REVELATION

The epistemological aspects of faith are interesting. Someone (I think A.W. Tozer) said we do not believe because we understand, but rather we understand because we believe. There is this order of things in scripture as well, that knowing comes out of being obedient to truth. So in order to know God we must obey him, and in that context we come to experience the reality he has designed and his character. This is a relational and experiential way of knowing that makes sense since it is in relationship that we do experience people and things rather than in some ‘objectivity’. It makes sense too because all language is analogical. For instance we understand and talk about God in relation to things that we have experienced. (Ex. ‘God’s mighty power is like the thunderstorm.’) This is one reason the study of and immersion in creation is so important. If I haven’t experienced the thunderstorm how can I understand the power of God? Poor indeed is the person who lives his/her life in an artificial, manmade environment. The implications of this is that we need to live as close as possible to this world as opposed to the mediated, virtual world. Living close to other people, animals, plants, soil, weather, elements, and experiences seems right.