This article is called, “The absence and silence of God.” Many in society today, think God is an absentee landlord over the earth. They see God as some kind of divine caretaker. Too many really think God exist to serve them and grant all their request. He is supposed to fill their wish list. When people cannot get what they want, they adopt the philosophy of the absence and silence of God.
Belief In God
I did a little research; I wanted to know and see what others think about the absence of God and their belief. I was surprised to find these answer, chosen to be the best answer on “Yahoo Answers.”
This answer was chosen and submitted by someone called, “Cynical1.” Their answer was this, “Best Answer: “The absence of God is just the normal state of the universe. There is no God; there has never been a God; there never will be a God. The absence of God is called reality.”
Here is another one by someone called “BoYcLuE.” His answer is this. “My thoughts err the way I might rationalize the question. The absence of god is literally nothing. We are all divine individuals with in our own being. So in a sense god is in me and I become a reflection of that “essence”. So, it’s also like saying why do I need to go to church when all I have to do is look in the mirror aka Self-realization.”
If this is the normal thinking and belief of society today, then we are in trouble, and we are all doomed. This belief systems goes from denying there is a God to making oneself their own God.
I have heard these question more than once. “Where is God when I need him?” Or, “Where was God on 911 when terrorists attacked the twin towers?” Another question I have heard for many years is this one. “If God exist, then why does he allow babies to die and why does He allow evil to exist?”
I do not think anyone can fully answer all of these questions because no one completely understand God. If mankind could use a scientific approach and put God under a microscope or test tube, many might be satisfied. If science could break down God and do analysis, they might accept Him. Mankind wants to know what makes God work and why He is God.
Scientific Approach
The Oxford Dictionary says the scientific approach is, “A method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.”
Science seeks to logically explain God, His existence or non-existence, through testing. Science wants viable proof that can be tested and verified. Science does not accept “Faith” in God. Yet all science uses faith everyday. No scientist can prove the sun will come up in the morning, they believe it will, based on faith. Scientists believe in a thing called “Gravity”, yet they cannot see it.
Philosophy
Philosophy is, “The study of the general and fundamental nature of reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.” According to the Oxford dictionary, philosophical means, “Relating or devoted to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.”
Humans wants to find God through their own reasoning and evaluation. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us, on His terms, not on our terms. Too many are willing to accept Creation as a process of evolution, in order to explain their own existence.
The Philosophical Questions are, “Who am I? Why am I here? And where am I going?” “Is there a higher power of intelligent design, whom we call a Divine Creator?” Another question humans ask is, “Are we alone in the Universe?”
I believe that science cannot answer the philosophical questions with answers. Science cannot prove or disprove the existence of God, and therein lies the problem with science.
FAITH
There are many definitions of the word faith. I will give my definition now. “Faith is simply believing God will do what He said, He will do.” What is mankind’s real problem with faith?
The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
We have 5 sense organs in our body. They are sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. If we could really sense God in these sense organs, we could understand Him better. If each of these sense organs were satisfied, there would be no need for faith.
God does work in us, but from the Spiritual realm. The Bible says, (KJV John 4:24) “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
We enter into God’s family and a personal relationship with God, through a “Spiritual Birth.” The Holy Spirit comes to live in us forever.
We live in a body of flesh with out 5 senses. Even science and philosophy does not deny this. Jesus said, (John 3:6) “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” I do not think science and philosophy wants to understand this.
I submit that every person uses faith whether they know it or not. It may not be Biblical Saving Faith, but yet they use it. People go to sleep each night believing they will wake up the next morning. That is faith. People get in the cars and drive believing they will be safe and get to their destination. That is faith.
If that person thinks they will be in a car wreck and die, they will not go. We all go sit down in a chair believing it will support our weight and not crash under us. We send our children off to school believing they will return home safely. That is faith.
In reality, we all use faith everyday. I will say Biblical Faith is a faith in God and what He says. Worldly faith is a faith in me and my 5 senses. I believe that is the difference.
