Questions About Faith?
See answers below or send an email to Professor Wittmer: Michael_E_Wittmer@cornerstone.edu

Is there a God?
What about Evolution?
Is there more than one God?
Are all Gods really the same God?
If God is good, then why do bad things happen to good people?
Who is Jesus?
Am I really a sinner?
Is there really a hell?
What happens to those who never hear about God?
How can we trust the Bible?
What is the basic teaching of the Bible?
How can God forgive me?

Is there a God?

God's Word, the Holy Bible, tells us that God's existence is so obvious that it is the one truth that virtually everyone in the world can agree on (Romans 1:18-23). In the words of Saint Augustine, God has made us for himself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in him.
Everywhere we turn in this world we find reminders of his presence, signposts that stoke our thirst for God. No one can miss the presence of a higher power in the majestic flashings and rumblings of a summer thunderstorm, the vast expanse of a starry night, and the rush of euphoria from romantic love.
But sometimes our longing for God sneaks up rather quietly. As subtle as the warmth from a soft blanket, we don't often realize it was there until after it's gone. It may slip upon us while we're rocking an infant or carrying a sleepy child to bed, walking barefoot across a freshly cut lawn at dusk, sharing laughter and a meal with family and friends, staring into the glowing embers of a dying campfire, or watching convoys of ants cart a line of debris to their subterranean home.

If we take a moment to reflect upon these signals of transcendence, whether spectacular or simple, we may recognize that they flood our souls with both intense pleasure and profound sadness. In their grasp, we involuntarily gasp with delight at the sheer joy of being alive while we simultaneously ache for something more. We sense that these wonders of life are merely scratching an itch. We relish the temporary relief they bring, but in the end they only inflame our yearning, reminding us that the true meaning of life must be found beyond them, higher up and further in.
But rather than pursue this itch to its source, many people would rather just continue scratching. Although we suspect that we will never be satisfied until we rest in God, yet, shaped by the short-sighted worldview of our modern age, we choose to behave as if this life was all there is. So long as we stay inordinately busy, losing ourselves in our studies or chasing new and exciting moments of pleasure, we can largely ignore the hollow shell that our lives have become.
But the moment we slow down, taking time to examine our condition and the limited value of our endless activity, our dull ache returns. Once again we are forced to choose: shall we continue scratching or return to God, the one person in the universe who can satisfy our cravings?

What about Evolution?

There are at least two reasons why the recent theory of evolution can not disprove what everyone already knows: that God exists. First, despite its widespread acceptance among some scientists, we should not forget that evolution is merely a theory, not a law. There are many things that it can not adequately explain. For example, although the theory has demonstrated that some changes have occurred within species, it has not proved that evolution has occurred across species (e.g., that a monkey actually did turn into a man). Furthermore, how probable is it that everything in the universe, including us, evolved from a single micro-organism? The high improbability of the theory leads me to suspect that future generations will ridicule us for believing in it. Just as we laugh at those in the "Dark Ages" who believed that the earth was flat, so a century or two from now people will wonder how our scientists could convince an entire generation of otherwise intelligent people to believe in their theory.
Indeed, the low probability of the theory has interested an increasing number of scientists in what they call "Intelligent Design" theory. According to them, our beautiful, complex universe did not occur from a series of random accidents but is rather the direct result of a supernatural being's intelligent plan. As Psalm 19 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Second, not only is evolution unlikely on a grand scale, but even if it was true, its truth would only reaffirm the existence of God. Indeed, the theory of evolution turns out to be a powerful argument for belief in God. Think about it. The theory asserts that our universe emerged from a single cell after zillions of random mutations occurring over billions of years. Doesn't this process, unlikely as it is, require a sovereign being to oversee it? Is it possible that all of these changes occurred solely by chance? If not, then rather than disprove God, the theory of evolution, if it is true, requires him.

Is there more than one God?

What do people mean when they use the term "God"? They mean that this being, whoever he is, must be the greatest possible being. To count as God he must possess all of the best qualities in the fullest measure. For instance, this being must be the most powerful, most good, and most loving being that we could ever imagine. Anything short of this, say a being who is all loving but only second best in his power, is not yet God. To count as God, the being we have in mind must be absolutely the best.
If God must be the best, then it is easy to see why there can be only one of him.
Imagine that there are two equally powerful, just, and loving beings vying for the title of God. Neither one can be God, for neither one is superior to the other. Neither one is the best, for one's ability to do what he wants is checked by the other's power. And a God who is not strong enough to do what he wants can not be God.
Thus, by definition God must be one. Whenever people use the term "God" they mean to refer to the greatest possible being. And since there can only be one greatest, there can only be one God.

