Article February 22, 1941 Issue

God, the Only Cause

DUNCAN SINCLAIR

That there is a Supreme Being is generally admitted. Men call Him God, but the beliefs which they hold concerning Him differ widely. Some believe that He exercises great power over the destinies of men, but in a way that is beyond their understanding, and that He is almost if not altogether inaccessible to them. Others believe that, although He is invisible, His presence is never absent from the world; but beyond that they cannot go. The position of both is therefore one of doubt, and in consequence they are unable to have more than a feeble faith in God.

Christians generally admit God's allness, goodness, and love. They believe that He is omnipotent, and that His presence is ever in the midst of men. They accept the teaching of Christ Jesus that God is the Father of man and, therefore, that all men are brethren. They believe that through prayer they can approach Him and intercede with Him on their own and other's behalf; but although they believe that He answers prayer, they may not be at all certain as to its mode of action. Regarding God in ways such as these, many Christians possess a helpful measure of faith in Him; but it has to be acknowledged that often great uncertainty prevails as to His nature and His relation to man, and much doubt as to the nature and value of prayer.

Why should there be doubt among Christians about God's nature? Did not Jesus speak plainly on this great theme? He himself was in no doubt about it; and nothing is more certain than that in numerous instances he demonstrated the truth which he had made his own. God was to Jesus his very Life. He knew no separation from Him. He identified himself as the Son of God, declaring that of himself he could do nothing; that the Father was supreme in his consciousness. Besides, he made plain that his relationship with God was in reality the same as that of every other man and woman: God is the Father, and all men and women are in reality His children. The teaching of Christ Jesus is plain, but it has been grievously misunderstood and grievously misrepresented throughout the centuries.

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