General Revelation

Here is a pasted conversation I just submitted and thought it would be fitting to publish here as well.  Enjoy...
btw, just had a pot of oolong.. mmm mmm

Eddie, you have pondered this topic thoroughly and the following comment is insightful: "Instead of giving a list of theories, I will simply say that faith is a choice."

The Jews believed that God is apprehended through hearing and perceived through revelation.  God transcended human ability and effort in discovering Him.  Humans cannot find God through deductive and inductive reasoning; our human efforts are lacking.  If we can see God, then we can measure Him and evaluate Him; humans would determine if God measured up to their expectations.  Again, God transcends our judgments of Him; thus, we cannot see Him.  As stated before, we apprehend God through hearing, and we perceive God through revelation.  For this reason, the Jews put much value on the logos (the word): "In the beginning God said . . ."   Consequently, faith comes by hearing.

How would you explain a person who believes without seeing?

Hi Harold,

Thank you so much for humoring me and giving me continued opportunity to present some important truths.  I can not answer your question sufficiently without referring to scripture, so I hope you will bear with me as I give a few in order to answer your question.  As you mentioned, and even as I am referencing, we have a written record of God’s message.  Even as the New Testament was being written, we are given how God’s message was received, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2 Authorized Version).  From visions and dreams to an audible voice and even stone tablets, we have God’s message sent to men.  The prophets preface again and again, “Thus saith the LORD…”  There is however, an older message, “God exists, and God is marvelous.”  This message is seen in the grandeur of the universe. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." (Psalm 19:1 Authorized Version)  This message is called general revelation.  This is something we can see.  Man’s innate tendency toward worship is by design and is a clue as to the origin of myths.  God places a spark of spiritual light and sight in every man. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ... There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:1, 4, 6-9 Authorized Version) We are given witnesses and when we choose to trust and believe their testimony it is faith.  Man then has two responses to the light they have seen.  One is to seek God. "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious [These are the Greeks who worshipped the olympian gods]. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; ... That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:" "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Acts 17:22-24, 27; Hebrews 11:6 Authorized Version) The other response is to reject this light and choose to believe a different claim of truth. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," (Romans 1:18-22 Authorized Version).  While I do not know if my explanation is a clear explanation, I trust that it is sufficient to answer the question.