Can you prove that God exists? Did you ever have that argument, on either side?

I am writing as a Christian, but I think some of the arguments miss the point. Most people in the world believe in God, or gods. Most of us are religious. Imagine an Atheist challenging anyone, in any religion with this demand “Prove to me that God exists!”

Is there an answer? Anywhere?

This is critically important. It’s the foundation of who we are, and we should not base our lives on something with no foundation.

Some people argue that God does not exist, and they also argue that God could not possibly exist. Here is an example.

Other people argue that God does exist, such as we see here: READ: Does God Exist?

So, when we are challenged, what do we say? For me, “we” is mostly Christians, but anyone who believes in any god, or gods, should think about this. Why do we bother? How do we answer the challenge?

Some people need to build a better foundation.

Here are some possibilities: This is too much work … We’re talking about different things … I don’t want to be controlled.

Those are good answers, believe it or not.

1) Too much work: If I was eight years old, and I said to you “How do you know there is no Santa Claus?” would you try to answer?

Many of us, including me, would change the subject. That conversation would be too much effort, with no benefit. I had those conversations with my children, but I didn’t try to prove anything to them. I just told them what I believed.

Jesus told his followers “Whoever doesn’t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.” (Matthew 10:14) If the followers of Jesus find people who want to believe in something else, they should walk away. Don’t even carry the dust of that place on your shoes.

That is harsh, but it is a good lesson. People who are convinced of something, and who want to keep what they have, will argue and fight. They should be left with their convictions. The war has no value.

2) Different conversations: Is your idea better than mine? Let’s compare.

Is my God a better person than yours? Let’s compare gods, divine persons.

If a believer like me listens, unbelievers reject things that we also reject. I have learned to hate religion, which is only a collection of philosophical ideas. I don’t want a better argument; I want a new life.

I follow a person named Jesus, who is “God with us.” He promised us “I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever.” (John 14:16) We were promised a living person, the Spirit of God, who would live in us and direct us to a better life. The proof of that is my new life, actions, and words that show the existence of God.

An Atheist may be rejecting a dead collection of ideas. We may be arguing about different things, and we might even agree.

3) Control and force: Can you prove to me [something]?

Why? What is the end of that conversation?

If I debated an Atheist and said “I can prove to you that God exists!” the other side could ask “What happens after that?” Of course, the unbelieving person who is convinced must start believing. I can use forceful words to force another person to agree with me.

That is abuse.

In the Bible, a man named Joshua spoke to people who already belonged to the correct religion. He told them to choose:

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

I am a Christian because I chose to follow a person named Jesus. I was raised in a very religious family and I didn’t really have to make a choice. I only had to agree, but that was control.

I was influenced, but I made my own choice. That explains who I am today, and I tried to pass that on to my children.

I hope we can all learn the truth about the God argument.