The Hiddenness Of God?
The Hiddenness Of God?
If God really loved all men why won't He speak to them? Make Himself more evident?
Thanks to the human heart by which we live, thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears, To me the meanest flower that blows can give thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears. Wordsworth
Re: The Hiddenness Of God?
I would answer that God does indeed speak to them, but they just choose not to listen.
Douglas
Douglas
Re: The Hiddenness Of God?
God loves faith, but I do agree with Douglas. The sheep hear His voice.
TK
TK
Re: The Hiddenness Of God?
TK wrote:God loves faith, but I do agree with Douglas. The sheep hear His voice.
TK
Thanks to the human heart by which we live, thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears, To me the meanest flower that blows can give thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears. Wordsworth
Re: The Hiddenness Of God?
He has spoken to us by and revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ.
Why didn't Jesus stay?
Because it's better for us to BE the body of Christ (a God filled Church) than to have the body of Christ (one particular God-man).
Why didn't Jesus stay?
Because it's better for us to BE the body of Christ (a God filled Church) than to have the body of Christ (one particular God-man).
Re: The Hiddenness Of God?
Also good to note that Historically, when God has revealed Himself more, it doesn't always translate to people choosing to love and obey Him.
God miraculously led Israel out of Egypt and across a sea and showed up in power on a mountain and the people's response was to tell Moses 'You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.' (Exodus 20:19). Then went forward from this point to continue in distrust and rebellion againt God after clearing seeing His power over and over.
Jesus obviously showed consistently the power of God and yet we hear of 'the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done (Matthew 11:20)' being unresponsive to His message of repentance. He warns them of their judgment coming because of this (Matthew 11:20-24).
I think it's easy to feel sympathetic towards comments like 'If God would just make Himself known I'd believe,' but it seems like scripture points out that it's not a lack of information that keeps us from God...we're without excuse because of things like creation (Romans 1:20) and our conscience (Romans 2:15.) The problem is, while we have a certain measure of God's revelation available to us, we suppress the truth in our unrighteousness (Romans 1:18.) Typically, it seems like if we're suppressing the truth God's given us, having more revelation given to us often means more to suppress. Why do we do this? I think ultimately because we're not willing to come to a conclusion that God and what He's revealed is true, because it implies His right to be in charge of our lives and His demand that we turn from sin.
We know the gospel is the power of God (Romans 1:16), and no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws them (John 6:44), so we're pointed back to the reality that God's going to have to do a work in people's heart and we need to share the gospel. Truly, apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).
I used to get really frustrated that I couldn't give people enough 'evidence' to believe, but there's plenty of evidence if the heart purely wants to find God...it is the pure in heart that see Him (Matthew 5:8).
God miraculously led Israel out of Egypt and across a sea and showed up in power on a mountain and the people's response was to tell Moses 'You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.' (Exodus 20:19). Then went forward from this point to continue in distrust and rebellion againt God after clearing seeing His power over and over.
Jesus obviously showed consistently the power of God and yet we hear of 'the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done (Matthew 11:20)' being unresponsive to His message of repentance. He warns them of their judgment coming because of this (Matthew 11:20-24).
I think it's easy to feel sympathetic towards comments like 'If God would just make Himself known I'd believe,' but it seems like scripture points out that it's not a lack of information that keeps us from God...we're without excuse because of things like creation (Romans 1:20) and our conscience (Romans 2:15.) The problem is, while we have a certain measure of God's revelation available to us, we suppress the truth in our unrighteousness (Romans 1:18.) Typically, it seems like if we're suppressing the truth God's given us, having more revelation given to us often means more to suppress. Why do we do this? I think ultimately because we're not willing to come to a conclusion that God and what He's revealed is true, because it implies His right to be in charge of our lives and His demand that we turn from sin.
We know the gospel is the power of God (Romans 1:16), and no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws them (John 6:44), so we're pointed back to the reality that God's going to have to do a work in people's heart and we need to share the gospel. Truly, apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).
I used to get really frustrated that I couldn't give people enough 'evidence' to believe, but there's plenty of evidence if the heart purely wants to find God...it is the pure in heart that see Him (Matthew 5:8).