Is the graphic here – kindly provided by an Internet atheism community – true? Has the power of God (if you believe in Him) been reduced to a comedian’s punchline?
Sometimes it feels that way. So many of us look at this broken world, see the corruption, poverty, environmental degradation and violence, then wonder “if you exist, God, when the heck are You gonna show up and fix this?”
I’m a serious follower of Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is God’s Son), but there are times when I think this, too. Then I remember some key facts that straighten out my thinking.
1. Let’s be honest here; lots of people like the world as it is. Those who participate in child sex slavery probably think things are just peachy. Those who benefit from corruption likely don’t want anything to change. And those who are dumping garbage into the ocean probably have a team of lawyers ready to fight for the status quo.
2. My first point leads to the gift – and challenge – of freewill. The state of our world makes it plain to me that God takes this gift very, VERY seriously. So seriously, in fact, that He lets us spit on that gift every day. I know that’s what I do when I talk about someone behind their back, ignore the speed limit or offend someone with my incessant need to make jokes.
3. How do I know what God is really up to? Consider the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989-90. Or the defusing of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Or the eradication of smallpox. How do any of us know that God wasn’t behind these events?
4. The evidence of thousands of years clearly shows that working in partnership with us very imperfect humans is God’s preferred method of operating. Indeed, the words of ancient prophets and Jesus followers have all kinds of stories about God working through folks like Paul (an opponent of Jesus who became one of His most devoted followers) to accomplish His will.
So, when you consider these points, has God really been reduced to appearing on toast? Or is He making it clear that “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work” (words passed along through an ancient prophet).
I know that can be frustrating. But much more importantly, it’s a powerful reminder to me (and, hopefully, to you) that God is God. And I am not.
In the meantime, what I do know for certain about God is that He offers the gift of Jesus to everyone – no matter what we’ve done or not done.
When we accept that gift and decide to follow Jesus, we give God permission to start working in our lives to make us better people and this planet a better place. Does this interest you? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
Frank's Cottage 
Ridicule well deserved, if one takes a toast image seriously enough to claim it as a “miracle”. That being said, the resurrection followed “walking on water”, and that seems like kind of a big deal.
And if the source of this graphic is validating the Bible by using examples of creation (although I would note that there are differing interpretations of the biblical creation account even within a single denomination) and other such events, it is interesting that it does not include the rapture or the transformation of the heavens and earth recorded in the same canon, at some unknown point in the future.
Many Christians are far too quick to call something a miracle. If a child has a 1 in a million chance in recovering some illness, and he or she does, is this really a miracle? If 200 million lottery tickets are sold and one person wins, is that a miracle? The winner may think so, but I would have to disagree.
Sorry if I’m getting off track here, but one’s witness is greatly diminished when one starts assigning actions or events to divine intervention.
Thanks for your thoughts, Mike. Given that the source of this graphic is an atheist community, I think it’s safe to assume it’s doing anything BUT validating the Bible.
The charge that the meme (and whoever created it) is making is that God’s miracles have supposedly been reduced to appearing on toast.
Yes, but that’s my point: I am sure it was not an atheist who went on the local news and declared the toast image a miracle. If things like this are what (some) Christians are proclaiming as proof of God, how they expect to be taken seriously?
Agreed, Mike.
This chart is pathetic. Clearly, the creator of this chart never prayed sincerely to find out whether God is real. A simple prayer from the heart, “Lord, if You’re real, do something that I can believe in You”, would remove all doubt. The Bible says that such people are willingly ignorant.
Brook, it’s probably safe to write that the creator of this chart thinks prayer is a waste of time. 😦
Challenge accepted. Waiting for him to give me an answer. I suspect I will be waiting a long time.
God is not a lapdog waiting at your feet for your next command, Jimmy.
Yes, it’s all about free will. God desires for us to love Him willingly, to pray to Him willingly, and to expect Him to work the good things in this world through us.
As Christians, we need to realize, as you said, that “God is God, and I am not.” He will act; it is up to us to be ready to do His bidding.
Blessings, Frank!
Great thoughts as always, Martha. Thanks for contributing. 🙂
“How do I know what God is really up to?”
Yes! Tell us! How do you know???
“Consider the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989-90. Or the defusing of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Or the eradication of smallpox. How do any of us know that God wasn’t behind these events?”
Uhm…wait? Weren’t you going to tell us how you know? You seem to be admitting that you don’t know.
“In the meantime, what I do know for certain about God is that He offers the gift of Jesus Christ ”
Yeah, but, uh….again: how do you know?
For certain?
Frank, you have a persistent habit on these blog posts of claiming you are going to provide evidence that you never provide.
I believe you’ve missed my points. I presented information that calls into question the point of the graphic.
1) Doesn’t prove anything
2) You claim that god values free will over anything else. The fact that we allegedly go to hell for not obeying him indicates that is a lie.
3) Sorry, no. Small Pox was eradicated through a systematic vaccination of everyone in the world. It was humans that got rid of it. The diffusion of the cuban missile crisis was due to hundreds to thousands of hours of negotiation and collaboration. The collapse of the berlin wall was due to a couple thousand people physically going there and tearing it down. Its symbolic implication was due to years of protests, negotiation.
“God influenced it” is a terrible argument. Don’t even try it. You can’t prove it, as you can’t show me that my jug of milk at home didn’t stop world war II.
If you can ascribe the above to god, why don’t you fault god for the construction of the berlin wall, the events that TRIGGERED the cuban missile crisis, and small pox itself? Cherry picking does nothing to help your case at all.
4) Incorrect. The “evidence” as shown in the bible indicates that god is not just willing, but has actively interfered with and against humanity. He personally ravaged cities after cities. He personally caused the Wall of Jericho to collapse. He personally caused a plague, and killed every Egyptian first born. He personally came down to impregnate a Jewish teenager to create a mortal form where he could personally tell every single human being (in a 30-mile radius, the rest don’t really matter) that they are messed up.
ACTUAL historical universe indicates that god has done absolutely nothing. The amount of bad things humanity has done outnumbers the amount of good. The rationale behind all of the good can be understood to a very deep philosophical, moral, and scientific level. Of course, this vastly polarizes the “good” and “bad” that man has done, and in actual fact, things that happen just happen.
Lastly, your claim is inconsistent. You KNOW god did something about the Cuban missile crisis. You KNOW god did something about smallpox. But god is god and you are you, so you don’t know how god works. Make up your mind.
1. Who said my first point was supposed to prove anything??
2. Your point is wrong. We send ourselves to Hell through the bad things we do and the good things we fail to do.
3. My “argument” is every bit as good as yours. Your thoughts fail to disprove my point.
4. Does God “interfere” in human affairs? Of course. But the evidence I cited is still correct. You failed to prove otherwise.
Lastly, you’ve put words in my mouth. I didn’t say I “know” God did certain things.
(BTW, you may have noticed I changed two words in your comment. That’s because I don’t permit offensive language on this website.)
There is a Powerful God, and only one God! No need to debate the atheists’ thematic. We Christians know His power.
If they are interested in understanding that power, they might not be able to experience it because 1. it might be our fault, the Christians. Maybe we have not preached to them enough. 2. Their hearts are stones and are not willing to allow the Holy Spirit to reach deep in there.
It will be very easy for them to perceive and experience the almighty power of GOD. The secret is this: Consider Jesus Christ as your own Savior, repent, and live a life according to the Bible principles, and you’ll find the powerful God we Christians found.