IS GOD DEAD?

Those of us who lived through the decade of the 1960's will no doubt remember the “God is Dead” movement, announced in the April 8, 1966 edition of Time magazine. The movement was philosophical, from a widely quoted statement by Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche didn’t believe the God of Scripture was real, but was stating humanity’s need for a god was no longer valid. His view was founded on the philosophical belief that objective truth was impossible to discern, and that one’s “needs” were the truths by which life should be lived.

The full quote Nietzsche made is interesting in light of where we are today, not just philosophically but spiritually. “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was the holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives. Who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”

Nietzsche was an atheist, but his statement reveals what must happen if one rejects God, in that one becomes his or her own god. There will always be something ruling in the hearts of people, whether it’s the one true God or one’s desires. Paul recognized this when he wrote the Christians in Rome, “For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles” (Rom. 1:21-23).

As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. What began as philosophical rambling is now part of our society’s consciousness and everyday experience. While there is still a belief in the concept of God, few are willing to approach Him on His terms, on the basis of His revealed truth in Scripture. Lip service is offered to God, but in reality many people have become their own god, determining what truth is for themselves and how they should live. For them, God has become an enabler to whatever lifestyle they choose, and in the end will see to it that they will go to heaven.

This isn’t what Scripture reveals to us. The Bible is inspired, God-breathed, as it offers in its pages authentication for the claim it is from God, “because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). If one comes to it with an open mind, allowing Scripture to present itself without prejudice, it reveals God to us and creates faith in Him (Rom. 10:17). It shows to us that it is the source of objective truth, found not in ourselves and our desires, but in what God has made known. What God makes known that there are only two paths to life, one based in His will, the other in however else one chooses to live. The narrow path defined by God leads to eternal life, while the broad way leads to eternal destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). He reveals that in His love He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, and in His blood there is forgiveness (Heb. 9:13-14). He reveals that if we love Him as He has loved us, we will obey His commands (John 14:15), for in them is His blessings and the promise of all that is good for us, including eternal life (Rom. 6:22).

It is from human philosophy that the idea came about we can be our own god, that we can pick and choose how to live and whether or not to obey, not from our Creator. Satan is no doubt pleased that so many have decided to follow such ideas, but not God the Father who loves us and has done everything necessary for us to have salvation through Jesus Christ. His word is true and unshakable in its promises to us. Who will you chose to listen to? The eternal God, or the mind of man distorted by sin? “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Or who has ever first given to Him, and has to be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:34-36).

Robert Johnson