Are all gods really the same God?

Airplanes, the Internet, television, and other modern technology have made our world a smaller place, easily connecting us to people who come from the other side of the globe. For example, consider the backgrounds of students who participate in the Friends of Internationals. We enjoy a wonderfully diverse mix of Chinese, Indians, Saudis, and Africans, to name a few. We celebrate this rich diversity and seek to learn from each other as we share the uniqueness of our distinct cultures. Where else can one listen to stories of life in Pakistan while eating a Chinese dinner?
Nevertheless, there is one danger in these close friendships. We may begin to think that, like our different languages and favorite foods, so our various religions are merely the products of our different backgrounds. Those from Pakistan believe in Islam while some from India believe in Hinduism and some from China believe in Buddhism. Perhaps no one is right or wrong, but just like our languages and our food, we're just different. Maybe we are all actually worshipping the same God in our own unique way. Perhaps God is at the top of a high mountain. Just as there are many paths to the top, so each of our religions is an acceptable way to reach God.
This sounds very appealing, and might even be true, had not God already revealed himself to us. In God's Word, the Holy Bible, God tells us that he is not merely the top rung of every religion, but that he is specifically the Father of Jesus Christ. As such, he wants us to pay special attention to the words of his Son, Jesus, whom he sent to this earth to let us know what he is like. As Jesus told his followers, "If you have seen me, then you have seen the Father also" (John 14:9-11).
As the unique Son of God, Jesus Christ claims to be the only path that can safely take us up the mountain into the safety of his Father. In his words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). We must pay careful attention to Jesus' words, for if he is correct then none of the other religions can be. If he is wrong, then he is either lying or is himself deceived, in which case we should discount him as either a bad man or a fool. What we must never do, for Jesus has not left this option open, is to think that Jesus is a good man, even a prophet sent from God, but is wrong when he says that he is the only path to God. If Jesus is from God, then we must believe whatever he says, including his statement that he is the only path to God.

If God is good, then why do bad things happen to good people?

The problem of evil is the most difficult question we will ever face. Why do so many good people—many of them young children—contract cancer, wither away from hunger, or die in automobile accidents? This is not merely some abstract puzzle debated by philosophers, but, as any parent who has ever buried a child can attest, is a burning question with apparently no good answers—at least none that can make the painful loss go away.
Indeed, many evils in this world are so horrific that they may never be completely understood. God has never promised to explain everything to his children, including perhaps why he has allowed some to suffer so much for apparently so little gain. In short, the question why God permits evil may never be fully answered.
Still, there are two important things that we can say about it. First, those who believe in God are much better prepared to address the presence of evil than those who question his existence. Imagine how a modern naturalist (one who believes there is no God and that this world is all there is) might respond to an unfortunate event. If he remains true to his beliefs, he must surmise that his suffering is the random result of a universe governed by chance. He was just unlucky; perhaps things will go his way next time (then again, maybe not). Either way, it is up to him to make the best of his situation. Despite his pain and eventual death, he must attempt to smile and make believe that his short life of suffering is still worth living. What a heavy burden to carry! Can you see why such a hopeless worldview might logically lead one to commit suicide?
Far different is the situation of the theist. He knows that a sovereign God is governing this world, so when things go bad—and especially then—he is able to find comfort in his all powerful God. What a tremendous relief to know that every event that enters our lives must first pass through the hands of our heavenly Father! In sum, when we think of all the accidents and diseases that could come our way, we would be hesitant to leave our rooms unless we believed in a sovereign God who governed every aspect of our lives. It’s worth noting that even an agnostic instinctively prays when life turns ugly. He may say that he doesn’t know whether or not God exists, but such intellectual games are a luxury he can’t afford when the events of life spin out of his control. Everyone, even the most hardened skeptic, prays when they’re in trouble.
Second, not only do theists have a leg up on those who claim they don’t believe in God, but among theists the advantage clearly lies with those who believe in Jesus Christ. Why? Unlike other religions, the Christian God is not merely transcendent, content to ride above the fray, wholly protected from the suffering of his children. Christians may never know why their God allows the painful presence of evil, but they know that he has allowed their suffering to get to him.
Scripture tells us that God himself came to this earth to join our struggle against evil. He demonstrated his compassion for us in his life—healing the hurting, feeding the hungry, fighting for the weak and powerless—but even more in his death. Jesus Christ endured the most grievous evil in the history of the world when he bore our sins on the cross. Think of it. The greatest person ever, the perfect Son of God, was killed by the very people he died to save. Even worse, our sin ruined the eternal relationship between the Father and his Son. The Father, who had previously enjoyed an eternity of intimacy with his Son, winced when he saw the presence of our sin upon Christ and looked quickly away. Horrified, Jesus cried out in shock and dismay, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?!” In a moment that is too horrible for words, the presence of evil—the sin that we have committed—appears to have driven a wedge between Father and Son. How much does God love us? Enough to permit the evil of our world to rip apart the Trinity itself.
Thus, though we may never know the reason for this evil or that suffering, we can take solace in our omnipotent God who, rather than remain distant from our suffering, has himself entered our world to join our struggle. As the Bible says, since we worship a God who can “sympathize with our weaknesses…Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). <\br> Even better, the Christian God not only sympathizes with our pain, but he has defeated evil by his suffering. Three short days after his death on the cross Jesus arose from the grave, thereby demonstrating that he had conquered sin and death. In Paul’s triumphant words, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
We may never be able to explain why bad things happen to good people, but the presence of Jesus Christ means that we don’t have to. It’s enough to know that our all powerful Father suffers with us, and through that suffering has defeated evil once and for all. So Christians long for Jesus’ return, when he will cleanse the earth from sin and the pain and suffering that comes with it. According to the end of the biblical story, Jesus “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

