How do we witness to those who say, "God is Dead?"

The original quote is from Nietzsche and he was referring to the Cartesian, rationalist notion of God. He wasn't talking about the particular god of any one religion.

 

Even so James, the idea is one that is held by many atheists. SB has a point how should Christians respond to these ideas?

 

Your original question: Yes, it is blasphemous to say that a member of the Trinity could cease to exist, it goes against everything in the Bible and Christian dogma. Moreover, there is no sensible reason to accept their opinion of this--I would say it's up to them to prove God the Father's death.

Now if you're going to shift gears and talk about atheists, atheists don't believe that God existed and then stopped existing, they believe he never existed at all. Since it is impossible to prove the existence of God, in that case friendship with the person and one's personal testimony would probably go farthest in changing their mind. You're not going to walk up to a die-hard atheist in the street and suddenly convince them that God exists, much less the Christian God.

Finally if we're talking about Niesche who said this, I'm with James Flagg and he wasn't talking about God existing and then dying at all.

 

Two words:
"I am"
Exodus 3:14


But you basically answered your own question. Here are a few verses to chew on. Have a good weekend.

John 6:37
" All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Romans 1:20
20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

 

If one was to follow Nietzsche, non Christians I mean, all the evidence is right there. Nietzsche was apt at pointing out the passiveness in the church, something that is evident in many of our churches today.

Personally, when I come accross atheists arguing Nietzsche I always bring up the existential philosophies of Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky. I'll post more later when I have time. I'm headed out the door now.

 

With a listening ear! I remember sensing at the time of the God is Dead movement -- right after I began work as a campus minister -- that these writers were using the "death of God" not only as a signal that Western civiliation seemed to operate quite well without the hypothesis of God, but also that God had withdrawn Himself from us. It was and is a signof overwhelming angst and an attempt to create our own meaning.

I always want to listen to and probe for the life events that have led a person to experience the absence of God instead of what most Christians experience, His abiding presence.

 

Jesus was not a student of the Jews! Even at 12 years of age He was found in the temple teaching the Jews, not learning from them.

Also, the Word of the Old Testament given to the Jews was given from Heaven. Jesus, being in Heaven, already had that Word.

 

Being the light of the living Christ should be sufficient, and let the Holy Spirit do the reest. If we try to do anything more, we'll probably muck-up the witness opportunity.

 

Being the light of the living Christ should be sufficient, and let the Holy Spirit do the reest. If we try to do anything more, we'll probably muck-up the witness opportunity. </font>[/QUOTE]Amen JohnV~

If were living for Him... maybe they'll see God is still alive.
I so love the scripture that say that we serve a living God.

Matt 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

 

I have debated Atheist online. You cannot even prove God exists or that Jesus was God incarnate. I can't go to an atheist and say look here is God. Just as Atheist cannot prove He doesn't exist. Evolutionist cannot prove evolution just as Creationist cannot prove Creation. I agree with JohnV as well we know gravitiy exist because of it's effect on mankind. We know God and Jesus exist because we see murders,rapist, and you and me become repentent and exhibit change. That's my opinion on the subject anyway.
In Christ,
Nate

 

We can take a man all the way back to beginnings and still be no further ahead. We cannot prove creation and we cannot prove evolution. Each one starts with a basic presupposition.

My approach is to test the history of the Lord Jesus Christ. Once I get the person to acknowledge that Jesus once lived, did He do what He said He did?

One of the best books on this topic is, Who Rolled the Stone. It is the story of a British newspaperman who set out to prove that Jesus did not even exist in history and came home a solid believer. I think starting with Jesus makes sense. We can go from there to our own personal experience of grace and what this Jesus means to me and has done in me.

Cheers, and God bless,

Jim

 

Thank you Jim. I agree with you. I have never argued the existense of God with an atheist. I have witnessed to athiests, though. I tell them of my personal relationship with Jesus. In short I give them my personal testimony. There is no point in arguing the existence of God. It is a matter of faith.

I have also debated the existential writings of Nietzsche and others, such as Sartre, with people. In short, Nietzsche was against the "herd" mentality of Christians, or rather the Christians who do not actively take part in their faith. Those who are spoon fed continually on Sunday and never think, or study, for themselves. It is possible to be a Christian and to think for yourself. The bible commands us to do so. We are commanded to study the word of God, not to just take the preacher's word at face value.