't created, it arose, evolved, came about by random vacuum fluctuations, what have you." Solomon Steltzer

This is the sadly pathetic and unthinking nature of modern atheism. It’s what is comes down to--"There’s no creation." Such a philosophy is nothing but an intellectual embarrassment. This is why the title of my book, You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence but You Can’t Make Him Think isn’t just a witty book title, it’s the truth. All the evidence in the world is staring at you in the face, so you get rid of it (in your mind) by calling it "a thing." But that doesn’t get rid of the Creator. He created every "thing" you can see, and everything you can’t see.

Your big problem isn’t really the Creator. It’s His Law. You and I have violated it a multitude of times--through lust (see Matthew 5:27-28), greed, selfishness, ingratitude, anger, jealousy, pride, rebellion, unbelief, etc., assuring us a place in Hell. But God is rich in mercy and has kindly provided forgiveness for us through the cross.

If you refuse Him as Savior, you have to face Him as Lord and Judge whether you believe in Him or not. So please, stop this unreasonable game of intellectual contortions, and repent and trust in Jesus before it’s too late. You only have one chance at this life. Don’t blow it. It’s forever.

This is a woman's black leather jacket--size 36" (bust). It is cowhide, so it will last a lifetime but will take some time to "break in" (soften). If you are a female atheist (living within the U.S.) and you would like this, send your name to BNA@livingwaters.com and say that you would like to be in the draw.

"Ray, I would be interested in hearing your views on self-defense and when / if lethal force is acceptable when it relates to crime. If someone is about to kill you, can you shoot them? What about if they are stealing your car? Or about to rape someone?" J Diver

The issue of pacifism and self defense (for the Christian) is a matter of conscience. I wouldn’t consider myself to be a pacifist, although some may think I am a part-pacifist, if there can be such a thing--because I have allowed people to do me bodily harm, without resistance.

I was beaten up once when preaching the gospel, but I think I deserved it. A woman used the "f" word when describing me, so I asked her to watch her language because there were ladies present. When she said, "I’m a lady!" I said, "Madame, you may be a woman, but you are not a lady." That’s when she ran forward and beat me to a pulp. It took two weeks for the bruising to go.

I have been chased by an angry woman, and slapped across the face by another lady (woman). When men have wanted to beat me up, I have been able to talk them out of it (there are usually certain things you can say and do to defuse anger). So when it comes to personal self defense against someone who wants to hurt me, I will use my hands, my mouth, or my legs--run (see Matthew 10:23) to defend myself.

If someone was about to rape my wife and I had a gun, I would without hesitation shoot him, starting at his foot and slowly moving up, hoping that he would get the message.

I don’t have a car, but if someone stole my bike it wouldn’t worry me at all. Actually, I would be quite pleased--Wall-mart have the coolest bikes for about $80.

The Vest is finished

If anyone wants it, send your name to BNA@livingwaters.com (Be Nice to Atheists) for the draw. Make sure you give your size (S. M. L. XL.)

Click on the picture for a better view.

"darkknight56 said...Ray, can you cite which atheist said that? What is your source for the statement that atheism says nothing created everything? I'm willing to bet $100 in groceries against an admission that you are at least wrong that you can't find it anywhere that it is the position of atheists that nothing created everything."

darkknight56...here you go:

1. "It is now becoming clear that everything can -- and probably did -- come from nothing." Robert A. J. Matthews, physicist, Ashton University, England
2. "Space and time both started at the Big Bang and therefore there was nothing before it." Cornell University "Ask an Astronomer."
3. "Some physicists believe our universe was created by colliding with another, but Kaku [a theoretical physicist at City University of New York] says it also may have sprung from nothing . . . " Scienceline.org
4. "Even if we don't have a precise idea of exactly what took place at the beginning, we can at least see that the origin of the universe from nothing need not be unlawful or unnatural or unscientific." Paul Davies, physicist, Arizona State University
5. "Assuming the universe came from nothing, it is empty to begin with . . . Only by the constant action of an agent outside the universe, such as God, could a state of nothingness be maintained. The fact that we have something is just what we would expect if there is no God." Victor J. Stenger, atheist, Prof. Physics, University of Hawaii. Author of, God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist
6. "Few people are aware of the fact that many modern physicists claim that things -- perhaps even the entire universe -- can indeed arise from nothing via natural processes. Creation ex nihilo -- Without God (1997), Atheist, Mark I. Vuletic
7. "To understand these facts we have to turn to science. Where did they all come from, and how did they get so darned outrageous? Well, it all started with nothing." --"Fifty Outrageous Animal Facts,” Animal Planet
8. To the average person it might seem obvious that nothing can happen in nothing. But to a quantum physicist, nothing is, in fact, something." Discover Magazine “Physics & Math / Cosmology”
9. "It is rather fantastic to realize that the laws of physics can describe how everything was created in a random quantum fluctuation out of nothing, and how over the course of 15 billion years, matter could organize in such complex ways that we have human beings sitting here, talking, doing things intentionally." (Alan Harvey Guth theoretical physicist and cosmologist). Discover Magazine, April 1, 2002
10. Richard Dawkins: "The fact that life evolved out of nearly nothing, some 10 billion years AFTER THE UNIVERSE EVOLVED OUT OF LITERALLY NOTHING is a fact so staggering that I would be mad to attempt words to do it justice." The Ancestor’s Tale, Richard Dawkins

It’s Sunday! Welcome to the first Atheist Church Service.

Thank you for joining us today.

Let’s begin with today’s Hymn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsNCllEHD0&feature=fvw




"He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men
Before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him;
Be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on."

Announcements:
This week I will be giving away a hand-made genuine leather vest to atheists, so keep an eye on the blog. I also hope to finish a woman’s black leather dress jacket--size 36 inch. I will let you know when it’s done. Friday will be the day we announce the groceries gift to atheists.

Collection:
This service is free.

Sermon:
From the Gospel of Luke, chapter two

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

So, what’s all the fuss? This is just a baby in a cow’s feeding trough. Babies are born everyday in poverty. It’s no big deal. True, it’s not a big deal to those who have no understanding. If a child found the diary of Leonardo de Vinci he may use it as a coloring book. He gives no value to it because he lacks understanding as to its worth. One of De Vinci’s notebooks, the Codex Leicester, was purchased by Bill Gates for $30.8 million back in 1994. He explained why he valued to book:

"I feel very lucky that I own a notebook. In fact, I remember going home one night and telling my wife Melinda that I was going to buy a notebook; she didn't think that was a very big deal. I said, no, this is a pretty special notebook, this is the Codex Leicester, one of the Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. And I personally have always been amazed by him because he personally worked out science on his own, and he understood things that no other scientist of that time did."

And so it is with those who give no value to this babe in a manger. They mock that which is precious. However, those who understand who this was, give it unspeakable value. This babe was God in human form--God "manifest in the flesh" for the express purpose of suffering for the sins of the world, so that the door of death could be closed for humanity and the door of immortally swung open wide. Think of it--if this was the promised Messiah, if Jesus of Nazareth was God in human form, if He did take our punishment, if He can give everlasting life to all who repent and trust in Him--what better news could you hope to ever hear! The problem is, those without understanding sometimes choose to stay without understanding. They are proud know-it-all’s with closed minds. But for those who are open-minded, there is proof. This gospel is absolutely 100 percent provable. Seek Him today.

The Benediction:
As you go through this week may your eyes be opened to what you have been given by the God who created you in your mother’s womb and breathed life into your being.

Thank you for joining us.

Good news for atheists.

We have figured out how to make the weekly "Be Nice to Atheists" $100 grocery giveaway international--by using a gift card. So from now on this isn’t limited to the United States. See sidebar for details.

I took this picture in my garden this morning. Shame on those of you who deny the absolute genius of God's unspeakably creative hand, in creating a seed that can reproduce of its own kind. The greatest genius on this earth hasn't a clue how to create even one seed from nothing, so how intellectually dishonest is it to deny the Creator. What a reproach on human nature!

