Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 23
June 10, 1971
NUMBER 6, PAGE 8b-9a

"They Became Fools"

F. Y. T.

Perhaps there has been no time in history when Paul's description of "fools" would be more appropriate than our own day. For ours is an atheistic generation. Men have deliberately turned their backs on God, and have refused to have him in their knowledge. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...." They have closed their eyes to the overwhelming evidence God has given as to his presence in the universe. "For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse; because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened....(Rom. 1:20-21)

The materialist never has and never can explain why there is something in this universe rather than nothing. Not only so, but he is completely bewildered in any attempt at all to explain why the something that is here is orderly, organized, systematized, and operational with such a delicacy of balance as to defy the imagination.Toward the end of his life Charles Darwin wrote, "I cannot believe with my mind that all this was produced by chance." For several years research scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have been using highspeed computers to calculate the possibility of whether on the basis of chance there could be so much complexity in the universe within any acceptable time. They reach the conclusion that the possibility is absolute zero.

As he approached the closing years of his life Albert Einstein became a mystic. He did not have the answer as to the existence of the universe; he was not willing to accept the Judeo-Christian position, but he simply could not believe that the indisputable order he saw in the world around him was the result of blind, irrational chance. He was probably atheistic during most of his years; but the sheer logic of an ordered world finally compelled him to abandon that stance. He confessed with the humility of a true scientist that he had no explanation; but the glib explanation of "pure chance" given by the atheist was utterly preposterous.

The Christian, of course, faces no such perplexing mystery. He has a clear statement as to the origin of this world, and he recognizes (perceives) "through the things that are made" the originating Cause of all such. To say he accepts all these things "through faith" (Hebrews 11:1-3) does not mean at all that there is no rational basis for his faith. Quite the contrary. Because he is a rational, reasoning man, and because he keeps his heart and mind open to the truth, he does not reject the evidences which are so abundantly supplied him by his Creator. This is precisely what the atheistic man does; he becomes "vain in his reasonings." His senseless (stupid, foolish, blind) heart is darkened.

We can have little doubt that this teaching which has rejected God lies at the real heart of the sick world's present chaos. When two or three generations come along who have been brain-washed by a company of atheistic philosophers and professors, it would seem inevitable that chaos would result. For forty years and more the "in" thing in American colleges and universities has been the philosophy of materialism — man is a machine, without meaning, purpose, or significance in this universe. He is nothing more than an animal. There is no God, no heaven, no hell, no immortality.

Why should the academic world be surprised or upset when their students begin to show forth the fruits of the teaching they have been given? Looking like animals (few animals would tolerate the filth and stench in which some modern students choose to live), smelling like animals, thinking like animals (amorally), why should not the students act with complete and total disregard for the lives, properties, or rights of others? If there are no absolutes, no standards, who is to say that any specific action is either "right" or "wrong"? There are no right and wrong actions. Such words do not belong to an atheistic society; they presuppose some external standard or authority. All of which is rejected by the unbelieving generation. Having sown to the wind, modern society is reaping the whirlwind. And will continue so to reap until there is a return to rational thinking. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" is not only applicable in the field of religion; it is the most basic and fundamental law of the whole universe. So long as men are enslaved by "vain reasonings, and their senseless heart" remains darkened, they will be captives in an increasingly intolerable society.