The human mind was designed to recognize and
understand what God has revealed about Himself. To avoid frustration when
presenting the truth, the Christian must accept when one rejects Christ
the ultimate reason is not because there is a lack of evidence. In Ephesians
readers see Paul prayed for the initial readers to receive the Spirit of wisdom
to better know God (Eph. 1:17). As argued earlier people will often choose to
believe or not to believe in something for logically fallacious reasons.
Ultimately when one accepts Christ this person cannot boast about having
received this truth based on their reasoning alone (Eph. 2:8-10). This does not
take from the fact the human mind must be dependent on the eternal mind of God,
but further proves this to be the case. Faith will always be necessary, as like
in a marriage faithfulness and true love go hand in hand. The Christian desire
to grow in their understanding of science, mathematics, and nature begins with
faith, for all such knowledge cannot be understood philosophically without
faith in Christ.[1] As
will be shown the Christian can gain a deeper theological understanding of
certain truths in the Bible because of discoveries in science and mathematics.
Before any most significant discoveries in science
the Christian lived by faith having experienced the love of Christ and having
observed how this love changes hearts and minds. Questioning how there could be
a time before time where only the eternal God existed was probably of no
concern for the early Christians. For the Christian living today, there are
certain scientific discoveries proving useful for helping one respond to the
skeptic who depends on science and philosophy before religious faith. After
arguing for the cause of the universe being God, the next step would be to
present some evidence for this temporary realm being dependent on an eternal
realm. If the temporary realm is dependent on the eternal realm, accordingly
the human mind could not exist if not for the eternal mind of God.
When studying gravitational anomalies
astrophysicists have observed gravity is capable of jumping between dimensions
faster than the speed of light, thus gravity is not bound by nor dependent on
the laws in the natural realm.[2] In
this realm God provides people with a limited understanding of His mind and His
ways, and accordingly the human perception of what is possible is limited as
well. However, seeing as how gravity is dependent on an unseen realm, one can
argue the natural realm is dependent on the eternal realm.[3] One
can also argue for miracles being possible if gravity seemingly functions in
ways superseding natural laws. But surely only the One who holds all things
together is capable of superseding natural laws. The faithful can only
understand what God has revealed in nature and in His Word, but in Christ the
most valued eternal qualities of God are made known (1 Cor. 2:11). All the
beauty to be discovered in nature, down to the shimmering drop of water on a
blade of grass, is represent of the holy love of God.
The very idea of the incarnation, where God
makes His sympathetic love most clearly known may seem like an outlandish idea
incompatible with an all-powerful and all-knowing God. The skeptic may argue if
Christ went through changes in human form the argument for God always being
eternal and unchanging is illogical. The Bible has a beginning and an end and
people living today feel the story is not yet over, but this is a
misperception. There are two realities, the eternal and the perceived temporary
reality. In Revelation John witnessed a future event where God created a new
Heaven and a new Earth. John was standing in this future reality while still
being alive in the temporary one. The victorious saints John saw in the future
were Christians living today, those living in John’s day, and those saved
before John received the revelation. This recalls how Paul encouraged the
Christians in Ephesus when writing on how these faithful ones were seated with
Christ in the Heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6). These saints were with the eternal
God but from time’s perspective were still bound by the laws of this observable
reality. A growing number of physicists and philosophers have argued for the
present reality being a “block universe” where the past, present, and future
are coexisting, which from God’s perspective this would make sense.[4] From
the human perspective time is a journey forward one hour at a time and one day
at a time. In recognizing there is an eternal realm beyond space and time (our
block universe) the truth is humans are moving forward in a completed story
with a beginning and an unchanging end, one page at a time.
