Some time ago I was reading the late Christopher Hitchens’ book “God is Not Great.” If you are familiar with Christopher Hitchens you will know that he is one of the leading figures in the “New Atheist” movement of the 21st Century. In his book one of the claims he makes against belief in God is that God always seems to reveal himself to the uneducated, vulnerable, and the poor, who, in his judgment are more naive and gullible. If God is real why is he so afraid to reveal himself to those who are well educated, hold prominent societal positions, or might pose tough questions towards him? So the assumptions ago.
Is this a valid question?
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Ancient History
I think the question is valid because if we read the Gospels Jesus shows an overwhelming preference for revealing himself to those of low social status. In addition, he is consistently rejected by the academic and political elites of his time (the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Pontius Pilot). Also in the Old Testament God overwhelmingly reveals himself to social outcasts or the most vulnerable (Abraham, Moses, David, all the prophets…).
Today’s Gospel reading (I wrote this on July 9th) in the Catholic Church is supportive of Hitchen’s charge. Jesus prays, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise you; because you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, and revealed them to simple people [emphasis mine]. Yes, Father, this was your gracious will” (Matthew 11:25-26).
While it is true that God has chosen to reveal himself to “simple people” first, he also desires to reveal himself to those who are of high social standing. For instances, the gospel writer and author of Acts of the Apostles according to tradition was a doctor and according to New Testament scholars his Greek writing is significantly more sophisticated then that of the other Gospel writers. The apostle Paul who was a Pharisee and a zealous persecutor of Christians (Acts 8:1-3) was extremely knowledgable of the Hebrew Scripture and a lawyer of Mosaic Law. In addition Paul demonstrates his proficiency in pagan near east religions, Hellenistic and stoic philosophies, and prominent literature of the time (see Acts 17:16-32). It is worth mentioning that Paul’s epistles to this day are the subject of study in both religious and secular institutions around the world.
What About Modern History?
What about in modern history? Do only the poor and less educated believe in God? You don’t have to believe in God to recognize that such an assumption is ignorant of history or contemporary literature. Such is the reason why atheist scientist Michael Ruse writes Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion makes him “embarrassed to be an atheist” (The Dawkins Delusion, McGrath & McGrath. 2007). Augustine of Hippo, the Fourth Century Bishop and Thomas Aquinas the 11th Century monk and philosopher have given civilization volumes of writings that define the founding principles of Western Civilization. Not to mention influential Christians in the scientific community: Gregors Mendel, Georges Lemaitra, Michael J. Behe, Francis Collins, and Stacy Strasancos. The fact that there are well educated and revered people both who are believers disproves Hitchens’ assumption that God only reveals himself to “simple people.”
So I’m going to rephrase Hitchens question and add a second. First, why did God reveal himself to “simple people” FIRST? Second, how does God seek to reveal himself to everyone today? The second I’ll discuss in my next post since it can be quite expansive.
Why “Simple People”?
It’s important to understand that “simple people” does not refer to people who are uneducated, naive, and are willing to accept anything that appears out of ordinary, such as a miracle. In fact a close reading of the Gospels shows a different picture. Volumes can be written on all the people God has revealed himself to in the Bible. For the sake of space let’s look at three people whom Jesus has encountered during his earthly ministry.
John the Baptist
First, John the Baptist. In Matthew’s Gospel the adult John the Baptist is presented as a humble figure living an ascetic lifestyle in the wilderness (see. Matthew 3:1-17). However, did you know that John is from a prestigious family? John is the son of temple high priest Zachariah (Luke 1:40). Temple high priests were among an educated class of religious and political elites. Some served on the Jewish high court known as the Sanhedrin. John being the firstborn son of Zachariah suggests that John would have been educated to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a temple high priest. He of course chose a less socially respectable lifestyle. As a note, it was this high class of educated elites of Sanhedrin that failed to recognize Jesus as God, despite his signs, and condemned him to death.
The Apostle Peter
Second, Peter. Peter according to the Bible became the leader of the original twelve apostles and the Catholic Church recognize him as the first pope. Peter didn’t start off with, what today is recognized as a prestigious position. Peter, along with his brother Andrew and the apostles John and Zeb’edee, were all fishermen (see Matthew 4:18-22). Though they would have had basic education from the their local synagogue, fishermen of ancient Palestine would have been your “average Joes” trying to make ends meet. In Peter, we see an example of a “simple person” who is of a lower social class.
Matthew the Tax Collector
Third, I would like to focus on slightly more prestigious yet not very liked man: the apostle Matthew. As a tax-collector Matthew would have been well educated and well compensated as an employee of the Roman state. Yet, he was also hated by many because tax collectors often charged significantly more on top of due taxes and a fair wage to the locals. They made their living off the “extra” charges.
What Do Simple People Have in Common?
So we are presented with three men of different social status to whom Jesus revealed himself to in the Bible yet are all united under the label “simple people.” John the Baptist, the apostle Peter and the apostle Matthew share the gift of tremendous humility, or in scriptural language, the spiritual gift of Fear of the Lord (or Wonder and Awe) (See Isiah 11:1-4). All three men had an open disposition towards truth and the possibility of encountering God in their every day life. They didn’t allow themselves the backdoor escape root of trying to fit God into their own personal conceptual box and then throwing that box away because it didn’t fit into their own personal frame of thought.
Fast forward to today, I have had the opportunity to encounter the poorest of the poor in South American slums and on the streets of Toronto most of whom had faith in God. I also have encountered several well educated men and women who are smarter than I can ever hope to be, yet they have professed that God is the reason for their constant search for truth in a variety of disciplines.
To be clear, there is nothing degrading about becoming one of the “simple people.” In fact I have discovered in my own life that when we become “simple” we become more susceptible to God. I find that takes a lot of courage because you are opening yourself to something you have no control over.
I think Christopher Hitchens was a morally upright man. I have no doubt he loved his family, he vocally opposed war and abortion. In his writing I sensed a great sense of pride. Perhaps it’s this pride that needed some chipping away to reveal his a more simple Chris’; one that is at least open to God’s revelation.
