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The Human Limitations of Unreasonable Atheism (Part 22): “Doctrinal Disproofs” (Part F)

As we continue our look at how human limitations render unreasonable the many arguments against God’s existence, we do well to remember that true wisdom begins with the “fear of the Lord” (Prov. 9:10), and admits its smallness and dependence on God for all things—including knowledge. The importance of grasping and applying this basic fact to every aspect of life cannot be overstated. Indeed, “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10 NAS). In the face of God’s infinite excellence and power, we cannot rightly view the world, ourselves, our circumstances, and God Himself without a proper and heartfelt understanding of our smallness before Him.

Tough Case
This vital principle applies to how we approach theological and textual difficulties in Scripture. For instance, in the “doctrinal disproof” article we have been considering, [1] the author claims that differences between the two accounts of the same census taken by David indicate an error in Scripture (2 Sam. 24:1 and 1 Chron. 21:1-7). The first passage says God was angry with Israel and incited David to number the people. The second says Satan incited David to do so. In either case, God judged David for it and thousands died as a result. By our atheist author’s estimation, the accounts are contradictory and God unjustly condemned David for what He incited David to do. Admittedly, the two passages present an interpretive challenge for the best of interpreters.

I will forgo examining the many possible answers to the claims to focus on how a proper view of our human limitations—the flipside of a necessary reverence of God’s sovereign excellence—must precede every approach to Scripture.

Faulty Default
According to our atheist author, Bible difficulties easily point to errors because God does not exist and Scripture is merely the musings of men. Moreover, some who profess belief in Christ and the infallibility of Scripture accept many of its moral principles as true, but dismiss historical details as inaccurate or mere metaphors of spiritual truths.

Yet when atheists and “liberal” Bible interpreters appeal to “error” as the default response to difficult problems, they discount or ignore their human limitations and presume to know every possible explanation, even those known only to God. For atheists, this reflects an unjustified faith in their assumed ability to know and explain transcendent realities from their limited human perspective (apart from God’s explanation). Professing believers who reject the accuracy of portions of Scripture unwittingly (maybe wittingly) affirm the unbelieving assumptions behind wholesale rejections of Scripture.

Plausible Answers and Limited Knowledge
Scripture gives us examples of how our two passages can be explained and reconciled. For instance, if we were to ask if God or Satan caused Job’s great suffering, we could answer either God, Satan, or both. God, of course, was the ultimate catalyst, while He allowed Satan to put Job to the test. Such a scenario could easily explain the differing accounts of God and Satan inciting David to number the people. Given that God was angry with Israel (2 Sam. 24:1), He could have allowed Satan to be His means to chasten both David and the nation. Moreover, God’s judgment of David for doing what God incited him to do has a parallel in God hardening Pharaoh’s heart to prevent him from releasing Israel before Egypt could be completely destroyed. God justly prevented Pharaoh from acting in self-interest to escape judgment, knowing that Pharaoh still regarded God and His people with contempt. And since God sees the heart, Pharaoh would have remained guilty of hostility toward God even if he had released God’s people before the last of the ten plagues. God merely prevented Pharaoh from saving Egypt and his own skin by not allowing him to let the people go, even as Pharaoh bore responsibility for his sinfulness.

The first census passage tells us that “the anger of the LORD burned against Israel” (2 Sam. 24:1), but does not tell us why. Perhaps God saw in the hearts of David and the people sinful pride and trust in the earthly power of their armies. Perhaps David wanted to take inventory of his earthy resources but refused to act for fear of the consequences. Perhaps God desired an outward display of the inner sin by inciting David’s suppressed desire into action, teaching David and Israel a lesson in the process. Perhaps there are better explanations. Regardless, we know for certain that we lack sufficient knowledge to conclude that no possible solution exists and thus Scripture is in error.

Tremble and Wait
Over the centuries, advances in our understanding of history, archeology, theology, et al, have solved a great many so-called “errors.” Thus, wisdom studies and waits. Moreover, wisdom admits great limitations before profound difficulties and mysteries. Wisdom understands that we see dimly until we see clearly in glory. Wisdom knows its smallness before an infinite God and refuses to presume exhaustive knowledge in the face of tough questions. Wisdom shuns conclusions that reflect a denial of God’s authority. Wisdom depends on God for all things—including answers to difficult questions. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever” (Deut. 29:29 NAS). Believers hold fast to the things revealed and leave the secret things where they belong—with God. Thus, proper interpretation of Scripture requires a proper humility before the God who wrote it. “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise” (1 Cor. 3:18 NAS). “To this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isa. 66:2 NAS). Amen.

[1] Raymond D. Bradley, “A Moral Argument for Atheism” in The Impossibility of God, Michael Martin and Ricki Monnier, eds. (Amherst: Prometheus Books, 2003), 129-146.

Scriptures marked NAS are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, copyright© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.


Click here to download a PDF of this article.

© 2018 Craig Biehl, author of God the Reason, The Box, The Infinite Merit of Christ, and Reading Religious Affections

 

The Human Limitations of Unreasonable Atheism (Part 22): “Doctrinal Disproofs” (Part F) - Weekly Blog Post by Dr. Craig Biehl - Man with one hand over eye

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    Six Rules for Engaging Bible Difficulties

    In the previous article, we explored the importance of discerning between the “secret” and “revealed” things of God. We turn now to six basic principles that, when applied to theological difficulties encountered in Scripture, would prevent needless errors created by attempts to grasp or logically reconcile issues best relegated to the “secret things.”

    1) God’s ways are perfect in every way and infinitely higher than our ways.

    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares 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” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

    Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:1-4).

    Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:12-14).

    2) As created, finite and dependent on God for all knowledge, we can only know what God has chosen to reveal to us.

    The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).

    3) Our limited understanding does not constitute the standard of what can or cannot be true with God, or what God can and cannot do in His universe.

    Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

    When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep, then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However, much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out” (Ecclesiastes 8:16-17).

    But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” (Romans 9:20).

    4) No proposed solution to the “problem of evil” or other theological difficulty can compromise any revealed attribute of God, or any necessary implication of an attribute of God.

    And the LORD said to Job: ‘Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.’ Then Job answered the LORD and said: ‘Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.’ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?’” (Job 40:1-8).

    What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, ‘That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.’ But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?” (Romans 3:3-6).

    5) The responsibility and guilt of sin always belongs to the will of the one who sins, including the foreordained acts of sinners.

    See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes” (Ecclesiastes 7:29).

    This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:23).

    For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place” (Acts 4:27-28).

    For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” (Luke 22:22).

    6) God has remedied evil at infinite cost to Himself. In the saving work of Christ, He upheld and displayed His perfect righteousness and sufficiently revealed His perfect character in which we can fully trust in the face of the greatest mysteries and difficulties.

    But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26).

    Summary
    In light of God’s perfect excellence and infinity, and our dependence on Him for all truth and knowledge, we will always face mysteries beyond our comprehension. Therefore, as our faith stands on the all-powerful and impeccable character of God; humility, reverence, and trust in God should always attend our response to difficult questions. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” (Romans 11:33-34). Not you or me. Thus, with God’s glory and our human limitations we rest content.

    Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Click here to download a PDF of this article.

    God the Reason: How Infinite Excellence Gives Unbreakable Faith by Dr. Craig Biehl

    © 2017 Craig Biehl, adapted from Craig Biehl, God the Reason: How Infinite Excellence Gives Unbreakable Faith, Carpenter’s Son Publishing, 2015.

    Craig Biehl is also the author of God the Reason, The Box, The Infinite Merit of Christ, and Reading Religious Affections

     

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