What about Poly-theism - the argument there are many Gods?

Ye Are Gods 12/23/2007

Ps 14: [1] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Here we see the most common position taken by the atheist. The man who caused a young King Solomon to say 1 Ki 3: [7] And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. understood what we may only claim to know, the end of the evil doer of Ps 73. He re-iterates himself by inspiration in Ps 53: [1] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Is this necessarily true of all atheists? Perhaps not. Consider if you will, the atheist who argues: There cannot be God. Here, he has chosen to make a controvertible statement, not merely a cursory defamation that God does not exist. Of course most of us can see that to argue there CAN be God is not as difficult as to argue that only one God, Jehovah God of the bible can exist, and it is far harder to contradict. The question then will arise: How many Gods are there? Didn’t the very wise man we have been lauding say: [6] I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

How many Gods are we actually claiming to exist then? To observe, Jesus Christ was not ignorant of this discussion, and it came up in New Testament times: Jno 10: [34] Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
[35] If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
[36] Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Here I argue that Christ observed a fundamental truth that we are made in God’s image. Gen 1: [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

If we are made in God’s image, we are like him in some way. I would suggest that God has a heart, a mind and a spirit.

Gen 6: [6] And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

1 Cor 2: [16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Cor 2: [11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Likewise man has a heart, a mind and a spirit.

Mt 9: [4] And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Mt 22: [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Pr 20: [27] The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

So God could legitimately say, speaking of his creation “Ye are Gods.” What is illuminating is the quality that Christ said defined the audience: Jno 10: [35] If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

The people who were called Gods were those to whom the word of God came, scripture being arguably immutable to Christ. The atheist may argue: well, the word of God has come to me, therefore I AM GOD myself! What makes me any less authoritative?

For an instruction on this topic, we should look at Ecc 7: [29] Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Man was created upright but has exercised choice to the downfall of all (Ro 5:12, 3:23.) What separates those who have sinned but seek uprightness, from those who have sought out inventions? Jno 7: [16] Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
[17] If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
[18] He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Christ pointed out that his doctrine was from God the Father, not his own confection. The atheist makes no such claim. In fact he is described by Ro 1: [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
[19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
[22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
[23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
[27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
[28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

We know that without faith it is impossible to please him (God Heb 11: [6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.) but the atheist has no faith in God. In fact, if he calls himself a god, but does not acknowledge Jehovah as his creator, he has changed the glory of the incorruptible God into image like unto corruptible Man (vs 23 above,) with attending consequences.

Consider also: The word of God may have come to the atheist, but Heb 4: [2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

This lesson is intended for Christians, so we should be willing to consider the Lord’s prayer in Jno 17: [9] I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
[10] And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
[11] And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
[12] While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
[13] And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
[14] I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
[15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
[16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
[17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
[18] As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
[19] And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
[20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
[21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Here we see a discussion of the unity of the God-head, which is not out of line with the “ye are gods” comment, if it is considered in this context. How then do we answer the atheist when he says “Where is your God?” a la Ps 42: [1] As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
[2] My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
[3] My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

Consider Ps 73 as mentioned above: [1] Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
[2] But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
[3] For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
[4] For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
[5] They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
[6] Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
[7] Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
[8] They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
[9] They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
[10] Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
[11] And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Here it is the Lord’s people who cry in this manner, a lament echoed by Nietzsche when he famously said “God is Dead.” In point of fact, the God who has thoughts, and has dictated a testament to his creation said of his own thoughts: Isa 55: [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

If this is truly the case, it should not surprise us that we do not know the mind of God; Ro 11: [34] For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?
[35] Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

1 Cor 2: [16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The argument made by Paul in the Romans passage is also: Let him who first gave something to God that God did not first create claim to be God’s Counselor. In the Corinthian passage, we have the mind of Christ (as a mindset, not a computer,) and we have the bible as Jesus argued in Lk 16: [29] Abraham saith unto him, They (we) have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
[30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

1 Jno 5:[4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Notably, John did not say “even MY faith,” but rather “even OUR faith.”

In Closing let us consider Heb 12: [1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.