Is God Necessary?

I read today in a news item that two eminent scientists have authored a new book arguing that the idea of a Creator-God is redundant. Because of natural laws such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason the world exists and why we are here! It is not necessary, they claim, to invoke God into the process.

"In the beginning, GOD .  .  .  "

Since I have not read their book, I don't know whether the authors say there is no God, or just that He isn't necessary. But in the very first place, the vast nothingness of space was formed by Him! "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." (Genesis 1:1, 2 NLT) God began speaking His "Let there be . . ." commands, and lo! something did come from nothing! No God necessary for creation? I cannot stretch my imagination that far.

Voltaire was a French philosopher and prolific writer living 1694-1778. He was sometimes critical of the Church and organized religion; nevertheless, he stated, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to create him." We need God. He put it all together, and He is the One who holds it together! "We look at this Son [Christ] and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body." (Colossians 1:15-18 MSG)

Many scientists have for a long time been trying to explain the mystery of the universe's creation without recourse to a Divine Creator. With a collection of overlapping theories, they think they are approaching the secret of "the grand design," filling in many—but not all, they admit—of the blank spots.

But anyway, doesn't a grand design imply a Designer?

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation marked NLT is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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