The Trinity may be seen by non-believers as an
illogical concept, which many skeptics use as an argument against the faith. If the Triune nature of God can be logically argued for one
must concur the only known God who is more than a one-dimensional concept is
the most likely candidate. The seeker of truth must ask why any humans would
ever make up the complex idea of the Trinity. This will be addressed in more
depth later, but for now suffices to say the human mind could not imagine a
concept beyond a combination of what can be observed. As Todd Tremlin states,
“The human capacity for imagination is immense, but it is also constrained by
the functional design of our minds.”[5] The reason the Christian belief in God is so
centered on love and unity is because within the Trinity the three persons of
God were in a close relationship before mankind was ever created. All three
persons of the Trinity eternally freely give and receive from each other in
perfect unity, an unselfish love human minds should not be able to comprehend.[6] However, in this present reality the
sacrificial love of Christ provides the evidence for God’s eternal love, and
the Holy Spirit enters in to unite all members of the Church in Christ.
The
human mind was made to be united with the eternal mind of God. If the human
mind reaches the point of discovering the universe is dependent on an unseen
realm, one must consider the possibility of there being an eternal mind wanting
to be known. The obstacles in life have only ever fostered intellectual and
spiritual growth, which can potentially lead to a deeper understanding of who
God is. Someday the redeemed will be in an eternal
reality where there will be no evil, suffering, or death. In this eternal reality,
in a new Heaven, there will be no necessary possibility of evil (Rev. 21:27).
Only in this temporary reality is a knowledge of evil necessary for humanity. Ultimately,
everything Christ did was for His people to understand the love the Trinity
already knew to be true.
The Christian must remember whatever the mind can comprehend in
this realm is only so because of what God chooses to make known. Scientists
have discovered there are colors undetectable by the human eye, the reason
being the human eye was designed to only observe what can be seen in the
three-dimensional realm.[7] God seems to always in His timing reveal just
enough to keep people seeking after more, but not all truths must be seen to be
recognized. As Michael Behe argues, “…the effects of a mind can be recognized
by the purposeful arrangement of parts, even when the possessor of the mind
that arranged them is nowhere to be seen.”[8] The evidence for intelligent design in the
universe is one thing, but what is truly fascinating is the recent evidence in
support of the Triune God being the Designer.
Before
considering a logical explanation for the Trinity one must question how to make
sense of the beautiful cosmos if God was not loving and relational before
creation. As argued earlier what the individual mind designs has in some way
been influenced by another mind. As for the artist who paints landscapes God
provided the influence. The Big Bang alone proves a good starting point in
defending Christianity, for physicists were not blind to the fact if the
universe had a beginning one would not be irrational to believe God was the
cause.[9] However, the next step would be to discover
supporting evidence verifying the universe is dependent on unseen forces beyond
space and time. Scientists have felt compelled to discover an equation
explaining how all the forces of nature operate, and the best way to explain
the observable universe is to factor in the existence of extra-dimensions.[10] For the physicist the answers to why the
universe even exists can only be discovered by reaching beyond the natural
realm. There are four fundamental forces, the strong nuclear force,
electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and the weakest gravitational force, which all
came into being at the same time.[11]
Physicists have discovered gravity is so distinct from the stronger forces one
is forced to look far beyond the observable realm, onto higher
dimensions to discover how gravity relates with the other three forces.[12]The naturalist claims the answers to life can
be discovered only by studying what can be observed in nature. The
astrophysicist who factors extra-dimensions into their equations presupposes
there exists a reality beyond what can be seen.
When
studying gravity physicists’ factor in there being at least a fourth dimension
and believe the realm beyond is so fundamentally real this universe is a
projection from the higher dimension.[13] This would mean the present observed reality
is dependent on the unseen realm. This would be in accordance with the
Christian belief in the greater reality being in the eternal realm, from which
comes the cause our observable universe is dependent on. In seeing how gravity
can jump between dimensions faster than the speed of light, this must be the
case because gravity is not bound by laws in the observable realm.[14] Considering the impossibility of the complex
universe coming into being by chance, the miracle of human intelligence, and
seeing how this realm is dependent on an unseen realm, an eternal mind must be
the necessary cause.
