🌍 “How Can You Not Believe in God With All the Wonders of the World?”
A Christian Perspective on Creation, Awe, and Faith
I have long asked this question of myself and others. Most of the time, I get blank stares and what are you talking about looks. So, I decided to put together what some prominent Faith Leaders had to say about the subject. I live at the base of Mt Hood, Oregon and with every gaze at the mountain this feeling of wonderment overcomes me. I am convinced it’s the Holy Spirit stirring my sole.
🔭 Summary: The Argument from Awe
The question reflects a deep human instinct to see design, purpose, and beauty in the created world. Many Christian thinkers refer to this as the argument from design or general revelation—the idea that God’s existence is revealed in nature.
Romans 1:20 supports this:
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
This sentiment has been echoed across centuries of Christian teaching—from the early Church Fathers to modern apologists like C.S. Lewis, Tim Keller, and Ravi Zacharias.
🕊️ 1. C.S. Lewis – Creation as Clue to the Creator
C.S. Lewis observed:
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen—not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
Lewis argued that the universe not only exists but is intelligible, filled with beauty, order, and meaning—a compelling indication of a Designer. For him, the longing we feel in response to beauty in the world is a clue that we were made for more.
🪵 2. Billy Graham – Nature as God’s Witness
Billy Graham frequently spoke about nature’s testimony to God:
“I can see God in the trees, in the grass, in the flowers, in the birds and the bees, in the sunrise and sunset.”
Graham taught that even people who’ve never read the Bible have a witness in nature. The grandeur of creation speaks to the majesty of a Creator who crafted it with care.
🏞️ 3. Tim Keller – Creation Invites a Question
Tim Keller, a modern pastor and apologist, often asked skeptics:
“Why is there something rather than nothing? Why is the world so beautiful? Why does it stir your soul?”
Keller emphasized that awe, morality, and design all hint at something greater. The wonders of the world aren’t just coincidences—they beg for an explanation. And for many, the best explanation is God.
🪐 4. John Stott – The World as a Book of God
John Stott, a leading evangelical theologian, saw creation as God’s general revelation:
“God has written two books: the book of Scripture and the book of nature.”
He believed that while Scripture gives the clearest revelation, nature provides an unmistakable witness to God’s power and wisdom—accessible to all people.
🌻 5. Alister McGrath – Beauty That Demands a Response
Theologian and former atheist Alister McGrath speaks of science and faith not as enemies, but partners:
“Science explains how things work. But beauty and meaning—these point us toward why they exist.”
McGrath argues that the complexity and elegance of creation invite us to look beyond mechanics and ask about meaning. For him, this leads directly to God.
🛠️ 6. John Piper – Purpose and Glory in Creation
John Piper teaches that creation exists to declare God’s glory:
“The heavens are telling the glory of God. And if we’re not moved by that, we’re blind.”
Piper sees the grandeur of mountains, oceans, and galaxies as designed to stir worship. The created world is not just functional; it’s glorious—meant to draw us to the Creator.
🌌 7. G.K. Chesterton – Wonder as a Door to Faith
G.K. Chesterton, known for his wit and depth, wrote:
“The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder.”
For Chesterton, people miss God not because they lack evidence, but because they’ve lost their sense of wonder. Creation is overflowing with signs of God’s existence—if we have eyes to see.
🪞 Analysis: Why This Question Matters
The question “How can you not believe in God with all the wonders of the world?” is rooted in awe, intuition, and lived experience. Christian leaders treat it not as a philosophical proof, but as a spiritual invitation—a call to see, reflect, and respond.
Here’s why this question is so powerful:
✅ 1. It Speaks to the Heart, Not Just the Head
It doesn’t require theological training. It speaks to the farmer watching a sunrise, the scientist examining DNA, the artist inspired by a mountain range. Faith often begins in awe before it grows in knowledge.
✅ 2. It Aligns With Scripture
The Bible repeatedly teaches that creation testifies about God. Psalm 19:1 says:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
✅ 3. It Challenges Secular Assumptions
Atheistic worldviews often struggle to account for the fine-tuning of the universe, the existence of beauty, or the moral intuition humans share. This question opens the door to asking, “Where does all this come from?”
✅ 4. It Invites Humility
Modern life tends to dull our sense of wonder. This question reminds us we are not the center of the universe. It invites us to look up, both literally and spiritually.
🙏 Final Thoughts: Faith Begins with Seeing
Christian leaders across generations agree—creation is not silent. Whether you’re staring at the stars, holding a newborn baby, or hiking through pine-covered hills, God has left His fingerprints everywhere.
To echo what Paul wrote to the Romans: the wonders of the world don’t just suggest a Creator—they shout it.
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” — Psalm 14:1
But the wise look at creation and say, “This couldn’t have just happened.”
📚 References & Quotes
- Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 14:1, C.S. Lewis – Mere Christianity
- Billy Graham – “The Reason for My Hope”
- Tim Keller – The Reason for God
- Alister McGrath – The Big Question
- John Piper – Desiring God
- John Stott – Basic Christianity
- G.K. Chesterton – Orthodoxy
📝 Published by Mountain Veteran Ministries
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