Is the God of the Bible Too Small?

After a long email conversation, over about a two week period, my atheist friend says to me in conclusion, "Unfortunately, the christian god just isn't big enough for me. The god the bible describes is just too small to explain the observed reality of the universe, and so I will never consider him."


Since our last email, I have thought long and hard about what was said throughout the whole conversation. We disagreed on a lot of stuff - as was expected.  Looking back, I regret the manner in which I said some things.  I responded a few times in a non-Christ-like way, sounding more like a smart__s than a person who has been saved by grace.   I repented to him.  I learned a lot.


But, I have been thinking mostly about his last comment (quoted above).  He commonly made reference to the "smallness" of the Christian God, criticizing the way in which God communicates to us through "a book"; and not only that, but a book that focuses on a rather small segment of human history (according to him).  He seemed to be indignant about the fact that this book was the only way to know God.  Surely, he thinks, if there is a God, He would be bigger than that.  


I never responded to this particular criticism.  I would however, like to share with you some thoughts I have about it.


First, the first words of the "Book" describe how large God really is.  He created all things.  He created the universe and all of the realities in the universe.  This is pretty simple.  It leaves the reader with no apologies; but rather with an ethical decision to believe it or not.  Moses is under no obligation, nor does he seem to have a concern for arguing for the existence of God by looking at the universe.  He simply states, "In the beginning...GOD."  At least in Genesis, the polemical statement is "God, therefore the universe";  not, "the universe, therefore God."


Second, I did tell him that I did not agree with the premise that God only communicates through a book.  Rather, "the heavens declare the glory of God" (Ps 19) and "His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power, and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made" (Rom 1:20, italics mine).  


Third, I think it is important to understand that no one deserves communication from God.  Knowing God is the greatest blessing a creature can receive.  And because of our sin, we deserve to be lost forever.  This makes His communication concerning the grace of salvation through Christ gloriously merciful.  The greatness of God is clearly perceived in creation, but it is perhaps even greater perceived at the Cross.  A man may build a house, but can he turn his cheek.  The power to forgive is often greater than the power it takes to create.


Fourth, in other words, the "smallness" of the book is indicative, not of the smallness of God, but of the greatness of His grace.  Man is sinful and hardheaded.  Man is small.  God communicates to man, concerning salvation, in a way that man can receive.  This is tremendously gracious.  Simply put, the smallness of the "book" is not indicative of the smallness of God, but of the greatness of God communicating to the smallness of man.  


Last, God, in His grace, does not wait for man to survey and scientifically test all of the elements of the universe in order to come up with an understanding of a god.  As a matter of fact, if one were to take and record all of the scientific knowledge that man has ever discovered throughout all of human history, it would pale in comparison to all of the knowledge that could be discovered in the universe.  In all of man's efforts to know the universe, his efforts, at the end of the day, are infinitely narrow, limited and parochial.  To know anything, a man must know everything.  Man is not God and can therefore not know everything - despite his efforts to do so. 


But God, being rich in mercy, came down to man, and made known to him the riches of the glory of the mystery, which is Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  He is the savior of the world.  And by His Spirit He whispers in our ears just how great our God really is.  He is so great that He chose to speak to a small and sinful man like me.  And for that I am grateful.