Despite
the atheistic naturalist giving no consideration to discoveries in physics when
arguing against God, these thinkers give no regard to the greatest discoveries
in their own field of study. What has been observed in
DNA and the many other discoveries in micro-biology proves there is a complex Designer.
For even the
chance of a single functioning protein coming into being apart from an
intelligent source is less than one out of trillion trillion, thus the experts
in biology know the complex building blocks of life coming into being by chance
is impossible.[15] The physicist must agree the Triune mind of
God is the most likely candidate for only the Trinity has the characteristics
of an extra-dimensional God. The one true God cannot be a one-dimensional
character bound by the laws of the observable three-dimensional realm,
otherwise such a being would not truly be God.
In
the observable realm there are individual objects and living beings are
obviously disconnected from one another physically, but the Bible speaks on how
all Christians are intended to be a united body. Christ prayed for believers to
be one with Him and the Father, united in their love (John 17:21). One may
assume this is just intimately symbolic language, however the Trinity is very
much three persons united in one being. Advanced geometry shows how in the
fourth-dimension multiple shapes can be one, as observed in a hypercube.[16] There is evidence for there being a fourth
spatial dimension and the quantum hall effect shows a three-dimensional shadow
is cast from a four-dimensional object.[17] The triune God is unique to Christianity, and
this idea of three persons equaling one being would at first seem illogical. Advanced
geometry and discoveries in physics has proven useful for the one who seeks to
provide a logical explanation for the Trinity.
The Immutable Love of God and His
Longsuffering
For
the human mind to fully appreciate love in this fallen world a knowledge of
suffering is inevitable. One should not have any natural reason to trust in
their love shared with another human being, for in some way or another this
love will come with pain. One should not trust in something guaranteed to bring
pain. Only in Christ does one find a dependable love which will last forever,
the most valuable eternal truth. Naturally, one may question if this love from
Christ is real. Since the resurrection there have been those who had to lose
all hope in what this world has to offer before accepting the ultimate truth of
God’s great love. God was pleased with the eternal love shared in the Triune
relationship, and Christ desired to share this love with humanity, thus
everything was made through Him (John 1:3, Col. 1:16). Because God’s love was
perfect before creation, to share this love with those naturally beneath the
Creator a certain reality was made. In this reality what is contrary to God was
able to come into being. This place became the dominion of sin, suffering, and
death, and all of this was allowed for the greater good. For the great love of
God to be appreciated and freely received by those made in His image this world
filled with suffering and death is necessary. Christ made clear there is no
greater love than the love of one who lays down their life for their friends
(John 15:13). To make the unchanging love of God known in this realm sacrifice is
necessary. No person can honestly deny the greater love is recognized because the
human mind knows the value of sacrificial love.
The
devil made a free choice to rebel against God, but being thrown to Earth was no
accident, in fact this was in accordance with God’s will. Before being arrested
Jesus told the disciples the enemy was coming for Him, and the reason was
clearly stated, “…so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do
exactly what my Father has commanded me…” (John 14:31). The eternal divine love
shared within the Trinity, and God’s great love for humanity, was evident when
Christ surrendered Himself and displayed sacrificial love.[18] Everything the enemy did, every evil
tolerated, these were necessary sacrifices leading up to the cross, where
Christ eternal love for the Father, and God’s love for humanity is made known.
In the parable about the shepherd and His sheep, Jesus spoke on how just like
His sheep know Him, this is akin to Jesus knowing the Father, and for this
reason He was going to lay down His life (John 10:14-15). Earlier in this same
passage Jesus mentioned the thief who comes to kill and destroy, and in
contrast Jesus came so people could have life to the fullest (v. 10:10). The
works of the enemy were and are allowed so in contrast the great love of God
can be known. In recognizing the enemy unknowingly had a part to play in God’s
divine will one gains a deeper understanding of what was necessary for humanity
to recognize and freely trust in the love of God.[19] This may seem ironic when considering how a
knowledge of suffering and God allowing evil to exist is the means through
which Christ makes the love of God known. The intellectually honest person will
confess the deeper understanding of love in this realm would be impossible if
not for the knowledge of sacrificial love. All people now have a choice between
the One who died for the sins of the world or eternal separation from the One
who proved His love.
