The Proof is in the Pudding

Have you ever thought about the above phrase? I have heard the above phrase my entire life, and never really considered its meaning. According to Dictionary.com, this expression means that “the value, quality, or truth of something must be judged based on direct experience with it-or on its results.”

Now, this phrase only goes so far. When it comes to God’s truth, it is true no matter what our experience is of it. But at the same time, the proof is in the pudding.

I saw a facebook ad for a new book coming out, and there was an atheist on their demanding proof for God’s existence, and demanding proof for any one of the miracles performed by Jesus 2,000 years ago. He argued that we cannot prove God’s existence even from the existence of creation. Using that logic he says, we can prove that Santa Clause exists because the North Pole exists.

While his logic is flawed, in one sense he is right. I cannot prove the existence of God in the same way I can prove the existence of my wife, or my house, or my employment status. If you have any doubts even to my existence, and perhaps think I am merely AI, some chatbot writing this blog, and that maybe I don’t even exist, I can prove that I do. My parents can prove that. But I cannot in the same way, prove that God exists. In one sense, that is where faith comes in.

But I can prove the existence of God in a different way. How? The proof is in the pudding. Why on earth would believers of all nations, tribes and tongues set aside one day of the week to worship a Being they cannot see. Because God is real. How is it that here in Wickenburg, Arizona at First Southern Baptist Church of Wickenburg, that a group of people with different backgrounds, different preferences, different perspectives on tertiary theological issues, and different ages, all come together, united, singing praises to a Being they cannot see, and submit to His Word? Because God is real.

There is no factual argument you can give an atheist to convince him of God’s existence. I could argue why the Bible is reliable, I could argue facts about the crucifixion and resurrection to prove that Jesus died and rose again. But none of those arguments would satisfy the fool who in his heart says there is no God. (Psalm 14:1).

Ultimately it is the Spirit of God, through a display of God’s sovereignty that changes the heart of a sinner. But the means by which God uses to change a sinners heart is the united witness of the local church. The unity of the local church is a gospel witness to the watching world.

Jesus, in his high priestly prayer prays for believers in John 17:21, “That they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may be in US, so that the world may believe that You sent me.”

Jesus prays that the believers would be one, ultimately for the purpose that the world may believe. As we consider the church on Fellowship Fridays, the church displays the gospel through our unity together, and it gives evidence to the one who established the church. DO you want proof God exists? The proof is in the pudding. Find a church that believes in God, that submits to the Word of God, that proclaims the gospel of God, and go “partake of the pudding.” Go experience it. Go skeptically if you must, but go. Don’t just go once, but go often. Rub shoulders with other sinful people that God has redeemed. Listen to a normal every day man faithfully teach the Word in a Bible Study group. Listen to a flawed man preach the Word of God that he believes in in full conviction. Go share a meal with an older couple who have served God their entire lives. Go spend time with a deacon as he visits a church member and prays with them. Join your voice with the other voices as they sing praises to this invisible God.

When you experience the life in a local church, then come meet with me and give me proof that God doesn’t exist.