A young man wrote me the other day to ask why God doesn’t once and for all prove his existence. Here’s my answer to that earnest seeker. (Yo! Danny! Do good in school! And don’t take drugs! And … well, actually, that pretty much covers it.)
First of all, God did prove his existence; that’s pretty much the whole point of the Bible specifically and Christianity generally.
So. Massively gargantuan point.
But I know that what you mean is why doesn’t God prove his existence again — and this time, to you personally.
If you think about that question, though, you’ll see pretty soon that what anyone asking it really wants is for God to not only prove to them personally that he exists, but to simultaneously prove his existence to a whole bunch of other people, too. Because if God proved his existence to just you, then that’s going to leave you with one whopper of a challenge on your hands, insofar as right away your choices will boil down to exactly two: Either tell people how you personally encountered God, and risk them thinking you’re absolutely badoinkers — or don’t tell anyone how God proved to you he was real, and risk having a stress-induced heart attack from having to keep such an extraordinary experience locked up inside of you.
See? Neither’s what you’d call an Optimum Situation.
And that is why anyone who claims to want irrefutable, objectively verifiable proof of God’s existence must also want God to prove he exits to everyone else in the world — or to half of them, anyway, so that he or she will at least be in the majority of people.
And God proving the reality of his existence to everyone all at once pretty much boils down to him suddenly, all around the world, appearing in the sky, and in a booming voice announcing (something like), “Hello, world! Surprise! It’s me! Try not to faint!” And of course he would have to say whatever he said in the language that any given person listening to him could understand. Including, come to think of it, baby talk.
Point is: It would be quite the Logistical Challenge.
But hey! It’s God! If anyone could pull it off, he’d be the … divine entity to do it!
And do you know what would happen if God did, all at once, to everyone in the world, finally prove his existence? People all over the world would scream, and faint, and exclaim, and tear their hair and rend their clothes — and then they’d realize that they just got so bored they’d all slump over and pass out.
Bottom line? God doesn’t prove to you in an objectively verifiable way that he exists because he knows doing so would flat-out ruin you.
The truth is, we don’t want God to prove he’s real to us in the same way everything else in our lives that’s “real” to us is real to us. Because it would destroy that within us which keeps us ever moving forward toward resolution, knowledge, clarity, context, wholeness. It would strip from us the very thing that makes us human.
Just imagine it. Imagine God really appeared before you, in physical form — that he spoke and talk and … hung out at your place for awhile.
First, you’d be awed and amazed!
And then — and in fairly short order, too – you’d become a zombie. Because there’d be no mystery left in your life.
Who remains deeply fascinated by a novel when they already know how it ends?
We need God to be mysterious. In order for us to have the richest, most human experience possible for us in this life and on this earth, we need God, and all Essential, Divine Matters, to be just beyond our rational comprehension, just outside of our grasp.
Our relationship with God needs to be, to us, a two-way, interactive, give-and-take, constantly exchanging sort of relationship — of essentially the same sort as we have with everyone else in our lives. If God just appeared to all of us, all at once, the fundamentals of our personal relationship to him would instantly be so radically altered — we’d be so thoroughly pushed out of the subjective give-and-take role that’s actually necessary to keep us engaged with God — that … that we’d no longer be who we are.
We’d be … Us, Severely Unplugged.
Our spiritual initiative would be gone.
We move forward because we want to know.
If we did know, we’d stop.
Not so good.
You don’t, actually, want God to “prove” his existence, any more than you want to lose, for instance, your imagination.
Here’s another reason it actually doesn’t make any sense to desire that God suddenly prove to everyone that he exists: It’s not God’s primary purpose to work with people as a whole, from the outside. God develops his relationship with us individually, from inside of us: God speaks to our heart, to our soul, to our experience, in the ways we most need to hear and understand him. God loves each one of us personally –a nd he wants to communicate that personally, intimately, carefully, delicately; he wants to communicate everything about himself — and us — to us in the ways and at the times that are best for us.
God had no natural interest in just … overpowering everyone at once.
Please.
This is God we’re talking about, not … P.T. Barnum.
God is pleased to be “real” where he can be the most real — where you can comprehend the most of him — which is inside of you. God is a spiritual power. The fullest communion with God must happen spiritually; it must happen inside of you, not outside of you.
