The Mind of God
By WizenedSage (Galen Rose) ~
In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul wrote, “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?” The Commentary from Barnes Notes on this passage explains, “The interrogative form is a strong mode of denying that anyone has ever known the mind of the Lord. The argument of Paul is this, ‘No one can understand God. No one can fully comprehend his plans, his feelings, his views, his designs.’ “
Modern Christians are paraphrasing Paul when they say, “We can’t expect to understand the mind of god.”
Alright, maybe so, but aren’t they missing an important point here? Let’s turn this idea over and look at its other side. Maybe I shouldn’t expect to understand the complex mind of a god, but shouldn’t I expect an all-knowing god to understand my simple human mind - especially if he created that mind? If he truly existed and wanted me to believe in him, wouldn’t he act in ways that make some sense to me, to convince me? How else could I possibly know that he is not just one of those thousands of silly, phony gods men have created and worshipped in the past?
Shouldn’t a super intelligent, all-knowing god understand why I can’t believe in a virgin giving birth?
Shouldn’t a super intelligent, all-knowing god understand why I can’t believe in a virgin giving birth?Shouldn’t a super intelligent, all-knowing god understand why I can’t believe there ever existed a man who could heal disease with a touch, or walk on water?
Shouldn’t a super intelligent, all-knowing god understand why I can’t believe a man could be dead several days and then just stand up and walk away?
For these and many similar reasons, I have no fear whatsoever that there is a god who will punish me for not believing in the Christian story. No god with an ounce of sense or a gram of compassion would punish me, an educated modern man, for not believing things so contrary to the laws of nature - especially when there is no physical evidence for this god; there is only an ancient book filled with the hearsay claims of primitive people.
I can grant that I shouldn’t expect to understand the mind of god. But, if there’s a god who even remotely resembles the god of the Bible, then it’s only common sense to expect him to understand my mind, and to act accordingly in providing believable evidence, if he really gives a damn whether I believe.
Modern Christians are paraphrasing Paul when they say, “We can’t expect to understand the mind of god.”
Alright, maybe so, but aren’t they missing an important point here? Let’s turn this idea over and look at its other side. Maybe I shouldn’t expect to understand the complex mind of a god, but shouldn’t I expect an all-knowing god to understand my simple human mind - especially if he created that mind? If he truly existed and wanted me to believe in him, wouldn’t he act in ways that make some sense to me, to convince me? How else could I possibly know that he is not just one of those thousands of silly, phony gods men have created and worshipped in the past?
Shouldn’t a super intelligent, all-knowing god understand why I can’t believe in a virgin giving birth?
Shouldn’t a super intelligent, all-knowing god understand why I can’t believe in a virgin giving birth?Shouldn’t a super intelligent, all-knowing god understand why I can’t believe there ever existed a man who could heal disease with a touch, or walk on water?
Shouldn’t a super intelligent, all-knowing god understand why I can’t believe a man could be dead several days and then just stand up and walk away?
For these and many similar reasons, I have no fear whatsoever that there is a god who will punish me for not believing in the Christian story. No god with an ounce of sense or a gram of compassion would punish me, an educated modern man, for not believing things so contrary to the laws of nature - especially when there is no physical evidence for this god; there is only an ancient book filled with the hearsay claims of primitive people.
I can grant that I shouldn’t expect to understand the mind of god. But, if there’s a god who even remotely resembles the god of the Bible, then it’s only common sense to expect him to understand my mind, and to act accordingly in providing believable evidence, if he really gives a damn whether I believe.