THE EDITOR Sir:
IN HIS letter to the Editor titled 'Will The Real God Please Stand Up', published in The Gleaner Online August 4, reader N. Alexander raised some very pertinent questions. There might be no definitive or final answers to these questions but the topics are seriously worth pondering so that each concerned person can be at peace with himself or herself concerning the concept of God.
The primary idea when contemplating deity, from a Christian standpoint, is to acknowledge that faith or belief is the chief cornerstone of the Christian doctrine. What Christians believe and practice hinge on what they accept by faith, not necessarily blindly, but based on their lived understanding of the Bible. From a personal standpoint, I believe in the existence of the Christian God, therefore, He exists. I shall not try to get empirical proof of God's existence because the Bible instructed in Hebrews 11 that it was only through faith that the believer could 'prove' or understand God.
This idea of the reality of God centred in faith is not very far from René Descartes 'cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore, I am) theory of the reality of his existence. Now that I 'know' God exists based on my belief in His existence, I can analyse my faith by comparing my experiences with this Deity of my mind and heart with my everyday experiences, again, guided by the Christian guide book, the Bible.
Admittedly, the Bible is difficult to understand but some comparative readings of various versions and using word study books and other helpful materials will give fuller understanding of that ancient, sacred text. In summary, Mr. Editor, reader Alexander can only find Christian answers to his questions about the Christian God by first becoming a Christian himself. That is a dilemma that he cannot avoid. Perhaps, in the end God does expect humans to do the standing up since He as sovereign God does not have to answer to any of us.
Admittedly, God is an enigma beyond human comprehensibility. But I doubt that God would blame any human for trying to understand Him as much as is possible. Reader Alexander has given us some solid food for thought.
I am, etc.,
REV. MERVIN STODDART
INMerv@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 150953
Altamonte Springs, Florida
