It never fails, once the fallacy runs it's course the retorts become increasingly pedantic, doesn't seem to matter what the subject matter is. The Christian faith isn't a mystery religion that requires initiation into some enlightened state, unknowable to the uninitiated. There are two kinds of revelation, there is the natural revelation that all who come into the world are aware of, but men suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness. There is the reflection of the divine attributes and eternal nature of God in the things that are made, and the witness of conscience:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 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, so that people are without excuse. (Rom. 1:18-20)
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them. (Romans 2:15)
That is the natural revelation, sometimes refereed to as the lesser light of revelation. Then there is special revelation, to those who have received the lesser light of revelation more light is given:
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:9-13)
We are not talking about an obscure text from a dead religion found in a cave. It is a living witness that has been in the custody of living witnesses their entire history, the Hebrew and Christian communities respectively. The fullest expression of faith is to enter into a covenant relationship with God through the righteousness of God in Christ. The Patriarchs knew God as, El Shaddai, or God Almighty. After the covenant was established as Sinai the ancient Hebrews knew him as Yahweh, the covenant name for God in the Old Testament:
God spoke further to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by My name, LORD (Yahweh), I did not make Myself known to them. "I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned (Exodus 6:2-4)
With the New Testament we have the final revelation of God in Christ, as Jesus told Pontius Pilate, "Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. (John 17:14-20)
God makes his revelation known to all who enter the world, to those who receive that revelation God give more light, to those who curse the light and flees to the darkness God withholds the truth of God in Christ:
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
None of this requires secret knowledge or private interpretation. If you love the truth you will listen to the gospel. Do with the clear testimony of Scripture what you will, that is entirely your own responsibility:
“‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them. (Acts 28:27 Isaiah 6:9-10)
Grace and peace,
Mark