This week's winner of the BNA (Be Nice to Atheists) groceries is Peter and Leah Coppinger (IN).

"[Ray] continuously misrepresents what we believe. It's because he calls us fools and says we have no morals. It is because no matter how many times we try to explain what we actually think and believe he refuses to listen and sticks with his straw man representations of what we think and believe. It is because he delights in telling us how wicked we are and that we are fools. It's because he loves to try and make us sound stupid to accepting scientific theories backed by 150 years worth of evidence from multiple different fields." (Rabbitpirate)

The problem the atheist has is that he can’t say what "we" (atheists) believe. Who is he to represent the world's atheists? He isn’t the atheist pope, he doesn’t have an atheist Bible to state the official belief held by contemporary atheists. He can only speak for himself.

I have never called atheists "fools." I have pointed to and quoted God’s Word--which says that those who say in their heart that there is no God are fools (see Psalm 14:1).

Of cause atheists have morals. Who doesn’t? However, God's moral standard is infinitely higher than ours (He considers lust to be adultery and hatred to be murder).

I have never in 38 years once "delighted" in telling anyone how wicked they are, but I have to admit that I do love to show how the nature of the evolutionary theory is stupid and unscientific. It has no proof, and it makes no sense. I don’t believe (as Richard Dawkins and many others do) that nothing created everything. I don’t believe that we are primates and cousins of bananas. That’s crazy-talk. The only time evolution and science should be mentioned in the same sentence is when talking of science fiction.

I believe that we were created by an eternal God, that we are made in His image--with an innate sense of morality that seperates us from the animals, and that we and all of living creation were made as male and female, with the ability to reproduce after our own kind. That makes sense.

"'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.' -- Ghandi." CriticallySkeptic

I read Ghandi's bio and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but he was wrong with this one--if he thought that the Bible was talking about retribution. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did misunderstand the meaning of the verse. Many people think that "money is the root of all evil" (when there’s no such verse in the Bible). Neither is there any verse that tells that we should take the law into our own hands. This is about restitution, not retribution, and it comes from Israel’s civil law:

"If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe" (Exodus 21:22-25)

Notice that God’s Word speaks of a woman being "with child." It is a human life within the womb, and if that child was harmed the judges were to impose an appropriate penalty. The criminal was to make amends for his crime.

In other words, if someone steals and totals your car, he has to replace it. Whatever he takes, he replaces--an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth . . . a life for a life. That’s simple common sense. It is not an admonition to punch someone in the eye or knock out his tooth, if he offends you.

However, the religious leaders of the time of Christ had twisted the Law and used it to take personal vengeance. This is why Jesus said "You have heard that it was said," rather than His often said "It is written [in Scripture]":

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also" (Matthew 5:38-40).

If someone does an Atheist an injustice, he should not take the law into his own hands. He has the option to take him to court. The Christian, however, lives by a higher Law. If you do him wrong, he shouldn’t take you to court. He should rather show love and forgiveness, not because he’s a wimp, but because he has a better law by which he lives:

"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink . . .'" (Romans 12:18-20).

This is what Jesus did. When He was on the cross suffering for the sin of the world, He cried, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." When the mocking Roman soldiers spat on Him and beat him, He gave Himself over to them: "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him [God] that judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:23).

Jacket Winner

Ryan Learn from Florida is the winner of the jacket. We will send it out tomorrow.

Those of you who would like $100 worth of free groceries (see sidebar for details), email: loveatheists@livingwaters.com and we will find this week's winner. Just give your name. This offer is limited to the United States, and to Atheists only.

"Ray Comfort said... 'That leaves us with a knowledge that the only way we can be saved from death and Hell is by His mercy, and then He provided that through the suffering death of Jesus of Nazareth on the cross. Then He raised Him from death, and offered everlasting life as a free gift to whoever would repent and trust in the Savior. No religious book has a message anywhere near anything like the one in the Bible.' See the part right there...as a free gift to whoever would repent and trust in the Savior. That is not a free gift it is a conditional one." Wait What

If that’s what you believe, let me then ask you a question. I have made a leather jacket and want to give it as a gift to a certain English professor. I paid for the leather, created it myself, and I will cover the cost of the shipping from the united States to England. The gift is here in my house? What are the "conditions" attached to it? Isn’t it that he has to accept it? If by chance the professor accepted it, is it no longer a gift? Of course is is. The question is perhaps--is it a “gift” while it sits in my house? The truth is, his reception of it makes it a gift.

