Apologetics: ə-pŏl'ə-jĕt'ĭks from the Greek απоλоγία Def: The branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines.

God Said It. . .

Written By Esthermay Bentley-Goossen on 28 September 2008

. . . God said that Jonah was swallowed by a whale, then the whale swallowed Jonah, and we do not need a scientist to measure the gullet of a whale.
~ A. W. Tozer

There are people with PhD’s who know so much more about religion and theology and biblical history than most of us will ever desire or care to know. They know how the Bible was constructed. They can present time lines and carbon-dating evidence to prove Noah’s Ark and the Tower of Babel and Solomon’s Temple and the covering used to shroud the body of Jesus.

They can tell you exactly why we can declare certain attributes to God and exactly why Jesus should be perceived as God’s Son. They can give you an absolute conclusive and indisputable scientific argument for Creation. They know the historical events surrounding all that we hold dear and they can give all the theological sides to all of the major conflicts in Christianity. They can explain (or attempt to explain) predestination, sanctification, justification, glorification and all the other ‘tions.

I love the mental handiwork of these people. They make solid hermetic arguments that leave most atheists looking like idiots with speech impediments trying to defend their way-crooked worldview

While . . .
". . . faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
- Hebrews 11:1
. . . the scientific community has done much to bring some of those immovable scientific types to a clearer understanding of God’s World.

But -- for the most part – the extent of their knowing is simply that. Knowledge. It’s all about precise, logical and systematic head knowledge.

Most days, I’m just not there.

I’m a SAHM. Today we made the letter “M” out of homemade play-dough! It’s been in a 175 degree oven for eleven hours now.

I’m a law-school drop-out too.
. . . Sigh.

Have you ever heard this cliché?

God said it, I believe it, that settles it.

So much for Sherlock Holmes.

Why calculate the dimensions of the esophagus of a fish when the God of the Universe already declared that the fish in question did indeed swallow the man?!

Here’s a quick summary of my worldview:

The Bible is the absolute final authority on all things.

And in I Peter 1:24-25, The Apostle Peter made it clear that the word of God abides forever:

"For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord abides forever."

When God speaks, His word (i.e., whatever He says) continues forever and ever--eternally, as a matter of fact! In other words (no pun intended), we can depend upon and totally rely upon what God has said and we can do so throughout eternity with so scientific data to authenticate it!

The Bible is the absolute final authority on all things.

And “God said it, I believe it, that settles it” is good too.

But here’s a better one:

God said it. I believe it. So I’m going to do it!


The test to know that we really know and really believe in God is obedience to His commands.


“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
- John 14:21


And – in following the thoughts of A.W. Tozer:

“Salvation apart from obedience is unknown in the sacred scriptures.”
- A.W. Tozer

Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.
- AW. Tozer




- Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
© Copyright 2008 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

For more In Other Words, visit Deborah at Chocolate & Coffee

10 comments:

Patricia said...

Esthermay, as usual, you entertain as you explain your take on the quote. "Why calculate the dimensions of the esophagus of a fish when the God of the Universe already declared that the fish in question did indeed swallow the man?!" True...funny, too!

Great picture.

My 3 yr old grandson saw your picture of Jonah, climbed into my lap and we had the most wonderful discussion of whether Jonah was swallowed by a whale (Hunter said "That's not a whale.") or a generic big fish. I told him why Jonah was swallowed. Hunter, fixating on the fish, said it didn't look like a whale, "It's a creature."

After I explained the whole story, I asked him what he thought we should do when God tells us to do something. Maybe I talked to long before getting to that point...his response was "I like rainbows", hopped off my lap and went to play. LOL

Maybe I better stick to making collages out of magazine pictures with him when I try to teach a Biblical truth. I can almost keep his attention the whole time doing that!

Karen said...

God said, I believe it. How simple can we get yet we make it so complicated. Thanks for sharing!

Natalie said...

I'm so excited to have you join Be Still Sunday! I'm sorry to just now be coming over to introduce myself personally to you. I'm so glad I did because from one pastor's wife to another, we need to stick together. :)

Laurie Ann said...

Amen, Esthermay. Great post on faith in God!

Miriam Pauline said...

Well said! Thanks so much!

Bonnie W said...

"God said it. I believe it. So I’m going to do it!"

I love this! too often we stop short with believing but don't act on our faith. Great thoughts today!

Betsy Markman said...

"God said it, I believe it, so I'm going to do it!
Amen and amen! May that be my motto more faithfully than it is now!

Denise said...

Amen.

Anonymous said...

I like your way of thinking, we are much the same :) Great post, I love the way you write!

Tami said...

The test to know that we really know and really believe in God is obedience to His commands.

I'm with you, sister. Amen!

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