Rational, Deception, and Mystery

In my Contemporary Christian belief class, we were discussing how rational thought could encourage faith in Christ. A student asked a reasonable question about the character of God. I can’t remember his exact words, but his question went something like this: “If God allows scientific proofs or evidences in nature that suggest that there is not a God, doesn’t that make God deceptive?”

General revelation is anything in nature that attests to the nature of God. Even unbelievers have the ability to look at natural laws and infer that there must be a God. General revelation links with Romans 1: 18-20.

Some might suggest that our world is cruel and dangerous, so our God might exist, but He is not benevolent. An apologist might suggest that our cruel world proves that the Christian faith is the only rational faith. Simply because, the Christian faith is the only faith that suggests that sin has tainted the world, but God is still benevolent. He sent His Son to die a terrible death to ransom us from the cruel world and reconcile us to God.

Nevertheless, let’s revisit the student’s question. Is God deceptive? Can’t we see the suffering and chaos in the world, and then rationally conclude that God is not benevolent or doesn't exist? Shouldn’t God make it even MORE obvious that He is the only redeemer? I will share my response to the claim that God might be deceptive or without benevolence.

God is not deceptive, but He is mysterious. This is one of my favorite aspects of God. He could easily reveal His glory with irrefutable proofs, but He doesn’t. Why not? Well, I’m not sure. I will suggest that, for whatever reason, God loves faith. Therefore, if God eradicated all doubts or alternative belief systems, faith wouldn’t be precious or even needed. God desires His creation to seek Him and grapple with the question of eternity. He gave us brains to conceptualize aspects of belief and then live according to our consciences. Nevertheless, He doesn't reveal everything about life and godliness in this life.

God is not vindictive or cruel, so deception is the wrong word. The better word is mysterious. God shrouds His glory through a veil. Once a believer accepts Christ, the Holy Spirit progressively removes that veil. Additionally, our approach to general revelation always passes through our cognitive faculties—our fallen cognitive faculties. Although there are natural laws that prove the existence of the Christian God, some of our perceptions of nature are still deeply flawed. God created us with finite understandings, and His will always carry an air of mystery and beyond our imaginations. God is holy and His will is above our reasoning. Therefore, my school of thought lies more with presuppositionalism than classical apologetics. If you don’t know those two terms, use Wikipedia. Classic Apologetic is the popular system at the present time, and I think it does have merit. Whatever you believe, I think faith and trust in the benevolence of God is essential in all rational thought.