So let’s look a little closer at the point that you are trying to make. You are attempting to make a case that somehow God is unjust because you think that you have to do something to get everlasting life. You are saying "Aha, gottcha God! You say eternal life is a gift, when it’s not!"

Therefore you reject the offer of everlasting life because you think it is conditional? Are you crazy? (I say that in the kindest way--as I would say it to a man dying of thirst who refuses the gift of water because it's not a gift if he has to receive it).

Pull back a little and look at what you are saying. God offers you the gift of eternal, and you don’t want it . . . and for what reason?

The first free atheist jacket is ready

Those who would like to be in the draw, please email me giving your name, size (S. M. L), sex, height, and the country in which you live.

By the way, I don’t mind if the winner keeps it or resells it. The email address is loveatheists@livingwaters.com

"Ray, I'm sure you wouldn't object to someone trading in your Koran, Ghagavad Gita, Book of Mormon or any other religious book for a Bible... what's the difference?" Abe

Why would I want someone to give up their religious book? However, I would gladly give them a Bible in addition to their religious book, because there is a huge difference between "religious" books and the Scriptures. It is not just the continuity of the message of the Bible (the promise that God would destroy the power of death), or the amazing Bible prophecies that run through it, but it’s that it has a unique message. From beginning to end it tells us that man cannot make himself right with God through his religious works. God gave His Law (the Ten Commandments) to reveal how morally perfect He is, how sinful we are and to show us that the leap we are trying to make by offering good works in exchange for immortality is like trying to jump the widest part of the Grand Canyon blindfolded and with your legs tied together.

That leaves us with a knowledge that the only way we can be saved from death and Hell is by His mercy, and then He provided that through the suffering death of Jesus of Nazareth on the cross. Then He raised Him from death, and offered everlasting life as a free gift to whoever would repent and trust in the Savior. No religious book has a message anywhere near anything like the one in the Bible.

Questions regarding free leather jackets for atheists

Some of you have asked questions such as "How much to buy one?" "Why not make jackets for the homeless instead?"

Sorry, these are not for sale. It wouldn’t be appropriate to give a homeless person a $200 handmade genuine leather jacket. It would make more sense to instead buy him a warm $40 jacket, and give him $160 for food.

A number of you have already sent in your names, but here’s how it will work. I will mention within the text of my blog (3 or 4 times a month) that a new jacket is finished. I will then give the email address, and those of you who would like to be in the draw will need to then respond with your name. I will contact the winner for his or her address.

The Ultimate Dichotomy

"From Gk. atheos 'to deny the gods, godless,' from a- 'without' + theos 'a god.' Nowhere in the definition of atheist does it say, '100% that God does not exist.' That is something you religious folks love to add. I am an Atheist; I do not worship or believe in ANY God." caveman73

Thanks for the definition. It’s good when a clear definition comes from an atheist. You are without a God. We are with God.

What we are saying is very simple. God is life. He is the Source and the Giver of all life. So if you are without Him, you will perish. Remember the verse:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3;16, italics added).

We violated God’s Law and therefore brought upon ourselves the death penalty--in this life and in the next. But God is rich in mercy and willing to forgive all who repent and trust in Jesus Christ. Our case can be dismissed.

Give up the battle. You can have God with you, instead of against you (see Ephesians 2:12).

How cool is that?

Jacket for Richard Dawkins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvitmq7KkPE

Another Origin Giveaway

I’m pleased to say that 26,000 copies of On the Origin of Species were freely given out at universities in Australia and New Zealand on the 9th of this month--to preempt meetings by Richard Dawkins to be held there later this week.

