The Elusive Nature of God: Why Evidence Isn’t the Ultimate Issue
A Challenge to Faith
A common argument against the existence of God is that there isn’t enough evidence to support it. Atheists claim that if God existed, we would expect to see more convincing proof, such as miraculous events or unmistakable signs of divine intervention. However, this argument overlooks a fundamental aspect of human nature and the biblical concept of sin.
The Root of Unbelief
According to the Bible, sin is not just about breaking rules; it’s about our inherent rebellion against God. This rebellion stems from our mistrust of God’s goodness and our desire to be our own authorities. We doubt God’s claims and question His motives, leading to a deep-seated unbelief. Intellectual objections are just a symptom of this underlying issue.
A Thought Experiment
Imagine Jesus appearing in your living room, performing miracles, and providing undeniable evidence of His divinity. Would you suddenly become a devoted follower? Or would you still struggle with the idea of surrendering to God’s will? This thought experiment reveals that our resistance to God goes beyond intellectual doubts.
The Real Barrier
Even if we had all the evidence we needed, there would still be an emotional and volitional barrier between us and God. We want to be our own gods, making our own decisions and living life on our own terms. This desire for autonomy is the root of our unbelief, not a lack of evidence.
God’s Purpose
God’s goal is not just to change minds but to transform hearts. He wants us to love and trust Him, not just intellectually assent to His existence. Providing more evidence might not necessarily lead to a deeper relationship with God; it might only reinforce our rebellion.
Rethinking the Objection
In light of this, the objection from divine hiddenness loses its force. God’s apparent absence or lack of evidence is not the primary issue; our own resistance to God’s claims is the real problem. We need to reevaluate our assumptions and recognize that evidence is not the ultimate issue in our relationship with God.
Notes
This article is adapted from “Why Believe?: A Reasoned Approach to Christianity” by Neil Shenvi.
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