Revelation is Always a Personal Act of God

Rev. Neil Steven Lawrence, M.Div.    

The concept of ‘general revelation’ is a shortsighted (blasphemous) deistic idea imagined by those who are not omnipresent.
Why?
Because all revelation by it’s very nature is personal act of God!  Jesus clearly tells us, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.” (John 6:44)

In other words:
Inanimate and animate objects in creation do not reveal God to man; as proponents of the spurious concept of ‘general revelation’ imagine they do. Instead every act of revelation is done personally by God to each individual of mankind. This occurs throughout all time. “Because what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” (Romans 1:19)

The reason revelation can only happen this way is:

  1. Yahweh is omnipresent and eternal – meaning He is everywhere at all times.
  2. Therefore if revelation occurs God is always personally involved in revealing Himself.
  3. It is an oxymoron to say:  “an object of creation can reveal God to sinful man” when God Himself is standing right there.
  4. It is a theological fallacy to think that sinful man can understand God from a fallen creation.
  5. The very nature of revelation according to the Bible requires God to be involved. If God is not personally involved it cannot be called “revelation.” (John 14:6b)

Even though theology textbooks make neat little categories of: “general revelation“  and  “special revelation“ this is a false dichotomy and should be jettisoned!

Why is this important?

Because to think there is a type of revelation where God is not personally involved denigrates our understanding of His ability to communicate to us. Instead, we must realize, revelation is always a personal act of God.