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Cold Case Christianity

Quick Shots

Quick Shot: “Who created God?”

Our “Quick Shot” series offers brief answers to common objections to the Christian worldview. Each response is limited to one paragraph. These responses are designed to (1) answer the objection as concisely as possible, (2) challenge the objector to think more deeply about his or her claim, and (3) facilitate a “gospel” conversation. In this article, we’re offering “Quick Shot” responses to the objection, “If God created everything, who created God?”

Response #1:
“The question is in many ways non-sensical. Let me show you why. The classic definition of God offered by theists (people who believe in God) is this: ‘God is the uncreated Creator.’ So, when someone asks, ‘Who created God?’ they are really asking, ‘Who created the uncreated Creator?’ See the problem? God is, by definition, uncreated. Your question is as illogical as, ‘What sound is silence?’ Since silence is the lack of sound, this question is also non-sensical. Once you know the definition of a term, some questions become unreasonable. Can you see how the question, ‘Who created God?’ is unreasonable once you know the definition of God?”

So, when someone asks, ‘Who created God?’ they are really asking, ‘Who created the uncreated Creator?’ See the problem? Click To Tweet

OR

Response #2:
Every worldview makes claims about the nature of the universe. Some atheists believe the universe itself is eternal and, therefore, requires no cause. Some atheists believe the universe emerged from a quantum vacuum (as one of many universes in the ‘multiverse’). They believe this quantum environment is eternal and, therefore, requires no cause. Everyone believes in something eternal – either the universe or whatever caused the universe. Christians are no different. We just believe this uncaused, first cause is personal, rather than impersonal. Have you ever thought about how difficult it is to explain personal attributes of our existence (like the information found in DNA, personal consciousness, or the existence of transcendent moral obligations) if there isn’t a personal, uncaused, first cause?”

Everyone believes in something eternal - either the universe or whatever caused the universe. Christians are no different. We just believe this uncaused, first cause is personal, rather than impersonal. Click To Tweet

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OR

Response #3 (Inspired by J. P. Moreland):
“Imagine serving a search warrant as part of a SWAT team. The location is barricaded and the first officer standing at the door turns to the next and says, ‘I didn’t bring my battering ram, can I borrow yours?’ The second officer says, ‘Sure, but I don’t have one either, I’ll have to borrow one to loan you.’ The second officer turns to the third and asks to borrow his ram, but alas, this officer also says, ‘I don’t have one, but I can borrow.’ He then turns to the next officer and this repeats itself over and over, because each officer in the line is, unfortunately, a ‘borrowing lender.’ Unless one of the officers is an ‘owning lender,’ no one’s going to produce a ram to enter the house. What if the thing being borrowed isn’t a ram but is, instead, existence? If there isn’t an ‘owning lender’ of existence (a self-existent, eternal, “necessary” Being), none of us could exist as ‘borrowing lenders’. Can you see how this kind of eternal Being is both logical and necessary?”

If there isn’t an 'owning lender' of existence (a self-existent, eternal, 'necessary' Being), none of us could exist as 'borrowing lenders'. Click To Tweet

Our “Quick Shot” series was written specifically for the Cold-Case Christianity App (you can download it on Apple and Android platforms – be sure to register once you download the App). When confronted with an objection in casual conversation, App users can quickly find an answer without having to scroll beyond the first screen in the category. Use the App “Quick Shots” along with the “Rapid Responses” and Case Making “Cheat Sheets” to become a better Christian Case Maker.

For more information about the scientific and philosophical evidence pointing to a Divine Creator, please read God’s Crime Scene: A Cold-Case Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe. This book employs a simple crime scene strategy to investigate eight pieces of evidence in the universe to determine the most reasonable explanation. The book is accompanied by an eight-session God’s Crime Scene DVD Set (and Participant’s Guide) to help individuals or small groups examine the evidence and make the case.

J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline featured Cold-Case Detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adj. Professor of Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, author of Cold-Case ChristianityGod’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith, and creator of the Case Makers Academy for kids.

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Written By

J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline featured cold-case homicide detective, popular national speaker and best-selling author. He continues to consult on cold-case investigations while serving as a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He is also an Adj. Professor of Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, and a faculty member at Summit Ministries. He holds a BA in Design (from CSULB), an MA in Architecture (from UCLA), and an MA in Theological Studies (from Gateway Seminary).

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