Asking the ‘Question’ of why it is that God makes it so difficult to believe in his existence is seen as the sine qua non of reason and of apologetics. The problem is though that we’re asking the question from the wrong perspective—as if somehow God has to persuade us that his dealings with us [in particular but not exclusively] seem to be unjust: Health,Happiness,Long-Life [the American Dream] etc.
Of course there is also the problem of Evil—including the problem of God’s [likely] use of an evolutionary process—a process that brings with it: predation,plague,parasitism—oh, and [natural] death. Of course, we don’t have the whole picture. We do though have a glimpse into the heart of God when/if we take a closer look at the incarnation of Jesus Christ—who (by the way) was not just ‘sent’ by a cosmic sadist in order to provide a solution, but came on His own volition—as the second person of the Trinity . God, in Christ, was always destined to come to this vale of tears—to both deal with the problem of evil and to make a way for creatures such as us—creatures who will always find fault in whatever God does. You will relate to this scenario, no doubt.
The facts are that YOU are not the centre of the universe and you do not have anywhere near the whole picture. This world—ever since its ‘genesis’ has been the place in which opposition to God has been most prevalent. However there is, what John Polkinhorne describes as, ‘part two’—a part that is yet to come—the eschaton. Are you prepared with your list of reasons for finding God GUILTY? Jesus came the first time to redeem that which was lost; He is coming again to reveal Part Two.
As it’s nearly December (2016) We’ll end this, short, blog article with the words of one of my favourite carols:
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
12 Century Latin; Author unknown.
Derek White November 26th 2016
. 