Faith provides evidence for things not seen. —Hebrews 11:1
Richard Rohr describes how mystics and sincere seekers discover “evidence for things not seen”:
The entire faith tradition insisted that there was indeed “evidence for things not seen,” and yet too often the common notion of faith had little to do with discerning the actual evidence available in the present, in the mind, memory, heart, soul, and in creation itself.
Sts. Augustine, Teresa of Ávila, and John of the Cross all found that “unseen” evidence in the very nature of the soul and its inner workings, but we must admit this hasn’t been taught to or experienced by most Sunday Christians. Many formal believers found evidence in Scripture and dogmas that supported and affirmed their personal God encounter, but perhaps even more of them used Scripture and dogma to make their own experience unnecessary. Others like St. Francis, St. Bonaventure, Teilhard de Chardin, many poets, and everyday mystics found evidence in the natural world, in elements, seasons, animals, and all living things, but sadly they were often marginalized as mere “nature mystics” and placed outside the mainline tradition. This makes me think that we Christians never understood our core message of incarnation, must less its massive implications. This was despite St. Paul’s direct and clear message:
What can be known about God is perfectly plain since God has made it plain. Ever since God created the world, God’s everlasting power and deity—however invisible—has been perfectly evident for the mind to see in the things that God has made (Romans 1:19–20).
This generation has at its disposal a whole new type of evidence, display, and apparition that is proving Paul was correct. And this wonderful evidence is arising from the discoveries of the scientific mind! God comes into the world in always-surprising ways so that the sincere seeker will always find evidence. Is sincere seeking perhaps the real meaning of walking in faith?
The search for truth, the search for authentic love, and the search for God are finally the same search. I would rather have “one who lays down one’s life for one’s friend” (John 15:13) by sincere seeking, demanding scholarship, and authentic service, than those who are on no search, do no mental or emotional work, and have no open heart for the world, but just want to personally “go to heaven.” We have coddled this individualistic non-Christianity for far too long, and with no encouragement from Jesus whatsoever.
The very shape, possibility, and meaning of evidence is quickly broadening. Religious people would be wise to get on board. Frankly, I think it is what the Christian desert fathers and mothers, mystics and saints, meant by concrete spiritual “practices,” and what Eastern religions meant by “skillful means.” Such “doing” will give us the kind of evidence that cannot be denied. It moves us into the world of action and beyond the mind—to a place where we now “believe” because we know for ourselves.
Reference:
Adapted from Richard Rohr, introduction to ONEING 2, no. 2, Evidence (Fall 2014): 11–12, 14. Available in print and PDF download.
Image credit and inspiration: Greg Rakozy, Untitled (detail), 2015, photo, United States, Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. We stand awed by our contemplation of the cosmos and the science within it.
Story from Our Community:
I was raised as a traditional Roman Catholic. As a teen I began to question and then rebel against the narrowness of the teaching. My cynicism edged me towards agnosticism. It wasn’t until I went to college and studied science that I began to see evidence of the creator we call God. I saw how my neural network looks like a galaxy of stars, how hormones create a magic dance, how my body responds to breath, nutrition, and movement, and how the minerals in my bones are the same as stars. This was no happenstance or accident; this is divine love.
—Kristen G.