Here’s a clip from the national TV network in New Zealand:

http://www.3news.co.nz/Intelligent-design-supporters-ready-for-Dawkins/tabid/309/articleID/145482/Default.aspx

One thousand more copies will be given out this Thursday. How wonderful it is that we are seeing a fulfillment of what Charles Darwin suggested in the Foreword to his book--that both sides be presented.

Do you remember Ida--the "missing link" that was found a year ago? "This is the first link to all humans," Hurum, of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway, said in a statement. Ida represents "the closest thing we can get to a direct ancestor."

Sir David Attenborough said Darwin "would have been thrilled" to have seen the fossil -- and says it tells us who we are and where we came from. "This is the one that connects us directly with them . . . Now people can say 'okay we are primates, show us the link . . . The link they would have said up to now is missing -- well it's no longer missing." Well, it was bogus. "Science News" headlined:

'Missing Link' Fossil Was Not Human Ancestor as Claimed, Anthropologists Say

ScienceDaily (Mar. 3, 2010) — A fossil that was celebrated last year as a possible "missing link" between humans and early primates is actually a forbearer of modern-day lemurs and lorises, according to two papers by scientists at The University of Texas at Austin, Duke University and the University of Chicago.

In an article now available online in the Journal of Human Evolution, four scientists present evidence that the 47-million-year-old Darwinius masillae is not a haplorhine primate like humans, apes and monkeys, as the 2009 research claimed.[1]

Sir David Attenborough said, "Now people can say 'okay we are primates, show us the link . . . The link they would have said up to now is missing -- well it's no longer missing." It’s still missing, so it’s back to saying that there’s no proof that we are primates. Of course, that won’t shake the faith of true believers. This is how they learn. Mistakes. Continual mistakes. And there’s a lot more to learn.

Thank God that another 26,000 people learned the truth this week.

NOTES: [1] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100302131719.htm

"If other religions are so damnable, why don’t you kill the followers of said false religions. After all, the Bible commands you to: 'If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God gives thee, man or woman, that has wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; ... Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.' -- Deuteronomy, Chapter 17:2-3,5." Michael

Why would I want to carry out the ordinances of the civil law of a three thousand year-old civilization? The Christian is commanded to love his enemies. That’s why I have this blog--because I love you guys. I care about where you will spend eternity.

I want to warn you that the above verses are the essence of the first two of the Ten Commandments. You are to have no other gods before the God who gave you life, nor are you to create a god in your own image. The god the atheist doesn't believe in, doesn’t exist. He’s a figment of his imagination. He has an erronius concept of God in his mind (something called "idolatry"), and that’s the image he believes doesn't exist.

However, the God who gave you life and breath commands that you love Him with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength. Have you kept that commandment? None of us have. We instead use His holy Name to cuss, and because of our multitude of sins His wrath "abides" on us (see John 3:36).

That harsh and merciless Law you have quoted will judge you on Judgment day, if you refuse God’s forgiveness in Christ. If you refuse mercy, you will get justice. Please don’t let that happen.

The Clever Atheist

There is a game that modern atheists play. It’s a word game. They say,

"I can’t prove that Santa doesn’t exist, but I have no belief that he does."

Then they apply that principle to God. They don’t say that He doesn’t exist. They just have no belief that He does. In so doing, they cleverly outwit those who are trying to instruct them about their eternal salvation.

Many Christians have no comeback with the clever atheist word game.

The clever atheist is like a man who plays a game with his parachute instructor. When the instructor is looking the other way, he cuts holes in his own parachute--but he does it so that it can’t be detected by his instructor.

Clever huh?

"Dear Ray, Please address some of the rebuttals that have been thrown at you. Such: Your idea of evolution (one species giving birth to another) would disprove evolution. The Bible being written by man. The Bible being horribly inconsistent. Your God doing immoral acts in the Bible. Why atheists "don't exist", but you still address us as such? Providing support that your God is the actual Creator (as opposed to other religions). Why the Bible condemns people for genetic defects (i.e. Dwarfs)." Benjamin

Species to species evolution is not one species "giving birth" to another. It is the theory that human beings evolved from primates (that they are our common ancestor). There is no empirical evidence for any species evolving from another species--either in the fossil record and in the existing creation. Every animal brings forth after its own kind. All a believer in evolution has is a belief that what he has been told is true.

