A Practical Guide to the Logic, Philosophy and Thoughts of Christianity

Section 1 - Article 11

Article 11 – The absence of God

Charles Templeton was a fundamentalist and senior pastor. He started many Christian organizations and churches worldwide. However, sometime in his missions, he saw tremendous suffering in the African continent, and there began his downward spiral. His training was at a theological cemetery rather than a theological seminary, for soon after, he declared himself an agnostic. Although almost every Christian in the world knows of Billy Graham, but few know that Charles Templeton surpassed Billy Graham as an evangelist in his early career. What happened? Charles Templeton had great difficulty grappling the book of Genesis – the problem of evolution and science. The more Templeton read, the more difficult it was for him to accept Christianity, and finally, he wrote the book "Farewell to God" when he rejected Christianity. However, he expressed admiration of the Lord Jesus Christ, and when interviewed by Lee Strobel (Author of the Case for Faith, the Case for Christ), he stated that his greatest idol was Jesus Christ, despite not believing Him to be God incarnate.

Similarly, Mother Theresa was also reported to have experienced dark periods while serving God. While some Christians came out of their times, and some did not, it is clear that there are times of real darkness that many believers of God fail to feel the presence of God, and may, as a result fall away.

On this, it would be necessary to point out that it is only with awareness of God, can one feel the absence of God.

If I love someone, I can feel that someone when that someone is with me. But when that someone is not with me, I feel the absence of that someone, and miss that someone. One who does not know someone, cannot feel the absence of that someone. And like any relationship, one will sometimes feel that their someone is not with them.

It is noteworthy that the Lord Jesus cried "Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani" – which meant "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?" just before He died on the cross. One must not let the absence of someone lead to the denial of that someone's existence. We are not children when "out of sight = out of mind". Am I to forget the existence of my family now that I am in school or in the office? Now that my parents, my friends are not with me before my sight, or nowhere near me, do they not exist?

Throughout the Old Testament, God has turned His face from Israel many times, and we need to realize that Israel means "struggle with God". We also struggle with God with our sinful nature, and God's relationship with the Israel nation is not that much different from our individual relationship with God. There may be times when God turns away from us, or we feel the absence of God. But that also shows that we know God. Surely you cannot be angry at God if you do not believe He exists? And surely you do not expect to feel and sense God when you are ignoring Him or indulging in sin?

If one begins to question how some things can happen without God, then either they think they know how God works, or they do not know. I do not think that the absence of God means He does not exist.

There is no food on the dinner table during dinner time, surely my mom/maid/cook/chef does not exist or never existed?

My bed is empty, surely then my spouse/mate does not exist or never existed?

In any relationship, we need the absence to feel and treasure the presence; we need the downs to feel the ups. Perhaps the case of Charles Templeton reveals the predestination of God's elect. Surely, Man has no say in his relationship with the Almighty.