A Reply Needed for a Famous Atheist Quip

[Crispy]

Hello my Christian friends. Crispy here, a new member on the board, but committed to Christ for two years now, having been saved by the Blood of the Lamb.

There's a famous quip, one which is often seen on the pages of atheists, and often dragged out when trying to preach Christ to someone familiar with the saying. It goes something like this,

"If God exists, why won't he heal amputees?"

Another variation of it, more derogatory, is that "God hates amputees". In either form, this simple statement produces an argument supposedly in support of the atheists' assertion that there is no God, as no merciful God would refuse the prayer to restore a man by healing him. Admittedly, on the surface, there is some cleverness to this argument, and I venture that it comes from hell, showing some diabolical logic in a brief, loaded statement.

What is the best counter to this quip? I place stress on that it is subjective, between God and the individual so afflicted. That God allows the person to suffer this as a cross to bear. Would I be wrong to answer thus, and what do you advise?

Thank you.

[JerryNumbers]

I'm not much on debating the atheist, it seems like a no win situation. He cannot understand God, nor God's ways, he just does not have that ability.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

One has to be saved, have the Holy Spirit abiding within them, to comprehend biblical issues.

What the atheist needs is to hear the Gospel, for faith comes by hearing, if he want listen to the Gospel, I just feel we will not get no where with him.

Romans 10:17 So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Other might feel differently.

[Wilchbla]

Hello my Christian friends. Crispy here, a new member on the board, but committed to Christ for two years now, having been saved by the Blood of the Lamb.

There's a famous quip, one which is often seen on the pages of atheists, and often dragged out when trying to preach Christ to someone familiar with the saying. It goes something like this,

"If God exists, why won't he heal amputees?"

Another variation of it, more derogatory, is that "God hates amputees". In either form, this simple statement produces an argument supposedly in support of the atheists' assertion that there is no God, as no merciful God would refuse the prayer to restore a man by healing him. Admittedly, on the surface, there is some cleverness to this argument, and I venture that it comes from hell, showing some diabolical logic in a brief, loaded statement.

What is the best counter to this quip? I place stress on that it is subjective, between God and the individual so afflicted. That God allows the person to suffer this as a cross to bear. Would I be wrong to answer thus, and what do you advise?

Thank you.

Proverbs 26:4- Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

[irishman]

Crispy, welcome to online baptist--glad to have you aboard.

I do not mind answering an agnostic or an atheist, but, as one already said, there is no future in it, usually. Still, if the Holy Spirit gets hold of his/her heart, there is no limit to what may happen for the glory of God. You'll no doubt find that if you answer that question adequately for him, he will pose another, trying to stump you, because he is committed to unbelief. if he is sincere (which most atheists are not) in seeking an answer though, it may be important to answer him, but keep in mind that there really is no answer good enough, because much of it is a matter of faith in the providence of God, which he cannot understand. As someone has said, it may be better to concentrate on trying to get the Gospel to him; One way may be to tell him that you would like first to ask him a question, then ask "If there is a God (and we know there is) and you die in your sin, you spend an eternity in hell, but if there is not a God (Lord forbid!) I have lost nothing in living a better life believing there is." Then ask, "Why should God restore a limb for one who has spit in His face?" Who deserves such favor?. etc, etc. That is a great lead-in for "All have sinned", and the Gospel plan.


Remember, there are no atheists when in the foxholes, when the battle rages all around. Many of the so-called atheists are merely bitter men who are rebellious against the authority of God.

Hopefully this will help.

Edited November 1, 2010 by irishman

[Brother Rick]

My answer to that:

"God isn't OBligated to heal everyone on Earth, and nOBody on Earth deserves God's healing anyways - just like no one deserves to go to Heaven but God let His Son be beaten and killed so that THEY CAN go to Heaven. For those who trust Christ, God in His goodness and unmerited favor God HAS promised to heal entirely in the resurrection. God is under no OBligation to do anything for anyone outside of Jesus Christ. What have you done with Jesus?"

