Outsmarting God

Kareem, a foreign student in a doctoral program, was my teacher in an advanced college math class. He and I occasionally spoke before class. Topics included mathematics, his home country, religion, God, and the Bible. Upon arriving early to class one day, Kareem casually approached my desk and said with a grin, “You know, I can prove that God does not exist.”

I quickly responded, “And I would expect that you can also prove that God DOES exist.”

His eyes lit up and he fired back, “So what does that tell you about God!?”

“He is not subject to human proof,” I said (glad not to have embarrassed myself).

Kareem seemed quite satisfied with the whole exchange knowing that his ‘proof’ was simply based on human logic. It was his purpose was to show the absurdity of using math and human logic to attempt to prove or disprove God. Yet, that has not stopped many from deceiving the naïve and unsuspecting.

Recall Satan’s attempt to deceive Jesus with the first temptation:

If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.

—Matthew 4:3

Who said that turning stones into bread proved one to be the Son of God? Satan made a logical connection where none existed. Deceiver.

Recall how some Jews plotted against Jesus. They asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. If Jesus answered, “Yes,” then he would be siding with the Roman government and turn the people against him. Yet, to answer, “No,” would be to position himself against Rome. Testers.

A modern-day writer posed a series of difficult-to-answer questions about a controversial issue. His questions were meant to tear down teachings from the past and usher in greater enlightenment. Though the questions might have been challenging, they did not change the simple text of Scripture. Questioner.

A popular writer posed the question, “What if Mary was not a virgin.” He went on to talk about translation issues in Old Testament prophecy and whether the prophecy really meant that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Matthew plainly indicated that the virgin birth fulfilled that prophecy. Yet the writer wondered with doubt whether the Jews expected a virgin birth and how that might affect the way people look at Scripture. Doubter.

The deceiver, tester, questioner, and doubter all have one thing in common: They are scoffers who have little regard for God’s word. Through their wordcraft they create clouds of doubt where none exist.

Through human reasoning some think they have out-witted God to create ‘gray areas’ in His word that do not exist. They have confused clear teachings regarding sin and righteousness in order to justify their ideas. Do not be fooled! Just because a person can ask tough questions, create doubt, rationalize, and/or make straightforward teachings fuzzy does not make that individual a good teacher. He spreads seeds of doubt so that people question God’s word and God Himself. He does not love the truth but only himself.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and

   do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

   and He will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

—Proverbs 3:5-7

Mark Stinnett

July 20, 2025

Help My Unbelief!

Have you ever wondered about the miracles of Jesus, really pondered the miracles?

I’m not talking about occurrences in our day that people sometimes claim to be miracles. (Birth is not a miracle; it is the natural way that God created for mankind to reproduce. Extraordinary, but not a miracle. Other modern miracles fit into this same category.) I am talking about the laws of nature being suspended so that something that simply cannot happen, does happen.

Extraordinary would be setting a world record for the largest pumpkin ever grown. Yet, planting a seed one day and then harvesting from the same plant the next day...miracle. Extraordinary events seem impossible; miracles are impossible in nature. Miracles indicate the presence of the divine.

The miracles that Jesus performed were a testimony to His true identity. The Old Testament prophets told of the Messiah who would perform miracles. Jesus did. He was the Messiah.

News of Jesus, the miracle-worker from Galilee, spread throughout the land. People did whatever they had to do in order to find Jesus so that he could heal them or heal a loved one.

On one occasion a man approached Jesus asking Him to heal his demon-possessed son. He had asked Jesus’ disciples, but they could not help. Jesus asked the gathering crowd what was going on. The man stepped forward and explained about his son. Jesus did not heal the son, not immediately. He told the man to bring his son to Him and the demon threw the boy into convulsions. Jesus did not heal the son, not immediately. Jesus asked the boy’s father how long that had been happening. The man responded and Jesus still did not heal the boy, not yet.

The man said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

Jesus responded, “’If you can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

The boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

Jesus then healed the boy. 

(See Mark 9.)

I think that describes us at times. We believe, truly believe, yet God’s word flies against the conventional wisdom of our day. It contradicts things we have been taught: perhaps even things taught by our parents or other respected individuals. We believe God and trust His word; we know we should. Yet, sometimes it is really difficult to believe. We might even hear our hearts cry out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

In the miracle of the healing of the demon-possessed boy, there are two important elements that should encourage us.

First, Jesus did not get in a hurry to heal the boy. I don’t know why, but it does tell me that Jesus will not become frantic just because you are frantic. Jesus understands your pain and He knows whether the situation is urgent or not. When we pray to God and do not get an immediate answer, we should not panic. The way that God assists us may not be on our personal timetable. So, we should resolve to be content and be patient regardless of the circumstances.

Second, although the father sensed his own unbelief, he had some level of faith. The man’s request that started, “If you can…” was not a picture of confident faith like some. Yet, he had the faith to bring his boy to Jesus, and Jesus was patient. So, even if our faith is weak, we must turn to Jesus. He will be patient with our weaknesses. He IS our hope.

Mark Stinnett

April 10, 2022

When You Just Don't Understand

“We should not evaluate God, as if to stand in judgment of God and His word.” That is an overall summary of last week’s blog. So, does that mean that we can never ask God a question?