The world says, “Show me and I will believe it.” God works the opposite and says, “Believe it and I will show you.” There is a big difference between the 5 “HUMAN SENSES” and the “SPIRITUAL SENSES.”
The Bible does relate “Spiritual Senses in human terms. 1.(KJV Psalm 34:8) “O TASTE and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” 2. (KJV Jeremiah 1:8) “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and TOUCHED my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” 3. (KJV John 20:29) “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not Seen, and yet have believed.” 4. (KJV I Corinthians 12:12-17) “12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
14 “For the body is not one member, but many.”
15 “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?”
16 “And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?”
17 “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?”
Jesus Himself, used the analogy of the body and our 5 human senses, to explain our position in the body of Christ. ( The Spiritual). The Bible calls us members in particular.
The Bible also explains the problem of Human Understanding of the Spiritual. (KJV I Corinthians 2:14) “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
This is the explanation of why science and philosophy does not and will not, accept and understand the Spiritual. All they can rely on are their 5 human senses.
Any Christian who has been saved for a period of time will tell you this. There is ALWAYS a battle between the Flesh and the Spirit. And what you feed-Leads.
WHAT IS THE COMMON PROBLEM
Christians and non-Christians alike, face a world of uncertainty. We all face the same worldly problems. We all have wants, needs and desires. We all face fears, feelings and emotions. As humans everyone needs help at some point, so we try and work out or solve our own problems.
We not only use our 5 senses, we use experience, our knowledge and understanding. Too many times the problems are to big to solve. The problems are way beyond us. The most common problems are physical, mental, emotional, social or spiritual.
Even for Christians, there are times when God does not make sense. You would think that when you are doing the things of God and serving Him, everything would turn out right. We tend to ask, “God where are you? Are you not listening? I need help!”
Sometimes God’s Ways do not make sense to us! Especially when God is silent and does not answer! We want to understand God’s ways and his purpose.
We never know from week to week what will come or what we will face. We hope things will get better, but often things will progress and get worse. You can easily think, “Well it cannot get any worse, then it does.”
There are times when troubles and problems overwhelm you. You hit the floor on your knees and cry out, “God are you there? I understand that you love me. I know you know everything, but where are you. Don’t you know I need you? You know what I am going through, but I can’t see you or feel your presence. Yes, God I am afraid and I don’t know what to do, so please help me–I NEED YOU!”
As the Bible says, we will all face trials, test, tribulations and even persecution. We just do not expect them to come in bunches like banana’s.
When despair comes we self-evaluate. Christians call out to God and ask, “What have I done wrong? Please tell me. If I have sinned, then I will repent and correct it.”
Then Christians try to figure out if they are paying the consequences for some sin?? These are the most frustrating times. Trying to figure out if I have done something wrong and still get no answer.
WHEN DOES GOD FIX THINGS
There are times in our life when God does not fix our problems. Then there are times God rushes to the rescue. I generally find out, when I think God will work this way, He comes from a totally different direction. When I think God will use a certain person, He brings in someone I never expected to help.
This is a question Jesus faced here on earth. The Bible records in John Chapter 11. Jesus’ good friend Lazarus, was very sick. A message from Lazarus’s sisters, Mary and Martha had been sent to Jesus. Jesus did not respond. Jesus did not get up and go there immediately.
Did Jesus love them? Yes, Jesus had been in their home, ate and fellowshipped with them. Mary had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair. Jesus was close to them.
Had Lazarus, Mary or Martha sinned or caused this sickness? I do not think so. They wanted and needed help immediately. Mary and Martha had great fear. They did not understand and could not figure it out.
They had done everything possible to serve and love the Lord. It did not make sense to them. When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had died.
In verse 21 Martha said, ” Then said Martha unto Jesus, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” (You could have fixed him). Of course Jesus did fix him and raise him from the dead.
Jesus had a reason and purpose that Mary, Martha and Lazarus did not know about. It was not a lack of love and concern, but they did not understand it. They had all the 5 senses that we have. They had all the same feeling, fears and emotions we have.
I found this quote from “Next Level Worship” and wanted to use it here. “What is our role?”
