Does God Exist?

A couple weeks ago I was sitting in Chapel and I asked myself, 'How can we prove God exists?' You see, I love Theology and Philosophy in fact recently I went to a debate (actually more of a presentation) on Intelligent Design. So that question isn't really all that odd for me to ask.

I believe that God exists but I frequently come across questions online like, “What's one scientific fact that proves the existence of God?” or statements such as, “I challenge any of you to make me believe in God.” I never respond to things like that mainly because I don't think Internet debates ever end anywhere other than chaos. We can't conceive God. After all what is God? Words just can't describe Him, much less give proof of his existence. Even Aquinas' 5 ways don't do a very good job of 'proving' God. Even if they end up working they rarely lead to one Christianity.

Anyways, after this question floated through my head I looked up. And lo and behold there was the answer hanging right above the altar.

The Crucifix. The problem with the Aquinas' arguments is that there is no Christ. Graciously, God presents Himself in a very tangible, human way: a 'scientific' way. God comes to us as a baby lying in a manger, perhaps a 8lb 6oz baby. There, He is placed in a location in history, time that we can relate to. The problem with the Aquinas' arguments is that there is no Christ in them. Without Christ we are enemies of God. Without Christ we should all be Nihilists because absolutely nothing would matter without His death and resurrection. God as a human in the manger grows up, just like us. Then, He does the most human thing possible. He dies. Three days later He rises showing that He truly is God and death cannot even hold Him.

There is no way to prove the true God without Christ. If it were possible, it wouldn't even be worth it. Christ has placed Himself in historical events that can be proven by 'science.' (Why science is the deciding factor I don't know.) Christ said that He was God. Why would he not be telling the truth when claiming to be God led to His death? Through Christ's death and resurrection we are shown that there is a God, and He is gracious, loving, and merciful.

So if you ever come across an atheist just trying to prove 'God' exists isn't all that helpful. Tell them about Christ. Only in Christ can the true God be proven.

Pax Christi

Luther Hymn

I just posted a wonderful hymn by Luther, for the Baptism of our Lord over at my HT blog: Monk of Mequon

New Years Resolution

To post more on my blogs.. most of it probably will be at http://blog.higherthings.org/jkohlmeier though.

So make sure to check that one. I'm suppose to update once a week according to guidelines, but i think I really have 2 months

Merry Christmas!

Christmas

Go outside, look around. Christmas trees on the tree bank waiting to be picked up. Stores have all their Christmas decorations down. Some are even getting ready for Valentines Day!

Listen to the radio, no more Christmas music which was playing before Thanksgiving in some places. No more Christmas specials on TV. No nightly Christmas Movies.

By now the Christmas cookies are gone. The leftover food is probably gone or not being eaten anymore.

The smells of fresh pine, baking cookies, or cooking ham are almost a distant memory.

Those itchy Christmas sweaters are washed and placed in safe keeping until next Christmas. No more gifts to unwrap. Many people are probably feeling the after Christmas blues.

After Christmas....

After Christmas?

AFTER CHRISTMAS?!?!?!

Now wait just one second. It still is Christmas! We still see tree's and wreaths and nativities decorating our church naves. Last Sunday we sang great Christmas hymns like Of the Father's Love Begotten and Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming! We tasted the Body and Blood of Christ. For after all it is Christ's Mass! (More on that here) Some of us smelt the scent of incense or trees, that smell on our parents breath after communion which we could always smell when we were younger. We feel our forehead when we make the sign of the cross, remember the water which washed us once and for all.

We are coming to the close of the 10th day of Christmas. The TENTH day! There are twelve days of Christmas. Two more days of the Church season where we remember Christ coming and becoming man so that He would experience the senses we share. He would be placed under the Law. He would die as we all will, but He dies for you. But He rises, He rises so that we may rise too! He rises for you!

It kind of makes sense that the world thinks Christmas is over. After all they don't celebrate advent. Coming. That's what advent means. Christ came once, on what we celebrate as Christmas Day. He came to die and to rise. Christ comes to us at His Mass every Sunday in the bread and the wine. Christ will come again. To take us to His Father in Heaven.

One thing that all these times He comes is the angels singing. Christmas Day the angels filled the skies singing "Glory to God in the Highest." In the Divine Service we sing that song "Glory to God in the Highest" too. Then later we sing with angels and arch-angels and all the company of heaven: "Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth!" God of the angel armies, the Lord of Hosts! And again on the last day. The great trumpet shall sound. That song of heaven will be heard. And we will live an Everlasting Life.


GOD IS WITH US!

Merry Christmas!