You're an Anglican? What a shame.

Greetings beloved,

Recently I have been chided by a particular family member for having become an Anglican priest. This family member (who will remain nameless out of respect) has told me on several occasions that I am "outside of God's will," and that "God isn't going to bless me because of it." This individual has said, "Anglicans believe in killing babies and homosexual unions, they even ordain homosexuals. God is going to rain down His wrath on the Anglicans." Of course as you could probably tell this person is a Pentecostal Christian.

Let me just say, I love this person and pray for them everyday. Furthermore, I'd like to share my thoughts on these subjects with you.

First and foremost, I became an Anglican priest because, after praying about it for a long time, and I sincerely feel that it is the will of God for my life. Besides, how is it that this person could know God's will for my life? Why would God share the intimate details of our personal relationship with Him, with another?

Second, I understand that the Anglican Church as a whole is presently in a state of derision and unrest as the Liberal minds contend with the Fundamentals over Church doctrine and policy. And I am well aware that some Anglican Churches are pro-choice and openly embrace the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender peoples. These are not my views, nor are they the views held by my particular communion.

Personally, I am pro life and I do not condone the sinful practice of homosexuality (for more on this issue, please read my next post).

Finally, I want to say that as much as I love this person, they pre-judged me based on their ignorance, or should I say based on their lack of information. If this family member, instead of immediately slandering me, would have taken the time to speak to me as a rational adult and asked me what I believe, or what my Anglican Communion believes concerning these issues they would have been gladly assured that we align ourselves with God's opinion as revealed in His Word.

As God's children, we need to breakdown prejudices whenever possible. Prejudice means to "prejudge" or "to make an estimation of someone or something without knowing the facts." Its a sign of weakness and indifference, not love and strength. Friends, if we could all be honest before God, there would be no prejudice and no slander.

So friends, let's endeavor, for the love of God, to be careful of what we say to others. The old adage still holds true; "A minute on the lips, a lifetime in the heart." Hurtful, slanderous words are like bullets fired from a gun, you can't take them back after the damage is done.

My prayer for all:

Almighty, loving Heavenly Father, You love each of us with a love that transcends all prejudicial barriers. Teach us to love others in this manner and forgive us for the times that we've judged others. Help us Lord to stand for the truth of Your Word, and to uphold your will for our lives. Purify our hearts and use us to draw others together into the bond of Christ's love. Amen!

Till next time.

God's blessings to you all,

Fr. Ernest+

Proving the existence of God Pt. 2

Continuation of my letter to Jerry…

Jerry, I know that you are a smart person, and I know that if you will just weigh the evidence, you will see that there is more evidence to support the existence of an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good God. My faith in this is so strong that for the continuation of this letter, I will attempt to prove the existence of God without any recourse to religion or religious books.

If we were to call out to God and say, “Please talk to us, we want to know for sure that you exist,” He wouldn’t. He doesn’t need to. You see, God has given each of us a brain to reason with (utilizing those critical thinking skills that we possess). All we need do is look at the evidence that proves His existence.

Let us examine briefly the scientific method and we’ll see if science has any way to prove or disprove God. In the scientific method, scientists must observe a phenomenon and form a theory about how it operates. This theory must predict the outcome of that experiment or observation. Then the scientist repeats the experiment or observation as many times as he can. If the experiment or observation fails, his theory is proven false and he must go back and formulate a new theory. The new theory must take into account the actual results of the previous observations and experiments, and then the scientist tries again. No scientific theory is worth anything if it doesn’t contain predictions that might prove it false. Now, if the prediction is true, that doesn’t prove that the theory is true it just proves that the theory is more useful than the previous theory. The new theory must make new predictions that can be proven true or false by experiment and observation. Numerous scientific theories have succeeded time and time again, only to be disproved in the end. Science has come to the conclusion that theories are not true or false, but rather, they are more useful or less useful.

Take for example the theory of gravitation. It’s proven constantly everywhere around the world and throughout our universe. We know most certainly that gravity exists. Every time we drop our car keys, every time we don’t float out of our chairs, we prove gravity’s existence, but the theory of gravitation seeks to describe the WAY gravity works. Sir Isaac Newton was the first to ‘correctly’ describe the rules of gravity (we still don’t actually know how it works). Newton’s descriptions of the laws of gravity and motion are one of the greatest feats of the human mind. After many, many years of being ‘proven’ correct, a young scientist named Albert Einstein proved his laws false. Einstein proved Newton’s laws only a little false, and under special conditions, but none the less, it was enough to revolutionize science forever. Newton’s laws however still hold for the vast majority in all practical circumstances, and to prove it, all you need to do is drop something.

