Belief is not Reason

We talk a great deal about the truth of God. We read a book or watch a video and we think that belief in God is determined by what we know. We think that we can learn our way to heaven. We even think we can convince someone else to believe using a blog post or ‘good’ sermon. The truth is that belief in God is not about reason or logic.

The Lord said to the Jews who believed in him: “This is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6.40-44

One thing we must understand about God. We cannot believe in Him or about Him unless He reveals Himself to us. We cannot learn enough about Him to believe. Jesus said is quite clearly. NO ONE can believe unless God wants him or her to believe.

So, why do we keep trying to convince others? We may think that we believe because of something we read about God. Naturally ‘if’ we believe because of reason, then others should be able to do the same. Not true, because our belief wasn’t about reason. It was about faith.

Faith comes only from God. He is the Creator. He is the one who chooses to reveal Himself to us. If he wants to hide from us, that is His prerogative. Why would God ever want to hide Himself from us? Maybe we aren’t ready for the truth? We must trust God’s perfect timing.

No matter the reason, it is God’s choice. If God hides himself from us, then we are not at fault. “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.” (Romans 9.18) Stop trying to force others to believe. Leave that to God and their free will.

I don’t want you to think that ‘just because’ someone can’t believe without God’s will, that we should not talk to others about God. We should, but it would be better for our life to reveal God to them rather than our debate skills or library.

If God chooses to use our relationship with others to reveal Himself to others, that is a blessing for us and for them. In the meantime, that doesn’t end our responsibility to live our Christian faith in relationship with others. A great place to start is to honor their free will and love them.

Let God handle their conversion.