The Scriptures were written by men, but they were "inspired by God" (see 2 Timothy 3:16). Do you write a letter or does your pen? You do the writing, and the pen is the instrument you use. In the Bible, God used man to pen His letter to humanity.

The Bible is not "horribly inconsistent." It’s not even slightly inconsistent. The problem is that it is not "rightly divided" by many of its readers. One great key to understanding Scripture is the correct place of "Law" and "grace." Failure to do that will leave any reader in confusion.

God has never done anything that is "immoral." All of His judgments are righteous and true altogether. He has proclaimed the death sentence upon the whole of humanity, and if He carried out swift justice today and treated each of us according to our sins, we would be in Hell in a second.

But He is rich in mercy and is waiting for sinners to repent (this is referred to as "the Day of Grace"). So it would be wise to draw back your holier-than-thou finger, and not stand in judgment over Almighty God.

It is impossible for any atheist to exist--because to say that there is no God, you need "absolute" knowledge. No one has that but God. That’s why Richard Dawkins uses the word "probably" when he says that there is no God. He doesn’t know if God doesn't exist, so he (like every other professing atheist) is actually "agnostic." It is because of this that I often use the word "professing" before the word atheist, but it becomes tiresome to do so every time.

It is easy to provide evidence that the God of the Bible "is the actual Creator (as opposed to other religions)." Ask Him yourself. He promises to reveal Himself to all that come on His terms (see John 14:21). No religion claims that. To them, the Creator is unknowable.

So there's the gauntlet. But most won’t take up the challenge because they "love the darkness and hate the light. Neither will they come to the light, lest their deeds be exposed" (See also John 8:31, 21).

Finally, the Bible does not condemn people for genetic defects. Those who believe that it does, would probably think that the Scriptures are horribly inconsistent--because they don’t "rightly divide" them.

The Old Testament (Law) carries hundreds of "typologies" of the New Testament (grace). You can see an example in John chapter 3:14-15: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." The opening of the Red Sea, the life of Joseph, the conquering of Jericho, etc., are all hidden types of New Testament truth.

Your reference is presumably to those with physical deformities not being allowed to minister in the Temple of God (under the Law). This is a type of the perfection that is required for those who enter the Kingdom of God (under grace).

Without the perfect righteousness of the Savior, none of us could enter Heaven.

BTW. The cartoon drawn by Richard Gunther does not say that I am big and that the questioner is small (that would be ridiculous), but that rebuttals of this sort that are "thrown" at the Christian always fall back upon the head of the questioner.

Bibles for Porn

Atheists are stirring up people's thoughts about God once again. A small and vocal atheist group on the campus of the University of Texas San Antonio has put up a poster--offering porn for those who will trade in their Bibles.

Authorities at the university say that the poster is within their free speech rights. The on-campus Christians therefore need to take advantage of the free speech rights, and put up a large poster, saying: "If you are thinking of trading your Bible for porn, read it first. Jesus said 'Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.'"

If you know of any Christians on Campus, tell them we will design a poster for them free of charge, and email it to them, pronto. We will also freely supply Bibles for those who want to trade in their porn. It would be good to have a nice big shredding machine by the table of Bibles. They can contact me through this blog.

"When I read the sermon on the mount it makes it clear that I am required to keep the entire law and not just the moral law . . .Why do you constantly say that only the moral law counts when that is clearly not supported by the very scripture you tell us to read?"

You are right. If you seek justification through the works of the Law (if you try and make it to Heaven by your works), then you are obligated to keep the whole Law. In Galatians 3:10 Scripture warns "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."

So if you try and seek justification through keeping God’s Law rather than trusting in His mercy, you are obligated to keep all of its 613 precepts. Then if you violate even one of its points, you are pronounced guilty. The Law is like a mirror. If you hit the mirror at one point, you don’t break that area, you break the whole thing.

This is what the Bible says: "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law"(James 2:10-11).

