By: Brian G. Chilton | May 6, 2020
A person has many reasons to accept God’s existence. Even in my time of doubt, I always thought that there must be something beyond the scope of the universe. But the question was what or who was behind it all? While my doubts were settled by the historical evidence for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the points of philosophical and scientific evidence pointing to the reality of God only strengthens the case for the Christian faith.
Acronyms, or acrostics, are like the chorus of a song. They provide ease of access and memorization for those who desire to use the information in their daily walk. In my book The Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics, I provide an acronym which affords a quick and easy way to remember five good reasons to hold to God’s existence. While the book fleshes out the material in greater detail, I would like to provide you the core details of the acronym here. For the existence of God, remember the term BRICK.
B = BVG Theorem. Three cosmologists discovered a mathematical theorem which as proven to be quite fascinating. The theorem, so named after the cosmologists who discovered it (Arvind Borde, Alexander Vilenkin, and Alan Guth), holds that all physical universes require a beginning. Thus, not only does this universe require a starting point, any physical universe, including a multiverse, would also require a physical beginning. Something beyond the scope of the physical universe, or universes, is required for the existence of all physical things. God is that required necessary Being.
R = Right Conditions. The universe amazingly shows evidence that it was designed. Over 180 cosmological constants are so exquisitely designed that if any of them were to change by the slightest degree, not only would life become impossible, but also the universe could not continue to exist. For instance, if the strong nuclear force were to change, the molecular structure of the universe would either remain so strong that stars and essential nutrients could not develop, or so weak that essential molecules would not cohere together. In either scenario, life would become impossible and the universe may be unable to sustain itself. This leads me to believe that God is not only the Creator of the universe, but God is also the Sustainer.
I = Information. The information argument holds that if something holds data, processes, and procedures, then intelligence must be behind its existence. The universe holds data, processes, and procedures which indicates that Intelligence is behind its reality. While I am not an evolutionist, the evolutionary theory does not negate the necessity of God’s existence. For instance, evolution is said to operate by a process as data is mutated into other forms. In order for evolution to function, it would require that an Intelligence outside of the spectrum of space and time developed how the process works. Thus, to the chagrin of naturalists who claim intellectual satisfaction from the theory, evolution does not remove the ontological necessity of God’s existence philosophically or metaphysically.
C = Compassion and Ethics. Compassion and objective ethical standards are found in the universe. For objective morality to exist, an objective Moral Lawgiver must first exist. For instance, speed limit signs do not magically appear. Rather, they are established by the Department of Transportation who decides how fast one can safely travel on the roads. Intelligent beings deemed the laws of the road. Likewise, objective moral standards require the existence of a higher ethical Being we know as God.
K = Kalam Cosmological Argument. Lastly, William Lane Craig popularized a cosmological argument known as the Kalam cosmological argument. The argument is quite simple. It states:
1. Anything that begins to exist has a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.
The Causal Agent of the universe is God.
I delve into the arguments more deeply in my book The Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics, especially in chapters 5 and 6. Nevertheless, the BRICK acronym provides a quick and accessible way to interact with five apologetic reasons to accept the existence of God.
About the Author
Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com, the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast, and the author of the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has been in the ministry for nearly 20 years and serves as the Senior Pastor of Westfield Baptist Church in northwestern North Carolina.
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