The bottom line is that while you might think you want God to objectively “prove” his existence, you don’t, in fact, want that at all.
You don’t want that because you’re more complex than that. You don’t want that because your needs are more real than that.
You don’t want that because you were designed to be better than that.
![John Shore on The Huffington Post](http://johnshore.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/huffpost.jpg?w=120 "John Shore on The Huffington Post\")
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I’m sorry, but there are too many assumptions in this for me to take any part of it seriously.
I wouldn’t “lose my initiative” if I knew that god existed. I would go on with my life. I despise mystery. I think any being that needs to keep himself a secret is one I don’t need to bother with.
You need to remember when you write these posts that your audience also includes people who find the notion of an all-powerful being to be, at best, both amusing and ridiculous. You must get beyond those assumptions before the people in that group will hear you.
As it stands now, I have no proof. Until I have proof – real proof, not vapors and assumptions – I will continue to operate on the premise that god was made up by a bunch of people who couldn’t handle reality.
Christ you’re an idiot.
"I actually do want some scrap of evidence to suggest that he exists too. Without question there have been tens of thousands of religions, and many of them contradict each other on how to get that all-important reward. Yes, that is quite true there are certainly enough
stupid religions out there, more than enough to confuse anyone seeking the so-called truth.
Agree, it would be nice if this coward of a creator would share a little bit of that supernatural instruction as to why any soul should love him with all its heart & mind. It's not enough just to have a book of words that contradicts itself more times than it should from cover to cover. We as intelligent thinking beings already know that this universal standard of analytical thought has already proven itself viable down through the centuries. "That actions conclusively speak louder than words" I’d also love to have a one-on-one conversation with GOD too. Unfortunately that will obviously never happen in this pitifully short lifetime, since I honestly believe that this mysterious invisible selfish creator dude who is apparently in love with himself, has given up on this particular incredibly violent generation of misfits.
Now it's not hard to understand his selfish game plan here. Logically speaking, countless generations have already passed away since the creation of man. Now think about this exercise in logic? billions and billions of people have already died over the centuries & to God's further shame billions more will follow them in the centuries to come. Thus, the creator has become indifferent to mortal death, "overloaded by it". it's not hard to understand how this could be so. Were no different my comparisons you know.
example: how much remorse would any of us feel towards the destruction and death of a nest of insects. Now honestly do you grieve when you smack that bloodthirsty mosquito ending its existence forever ? obviously not. Or how about that piece of rotting fruit cover with maggots,would that break your heart too destroy the fruit along with those defenseless living creatures that inhabit it? Of course not. So you see God by whatever name he goes by can afford to lose an entire generation earmarked for destruction in his own private Hitler approved intergalactic concentration camp = hell. why? because any entity whether it calls itself God or the Devil who would create a race of intelligent beings without a damn good reason to do so, most be considered incompetent.
If there was a viable reason in the very beginning for the creation of man (noticed that this chauvinistic pig hardly never mentions womankind except too scorn) it was lost through the centuries. Hundreds of generations have already passed away therefore one must consider the obvious. With billions and billions of souls now on hold for a future judgment none of them actually deserve, the 8 billion that now inhabit this insect infested spinning piece of solar driftwood hold absolutely no value too God whatsoever. How could a mere mortal say that with absolutely no authority to scorned the Christian believer. that's easy I use their own words to convict their self-righteous perfect in his own mind God of heresy. According to the book of Revelation the word judgment appears countless times. human beings reduced to the value of insects as this all loving father kills with famine, pestilence and death. so logically speaking, he'd rather see us nuke ourselves into extinction, other than provide his so-called beloved children that one shred of concrete evidence to build a viable relationship of love on.
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I enjoyed your post. I could almost feel the anger, frustration…and glimmer of hope that maybe…just maybe, God did create you in His image to fellowship with. The small hope that you do have a purpose, that you’re important and your life is not in vain, that there’s something better on the other side. You reminded me of a section of the book I’ve worked on (on and off) for some time now. If you get bored contemplating the meaning of life and purpose…maybe you’d like to read a few sections I’ll post. God bless and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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She felt the warmth of his hand touch her arm. “Jesse,” he said softly, “I knew you were confused and frightened today. I wanted to comfort you, to say God will take care us…but I couldn’t. God gives peace to those who trust in Him. He doesn’t impose Himself on those who don’t want to know Him.”
