Hidden from the wise

Some people may wonder why – if the Christian faith is true – don’t all the most intelligent people accept it? It is, of course, a fact that many academic intellectuals reject the claims of Christ to be the Son of God, so it doesn’t seem to be obvious that Christianity is true.

Among the many astonishing statements Jesus made is his prayer of thanksgiving to his Father for the fact that “You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and have revealed them to little children” (Luke 10.21). Jesus thanks God for hiding the truth from the intellectuals! Now that is decidedly odd, but it should alert us to two important facts.

First, you cannot find God by intellectual reflection or philosophical enquiry. There are several bright minds discussing on the internet the existence of God, bringing all sorts of arguments to bear on this key issue. But it seems they never manage to convince those who don’t want God to exist. Even some openminded people, realising the force of the arguments and even studying the Bible intellectually, fail to surrender to the claims of Christ. They may grasp various facts and reasons put to them, but they remain uncertain, unconvinced. Jesus would apparently be thankful that such is the case! Why?

The second fact Jesus alluded to in the text quoted above is that “God reveals these truths to little children”. The key word here is “reveals”. We know God only by his self-revelation. And it takes the simple-mindedness of a child to accept that revelation as coming indeed from God. 

Let’s take those points again. God cannot be known unless he reveals himself. “Canst thou by searching find out God?” is a question asked in the book of Job (11.7). The answer is no. Human research cannot find God. Human minds cannot penetrate the mystery of the invisible, eternal Creator. But God does reveal himself. How? The intricacies of his beautiful creation reveal something of his profound wisdom, his mathematical genius, his infinite power, and his love of beauty. But he reveals himself in clear words put into the mouths of his prophets by divine inspiration – and inscribed in sacred scripture. He reveals himself ultimately by sending Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, to walk and talk among us, to show us how God acts and to tell us his truth. God has therefore revealed his existence. But do we pay attention?

Jesus said God doesn’t give preference to the brightest minds that may decipher his revelation. Rather he favours the simple believer who, like a child, accepts his truth without contesting it as if he knows better. In other words it takes simple humility to receive God’s revelation: first to take it on board without immediately rejecting it, and then thankfully to believe it. 

Of course that doesn’t mean no questions can be asked. There is a place for serious reflection. But essentially the child sees that if God speaks, he speaks truth; and his truth can be believed. The Bible actually says that God cannot lie; and since he is all-knowing, what he says can be relied upon. The simple-minded child has no problem with that. Neither should the serious enquirer. 

We may take God’s truth on board; but more – we may take him at his word, and when he invites us to open our hearts to his love, to be forgiven by his grace and transformed by his Spirit, we can prove it to be true for ourselves. That is how a person comes to know God, through Christ our Saviour.

Clive Every-Clayton