Testimonies for the Atheist vs Demonstrable Evidence by the Scientific Method

Testimonies are the kind of examinable things that are accepted every day in courts of law. They are presumed to express a reality experienced by a witness. Rejecting a testimony without consideration is akin to suppressing reality or facts because of the way they are being communicated. It's like, for instance, a judge would refuse to hear witnesses that are ready to testify in a case because there is no video evidence supporting what they would be testifying about. But these witnesses can be examined, their backgrounds can be checked, their motives can be evaluated, and then a right judgment can be exercised. These are all ways that a person seeking to establish the truth could employ, versus demanding a kind of evidence that is not part of the precise case at hand to begin with. And taking that later course would mean rejecting evidence that is available albeit through the admission of a testimony.

Spiritual truth, in particular, can only be apprehended by faith, not by any scientific method. That's the path to know God, beyond knowing about God through the evidence of the things He has created. An explorer who sincerely wants to learn about sea mammals doesn't start out denying that the sea is a thing and heading toward the forest. Likewise, advancing that nothing exists that has been created by God is intellectual dishonesty that stops the genuine pursuit of truth without giving the appearance of insincerity concerning such pursuit. It's elementary fact suppression to clear the way to assert that there is nothing that can be known or demonstrated about God. And from that follows the conclusion that God cannot be known or does not exist. But faith comes from what is heard about God.

What is heard about God is itself a testimony. Those who can testify that they know God will also hold true that He has communicated to mankind through a precise form: his word. The Bible is a record of God's communication to mankind through the writings of his servants. And He has laid out the precise way to approach Him:

"Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness [that's repentance], receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word [that's faith], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. (James 1:21-22)

... "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:6‭-‬8)

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14)

Humility is key in one’s approach to God (that's a personal trait rather than a scientific apparatus). That statement can be evaluated for its investigative worthiness. A truth-seeker should not simply accept any statement as true. That is not what faith is about. But carefully considering the thing heard is the path to have any kind of faith. That implies trusting the message-bearer or, at the least, giving him/her the benefit of the doubt. That will be the way to progress to what will be personal, irrefutable, evidence of God’s existence: knowing Him because He has been pleased to reveal Himself to you who sought Him on his terms, that is, according to his word.1

Jesus who is the Word of God that appeared in the world in the form of a man was seriously challenged for his claims while He walked on the earth. This can be learned from what is written about Him in the Bible. Jesus made this statement to people who had their doubts, as you may have yours about Him today: “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.”2 Thus, taking Jesus at his word is then a clear path to have proof that what He taught is true and not myths to add to the many that are already being propagated on the earth, even through formal education. And taking that route has its requirements.

A prerequisite to seeking to know the provenance of Jesus' teaching and what that would imply is the humility to recognize God’s sovereignty. And that’s already beyond the question of his existence. Hearing that God’s existence is being called into question is, for a servant of God, like being married and hearing the denials of others that one has a spouse or knows anything about the intimacy attached to having such a spousal relationship. Thus, coming to know God, there is a way to that; but needing to establish that He exists is not God’s concern for anyone who doesn't know Him yet.3 

The attitude of a person who decides to approach God is therefore important. Jesus does refrain from revealing Himself to the random person who wants to check Him out. There is no seriousness in such an approach, while what He is looking for is a relationship like a marriage founded on love and faithfulness. The readiness to be in total submission to the King of kings cannot be excluded. Denominations do start by people who take the Christian name and embrace what they like about the teachings of Jesus or simply twist them. So, the truth must be sought, and it will be found by those loving it; it will save them.4 A good and honest heart is necessary to move forward.5 Therefore, when God opens the door for a relationship with Him, He expects reverence and that one offers to Him a heart that is ready to obey Him in all. That's a sacrifice. That's the real giving of one's life to God. And that's the only way to come to know God intimately - not unlike a husband knows his wife and vice versa. God will only come to be on the throne of one's heart where room has been made for Him in response to the way He has commanded that He should be approached: through repentance and faith in Jesus.

  

[You know] how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20-21)

1. John 14:21
2. John 7:16-17
3. Romans 1:19
4. John 8:31-36, 1 Timothy 2:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12
5. Luke 8:8, 15

Note: This is not creative writing.

Seek and Find Jesus
(YouTube playlist)

Revelation 12:11

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their life, even to death.

By the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11) 
(YouTube playlist)

This is what a punch of the devil against Christians looks like

Imagine all these things coming at you at once from many different directions...


When Christians are ready to argue about ongoing sin that they are dealing with in their lives as if the cross that Jesus commands them to pick up and follow Him (Luke 9:23) does not bring an end to sin (Romans 6:2; 1 Peter 4:1), that is a problem.

When Christians are ready to crush a brother or sister who shares the truth of the scriptures about being delivered from sin for good (the "Good News") with them while they have no idea who may be a false prophet in this world in this day (1 John 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1), that is a problem.

When these wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15-20) who can't possibly be saved themselves are elevated on pedestals as idols and regarded as great men and women of God (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Luke 6:26) who preach what tickles the ears of believers who do not love the truth (1 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:12), that is a problem.

When Christians are ready to defend what they have been taught and believed (while already being oblivious to who may be a false teacher/prophet/"minister of God" in this perilous time), but don't have time to study what the bible is saying and pray for understanding to show themselves approved to God (2 Timothy 2:15), that is a problem.

When Christians don't know that those who have been saved have been saved (set free) from sin (Matthew 1:21; Acts 3:26) and empowered by the grace of God to live for Him, no longer to gratify their sinful desires (1 Peter 4:3), that is a problem.