If
the incarnation is true Christ conquered sin and death by taking on sin and
death. Christ proved God is all powerful in being the life which conquers
death. Christ proved God is all knowing after He felt the effects of sin and
tasted death. God did what is impossible for humanity and proved to be the
greater love all people desperately need. The one who loves the Lord is
eternally secure in the Heavenly realm, and this temporary life is an
opportunity to share the love of Christ with others. God did not promise there
would be no pain or suffering in this realm. By enduring suffering Christ
showed in this world suffering should be expected and only in Christ can one
find eternal peace (John 16:33). Because Christ overcame the world the
Christian can trust in His eternal power and unchanging love. A knowledge of
suffering is necessary for spiritual maturity in this realm, and from this
knowledge one recognizes the need to depend on Christ and the promises of God.
Those in Christ should be grateful, knowing this temporary life will be justly dealt
with. An eternity of peace in the presence of true Love far outweighs a
temporary period of grief. All of this would be impossible to comprehend if the
human mind was not created to seek after truth, and to long for more than
temporary satisfaction.
[1] Roberto
Di
Ceglie, "Faith, Reason, and Charity in Thomas Aquinas's Thought," (International
Journal for Philosophy of Religion 79, no. 2, 04, 2016), 134.
[2] Paul
Halpern,
The Great Beyond:
Higher Dimensions, Parallel Universes, and the Extraordinary Search for a
Theory of Everything.
(Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2004), 12.
[3] Ibid.,
11.
[4] Michael Silberstein, W.M. Stuckey,
and Timothy McDevitt, Beyond the Dynamical Universe: Unifying Block
Universe Physics and Time as Experienced, (Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2018. Oxford Scholarship Online, 2018), 11-14.
[5] Todd Tremlin, Minds and Gods:
The Cognitive Foundations of Religion, (New York, US: Oxford University
Press, 2010), 43.
[6] Gerard
F. O’Hanlon, The Immutability of God in the Theology of Hans Urs Von
Balthasar, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 113.
[7] Rog’erio
Martins, “Why Are We Not Able to See Beyond Three Dimensions?” The Mathematical Intelligencer, 38, (4),
2017), 48-49.
[10] Troisi,
A, “Higher-order gravity in higher dimensions: Geometrical origins of
four-dimensional cosmology?” (The
European Physical Journal.C, Particles and Fields., 77(3),
2017), 5-6.
[11] Paul
Halpern, The
Great Beyond:
Higher Dimensions, Parallel Universes, and the Extraordinary Search for a
Theory of Everything. (Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2004), 4.
[12] Ibid.
[14] Ibid., 12.
[15] Stephen
C. Meyer, Signature in the Cell, (Broadway, NY: HerperOne, 2009), 119-220.
[16] Dimitrias
Traperas and Nikolaos Kanellopoulos, “Visualizing the Hypersphere Using
Hinton’s Method.” Technoetic arts. 16, no. 2 (June 1, 2018),
166-167.
[17] Michael
Lohse, Christian Schweizer, Hannah M. Price, Oded Zilberberg, and Immanuel
Bloch, "Exploring 4D quantum Hall physics with a 2D topological charge
pump," Nature 553, no. 7686 (2018): 55-62.
[18] Piotr J. Małysz, Trinity, Freedom, and Love: An Engagement with the
Theology of Eberhard Jüngel, (London: A Bloomsbury Imprint, 2012), 153.
[19] Dorner, Divine
Immutability, Chapter 3, Ethical Freedom Not Subordinated to Ethical
Necessity, Kindle.
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