Would Every Atheist Be Saved If There Were Just Enough Evidence?

Why do I say this? Well, what you will often find is that when you give them evidence that confirms there’s an intelligence—a Creator—behind life or the universe, they will claim it’s not evidence at all and just reinterpret it within their secular worldview.

Here’s an example. I have often appealed to the existence of the molecule of heredity, DNA, which makes it obvious life had to have been created by an intelligence and couldn’t have arisen by natural processes. After all, DNA is a complex information and language system. Information and languages cannot arise from matter by natural processes. And yet, when challenged with this example, I find secularists scoff and claim that DNA did arise by natural processes even if they can’t prove it right now.

So, what evidence for God would they be prepared to accept? Well, I’ve sometimes asked atheists the following, and I’ve had quite a number who have responded with something like, “If there’s a God, then why doesn’t he show himself to us? If God did that, then I would believe.”

During his time on earth, he showed himself to us and dealt with a problem we all have—sin. He provided the solution to our sin problem by dying in our place and being raised from the dead.

My answer to that is this, “Well, he did come to earth and showed himself to people, but the majority still rejected him. In fact, they crucified him on a cross.” I explain that the Bible states that God stepped into history in the person of his Son to become a (perfect) man (the God-man). During his time on earth, he showed himself to us and dealt with a problem we all have—sin. He provided the solution to our sin problem by dying in our place and being raised from the dead. And even though there were “many proofs” (Acts 1:3) of his resurrection, most still rejected him.

Remember what Jesus said to Philip in John 14:9, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” Yes, God did show himself to us—and he still speaks to his people every day through his Word!

God’s Word tells us, “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” (Romans 1:20). Yes, a person is without excuse if they don’t believe.

When I debated Bill Nye “The Science Guy” in 2014, one of the questions that was asked during the Q&A at the end concerned what evidence we would be prepared to accept to show our position was wrong. I answered, “None,” simply because I am committed to my stand on God’s Word as truth. Certainly, models based on my foundation are subject to change, but the foundation itself is not. Bill Nye answered by saying if someone found an out-of-place fossil, he would be prepared to question his evolutionary belief. Well, he wasn’t being truthful, as I had already given such an example in my presentation and he obviously rejected it. In other words, he was just as committed to his foundation that man determines truth as I was committed to my foundation that God’s Word is truth.

At a conference where I talked on Noah’s ark and the flood a few years ago, an atheist said to me, “I don’t care if they find a big boat on Mt. Ararat and drag it down the main street. I will not believe in Noah’s ark.” That reminds me of the scoffers in 2 Peter 3 who “willingly reject” (or deliberately disbelieve) creation and the flood.

We can’t save people ourselves and neither can the evidence! Only God’s Word by God’s Spirit can save.

And this isn’t a new problem! Think about the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (see John 11). The religious leaders wanted to kill Lazarus to get rid of the evidence (John 12:9-11)!

Now, this doesn’t mean evidence isn’t important—it’s very important to give answers for what we believe as Christians (1 Peter 3:15), but in doing this, we should always be directing people to the Word of God that saves. We can’t save people ourselves and neither can the evidence! Only God’s Word by God’s Spirit can save.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

Discover the Evidence for the Creator for Yourself!

Even the “evidence” that evolutionists claim points to the truth of evolution isn’t evidence for evolution at all!

Even though many atheists and other scoffers will reject it, there is overwhelming evidence for the truth of God’s Word and the Creator. Even the “evidence” that evolutionists claim points to the truth of evolution isn’t evidence for evolution at all! And you can discover this firsthand for yourself on a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience happening next spring (May 28–June 7, 2024) in the Galápagos Islands, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.

Discover the truth about the Galápagos Islands for yourself as you snorkel in crystal-clear waters among creatures as diverse as sea turtles, penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, reef sharks, rays, and a whole host of reef fish; meet giant (and we do mean giant) tortoises; birdwatch for exotic species; explore 1,200 species within the orchid kind in an orchidarium; and so much more.

During this guided trip, in partnership with Living and Learning International, you’ll learn from Answers in Genesis’ Dr. Jennifer Rivera (Director of Educational Programs) and Jessica DeFord (Education Specialist, wildlife ecologist), along with Galápagos botanical expert Vivian Rivera. It’s an exciting time of adventuring and learning in the most incredible classroom of all—God’s creation!

Space is limited, so register today!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.