Romans 10:14-21, General and Special Revelation (4)

Is God’s general revelation to mankind sufficient for us to develop a “natural theology” by which we can know the Creator?

o   G. C. Berkouwer (Studies in Dogmatics: General Revelation, Ch. 4) points out that Roman Catholic theology answers this question “yes.” 

P62f: Since the Middle Ages, Roman Catholic theology has without a moment's regret defended the right & the possibility of natural theology… Rome maintained that there was a way from man's reason to God.

P64: Rome means by natural theology: a natural knowledge or theology derived from the created things by means of reason.

P66: from the Vatican Council, "the natural knowledge of God derived from creation is made easier through special revelation, but not that this revelation is absolutely necessary."

P67: The background for this is: "a specific anthropology...which lifts the so-called rational soul out of the sin-depraved life of man, and then by way of this non-corrupt reason considers man capable of true knowledge of God...It is true that Rome admits that sin has wounded human nature by the loss of special supernatural gifts, but the physical ability of human reason was neither destroyed nor disturbed, so that reason can still reach God."

·       Rebuttal of Natural Theology:  

o   They do not actually come to know God, the God of salvation, the personal God: P73: "the God whose existence natural theology proves, is not the living God of mercy.  One can therefore speak only of rational proofs for the reality of an Absolute, but not of the proofs for the existence of God."

o   Conversion, being born again, requires more than what nature can provide: P77: "The religious act (coming to personal knowledge of God) is completely unique, and it can never simply come to expression.  Only when man knows God through this religious act does that which the proofs aim to demonstrate achieve meaning and significance...we do not know God 'in the light of the world,' but the reverse is true--we know the world in the light of God."

o   Gen. rev. must be explained by spec. rev.: P78f: "the whole creation does bear traces or 'fingerprints of God' its maker, but this 'is an addition which becomes true only and exclusively of the perceivable matter, when the religious world-view (i.e. spec. rev) brings this to the non-religious facts (i.e. gen. rev)."

The result of this is that the Catholic Church has been able to absorb other religions based on their ability to truly know God apart from Special Revelation.  The same passage (Rom. 10:14-21) that uses Ps. 19:4 as proof that Israel has heard and is without excuse, also says that they cannot believe without a preacher, someone to declare the gospel (Special Revelation).