Is It Reasonable To Believe In God? A Logical Examination of Faith.

Excerpted from A Message By Jon Alsdorf on October 26, 2025
When someone asks whether believing in God is reasonable, they're asking one of the most fundamental questions about existence. While many dismiss faith as irrational, a careful examination reveals that belief in God is not only reasonable—it's the most logical conclusion when we honestly evaluate the evidence.

Why This Question Matters
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that "without faith, it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." This makes the question of God's existence crucial for anyone seeking spiritual truth.

However, when discussing this with skeptics, we can't simply quote Scripture to prove God exists. That would be circular reasoning. Instead, we must step back and examine the evidence through reason and logic alone.

The Three Possible Answers
When asking "Does God exist?" there are only three possible responses: No, Maybe, or Yes. Let's examine each one logically.

Answer #1: "No, God Does Not Exist"
This position faces immediate logical problems. Consider this simple exercise: imagine a circle representing all knowledge that could possibly exist in the universe. Now mark how much of that total knowledge you personally possess.

Even the most educated person would have to admit their knowledge represents an incredibly tiny fraction of all possible knowledge. Yet to definitively state "God does not exist," you would need to know everything there is to know—making you omniscient, which would essentially make you God, thus contradicting your own position.

The Implications of a Godless Universe

If there truly is no God, several troubling conclusions follow:

• No meaning: Life becomes a meaningless accident with no purpose
• No value: Human life has no inherent worth
• No purpose: The universe isn't going anywhere or accomplishing anything
• No morality: Nothing can be truly right or wrong

Even committed atheists struggle to live consistently with these implications. When someone steals their lunch, they instinctively cry "That's not fair!"—but fairness requires an objective moral standard that can't exist in a godless universe.

Answer #2: "Maybe God Exists"
This agnostic position often centers on the demand for "proof." But what kind of proof is reasonable to expect? We can't conduct repeatable scientific experiments on a transcendent God who exists outside the physical universe.

In everyday life, we make important decisions based on evidence that falls short of absolute certainty. Juries decide cases based on "preponderance of evidence" or "beyond reasonable doubt"—not "beyond any shadow of doubt." The same standard should apply here.

Four Alternatives to God's Existence
If God doesn't exist, what alternatives explain our universe?

• The universe is an illusion: This is logically incoherent—you'd be an illusion having an illusion
• The universe is eternal: Science has disproven this through discoveries about the Big Bang and stellar formation
• The universe emerged from nothing: This violates all laws of science and reason
• The universe was created by an eternal being: This is the only logically coherent option

Answer #3: "Yes, God Exists"
When we eliminate the impossible alternatives, we're left with the conclusion that an eternal, transcendent being created the universe. But what kind of God are we talking about?

Personal vs. Impersonal God
The evidence points to a personal God rather than an impersonal force. Here's why:

• The Design Argument: If you found a perfectly functioning watch in the forest, you wouldn't assume it formed by chance over millions of years. The intricate design and precise timing would clearly indicate an intelligent designer. Our universe shows far more complex design than any watch.
• The Argument from Personhood: We possess minds, not just brains. We understand concepts like beauty, morality, and purpose. An impersonal, mindless force cannot create beings with minds, emotions, and moral awareness. The inferior cannot produce the superior.

What About "Who Created God?"
This common objection misunderstands the nature of an eternal God. By definition, an eternal being has no beginning and therefore needs no creator. Every effect requires a cause, but God is not an effect—He is the uncaused first cause that makes everything else possible.

The Reasonableness of Faith
When we honestly examine the evidence, faith in God emerges as the most reasonable position. The alternatives require us to believe in logical impossibilities or accept a meaningless, purposeless existence that contradicts our deepest intuitions about reality.

Pascal's Wager illustrates this point: If God exists and you don't believe, you lose everything. If God doesn't exist and you do believe, you lose nothing but gain a life of meaning and purpose. Rational self-interest alone suggests belief is the wiser choice.

Beyond Logic: The Ultimate Evidence
While logical arguments can open minds to God's existence, the clearest evidence comes through Jesus Christ. His historical life, death, and resurrection provide concrete proof that God has entered human history. This isn't just philosophical speculation—it's historical fact that demands a response.

Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to engage thoughtfully with questions about faith rather than avoiding them. Whether you're strengthening your own beliefs or helping others think through these issues, remember that honest intellectual inquiry leads toward truth, not away from it.

Consider these questions:

• How would you respond if someone told you believing in God is irrational?
• What evidence for God's existence do you find most compelling in your own life?
• Is there someone in your life who might benefit from having these conversations with you?
• How does understanding the reasonableness of faith change how you approach sharing your beliefs with others?

Remember, you don't need to be a professional apologist to have these conversations. Simply share what you know with honesty and humility, trusting that God gives wisdom to all who seek it without finding fault.

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