The Problem of Divine Hiddenness

If God longs for a relationship with us, why do some people sincerely seek Him and still find only silence? We should let that question land before reaching for an answer. For some, it is an argument. For others, it is the ache they carry into prayer. This dilemma is captured in the Argument from Non-Belief, often referred to as the Problem of Divine Hiddenness. Gaining traction in the 1990s through philosophers like John Schellenberg, this argument scrutinizes the idea of a God who wishes to be known yet remains hidden from many.

Schellenberg’s argument concerns people capable of relationship with God who do not resist it, yet remain unable to believe. Can that be reconciled with a perfectly loving God? Calling those people apathetic avoids the question rather than answers it.

Hear the person who is already seeking

Matthew 7:7 invites us to ask, seek, and knock. But this objection includes people already willing to seek. We cannot hand them the instruction they are trying to follow and declare the problem solved.

Let’s look more closely at the concept of divine hiddenness. Many people question why, if God truly exists and wishes to connect with humanity, He does not make His presence unmistakably evident. One Christian response asks whether hiddenness can sometimes leave room for a different kind of encounter with God. That possibility needs examining; it does not explain every person’s silence. Insights from philosophers like Plato, theological musings from Søren Kierkegaard, and the lived experiences of Jesus Christ provide valuable perspectives on this matter.

In Plato’s Symposium, Diotima’s account links love with longing for lasting possession of the good and ascent toward beauty. Reading that longing as a desire for the Christian God is a later theological interpretation, not Plato’s stated conclusion.

Søren Kierkegaard, a prominent existential philosopher and theologian, delves into the notion that genuine faith often arises from a place of uncertainty. He asserts that “faith is the highest passion,” indicating that faith transcends mere intellectual agreement; it is a profound emotional commitment that flourishes amid doubt. One proposed response is that unmistakable revelation would change the place of uncertainty in faith. Whether it would remove the need for trust is a further question, not a settled conclusion. Kierkegaard argued that God's hiddenness encourages individuals to face their uncertainties, guiding them toward a richer understanding of themselves and their connection with the Divine. This perspective resonates with Romans 10:17, which tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” The path to faith is an active dialogue with the Divine, promoting personal growth and transformation, as illustrated in Philippians 2:12-13: “...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Kierkegaard’s king, not a Gospel parable

A king’s love for a lowly maiden appears in Kierkegaard’s Philosophical Fragments, not in a Gospel parable spoken by Jesus. The king considers how to meet her without overwhelming her, eventually choosing the servant’s form. Christians can explore that image alongside the Incarnation, while distinguishing the illustration from Scripture.

Jesus: The Divine Revelation

The theme of hiddenness is powerfully illustrated in the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Incarnation signifies God's profound humility; He willingly embraces poverty and lowliness, choosing to dwell among us. Jesus' existence, characterized by humility and suffering, reaches its peak in the crucifixion—a moment that may appear as divine forsakenness. However, this act profoundly demonstrates God's love and His longing for a genuine relationship with humanity.

As Jesus endures the agony of the cross, He personifies the world's suffering, inviting each person to confront the deep mystery of redemption. His resurrection confirms that divine hiddenness does not imply absence; instead, it unveils a richer understanding of God's connection with humanity. Paul emphasizes this in Philippians 2:7-8, stating, “But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Jeremiah 29:13 addresses exiles seeking God, and Hebrews 11:6 commends faith and seeking. We can receive encouragement from those passages without accusing someone of insincerity because belief remains difficult.

What Pascal’s Wager does not settle

Pascal’s Wager concerns a practical decision under uncertainty rather than proof that God exists or a solution to hiddenness. If it helps you pray, you might say, “If You are real, God, please reveal Yourself to me.” Others may need patient companionship while belief remains difficult.

Put this into practice

Some Christians experience hiddenness as an invitation to trust; others experience painful silence. Nonresistant nonbelief remains a serious challenge. We can keep seeking while refusing to turn another person’s unanswered prayer into a verdict on their character.