Q: What role does intelligence play in knowing God, and what scriptural basis do you have for your answer?
Asked by: Derrick
A: Derrick, I’m a little bit confused by your question, because you ask: what role does intelligence play? Well obviously, we need some intelligence in order to know God.
Jesus said, “This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” And in order to know God we need to know certain things as the Bible reveals them. We need to be able to have certain experiences, certain understandings. So yes, intelligence does, of course, play a role.
Maybe, however, what you really mean is, what about someone with a mental disability, can they know God? I can’t really answer that, except to say, yes, in their own way, I’m sure they can. Because we are created in the image of God, everyone is reaching out to God, whether they realize it or not. And someone who may have a mental disability may be groping after God in their own way. And the more they (and we) know about Him and about Christ, the more satisfying that experience will become.
So, please keep in mind that it’s important for us to realize that we shouldn’t judge those who are of inferior intelligence because surely God has a place for them as well. We need to thank God that we have the opportunity of using the minds that we have, such as they are, in order to know Him.
Scripture references
- There are no Scripture references.