Now Jerry, I know that you’re probably saying right now, “I don’t need a refresher course in high school science,” but I said all of these things so that I might set the stage for explaining to you that there are simple demonstrations available to prove by observation that God exists, in fact there are many.

The demonstration of the existence of gravity is one. The fact that something exists that can be dropped. Then there is the existence of someplace to drop an object and the existence of the one dropping the object as well as the existence of the mind that is observing and interpreting the dropping. Just the observation that things exist, that there is a creation, is proof of God. You cannot have a creation without a creator. Science has proven irrefutably that nothing can come into existence spontaneously.

There are only four possible explanations for why this universe exists. First, is that this universe is only an illusion. This notion is preposterous especially in an age of scientific enlightenment.

Second, is that the universe came into being by itself, from nothing. We’ve already dealt with this one slightly. This explanation flies in the face of science as it violates both the laws of cause and effect and the law of energy conservation. If you remember back in 1988 Billy Preston had a hit song; “Nothing from nothing leaves nothing…” well, he was absolutely correct, there simply are no free lunches. All of the conditions that are true in this universe make it absolutely impossible for matter to spring into existence from nothing.

Third, says that this universe has always existed, eternally. This hypothesis is devastated by the scientific law of entropy, which states that if this universe had eternally existed, it would have died an “eternity ago” of heat loss.

Finally, the last most credulous possibility is that God created our world. The whole universe and all that is in it is a great testimony to the existence of God. In an age of empirical science, nothing could be more certain clear or correct.

You see Jerry, creation is ordered and predictable. Things don’t just suddenly appear or disappear. Gravity doesn’t suddenly turn itself off at unexpected times. A ton of iron doesn’t become half a ton one day and two tons the next. Everything works perfectly and in total harmony. No matter how wild, violent or strange things may seem here on earth and out there in our universe, everything follows a set of universal laws. The world turns, we experience night and day, the earth orbits the sun and we have different seasons. We don’t have to worry about the sun not coming up tomorrow or winter lasting for five years. Isn’t it nice that everything that God has created always works? Wouldn’t it be nice if everything we humans created would always work? (Well maybe not everything!) It is inconceivable to me how any honest thinking, rational person could believe that such a universe arose by chance. Especially when we know, scientifically it is impossible for anything at all to arise by chance. All the perfection and consistency demonstrated throughout our universe could only be the product of the infinitely intelligent mind. If there is an intelligent design there must be an intelligent designer. This is further proof of the existence of a perfect and consistent Creator God.

Our astronomers have observed regions of the universe that are hundreds of millions of light years away, and they have never found any difference in the behavior of matter and energy anywhere, nor do they expect to. Things work consistently here where we are, and they work consistently everywhere else. As far as can be determined, they’ve worked that way from the beginning and they always will.

Cosmologists say that all matter and energy suddenly appeared at some point in the past. They call that occurrence ‘The Big Bang’. Other theories have even been proposed but so far none of them could withstand the tests of science. According to the Big Bang theory, the whole universe began as a tiny unimaginably compressed ball of matter and energy. It exploded and is still expanding after hundreds of thousands of millions of years. If this is true, where did this tiny ball of matter and energy come from.

Professor Albert Einstein showed that matter and energy are interchangeable. He described their relationship in what is probably the most famous equation in the world; E=MC2. Considered the first law of Thermodynamics, it states that matter and energy cannot be either created or destroyed. Matter can change from one kind to another and so can energy. But in no case is there ever a loss or gain in the total amount, and this law that is so foundational to science has never been contradicted anywhere in observable nature. The paradox of this law which says matter and energy cannot be created and the scientific observations that prove that there has been no past eternity of matter and energy point inexorably to a great Creator God.

These proofs as well as others of God’s existence are enough to satisfy most honest thinkers, but many scientists have hypothetical explanations that don’t require God’s hand. But fact of the matter is that science has never produced life in the laboratory. Science can’t produce a simple single celled organism, let alone synthesize a spermatozoon (male reproductive cell) or an ovum (female reproductive cell). Not only can they not produce life of any kind, but they’ve never seen it spontaneously appear either. Scientists believe with a great leap of blind faith that given the proper circumstances and enough time, life must appear. They say that the reason the universe is so perfectly formed and balanced is because if it were not, we wouldn’t be here to observe and speculate on it. Does that make sense to you Jerry? All the laws of this universe, all of the order and all of the exacting conditions in this universe that make it possibly for life to exist have come into being from nothing simply so that we can observe them. Does that sound like rational intelligent critical thinking? Jerry, these aren’t answers, they’re just desperate attempts to explain the unexplainable.

