Protest reformer Martin Luther, writing in the 1520′s, also described ‘the hidden God’ of the Bible, a God so awesome that he cannot directly reveal himself to human beings without overwhelming us. For this reason, Luther wrote, God keeps himself partially hidden, even to those who seek him.

There is a strong dose of humility among the best of these authors, a willingness to admit the limits of our ability to understand God and how he might interact with our world, ‘I recommend that speculations he laid aside, wrote Luther, ‘and I should like to have this rule adhered to after my death.’

Here we must acknowledge, with sadness, that the Christian church has produced many pastors and theologians who have ignored Luther’s rule. They assure us, with cold logic and hot sermons, that they know perfectly well why many people feel so alienated from God. The reality, we are told, is that God has rejected those people. He has hidden himself so that he cannot be found by them. God will reveal himself to a chosen few but has destined the rest of human race to eternal darkness and futility.

Whatever the good intentions of these individuals, something has gone wrong with their entire approach to the God of the Bible. They have confused their own prejudices and speculations with the teachings of Jesus. Let’s not mince words. They notion that God would conceal himself so that people could never find him, that he would take pleasure in abandoning human souls to utter desolation – here is an idea that seems to have bubbled up from the lava pit of hell (Joseph Loconte, The Searchers, 15).

No matter what you have done, God has not rejected you. He loves you. He loves all people (John 3:16). Please do not let lies from the pit of hell challenge this Biblical truth. There is nothing that makes you unable to know God. He wants you to know Him and He makes Himself available to all! He has revealed Himself to everyone (Romans 1:20).

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