Like Mary and Martha, we can call on Jesus to heal those who are sick. But, if and when Jesus doesn’t show up like we think he should, we can’t conclude that he doesn’t hear us, that he doesn’t care, or that he doesn’t love us. Nothing Lazarus’s sisters said or did could have changed Jesus’ timing. And the only thing Jesus asked of Mary and Martha is the only thing he asks of us. Their role and our role is the same.”Believe, and be witnesses to the glory of God.”
“Though Mary and Martha had urged him to come sooner and may have felt unloved when he didn’t come quickly, those weren’t his concerns. Their urgency didn’t stir him. And his love for them never changed. He alone could see the future and know the perfect time and the perfect way to answer their prayers.”
(KJV Isaiah 55:8-9) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
What did God say at the conversion of Paul? (KJV Acts 9:16) “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Had Paul been forgiven, Yes! God had a plan and a purpose for Paul, even though Paul did not know it.
Look at the Apostles, the prophets, Moses, Job, Abraham and so many others through the Bible. They did not have a problem free life and suffered more than we ever will.
Many times God’s people did suffer for sin and consequences, but that was not always the case. God had a plan and purpose for their lives. Those who kept their faith and trust in the Lord came out better servants for it.
A LIFE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
If you had everything you wanted or needed, what would you trust God for? Would you ever need to pray or depend on Him?
I know the Christian life is a growth process. We are new born babes in Christ. I realize as we grow we go from one level to another level. This is also true of our fellowship and relationship with the Lord.
( KJV Genesis 12:1-4)” 1.Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.”
God called Abraham to get up, leave his country and go to a land that God would show him. God did not tell Abraham where he was going. God said He would tell Abraham when he got there. God did not give Abraham a road map.
The Bible says, Abraham so traveled by faith. God did not tell Abraham all that he would encounter on his journey. God did promise to be with Abraham and bless him.
Abraham did not sit and get all the answers from God before he decided to leave. God had a plan and purpose for Abraham and his life. Abraham did not understand this plan and purpose, but he obeyed. Was Abraham’s life easy? No. Did Abraham face hardships? Yes. Did Abraham understand all that he would face? No.
God promised Abraham, all the nations of the earth would be blessed because of him. God took Abraham to a whole new level. Were there times when God was silent? Yes. Did God immediately solve every problem or instantly answer every prayer Abraham had? No.
CONCLUSION
God is not absent from His Creation or His children. If that were true, the Holy Spirit would not be living in us.
Science cannot prove or disprove the existence of God Science has done more to prove it then disprove it.
Philosophy can not give a complete analysis of God or fit God into their philosophical box. If you could fully understand God, then He would not be God.
Our 5 human senses should be able to see that creation demands a creator. The Bible declares, (KJV Psalm 19:1) “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Unfortunately, I feel our 5 human senses do sense US more than God. The flesh is always in a battle with the Spiritual for control over us.
I wish I could tell you why, sometimes God is silent. I wish I could tell you why, God does not fix everything for us. I can only say if He did, then we would not grow, learn, mature or move to the next level with Him.
I am not sure that anyone has that answer. I do not have the answer telling you why, God does not show up when we feel we need him the most.
Does this mean that God does not care or is too busy? No. Three different times the Bible says, “The just shall live by faith, not by sight.” This can only be done Spiritually.
Sometimes we fail to see that we are far more blessed than those in the Old Testament. They walked by faith and trust just as we do. We have the Holy Spirit of God living in us. It is his job to lead, guide and direct us.
We also have the complete Word of God. Those in the Old Testament did not have either. God did not promise a life HERE without pain, heartache of suffering. He did promise that for the next life.
I do know come what may, God has a plan and purpose for our lives. I know God does not make mistakes. I know God is still in control and loves His children.
I know God has promised to reward His children for their faithfulness. I do hold to His promise that, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” AND GOD CANNOT LIE!
Even when we feel the Absence and Silence of God!
Your thoughts, and opinions are welcome so leave them here. If I can help you then leave me a message and I will get back to you–RAY