You might remember two devout Jews who were surprised at God’s word. Both questioned.

Zacharias was serving in the temple in Jerusalem when an angel of God told him that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Reminding the angel that he and his wife were old Zacharias responded in doubt asking how he could be certain of the angel’s word.

The angel identified himself as Gabriel, who stood in the presence of God. Then he told Zacharias that he would be unable to speak until John was born “because you did not believe my words.” (Luke 1:5-20)

Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent to the virgin Mary to tell her that she would bear the son of God. She was surprised and asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel then explained that this would be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:26-38)

So, why was Zacharias muted by the angel for his question, but Mary was not?

The question that Zacharias asked, along with his explanation of their old age, revealed doubt. Like a typical Jew, Zacharias asked for a sign. It was as if to say, I won’t believe you until I see a sign (a miracle) to confirm what you said. (He did receive a sign, but not what he expected!)

Mary did not ask for a sign. There was no doubt concerning the angel’s word. Yet, she did not understand how she could possibly bear a son when she had never had intimate relations with a man. She did not doubt God’s word; she just didn’t understand how things would work.

So, what about those times when, like Mary, we just don’t understand? The Psalms may help.

Most of us feel that we can identify with the psalmists as they cry out from their weakness, from their doubt, from their humanness. But do we always relate to their bold conclusions?

In Psalm 109 the psalmist calls out to God pleading, “Do not be silent!” Yet, his perception is that God IS silent. Then, he goes on to explain his troubles. He asks God to deal with his enemies and also to show him kindness.

Most can relate to the psalmist. Difficulties in life loom and it seems like God is silent and His promises are not true. We don’t understand.

Then, the psalmist described his need saying, “My knees are weak from fasting.” It is as if to say, “I have prayed with fasting regarding my situation until I am physically weak, yet with no answer.”

That is the moment of truth. In his darkest hour will the psalmist give up on God? And there lies the question to us: Will we give up on God?

After pleading and explaining the psalmist ends:

With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; and in the midst of many I will praise Him. For He stands at the right of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.

The pain was real, the darkness long, but greater than his suffering and uncertainty was his faith. How do we know this? He was weak from fasting because he never gave up on God. And then, he gave thanks and praised God before the Lord answered his prayer.

So, ask God your questions, but without doubt or disrespect. 

And remember, God is greater than your circumstances. 

So, trust and give thanks. 

Mark Stinnett

April 3, 2022

'Caught Off Guard' Concerning Faith

A young couple had asked me to perform their wedding ceremony. She was not a Christian and reluctantly came with her fiancée to meet with me to talk about the wedding.

I emphasized that I believed the Bible and intended to include statements about God and his instruction for marriage. They both agreed. A few minutes later, however, the bride-to-be made a comment that caused me concern. I responded, “When you say, ‘God,’ and I say, ‘God,’ I don’t think we are talking about the same thing. Do you believe the Bible?”

Her final response, before cursing and storming out of my office, was something about how any writing that had been buried for a hundred years could be unearthed and then revered as a sacred text. (I did not wed the two.)

Years earlier, a co-worker of mine described Jesus as someone who was simply ahead of his time. She said that His advanced knowledge allowed him to heal in ways unfamiliar to the people of his day. So, they saw his practices as magical and called the results miracles. In addition, the crucifixion and resurrection of this wonder-worker were simply made up by disciples to account for his sudden disappearance.

Denial. The bride-to-be and my coworker were denying three important foundational truths that undergird Christianity:

• God is the Creator of the universe;
• Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, deity in the flesh; and
• Jesus was crucified, but was raised from the dead, and then ascended to heaven.

In his book, The Genesis Record, Henry Morris compared atheism, humanism, evolutionism, and an assortment of other –isms. He concluded that there are many different ways to deny God, but they are all still a denial of God. (p. 38)

Voices of our day mock the Scriptures, yet without carefully investigating its content. Voices of our day cite scientific research as testimony against events and claims in the Bible, yet often while overlooking their own hidden assumptions. Voices of our day, even many religious voices, often deny straightforward biblical teachings that clash with accepted beliefs.

Denying God, one must ultimately accept with blind faith that something (matter) can emerge from absolute nothingness. (Science does not agree.) Denying the deity of Jesus, one must blindly ignore salvation and morality. Denying the resurrection, one must blindly accept the absence of divine judgment, the afterlife and hope. The denial of these three fundamental truths reduces human beings to little more than animals whose end is nothingness.

Christian faith is rooted in the existence of the God who IS and who created and who recorded His spoken word to mankind. The very first verse of the Bible is a kind of 'You Are Here' pointer that provides mankind its bearings within the framework of the universe and eternity. It provides relevance to mankind’s existence. It gives relevance to the existence of every individual.

Faith is not blind, but rooted in truth. Yet, the Apostle Paul warned that God’s wrath is against those who “suppress the truth”...

Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 

—Romans 1:19 (NASB95)

Christians “walk by faith.” It is not blind faith or the faith of desire (i.e. I want to believe, so I believe). Our faith is grounded in the verifiable revelation of our wise Creator. Do not be caught off guard by the voices of doubt of our day.

Mark Stinnett

August 22, 2021