Who is Jesus?

Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God who became a man some 2,000 years ago so he could save us from our sin. Fully God and fully human, he alone could suffer our penalty and die in our place on the cross. Our substitute must be human, for we humans were the guilty rebels who had sinned against God. But our substitute must also be divine, for unlike the rest of our fallen race, he himself must have no sin of his own for which he must atone. His deity guaranteed that he was righteous; his humanity enabled him to die in our place. Three days after his death Jesus arose from the grave, thereby proving that by his death for sin he had defeated sin and death. Forty days later he ascended into heaven, from which we expect him to soon return to destroy his enemies and gather his loved ones to himself.

Am I really a sinner?

You can answer this question for yourself. A sinner is a person who sins, or does things that he knows are wrong. Have you ever intentionally hurt another person, perhaps by taking something that belonged to them, saying unkind things about them when they were not around, or refusing to give them a hand when they needed the help? Have you ever said something that was not completely true? Most of it—maybe 90%--was accurate, but you conveniently left out the parts that might damage your reputation and emphasized only those elements that made you look good. Have you ever thought of yourself while you were helping someone else? Perhaps you proudly considered how good you must be to lend a hand, and you secretly wished that others might notice, too.
In our most honest moments we recognize that we do such things more often than we’d like to admit. We want to believe that we are better than that, that while we sometimes make mistakes we rarely intend to do what is wrong. And so we deceive ourselves, making excuses to justify our behavior, continually letting ourselves off the hook for the very same acts and attitudes that we quickly condemn in others.
The Bible tells us that everyone, us included, is a sinner, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). While such disturbing news understandably makes us uncomfortable, it is essential that we hear and accept it. Just as a person will not see a doctor unless he admits that he is sick, so we will not seek the great physician of our souls, Jesus Christ, unless we first concede that we are sinners. In Jesus’ words, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).

Is there really a hell?

The Bible says that every person will receive one of two final destinies: those righteous people who love Jesus and have received the forgiveness of sin will live forever with God on a fully restored earth, while those who continue their rebellion against God will be swept from this planet into a dark abyss of everlasting fire and torment (Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15).
While some may question why a good God would send people to hell forever, it is important to remember that everyone in hell has chosen to be there. Indeed, hell is merely the fitting end of a life that has thumbed its nose at God. Those people who are too busy or proud to make time for God, who in effect tell him to leave them alone so they can live as they please—such people intentionally shut themselves off from God. In so doing they feebly attempt to create a hell of their own on earth.
These people are currently spared the horrors of hell because they are not strong enough to completely separate themselves from God. The whole earth is full of God’s glory (Isaiah 6:3), and so they continually reap the benefits of living in his world. The air they breathe, the water they drink, the happy laughter of friends—these are just a few of the reminders of the presence of God.
However, after a lifetime of ignoring these reminders and seeking their own desires, these sinners finally receive their wish—complete freedom to live outside the presence of Almighty God. Too late they will realize that such freedom does not bring pleasure, but, separated from their beneficent Creator and the goods he so kindly bestows, they are left with nothing but utter darkness, everlasting flames, the gnashing of teeth, and worms that refuse to die.

