Amicus Dei

A couple of posts ago, I reviewed John Allen Paulos book, Irreligion. Paulos answered his own question — Are there any logical reasons to believe in God? — with an unequivocal, No. In his book, Paulos comes to that negative conclusion by dismantling to his own satisfaction 12 of the logical arguments for the existence of God.

I also said in my review that Paulos has done Christians a great favor. Why? Because I believe that neither math nor science can, or needs to, prove the existence of God. Those of us who follow God do so, not from scientific proof, but from a different perspective. We believe the story. And even Paulos acknowledges that he has “little problem with those who acknowledge the absence of good arguments for God, but” believe in God anyway.

I just received Tim Keller’s book, The Reason for God, a new book that springs from Keller’s ministry for a couple of decades in Manhattan at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which he founded. I’ve only scanned a few passages, but one chapter caught my eye, The Clues of God. And, that’s it. Those of us who believe, and those who are in the least bit open to the possibility of God, don’t need rock solid evidence, or even philosophic certainty. We believe because we see the clues of God all about us.

When our grandson Wesley was little, Blues Clues was a very popular TV show for preschoolers. One day we were standing at the door with Wesley, who was about 3 at the time. He noticed a spot on the door sill, and exclaimed, “A clue, a clue!” The point of Blues Clues was to spot the clues and jot them in your notebook. Well, that’s kind of what we do as believers. We spot the clues of God. We make note of them. Those clues validate, not prove, that God is here, just like we read in the Bible. The Bible which contains the story of God.

So, I don’t need proof. I don’t need the philosophical sleight of hand that loses me in its twists and turns. I just need some clues. And a story. And a community to share it with. Do I agree with Paulos? I think he makes some good points, and I agree he presents his case well. It just doesn’t matter to me. Just as he states his unbelief, I state my belief. He finds no reason to believe; I find a million clues to believe.

In the New Testament, they just told the story of God and of Jesus. They told it to those who wanted to listen, and to those who did not. They told it to those who accepted it, and those who rejected it. They told it to those who loved them, and to those who tried to kill them. But, they told the story because they believed it with all their hearts. Which is where this story takes root, and flourishes, waiting to be told to others who have also seen the clues but need a story to go with them. That’s why I believe God exists. — Amicus Dei