"The Easter story is nothing but a myth," Jimmy's high
school science teacher announced to his class a few days
before Easter break. "Jesus not only didn't rise from the
grave," he continued, "but there's no God in heaven who
would allow his son to be crucified in the first place."
"Sir, I believe in God," Jimmy protested.
"And I believe in the resurrection!"
"Jimmy, you can believe what you wish to, of course,"
the teacher replied. "However, the real world excludes the
possibility of miraculous events such as the resurrection.
The resurrection is a scientific impossibility. No one who
believes in miracles can also respect science."
"God isn't limited by science," Jimmy responded.
"He created science!"
Engaged by Jimmy's outspoken faith, the teacher proposed a
scientific experiment. Reaching into his refrigerator, he
produced a raw egg and held it up.
"I'm going to drop this egg on the floor," he stated.
"Gravity will pull it toward the floor with such force that the
egg will most certainly break." Fixing Jimmy with a look of
challenge, he concluded his proposal. "Now Jimmy, I want you to
pray a prayer right now and ask your God to keep this egg from
breaking when it hits the floor. If he can do that, then you'll
have proven your point, and I'll have to admit that there's a
God."
After pondering the challenge for a moment, Jimmy slowly stood
to pray. "Dear Heavenly Father," he began. "I pray that when my
teacher drops the egg...it will break into a hundred pieces!
And also, Lord, I pray that when the egg does break, my teacher
will have a heart attack and die!
Amen."
After a unison gasp, the stunned class sat in silent
expectation. For a moment the teacher did nothing. At last
he looked at Jimmy and then at the egg. Without a word he
carefully put the egg back in the refrigerator.
"Class dismissed," the teacher said and sat down to clear his
desk.
The teacher apparently believed in God more than he thought he
did. Many people, like that teacher, deny that God exists, yet
they run from him, question him, and attack him whenever they
get the chance. Jimmy knew God wouldn't strike his teacher
dead, but he also knew that his teacher wouldn't bet his life on
it.
As the old saying goes, "There are no atheists in foxholes."
When your life is on the line, the idea of God suddenly makes a
lot more sense.
school science teacher announced to his class a few days
before Easter break. "Jesus not only didn't rise from the
grave," he continued, "but there's no God in heaven who
would allow his son to be crucified in the first place."
"Sir, I believe in God," Jimmy protested.
"And I believe in the resurrection!"
"Jimmy, you can believe what you wish to, of course,"
the teacher replied. "However, the real world excludes the
possibility of miraculous events such as the resurrection.
The resurrection is a scientific impossibility. No one who
believes in miracles can also respect science."
"God isn't limited by science," Jimmy responded.
"He created science!"
Engaged by Jimmy's outspoken faith, the teacher proposed a
scientific experiment. Reaching into his refrigerator, he
produced a raw egg and held it up.
"I'm going to drop this egg on the floor," he stated.
"Gravity will pull it toward the floor with such force that the
egg will most certainly break." Fixing Jimmy with a look of
challenge, he concluded his proposal. "Now Jimmy, I want you to
pray a prayer right now and ask your God to keep this egg from
breaking when it hits the floor. If he can do that, then you'll
have proven your point, and I'll have to admit that there's a
God."
After pondering the challenge for a moment, Jimmy slowly stood
to pray. "Dear Heavenly Father," he began. "I pray that when my
teacher drops the egg...it will break into a hundred pieces!
And also, Lord, I pray that when the egg does break, my teacher
will have a heart attack and die!
Amen."
After a unison gasp, the stunned class sat in silent
expectation. For a moment the teacher did nothing. At last
he looked at Jimmy and then at the egg. Without a word he
carefully put the egg back in the refrigerator.
"Class dismissed," the teacher said and sat down to clear his
desk.
The teacher apparently believed in God more than he thought he
did. Many people, like that teacher, deny that God exists, yet
they run from him, question him, and attack him whenever they
get the chance. Jimmy knew God wouldn't strike his teacher
dead, but he also knew that his teacher wouldn't bet his life on
it.
As the old saying goes, "There are no atheists in foxholes."
When your life is on the line, the idea of God suddenly makes a
lot more sense.
