T(r)oy's Marbles
3. knowing God's will
Dear C---,
We’ve noted the crisis of knowledge we experience today and we’ve noted a possible “way out” of this crisis. Specifically, I’ve proposed a return to an ancient theory of knowledge: an epistemology based on revelation and faith.
What I think is difficult about this, however, is the fact that it takes faith to base our lives on this very premise (which is concerned with faith!). Ironic, isn’t it? But, fitting, all the same, I think. There’s an internal consistency to it that only helps, in my mind, more firmly establish the undeniable truth of this basic principle. So, yes, it takes faith to believe that our theory of knowledge is based on a combination of revelation and belief. But, unless we believe, we’ll be forever trapped. Just look at the state of philosophy today to see the alternative: Thousands of people caught up in discussing whether or not the chair on which I’m sitting actually exists. (Come on, people! Can’t you have at least that much faith? Yes, the chair I’m sitting on now does exist!) And thus, we’re back at faith.
So I have no trouble whatsoever with the idea that the acceptance of an “ancient” epistemological foundation appears to be a mere tautology (a kind of “going around in circles” but not really having proved anything; that is, using the point to prove the point). I mean, after all, what would you expect? If it is true that knowledge is based on revelation and belief, then one would expect faith to play a part in acceptance of that premise, wouldn’t one? Indeed, one would be suspicious if one could establish the foundation apart from faith, since that would render the premise obsolete.
The question we may want to ask ourselves now is: “But why should this be the case?”
In my mind, this way of coming to know truth makes sense if the thing that God’s after is simply relationship with us. I think this may in fact be the case because (notice) it has been revealed to me and this truth has been confirmed in my heart through faith. I mean, I have been told by Jesus through the Bible (revelation) that I was created to know God. This is my purpose. And, I believe it. And, because of that, I know this to be true, first-hand.
So: God reveals and I respond with belief. It’s the language of relationship. Because God wants a relationship with me, he has created a system whereby I cannot know truth apart from his revelation and my trusting response.
Let’s look at this more closely now:
Point 1: I won’t be able to apprehend truth unless God reveals it to me. That’s because he’s designed the universe in such a way that a relationship with him becomes necessary to our existence in the same way that gravity keeps us on the planet. All truth is found in God, so to find truth we need God to reveal himself to us.
Point 2: But, if God moves to reveal himself to me, and I respond with unbelief, I cut myself off from relating to God, in the same way that I cut myself off from my wife if I persist in disbelieving her when she tells me she loves me. To really relate to her, then, a leap of faith is required of me, a trusting that what she says is true, even though I cannot scientifically prove it to be true. And, unless I move towards her in faith, I will never know it to be true. But, if I trust her and choose to stand in close relation to her, I will then know in a deeply personal, intuitive way that, yes, she does in fact love me. I will know it because I have experienced it for myself. (Is not this form of knowledge valid? And does it not accord with a common human experience?)
At this point, let me draw out one qualifying concept: What I am not saying is that believing something makes it true or that truth is dependant upon my belief. Notice in the example above: It is true that my wife loves me, full stop. And, even if I disbelieve that, it would not change the fact that my wife loves me (thank goodness for that!). But, what my belief does change is my ability to see, to apprehend the truth. And, yes, faith is an essential part of that. And this is what your question is getting at: our ability to know God’s will.
To that I would say, as a comfort to you: you’ll be able to know because God reveals his will to his children. That fact will never change. God will continue to reveal his will (his heart) to you, whether you choose to believe that or not. That’s why I would also then add, as a challenge to you: you’ll only be able to know God’s will as you choose to believe, to take some leaps of faith, to trust that you’re truly walking in his ways. In order to know God’s will a combination of revelation and faith is required.
But that’s the scary part, isn’t it? That’s precisely what you’re talking about. Let me see if I can paraphrase what you’ve noted already: “But what if my faith is misguided? What if I go the wrong way? What if the voice I’m hearing is the devil’s? or just some other person’s? or merely my own?”
At this juncture I’ll say one simple thing that should serve to comfort you, but requires faith too. Remember, Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.’”
At this point, I have little else to say except to remind you: God has revealed the answer to you through these words of Jesus. Choose to believe it. That is to say: You’ll know the Master’s voice because you know the Master. You know the Master, because you trust the Master and you believe the Master.
Having said that, keep in mind that the Master is kind. He does not want us wandering around in the darkness. He is the light. So, he has chosen to reveal himself to us in myriad ways. That’s because he knows we can be a tough group of sheep to get through to.
Notice, in the passage earlier in John, the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Tell us plainly!” and Jesus responded by saying, “I have told you plainly! I have even performed miracles so you could clearly see I’m from God!” In other words, “I’ve tried lots of ways to get through to you. And I’ll keep trying until you believe.”
Fortunately, God does keep trying all kinds of ways to reveal himself to us. That’ll be our subject for tomorrow’s installment: the “all-kinds-of-ways” part. Specifically, we’ll look at some examples of how God has chosen to reveal himself to us throughout history.
Until then,
Troy
Click here to read part 4 of Discerning God's Will.
teachings | Comments (0) | October 03, 2006