However, it is the moral Law that will be your judge on Judgment Day (see Romans 2:12 and James 2:12). So whatever you do, don’t follow the millions of people who think that they are going to get to Heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments because you are then obligated to keep the whole 613. The Law was given to show us our sins, in the same way a mirror shows us that we need cleansing.

They only way to be cleansed of sin and saved from Hell is to trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. His death and resurrection satisfied the demands of a holy Law, so that guilty sinners could be justified (proclaimed innocent) and have everlasting life.

For those of you who like life . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-8PBx7isoM

I wept when I watched this. There’s a reason why I was so moved by it.

It could be said that telling a loved one to put on a seatbelt is nothing but a scare tactic. But who could argue that it's motivated by love and concern.

I know that many of you accuse me of being anti-science because I don’t believe in the theory of evolution. You think I’m a liar, a thief, that I mock your beliefs, that my motivation is just to make money, and that I use scare tactics because I talk about the reality of Hell. Believe what you will, but I know that my motive for warning you is the same as the loved ones in the above clip.

You don’t need convincing that God exists. Creation and conscience are enough. You simply need to believe that you are in danger, and the only way that will ever happen is if you listen to the voice of your conscience as you go through the moral Law.

To do that, read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) with a tender conscience. Then read the rest of Matthew and follow the Savior to the cross, where He took your punishment and rose from the dead, so that you could escape the damnation of Hell and live forever. See Romans 13:14.

"His moral Law has been written by His hand on your mind--"I thought you said it was written on our hearts. When are the Christians in this country going to start speaking out against the killing of gays in Uganda? You see this Christian madness going on right in front of you and not a word. Just like the inquisition, slavery and crusades all over again. Religion is an engine of grief." Froggie

I’m pleased that you are paying attention. I deliberately said "mind" because a common ploy of atheists is to mock the use of the word "heart," asking if God writes His Law on blood pumps. It seems that they don’t listen to much music or loves songs--where hearts are broken, or where people "take heart," or where someone "wears his heart on his sleeve."

I’m a Christian, and I’m speaking out today against the killing of gays in Uganda. It’s also wicked for American’s to kill babies in the womb. I’m not sure how many gays have been murdered in Uganda, but I do know that over 50 million human beings have been murdered in the womb in the United States.

I notice that you call the atrocities in Uganda "Christian" madness, as if those who are doing the slaughter are Christians. I think you mean "religious" folk. There's a big difference.

I agree with you about “religion” being an engine of grief. Atheistic communism is number one when it comes to atrocities in history. Religion comes in second. So the problem isn’t atheism or religion. It’s the heart of man, which the Bible says is "desperately wicked."

So if you are concerned with wickedness, you had better look to yourself first, get your heart right with the God you have offended, and then take heart and take the gospel to Uganda and see the power of God change the hearts of men. You go to Uganda for that purpose. It is for that purpose that I came to the U.S.

"Ray, why do I have a hard heart and you don't? Why do I love my sin more than you? what is the difference between you and I? Anyone?" adambu

Why do you assume that I don’t have a hard heart? I am horrified when I think of how selfish and hard-hearted I am. And why do you assume that I don’t have a battle with sin? I do daily. I am sure that I feel the same pull of temptation that you feel, perhaps even more.

However, the difference between us is something called "regeneration." Through the new birth, God takes the sinner’s "heart of stone," and gives him a "heart of flesh" (see Ezekiel 36:26). The Christian still battles the old sinful nature, but God regenerates him by giving him a new nature through the new birth (see John 3:1-5). I daily have a choice to either be genuine as a Christian (stay free from sin) or to play the hypocrite, and end up in Hell. For me, there’s no choice.

The regenerated person is "born of the Spirit," and the Holy Spirit in him gives him (or her) the power and ability to live a "holy" life. That doesn’t mean that he is "holy" in the sense of wearing robes, sprinkling water on people, or sitting motionless on top of a 20 foot pole for 10 years. It simply means that he keeps himself from the sin of this world, and if he does sin, he has the wonderful and consoling promise of 1 John 1:9. I hope this helps.