The greatest proof for the existence of God; one which no one can dispute is the existence of these universal physical laws. Gravity follows law, the law that was observed and described by Sir Isaac Newton and later modified by Einstein. Mankind with his finite intelligence may not have yet perfectly described that law, but it undeniably exists, and it never changes. The whole universe follows the law of gravitation as well as a myriad of other laws such as the law of cause and effect, energy conservation and the law of entropy among others. From the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy in our universe, these laws are followed perfectly and for all time.

Living things also follow certain laws; from the laws of chemistry inside of all living cells to the laws of inter-species interactions within a large ecosystem. None of these laws has ever changed or wavered, and no scientist has ever created or destroyed or even manipulated or modified the actual operation of a physical law. Scientists wouldn’t even know how to go about changing one of these laws. These laws have never conflicted, contended or counteracted another; the laws of our universe are all in perfect balance and harmony with each other operating in perfect unity for our benefit. Since we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that these universal laws do exist, then we must intelligently reason that there must be a universal Lawgiver. Now that makes perfect sense doesn’t it Jerry?

To reject the existence of an intelligent, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-good, universal lawgiving creator God is to actually accept a myriad of nonsensical fables that can be proven false by our logical and critically thinking empirical science.

Jerry, maybe you won’t accept these things as indisputable evidence for God’s existence, and that’s okay, because you’re entitled to your opinion. However, since you cannot prove he doesn’t exist, and that science actually provides more evidence for the existence of God than not, don’t you think it would make more sense to err on the side of caution and give God a chance to prove Himself to you? After all if He is real and He is your Creator, then you are answerable to Him. Furthermore, if He’s real, then He has created a place of eternal torment called hell which is reserved for unbelievers. Jerry, God is interested in you. He doesn’t want you to end up in hell; He loves you and has a plan for your life. He has promised in His bible that if you call on Him, He will in no way cast you out. God bless you Jerry, I hope this helps you. If you have any further questions I will be glad to answer them to the best of my abilities.

Your friend,
Ernest

God’s blessings to you all beloved!
Fr. Ernest

Proving the Existence of God Pt. 1

Some time ago, I received an email from a friend who did not believe in God. In his email he set out to explain how science could disprove the idea of God. I would like to share his email with you and my response.

My friend writes...

Ernest,

Thank you for the stimulating conversation last night, you raised some interesting questions, however, most of your arguments stem from the presupposition that there is a God. I understand that this is your sincerely held belief, but if you will lay aside your assumptions and use the critical thinking skills that we both possess I'm sure I can demonstrate to you that God is nothing more than a fairy tale.

Christians believe that God is an all-powerful, good God and that he can do anything. You also say that every human being is inherently evil. Well, let's say that you met a person who was sick and maimed, and that you had the ability to cure him. Would you help that person? Of course you would, in fact most of us would if we could... but God doesn't, does he? When your grandmother was dying of cancer and you prayed for God to heal her, did he? No, even though you prayed all those prayers to God and Jesus to heal her, she still died. If God is good and all-powerful and can do anything why wouldn't he help? If an evil person like you or I would help, why wouldn't an all-powerful all good God help? Because he is not real.

Furthermore, you say that this all good God created everything in this world even his arch enemy Satan. If you believe this then you must honestly conclude that all the evil in this world, all the sickness and disease, all the immorality, hatred, ugliness, brutality, pain, torture, suffering, death and all terrible things that exist in this world were created by God, even the most evil thing ever to exist the Devil. Now does this seem logical to you that an all powerful, good God would do that? To think this way is idiotic.

Science tells us that we have five senses that we use daily to perceive reality and to experience, identify and observe the world around us. So, have you ever seen God? Have you ever heard him, felt him, tasted or smelled him? No, I don't think that you have, and yet you still believe in him. My friend, according to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, God doesn't exist.

My response was...

Jerry,

We all know that there is such a thing as heat, but just about everybody in this world (including critical thinkers like yourself) believes there is such a thing as cold. Truth is, that there is no such thing as cold. We know that we can have a lot of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega-heat, white-heat, a little bit of heat or no heat at all, but we don't have anything called 'cold.' Temperatures can reach 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we cannot go any farther than that. If there were such a thing as cold, we would be able to go colder than 458 degrees, but we can't. We're able to measure heat because it is energy but we can't measure the cold. Cold doesn't exist, its only a word that we use to describe the absence of heat, its not the opposite of heat its the absence of it.

