– Advertisement –

Unbelief as the De-Throning of God (Men Imagine)

by | Mar 5, 2024 | Opinion, Religion, The Church, Theology | 0 comments

✪ Read this article ad-free and leave comments here on Substack

In his book, The Existence and Attributes of God, the Puritan Stephen Charnock tells us, “It is natural to men to abhor those things that are unsuitable and troublesome as it is to please themselves in things agreeable to their minds and humors. And since man is so deeply in love with sin, as to count it the most estimable good, he cannot but wish the abolition of that law that checks it, and, consequently, the change of the lawgiver that enacted it. And in wishing a change in the holy nature of God, he wishes a destruction of God, who would not be God if He ceased to be immutably holy. They do as certainly wish that God had not a holy will to command them as despairing souls wish that God had not a righteous will to punish them; and to wish conscience extinct for the molestations they receive from it is to wish the power conscience represents out of the world also.” 

Charnock is expanding on the words of Paul in two verses in Romans. First, in Romans 1:18-23:

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who, by their unrighteousness, suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because god has shown it to them, for His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse, for, although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and creeping things.”

In this passage, Paul tells us several things relevant to Charnock’s point. First is that all men have a knowledge of God, which leaves them with no excuse for their unbelief. He has revealed Himself in His work of creation, visible to every eye to perceive. Therefore, when a person claims not to believe in God, he is practicing deception, both to himself and to those around him. The reality is that he knows God, his accountability to God, and the judgment of God which he deserves. And he hates that knowledge, and strives to suppress it in unrighteousness. 

The other passage is Romans 2:15-16:

They [the Gentiles] show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

This is the internal aspect of our innate knowledge of God. In the earlier passage, Paul described the external testimony of God’s hand in creation. Here he describes the internal testimony of God’s law written in the hearts of men, and the conscience which responds to our choices to disobey that law. 

So inside and outside, every man has a continuous testimony to the existence, holiness, and justice of God. And, as sinners, every man resents that knowledge, and seeks to be rid of it. 

One thing that we can observe about “atheists” is that they are silent about Wicca or Buddhism or the other religions in the world. Because those faiths whitewash our wickedness! It is only the triune God of the Bible that inspires the protests and opposition of their unbelief. Because it is He alone who is known in their hearts, and He alone who cannot be thrown down at their convenience.

Join Us and Get These Perks:

✅ No Ads in Articles
✅ Access to Comments and Discussions
✅ Community Chats
✅ Full Article and Podcast Archive
✅ The Joy of Supporting Our Work 😉



Three Ways to Support DISNTR


The Dissenter is primarily supported by its readers. The best way to support us is to subscribe to our members-only Substack site where you will receive all of our content ad-free, plus you will get member-only exclusive content.

Support us with a monthly donation on Patreon

Support us with membership to our ad-free Substack

Make one-time or monthly donation on Donorbox


👕 Or make a purchase from our online store. 👕
Make a Dogecoin Donation

- Advertisement -

Latest

The Teen Who Waited Too Long to Murder Her Child is Sentenced

The Teen Who Waited Too Long to Murder Her Child is Sentenced

In a Nebraska courtroom, justice was finally dispensed—but not in the way most would assume. Chloe Coplen-Anderson, now 18, was sentenced to 35 to 60 years in prison after being convicted of slitting her newborn son’s throat shortly after giving birth in her bedroom....

Anti-Trinitarian Heretic, TD Jakes is Stepping Down

Anti-Trinitarian Heretic, TD Jakes is Stepping Down

At long last, the velvet-tongued emperor of Christian celebrity culture, Bishop T.D. Jakes, has announced his exit from the pulpit of The Potter’s House—the crumbling empire he built atop the rotting carcass of the Word of Faith movement and anti-Trinitarian heresy....

- Advertisement -

Subscribe

Store

Follow Us

- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -

You Might Also Like…

The Teen Who Waited Too Long to Murder Her Child is Sentenced

The Teen Who Waited Too Long to Murder Her Child is Sentenced

In a Nebraska courtroom, justice was finally dispensed—but not in the way most would assume. Chloe Coplen-Anderson, now 18, was sentenced to 35 to 60 years in prison after being convicted of slitting her newborn son’s throat shortly after giving birth in her bedroom....

Anti-Trinitarian Heretic, TD Jakes is Stepping Down

Anti-Trinitarian Heretic, TD Jakes is Stepping Down

At long last, the velvet-tongued emperor of Christian celebrity culture, Bishop T.D. Jakes, has announced his exit from the pulpit of The Potter’s House—the crumbling empire he built atop the rotting carcass of the Word of Faith movement and anti-Trinitarian heresy....

False Teacher of the Day #62: Levi Lusko

False Teacher of the Day #62: Levi Lusko

Levi Lusko has built a reputation as the quintessential hip, modern megachurch pastor—tattoos, trendy sneakers, polished storytelling, and a high-production platform that attracts the crowds and flatters the culture. But beneath the fashionable exterior and charming...

False Teacher of the Day #61: Craig Groeschel

False Teacher of the Day #61: Craig Groeschel

He walks onto the stage with a flawless smile and a perfectly-timed pause. The lights dim, the audience leans in, and for thirty minutes, the man speaks with the cadence of a TED Talker and the certainty of a Silicon Valley mogul pitching salvation like a subscription...

- Advertisement -

 

Want to go ad-free with exclusive content? Subscribe today.
Already a subscriber? Click Here

Three Ways to Support DISNTR



The Dissenter is primarily supported by its readers. The best way to support us is to subscribe to our members-only Substack site where you will receive all of our content ad-free, plus you will get member-only exclusive content.

 

Support us with a monthly donation on Patreon

Support us with membership to our ad-free Substack

Make one-time or monthly donation on Donorbox


👕 Or make a purchase from our online store. 👕