When Christians never hear from their preachers what that grace of God is, why they receive it and what it's supposed to enable them to do (Titus 2:11-14) if they don't receive it in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1), that is a problem.

When Christians know Ephesians 2:8 about being saved by grace but are never taught nor have considered themselves Titus 2:11-14 that defines the grace that brings salvation, that is a problem.

When Christians are under a spell called "it's not of works lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 8:9) and once they have that in their minds, they are unable to study any other scriptures to know God's will, that is demonic and that is a problem.

What do you do with this? What's the context? Faith or keeping the law of Moses?
James 2:24
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

When Christians don't care about the fruit they are bearing (Luke 6:43-45) and use the "judge not" card so no one disturbs them about the sins they are still doing, and so no one dares to expose that evil (Ephesians 5:11) and exhort them in love to do well (Hebrews 10:24; Galatians 6:1), that is a problem.

When Christians go after motivational messages but can't hear any exhortation to obey God and walk in the truth because they see that as opposed to grace, that is a problem.

When Christians know more about self-righteousness than they know about actual righteousness (1 John 3:7; Ezekiel 18:20-32), that is a problem.

When Christians do not know that Jesus did not identify his followers who chose to follow Him faithfully as "sinners" (Luke 6:32-34), that is a problem.

When Christians are identified as "the sinners saved by grace" while they are still sinning under that grace and are ready to fight the supposed "self-righteous" who simply state the truth that Jesus came so people can have their eyes opened and turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18), they show they have not understood the salvation Jesus has shed his blood for them to experience. Sinners who have been saved by grace should understand that they are ex-sinners (precisely because they have been saved) and when that's not understood because salvation is not understood, it's like Jesus came to die for nothing, and that is a problem.

When Christians who are still sinning under grace don't see that as being in bondage to sin, trapped in the snare of the devil (John 8:34-36; 1 John 3:8; 2 Timothy 2:26), that is a problem.

When Christians call anyone who does not confess with his mouth "we are all sinners" (with no end in sight) a "self-righteous hypocrite", that is a problem (because we are not all sinners actually).

When Christians do not discern in the bible who are called the children of God who love, trust and obey Him, his servants, the righteous vs. the people called "sinners" or "wicked" or "evil doers" (those who are called to repent and be saved), that is a problem.

Luke 5:31-32
31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 13:41-43
41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness (sinners), 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous (not sinners saved by grace) will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Those who are truly Jesus' disciples hear Him and obey Him. That's what having faith in Him means practically. They do what He says (Luke 6:46-49). Especially, He does not tell them anything that leads them to sin. They apply his teachings and see the promised results like freedom from sin (John 8:31-36). They are walking on the narrow way to eternal life (Matthew 7:14).

When Christians are taught "it has all been done on the cross", "put your trust in what has been done" and that makes you a believer, they think they have nothing to do. And Jesus comes in and says, "Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34), or "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15), or "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (not be saved)" (Luke 13:5) or "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46), they can't receive Jesus' words in any beneficial way because He is telling them to do things. And they have been taught that if they do anything, they are doing works and they are trying to save themselves (like it was even possible), and that they have rejected grace and when they believe all those things, that's a problem.

See:
The Essence of Faith

When Christians do not know that obedience is God's love language (John 14:15; John 14:21), the very fabric of faith that works by love (Galatians 5:6), and that they have to "return the love" He has shown to them by sending his Son to die on the cross to reconcile them to Him (that's "doing something"), that's a problem.

When believers are taught passages of scriptures discussing the works of the law given to the Israelites with the understanding that keeping those works of the law have no role in making a person right with God (ex: Romans 3:25-31, Galatians 2:15-16, 21), they are taught right. But when those same scriptures are applied to believers who know nothing about keeping that law in the first place to make them understand that there is nothing to "DO" that accompanies faith, that is a deceptive use of the scriptures. On the contrary, when the bible gives examples of faith, it says what the people did which proved their faith (Hebrews 11). Believing is inseparable from obeying God, as Abraham did and that was accounted to him as righteousness (James 2:21-23). No righteousness was magically transferred to him. It's what he did that was right in God's sight and God declared him righteous ("He that does righteousness is righteous" cf. 1 John 3:7; Ezekiel 18:20-32). And disobedience to God is unbelief (Hebrews 3:12-19). So, people who are not in the faith need to be taught what it means to walk in the faith as disciples of Jesus if they believe the Gospel. That is why Jesus commanded the apostles to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;" (Matthew 28:19-20a). So many suppose that this means "put your trust in the finished work on the cross" but that does not mean one is a believer or saved. Jesus has called people who want to follow Him to do just that (hear his instructions and put them into practice). Each believer has his/her own walk to walk in submission to Jesus as Lord and Savior and if he/she believes that has been done for him/her already, that's a problem.

When Christian take the apostle Paul's words ***out of context*** to describe their present state in bondage to sin as "chief of sinners" (Romans 6:2 contradiction), that is a problem. Do Christians really believe that the man who was Jesus' greatest apostle remained a "top sinner" after his conversion? Was that what Paul had wanted to boast about? What does conversion mean then? Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mathew 18:3). The apostle Peter said to people who weren't saved, "Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). So why would such a chief of sinners, if that's what the apostle Paul was till he died, tell new believers "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). He said Christ was his example, so then Christ led him to sin and be a great sinner? Believing that may be close to blasphemy. May God be the judge. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and if that is not happening in the life of a Christian, that is a problem.



May God help all those who love Him!




Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.


1 Peter 4:17-19
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? 18 "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?" 19 Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.


See also:
The Gospel of Jesus

Call to Repentance