What happens to those who never hear about God?

Many people suppose that a loving God would never condemn to hell those, who, through no fault of their own, never had a chance to hear the gospel and believe in Jesus. While such a belief may seem comforting, Romans 1:18-32 tells us that it is just not true.
In his letter to the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul informs the Christians there that those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ are not necessarily innocent, for they have rejected what limited information they did have about God. They may not know that Jesus Christ has died for their sin, but they do know that a righteous God exists who seeks their obedience (Romans 1:18-23, 32). But rather than repent and submit to this God, Paul says that people are naturally inclined to “suppress the truth by their wickedness…so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20).
In short, sinful people simply do not want to allow God to be God. Why? Because they wish to be their own God, doing what they want to do when they want to do it just because they want to do it. The game is up the minute they admit that a sovereign God exists who lays claim to their lives and demands their obedience. Now they must repent of their past sins and seek to do what he wants.
Since they mistakenly believe that such obedience will dampen the joy in their lives, these people seek to suppress the truth they know about God—either convincing themselves that God doesn’t exist or that, if he does, then at least he is likely content to accept a nod in his direction every now and then. So they construct a fairly easy religious system, a system which allows them to pretty much live as they please so long as they periodically light some incense, offer a few fruits and vegetables, and say a prayer for good luck when they’re in a pinch.
Rather than be pleased with such efforts, Paul says that the omnipotent Creator God of the universe is actually offended by such appeasement. He is not content to have the leftovers—he wants the entirety of our lives. He desperately wants his children to love him with all of their heart, soul, and mind (Luke 10:27-28). Those who seek to buy him off with half-hearted efforts only prove that they are more interested in pleasing themselves than pleasing God. It should not surprise us—or them—when they receive what they’ve been asking for all along—the freedom to live forever separated from the presence of God. Unfortunately for them, such an existence is the very definition of hell.

How can we trust the Bible?

The Bible can be trusted because it is the very words of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). But how do we know that it is God’s Word? We possess much evidence that the Bible is a special book. Its carefully preserved texts, fulfilled prophecies, profound wisdom, and the absence of errors and contradictions are just a few of the facts that point to its uniqueness. But how do we know that the Bible is more than a very special book, that it is indeed the very words of the living God? Only God himself can show us that. Christians believe that the same God who inspired his sacred Scriptures will also move in our hearts and minds to persuade us that what we are reading is a message directly from him. So read a portion of the Bible, say the gospel of John, prayerfully asking the God of the universe to instill its words on your heart so that you might hear the voice of God and strive to obey it.

What is the basic teaching of the Bible?

The Bible teaches us the story of life. The story opens with Creation (Genesis 1-2), a historical event that informs us that our good God made a beautiful world for us to enjoy. The story then turns ugly with the account of the Fall (Genesis 3-11). Here we learn that Adam and Eve—the first humans—wrecked our world when they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. Their rebellion not only ruined their relationship with God, but it also brought the suffering of sin into human society, work, and even nature itself. According to the Apostle Paul, the entire creation now creaks and groans beneath the weight of our sin (Romans 8:19-22).
Fortunately that is not the end of the story. The rest of Scripture, from Genesis 12 through Revelation 22, explains God’s grand plan of Redemption. Here we discover that the Creator God is not content to let sin destroy his good world, but that he intends to restore people, society, and even the animal kingdom to the flourishing peace they enjoyed before the fall. We who have received the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ are invited to celebrate this final part of the story, joining God’s efforts to redeem his world while we await the return of our Lord Jesus to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

How can God forgive me?

God can forgive me and you because he has held Jesus Christ accountable for our sin. God the Father loved us so much that he sacrificed his one and only Son on our behalf, sending him into the world to die in our place. We no longer need to dread God’s wrath, for all of his hatred against sin has been poured out upon Jesus. Jesus endured the hell of separation from God so we don’t have to. The moment we acknowledge that Jesus has died in our place, ask God to forgive our sin for Jesus’ sake and pledge to obediently follow this God who so loves us—in that moment we become a child of God, a son or daughter of our heavenly Father. How can God forgive me? Not because I deserve it, but only because another—the holy Son of God—has died in my place.