The same thing applies to light and darkness. We can have bright light, normal light, low light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing, and we call it 'darkness.' Darkness doesn't exist, its only a word that we use to describe the state of having no light. Darkness isn't something, its the absence of something.

Now, I've said all of this so that I may point out to you that your philosophical premise is flawed to begin with and that is why your conclusions are in error.

Let me explain. You are working on the premise of duality, that there is for example life and death; a good God and a bad god. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can touch or measure. My friend science cannot explain our thoughts. They may know that there are electromagnetic impulses within the brain but they have still never seen, heard or felt some one's thoughts, much less fully understood or measured them. Viewing death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, it is merely a word that we use to describe the absence of it.

You see, Jerry, immorality is just the absence of morality, injustice is the absence of justice and therefore you must understand that evil is not the opposite of good, its simply the absence of good.

The fact that there is evil in this world shows that God is accomplishing a work through the agency of evil. The bible tells us that this work He is accomplishing is to see if each one of us will, of our own free will, choose good over evil. One day, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelations 21:4). In the mean time, we will all experience sickness and suffering as we are a part of this godless world, and as are bodies are subject to the law of decay which God has set as a natural law within our universe. The death toll is one per person and we will all make it. Jesus said, "It is appointed unto man once to , but after this the judgement" (Hebrews 9:27). As Christians we are more concerned with what happens after death.

Jerry, I know that you don't recognize the concept of God or any other theological factor as being part of the world equation because you think God is not observable, but let me point out that the absence of God's moral code throughout this world is probably one of the most observable phenomena there is.

You believe, as do many others, that mankind has evolved from a common ancestor, and yet neither you or Science has ever observed evolution.

We know for a fact that micro-evolution takes place, it is merely the changes that occur within a species, we call it adaptation. This is not the type of 'Evolution' that Charles Darwin touted in his work 'the Origin of the Species.' He claims that we have evolved over time from one species into another, ending up in our current form. This is a process called 'macro-evolution' and it is the changing or mutating from one species to another, for example a dog to a fish, or a snake to a bird. No where in the realms of empirical science have we ever observed this type of evolution, nor do we even have one shred of proof that it has ever taken place. Truth is, all of our scientific evidence militates against this theory. Dr. Francis Crick's experiments prove that DNA can not come into existence on its own, or through the process of random mutation. DNA doesn't gain information over generations as evolutionists believe, it actually loses it. Furthermore, we have in the museums of the world over 1 million fossils and yet we still do not have even one fossil of a transitory form (the fossil of an animal that has died in its transition from one species to another, such as the fossil of a half cat half lizard).

So then, since no-one has ever observed the process of evolution at work, and since empirical evidence proves that evolution is not an ongoing process, isn't it you who are believing in a fairy tale?

If that isn't enough logical or critical thinking, let me go on. No one has ever had a sensory perception of your brain whatsoever, so then according to your rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says... my dear friend, that you have no brain. "Professing to be wise they became fools" (Romans 1:22).

You see Jerry, as a Christian, I don't throw science or critical thinking out the window in order to accept the supernatural. On the contrary, I utilize science, logic and critical thinking to prove my faith. Furthermore, you must understand that to say that there is no God or that He doesn't exist is a 'Universal Negative.' It is impossible to prove, because to know for sure that there is no God, one would have to be God.

Part 2 next entry.

God's blessings to you all.

Peace That is Beyond Human Understanding

Having come from a slightly messed up childhood, I was always searching for peace in my life. I remember watching the 70's Television program Kung-Fu featuring David Carradine, and thinking to myself how much inner peace he seemed to demonstrate. I figured that the Buddhist monks must have found the secret to having peace, but I was wrong. I searched other world religions and found nothing but empty promises. So then I looked towards money, surely I would find peace if I made more money. But money wasn't the answer either, as a matter of fact, in some instances it only made things worse. Then I turned my attention to accumulating knowledge, after all, if I was smart enough then I could figure out why I had no peace and where I could get it. So, after acquiring several degrees I still hadn't found peace. Peace wasn't to be found in relationships, food, drugs or alcohol. When I came to Jesus Christ by an act of faith, and experienced the great love that He had for me, He gave me the gift of His Holy Spirit which produced in me the fruit of the Spirit which in turn provided the peace of God that is beyond human understanding--- the peace that I had been so desperately longing for. Now, God's presence fills my heart and mind with peace, bringing into perspective all that I'll ever need--- Him, my Heavenly Father.

God's blessings to you beloved!