Philosopher Frederick Copleston asked atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell what Russell would say if, after death, he faced God who asked him why he didn’t believe.
Russell responded, “I would say, ‘Not enough evidence, God; not enough evidence.’”
This exchange highlights the problem of the hiddenness of God. That is, if God exists, why does He not make that existence obvious? The contention is that many people would gladly believe in God if presented with sufficient evidence of God’s existence.
That it is proper for one to base one’s beliefs on evidence is not in question. God offers substantial evidence for people to believe what He says. Even “Doubting Thomas” had appreciable evidence that Jesus had risen from the dead. (Jesus had foretold his resurrection and the other disciples had testified of it.) But Russell voiced the common complaint that the amount of evidence for God’s existence is insufficient for justifying belief: If God wants people to believe in Him, He should provide more evidence that He exists.
Walter Johnson
Christians have suggested various reasons why God might not make His existence more obvious. Maybe God desires to force people to acknowledge that they cannot find God on their own, creating an attitude of humility. Or maybe a minimal amount of evidence would foster a sense of urgency and desperation in people, resulting in a passionate search for God.
These possible reasons why God might not offer more evidence may be helpful. The fact is that God indeed has supplied sufficient evidence of His existence — sufficient to hold people responsible for their unbelief. One proof that the evidence is sufficient is that many people have found the available evidence more than sufficient for grounding their belief in God. Many of the most intellectually gifted men and women in history have been persuaded by the evidence that God exists and that His redemptive purposes have been accomplished in Jesus of Nazareth.
Even more persuasive is that God Himself has asserted that evidence of His existence is available to all people by means of creation itself. The psalmist wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2).
Paul made the same point in Romans 1: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made” (Romans 1:20a). Paul also testified to the sufficiency of this evidence, noting that because of it “men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20b). He even asserted that the problem is not an issue of evidence at all. Rather, the problem is with the sinful human heart evaluating the evidence: “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:20-21). The sinful human mind distorts and suppresses the evidence that God provides because the mind is influenced by a sinful human will.
The Bible often references this sinful condition (Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 15:19). The sinful human heart is evidenced in the scribes’ response to Jesus’ ministry (Mark 4:1-12). They personally witnessed the miracle of Jesus healing the paralytic but did not submit to His lordship.
Likewise, the Pharisees witnessed the miracle of Jesus casting out demons from the man who was both blind and mute. (Matthew 12:22-37). Their response to this compelling evidence was not saving faith. Rather, they attributed His power to Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus conclusively refuted their assessment: “If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” Yet their stubborn unbelief persisted.
The biblical explanation for this evasion of Christ’s claims is the human condition — a sinful will that distorts the mind. This situation is not unlike a defective radio. The waves are being transmitted from the tower, but the radio fails to interpret them in a meaningful way. Likewise, the evidence for God is obvious, but the depraved human mind distorts and suppresses the evidence God provides.
Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century French mathematician and philosopher, accurately assessed this problem of evidences for God: “Willing to appear openly to those who seek him with all their heart, and to be hidden from those who flee from him with all their heart, God so regulates the knowledge of himself that he has given indications of himself which are visible to those who seek him and not to those who do not seek him. There is enough light for those to see who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition.” That is, the evidence is adequate evidence to convince those who wish to believe and adequate evidence to convict those who do not believe.
If Bertrand Russell dared to say to God, “Not enough evidence,” God certainly responded: “You are without excuse.”
— Walter Johnson is dean of the College of Christian Studies at North Greenville University.