Reformed theologian John Calvin wrote the following in his Institutes:
For ad God alone is a fit witness of himself in his Word, so also the Word will not find acceptance in men’s hearts before it is sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit. The same Spirit, therefore, who has spoke through the mouths of the prophets must penetrate into our hearts to persuade us that they faithfully proclaimed what had been divinely commanded.((John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, edited by John T. McNeill, 2 vols. (Louisville and London: Westminster John Knox Press, reissued 2006): 1. 79.))
The reason I bring this up is that over the course of years there have been those who have been quite adamant that unless they see proof or evidence that God exists, or even that the Bible is true, then they will refuse to believe in either.
“Science,” which they assume is all about iron-clad proof or evidence, is the only rational way to establish the truth or reality about anything, and “science” has proved that God does not exist and the Bible is untrue, among many other conclusions that have been drawn.
But, as Calvin points out, proof and persuasion are two different things, the latter of which is essential to believing the truth-claims of a Christian worldview.
While science is fine insofar as it goes, the question that first needs to be asked when it is introduced as a rebuttal to the Christian worldview is simply, Science according to who?
But, more importantly is the question of persuasion and how that comes about when the subject is theological in nature. That can only be answered by the Spirit’s presence.
For as the Apostle Paul made clear, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and his not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14).
In other words, until those who are “natural” have their hearts changed by the indwelling power of the Spirit of God, then he or she will never be persuaded that when the Bible picked and read, the truth-claims about God, the Bible, Jesus, et cetera, will never regarded as valid, rational, or reasonable.
All of it will be considered a myth, at best; a lie, at worst.
So, the next time someone asks you for proof of this or that about the Christian faith, you might want to ask the critic, Are you spiritually dead or alive?
Depending on the answer your receive should alert you how to proceed with your response, meaning to not get too carried away, nor dejected, with what you say or hear until the Spirit has persuaded the critic of your defense of the faith.