[Crispy]

Very good replies, thank you.

I realize that many atheists should not be addressed at all. Unless they are seeking God, it's often just wasted words, usually leading to mockery and blasphemy. Many of you here are seasoned witnesses and evangelists, and would therefore have much experience with such debate. I'm surrounded by atheists, and felt that a reply to this quip would be handy.

[1Timothy115]

After thinking, I'm reminded of Jesus, the rich man, and Lazarus.

Luke 16:19-31

Emphasis on vs. 31

Jesus isn’t a parlor performer sent to amuse anyone. He left you with faith as the only way to receive the healing you need. If the amputee is saved he will receive a complete body, whole in every respect. However, it will not be done for the atheist’s pleasure or timing.

Dear atheist be glad that God’s timing is not your timing. In His infinite wisdom He has allowed time for you to learn faith in Him. If God worked in your timing you would already occupy a place with the rich man.

[Anon]

Maybe you could explain that sin is the ultimate cause of heartache and disease and injury in the world. And if God were to remove all sin, (which of course He will, someday)...then that atheist would lose his beer, his wine, his cursing, his party music, and his pornography. Rough stuff. haha. So maybe he should just deal with the amputees...and better yet...think about his eternity!!!!

[sfspurlock]

I don't get into sparring with those types either but I know one thing--there aren't any Atheists in Hell!

[ThomasCooper]

"If God exists, why won't he heal amputees?"

Exodus 4:11:
Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

Another variation of it, more derogatory, is that "God hates amputees".

He sure does! Psalm 5:5 clearly teaches us that the Lord HATES the heathen: "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." So who are the foolish? The satanists, a.k.a. ALL the unbelievers (Matt 12:30):

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
Psalm 14:1

So the fact that all these atheists and other satanists are so unhappy and misfortunate, is really ALL their fault (and that of the woman who brought the sin to the world)-- they are the ones who rejected Jesus and all His blessings!

Praise!

[Crispy]

Great replies, everyone. Thanks.

[amblivion]

Take what Thomas says with a grain of salt crispy.

[SoCal Baptist]

The reason that some atheists latch onto this thing with healing amputees is that, according to them, the healing of an amputated limb is unable to be faked; it would be a "non-ambiguous" miracle, unlike other reported miraculous healings that could be attributed to modern medicine. To quote from the Why Won't God Heal Amputees website,

"How can we determine whether it is God or coincidence that worked the cure? One way is to eliminate the ambiguity. In a non-ambiguous situation, there is no potential for coincidence. Because there is no ambiguity, we can actually know whether God is answering the prayer or not. That is what we are doing when we look at amputees."

So when they ask why God won't heal amputees, what they really mean is, why won't God reveal Himself in the way I want Him to? Why won't He conform to my expectations of Him? Why doesn't He do what I want Him to do? They don't like God's requirement that we seek Him through faith.

The atheist asserts that he would believe in God if only there was absolute "proof" in the form of a non-ambiguous miracle, but this is a smokescreen and a lie. If they won't hear the Word of God, they won't be persuaded by miracles (Luke 16:31). Without faith it is impossible to come to God, and with faith, the testimony of the living Word of God (i.e. the Bible) is sufficient proof.

BTW, God can absolutely heal an amputated limb -- He created newts and crabs with the ability to regenerate lost limbs. But atheists attribute this to blind natural forces. I guarantee you that if human limbs started regenerating they'd do the same.

[JerryNumbers]

And we know about those who seek for a sign.

Mt 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Mt 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Mt 16:1 ¶ The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
Mt 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Mt 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Mt 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Mr 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
Mr 8:12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

I feel that even though they had a sign, they still would not believe. That is their way to carry on the work of the old devil.

[Brother Rick]

Take what Thomas says with a grain of salt crispy.

Yah, he's nuttier than last year's Christmas pecan pie. Edited November 3, 2010 by Rick Schworer