Her tears began to flow faster. “Did you come to say your God doesn’t care about me, Gabriel?”
His hand moved to her cheek. “No, Jesse. I came to tell you that the creator of the universe loves you so much that He came to Earth and died for you.”
Even in her state of sadness, she could hear the emotion in his voice when he said, “God loves you, Jesse, and regardless of what happens in this life, you can know that in the end everything will be all right if you’re a child of God.”
How could she be a child of God when she wasn’t even sure God exists? She wished she knew but she didn’t, she couldn’t. Weariness encased her like a tomb. “I’m too tired to talk,” she whispered.
“Will you listen then? Just open your mind and listen.” He took her silence for agreement before moving to sit on the edge of the bed. He leaned forward to rest his elbows on knees before saying, “At some point, every thinking adult asks themselves if God exists. I know you’ve asked yourself that question, Jesse.”
“Yes,” she murmured.
“Yes,” he said, “I know you have. The question carries profound significance, basic accountability. Once the question is asked, it has to be dealt with. Whether the response is deferral, denial, indifference or acceptance, once we respond to that question, there is a response to our creator on record. The question is the most important question any human will ever ask. Certainly, the most important question anyone will ever answer. Our response defines our relationship with God and determines our place in eternity.”
She had mentally debated the question for weeks but she was too exhausted to think about it now. “Gabriel, I don’t want to—”
“Think, Jesse,” he said with gentle urgency. “Just think of the perfection and complexity of the universe. Does order come from disorder? Even scientists say the universe was created at one point in time. Is it reasonable to believe the universe exploded into existence by chance from nothing?”
She had never given much thought to the creation of the universe. “Big bang,” she mumbled.
“What do you suppose caused the big bang?” he asked. “If there’s nothing outside the universe, what created the matter the explosion came from? Is it logical to believe a random, chaotic explosion designed perfection? Does an exploding bomb create ordered design? Think of galaxies, stars, planets, Earth, all plant and animal life, even the miracle of the human body. I would have to agree with Voltaire. If the watch proves the existence of a watchmaker but the universe does not prove the existence of a great Architect then I consent to be called a fool.”
Voltaire? She didn’t know who Voltaire was. Philosopher? Her eyes moved to the shadows of Gabriel’s face during the silence that followed. When he spoke, she could hear a sense of awe in his voice for the God he serves when he said, “The complexity, the organization of creation is incredible. Think about the Earth, perfectly sized, perfect distance from the sun, rotating on its axis at nearly one thousand miles an hour to be heated and cooled daily. Just imagine living on a planet traveling around the Sun at nearly sixty-seven thousand miles an hour.”
The thought of the Earth hurling through space at sixty-seven thousand miles an hour was startling. “Sixty-seven thousand,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he said, “but the most amazing creation of all is the human that God created in His own image. Man will never create a computer like the human brain that can process more than a million messages per second or a camera like the human eye. Just think about DNA, a digital code in every single cell. Every human has trillions of cells and in each tiny cell is a three-billion-letter program telling it how to act. That’s not chance, Jesse. That’s not evolution. That’s the work and design of almighty God.”
She had wondered what he based his belief on. Now she knew. He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought. “Jesse,” he said, interrupting her thoughts, “I know you’ve asked yourself if God exists. You’re the type of person who appreciates reason. I’ve mentioned a few facts but if you take time to review the evidence, I think you will come to the same conclusion I have. God exists. God created the universe we live in. God created you. He came to Earth in human form and died for you. God loves you, Jesse.”
What she was hearing made sense but she wasn’t sure. She couldn’t organize her thoughts. His voice broke through her confusion. “Creation testifies of God’s existence and there is more than enough evidence that the Bible is the infallible Word of God but it’s up to us to make a choice to believe. It’s up to us to make a commitment. I have followed the evidence to its rational conclusion. I am more convinced of who Jesus Christ is than I am of my own identity, and I know who I am, Jesse.”
“That’s a lot to think about,” she said.
