Dr. Keith A. Mathison is professor of systematic theology at Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Fla. In June 2003, Dr. Mathison wrote an article in Tabletalk Magazine entitled the Existence and Attributes of God. The following is an excerpt from that article.
In 1983, the famous Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn delivered the Templeton Address in London. In his speech, he stated: “More than half a century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened … And if I were called upon to identify briefly the principal trait of the entire twentieth century, here too, I would be unable to find anything more precise and pithy than to repeat once again: Men have forgotten God.”
Solzhenitsyn’s analysis of the fundamental trait of the twentieth century is accurate. Atheism of both a theoretical and a practical kind has run rampant.
Yet, it is not only in the world that men have forgotten God. Many in the church have forgotten Him, as well. Paul’s words to the Athenians could easily be applied to many within the walls of the church: “Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23, KJV).
Many professing believers today are completely ignorant of the true nature of the One whom they worship. There is no understanding of His holiness or righteousness. His omnipotence, omniscience, and immutability are regularly denied or distorted by professing Christians. The doctrine of the Trinity is often misunderstood. In fact, the only attribute of God that regularly receives any sustained attention is His love, and yet even that attribute is explained in a way that contradicts the teaching of Scripture.
How can this situation begin to be changed? In the first place, the true Biblical doctrine of God must be proclaimed from every Christian pulpit. Our attention must be turned away regularly from ourselves and toward the One whom we worship. Our focus must be God, not man.
The concluding excerpt from Dr. Mathison’s article will be presented next Sunday, June 5. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 