“The ancient church fathers used to talk freely of “unknowing.” It was their contention that the end of knowledge had much to teach us. They believed we could learn as much about God in what we didn’t know as in what we did know. Our inability to answer all the questions became an opportunity to learn more about God. When our intellect fell short, our souls connected with the reality of God. There, in our unknowing, God showed up unexpectedly.” “Dangerous Wonder”, Michael Yaconelli

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

“Dangerous Wonder” is a book written by Mike Yaconelli. He takes the reader on a journey back to child-like or childhood faith. He makes the case that: “Childlike faith looks a lot like the faith of Thomas—daring, reckless, bold, and aggressive.” His point is that over the years, as children grow older, they are tamed or “discouraged” from asking the “Why? Question” often enough. But the truth of our faith in the G-d we hardly know comes in daring to ask questions which we know may not have any answers.

My faith journey has confirmed that we can know G-d more in what we do not know (about G-d), than in what we do know. Or better said, the more we learn about G-d, the more we realize how much we still need to learn — because there is so much about G-d’s working and G-d’s presence in the world that will always remain beyond our understanding. For example, as Christians we profess that G-d created everything, yet where was G-d before the creation existed? And if G-d is everywhere, all the time, in everything, then does time really exist — or is it a human invention? I have always taught that if we knew everything about G-d, then we would soon run the risk of developing contempt and in losing the “mystery” of and for G-d — for this happens in all the ways that we develop full knowledge. Once we know how to solve the “Rubics Cube”, it loses its mystery — and thus it’s claim on our wonder.

There is so much that we do not know about G-d — and what we do know is what has been revealed to us through Jesus Christ. And even if we can only see as if in a “mirror dimly”, we continue to peer into the unknowing — knowing G-d is always there peering back at us — always present — always….

Pastor Dave