Sufficiently Curious

Psalm 19 says that creation speaks and that should teach us something.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
² Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
⁴ Their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
⁵     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
⁶ Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

So not only do they pour forth speech but apparently there is enough information that’s been transmitted to come to the conclusion that the truth is out there. See SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) has somewhat of the right idea, we should be searching the cosmos for a connection. It can very well be said that God is quite alien from us. He is extraterrestrial, in that he is beyond earth, the one mistake is to think that he is tied to the inside of the galaxy. He is outside of creation as he stands over it. But the sentiment is right, there has got to be something out there.

This response to the beauty and magnitude of creation is a right one: wonder and searching. But God has left his specific signature not within the stars but with his followers who wrote down the testimonies guided by his loving hand in scripture. Something should make us look up and wonder. But the stars should point us back down. There is enough information to at least claim agnosticism rather than atheism.

Is the problem that the word of God is not sci-fi enough? If the answers came in futuristic technology and wonder would we be any more susceptible? I think that the idea of the magic of science fiction is similar to actual magic in that it explains the unexplainable. But miracles have all the wonder and power needed to fill that sense of greater than that we are expecting. God is great and powerful and would meet any of those expectations but for some reason, he just looks wrong? It is because that explanation is too big? It is too much to handle? Is he too powerful? Well, I like that he is.

The thing about agnosticism is that the idea that I simply do not know, but this hints at least that there is something to be known. And if so, it follows that an investigation should take place. I believe an honest agnostic is a seeker.

An atheist is just as dogmatic as a theist. They make the claim with as much devotion and faith in their assertions as a believer does, they simply have a different conclusion. But not only should an atheist have reasons for their not believing in God they should produce as much evidence as they demand from Christians. I like Christopher Hitchens in that he was honest when it came to this. He didn’t call himself an Atheist but an Anti-Theist. He was aware that he did not like the idea of God and militated against it. He knew there were choices in the matter.

But what about the Agnostic, are they honest? Have they searched high and low for the answers? Have they answered that direst question? The Bible teaches that humanity is without excuse. We should formulate a response better than I don’t know. If you admit you don’t know then go find the answer. An Atheist as least claims an answer, and Hitchens is the most honest of all. He said “No!” to God. This is courageous despite how sad and tragic it is. He at least acknowledged what is at stake, comprehends what is being asked and he answered. He was aware that there was a choice to make, which I must admit is more honest than some agnostics. I love that his brother Peter coming from a similar background also acknowledges this conundrum and also makes a choice, a more excellent one of accepting the God exists and therefore is due allegiance. The apostle Paul would agree:

²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1)

The reason I say this is because not only does the Bible say there is enough information to make us sufficiently curious but that the result should be in the positive. We should realize there is a God and if we do not, we should also understand that this is an act of defiance. We are suppressing that which can be known. Ignorance is not bliss but rebellion. God wants us to responsibly handle the information given to us, but some will not. They will claim ignorance. It is easier to run from a problem than address it.

Now general revelation does not save, but it should put us on the path to God. General revelation should create in us an agnostic dissonance that begins in us a journey to God. Now, this has happened time and time again but unfortunately many have stopped on the climb and rested in their own answers, thus other religions and paths to or away from God which ultimately do not get us there. The questions should still be, but how do you know?

Well examine your belief system and see if it measures up to reality. Examine your interpretation of the world and see if it works out to be a deity or worldview worth following. Furthermore, examine your belief and see if the deity in question or system is actually real. Find out what he/she/it is asking and is that worth giving your life to? Where does the road end? If a deity, find out what the deity thinks about you. If God is real shouldn’t we make sure it is his ear we are actually tingling when we are praying?

This the one I esteem: says the Lord “He who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2

If the sky does not cause a curious wonder in us. If the word of God does not incline us to search it out. If the Bible does not interest us at all. If the idea that there is a God that stands over creation and might have something to say does not affect us at all, then this verse tells us why. We are not humble and do have a contrite heart. We would have it our way first. That is, of course, the choice, but at least acknowledge if you are making it.

God isn’t asking for us to have all the answers, he is asking for a conversation. Are we interested? Do we look up and wonder? Do you?

thanks