Moving to kneel by the bedside, he covered her hand with his. She watched his face in the moonlight as he talked. “Earlier, you said when we were young you would have believed me if I told you it was going to snow in August. Well, I’m older now. I like to think a little wiser but I’m still the same person. I’m still the same person who would never lie to you. I haven’t told you things I should have in the past, but I’ve never lied. You wonder how I know God exists. To some, believing in God seems foolish, like having an imaginary friend, but I can tell you in truth, Jesse, I know God exists. I can tell you that because I know Him personally. I talk to Him every day. God strengthens me, gives me hope for the future when there seems to be none. God is my courage, my patience and peace.”
He squeezed her hand gently before standing to look down at her. “You said it’s a lot to think about. I guess it is. If you want to talk about it later you can come to me.”
The argument Gabriel made was logical, well thought out. He said she should consider the evidence but she didn’t need to. He already had. He was right. She needed to hear the facts, the reasoning, but that wasn’t what convinced her. What made her push the blanket back was hearing him talk about his personal relationship with God. She wanted what he had. He said he knows God exists because of his personal experience. She believed him. “Gabriel, don’t leave,” she called. As she stood, the white nightgown floated to the floor around bare feet before she knelt by the bed. “I need to know how to accept Jesus.”
He came back around the bed to kneel by her side. “God is holy, sinless,” he said. “The only way we can approach a holy God is to accept the gift He gave to cleanse us. God gave his only Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Salvation is a gift of mercy and God’s grace. Confess your need for God’s mercy as a sinner, accept Jesus as your Lord and savior and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.”
Bowing her head, Jesse said, “Dear God, I am a sinner who could never be good enough but You made a way for me to be saved. I believe You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die for me. I believe You raised Him from the dead.” The lump forming in her throat was becoming painful. “Please forgive me. I accept Jesus. Amen.”
As Gabriel helped her to her feet, she asked, “Did I do it right?”
His eyes appeared to glisten in the soft light of the moon. Was it tears? She couldn’t tell. His arm came around her shoulder to pull her lightly against his side. “You did it just right.”
She pulled in a deep breath and exhaled. The smothering heaviness was gone. She could breathe. “I feel different, relieved,” she said.
“Another captive set free,” he said.
I don’t know, John. It seems there are many things he could have done that were subtile, which could have given us some evidence that He exists. For example, putting a profecy in the bible that people couldn’t “self-fulfill”, putting something physical on the planet that cannot be explained by any other means than through creation by a higher power, or even putting something into our genetic code that contains a message that we could only decode with modern technology. I’d be pretty impressed if in a clinical trial, prayer was demonstrated to work better than positive thinking, a faith healer successfully laid hands on an amputee, or scientists were ever to document anything supernatural (like a soul). None of these things would be overpowering, as the masses already believe in this sort of stuff.
I actually DO want some scrap of evidence to suggest that He exists. There have been tens of thousands of religions, and many of them contradict each other on how to get the reward. A little bit of supernatural instruction would be nice. I’d love to have a conversation with Him. I’d probably start with “what were you thinking?”
There – I read it smarty-pants! LOL
Interesting take – I however fall into that category of loonies who personally believe God has "proven" his existence to me (on a most personal and spiritual level). I could care less about any ridicule when I share my faith with others – it is what it is. I'm not here to change hearts and minds – only God can do that. But I can testify to my own experience.
I think you did miss one reason people ask why God doesn't "prove" his existence – usually they want something: something tangible or out of reach; thereby God's so-called proof would be giving them what they desire most. That motivation is usually what lies behind the "Why won't God prove to me that he exists?" query. Unfortunately, even when God does give some people what they want or need, it still isn't proof enough. Good post!
if god was real he would show himself at least 1 time to every person because a god who knows all . knows man is corrupt and he can not use man to give a message to a 3ed party because his word would be twisted over time . the only way for every1 to get what they want besides satan is for god to prove he exist and me waking up and breathing is just a stupid example of proof
What I want to know and wonder about is why did it have to be such a violent way? Why couldn't God just have come like He did – as Jesus- tell us all that He did (the gospels) and then fill His apostles with His Spirit and go on back. Why did it have to be the cross? Why so much pain for Jesus? Some people still don't want to believe, so why did God make it that way? Does anyone else ever wonder about this?
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