Why Do They Hate God?

Written by Rev. Thorin Anderson

As a Christian and a pastor, I have spent a lot of time getting to know God. It goes with the territory! But it raises a serious question in my mind. Why do so many have such a visceral hatred for God? Of course, I know the answer, but I think everyone needs to understand what this attitude is really about.

First, I have known since I was young that God is good, but my studies have helped me to understand more accurately how good He is.  An inaccurate view of God may lead a casual observer to think God’s holiness and righteousness are negatives; and to those who have never come to Him in repentance and faith such perfections are intimidating, maybe terrifying.  He is a “consuming fire!”  To those who know God, however, His holiness is beautiful, and His righteousness comforting.  If a person is right with God His “perfect love casts out fear.”  So, one could ask what’s not to love about God?  To have negative ideas regarding God is akin to finding fault with a beautiful sunset or ascribing wickedness to a tiny baby.  Actually, it is far worse!

No one would think it wise to fly planes without pilots, or field a pro football team without a coach.  We would consider it asinine to run a company without a CEO, or operate a school class without a teacher; yet somehow there are many who think they can run their own lives, which are far more complex than flying a plane or running a company, without God.  Why?  From what comes this animus?  A normal, rational mind would suppose that something as complicated and fraught with difficulties as living requires assistance and would desire it.  After all, don’t we all want a successful and happy life?  We get an idea of how difficult it is to prepare for life by the fact that children need parental help well into their teens and beyond.  Truly wise people discover that even in their so-called “adult years” they need wisdom beyond themselves and seek counsel from others.

The atheist huffs and puffs about the ridiculousness of believing in an invisible, all-powerful deity.  But there is no logical explanation for rejecting the idea of God.  No one would believe that houses, as simple as they are, are built without architects and carpenters.  No one would say that it is rational to think computers simply came into existence from nothing.  So, why the rage against the existence of God, especially when the evidence is overwhelming that God is and that He is incredibly good?

It is because the question of God’s existence creates a moral dilemma for us, unlike houses or computers, that it meets resistance.  Remove the morality issue and there is no reason to reject the idea of God.  If we were capable of true objectivity, we would allow science to go wherever it wanted, and evidences for a Creator would be as welcome as evidence of an ancient civilization.  Evolution, as a theory, exists for one purpose alone: to provide intellectual cover for denying God’s existence.  No one would ever posit the logically absurd notion of all things coming into being from nothing except for the fact that God’s existence poses a real problem for morally deficient beings.  And evolution is absurd because we witness nothing even close to it in our day-to-day experiences.  In fact, things which appear to happen without a cause instantly catch our attention, and we often invest great time and energy to discover what the “hidden” cause is.

Illusionists make a living exploiting our natural hunger to know “how” they do their tricks.  True “magic” does not exist, there is ALWAYS an explanation!  On every hand we see events having causes.  All events!  Science is the study of cause and effect, and we live our lives daily based upon our experiences of actions creating results, whether it be frying eggs for breakfast or avoiding other cars on the road.  We work and thus get a paycheck.  We exercise and get sore muscles.  We take a walk on a hot day and get thirsty.  Momentarily we live in cause and effect universe, but when it comes to God, we become eminently irrational.  If we were morally good, we would have no problem with evidences for God’s existence.  Our resistance to such things is sad proof of our own corruption.  We don’t want there to be a God because we don’t like anyone telling us what to do, even, or especially God!

But, before the good news the necessary and apparently “bad” news.  There is a God, and we are woefully separated from Him by our sin.  Strangely, “sin” has largely disappeared from our vernacular, and we think by ignoring it, it doesn’t exist.  This foolishness is manifested in the deterioration of our culture, the violence of our entertainment and cities, and the divisiveness of our politics.  No civilization can long endure living in this kind of delusion.

Sin is the problem, and Christ’s cross is the only solution.  If America is to heal we must first return to truth and repent!  Christians must be bold, yet gracious.  We must speak truth to lies and shine the light of the Gospel into the darkness of the world.  There must be no more complicity with those who hate truth nor vacillation before bullies.  “Faith” is not an end in itself; it is the avenue of access TO truth and salvation, and to speak of it apart from Christ is ultimately dangerous.  My family and I watched a movie recently that was heartwarming, and theoretically a “Christian” film, lots of talk about “faith,” but I don’t believe Christ’s name was mentioned once throughout.  This is cowardice at a time when we need boldness!  For His name is “The Name,” by which we are saved, and before whom all must one day bow.  “There is no other name, under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  He is “The Way, the Truth, and The Life. . . .”

A word to the reader who thinks that making God more palatable by softening His image, avoiding Christ’s name, or down-playing sin will make the lost like us: sorry, this is way bigger than you and me.  It is pointless to try to make the Gospel “seeker friendly.”  If they are true seekers Christ promised they will find Him, and He does not need you or me to make it “easier.”  The bottom line is what they need is Truth, and Who they need is Christ!

There is no other way, and that is why they hate Him.  He is God, and He is necessarily exclusive.  There is no place in this for “their way.”  However, there are no insurmountable obstacles to anyone receiving His forgiveness and salvation other than their own pride.  His grace and forgiveness of sin are available to any and to all who repent.  It is now their choice!

Christ said it best, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Read Part 2:  Why Do They Hate Trump?

Rev. Thorin Anderson is a member of the Advisory Council to IFI/IFA and the pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church on the south side of Chicago.  Pastor Anderson has faithfully pastored at Parkwood Baptist Church since September 8, 2000. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Central Seminary.  He and his wife Toni have 7 children.

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