So why do you think that GOD can't / won't / doesn't communicate the clear simple truth?
Every simple doctrine can plainly be read different ways, and usually is according to the predisposition of the reader. What does that imply about GOD's methods? Doesn't it imply that HE wants it this way?
HE allows this to happen for a reason. Why doesn't HE just appear in the sky to everyone at the same time and tell them to sit down and be nice to each other as the atheists demand before they will believe?
Well, to my mind, such proof would destroy faith and GOD wants us to live by faith. Basically the scriptures are written so that anyone can believe or disbelieve anything they want to, there is just no proof in them. No proof that will convince other people anyway.
In this way GOD allows us each to choose where to put our faith, by which we actually define our own reality, the world view we live in which also defines both God and our relationship with Him from our point of view. "This is what I believe" means "This is the way I think it is, the reality of the universe." 2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.
[Since there is no proof either that GOD does NOT exist and the scriptures are NOT true, atheists also define reality by choosing what they believe, putting their faith in a reality without GOD.]
The other area in which most of us have no proof is in the leading of the Holy Spirit. By proof I mean something I can show to someone else as irrefutably the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of GOD inspired the scriptures, inspires interpretations of those scriptures, inspires translations of those scriptures then further interpretations and speaks to the prophets.
All of this yet there is no concise perfect acceptance of any one authority about it all. We all get to follow the voice that tells us the reality we want to hear.
FAITH
• Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
• Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight. (the external or outward appearance, form figure, shape)
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction / evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 is probably the most concise definition of faith found in the Bible. It is considered the classical definition of faith. Faith is both the substance of things hoped for and the evidence that things exist that are not yet perceived with the senses, ie the basis of hope and the conviction of things not proven.
Belief ≠ faith:
James 2:19, KJV
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble, because their belief is not faith since it is based on proof.
Devils have proof:
Luke 4:34
"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
know: Strong's G1492 - eidō
1) to see
a) to perceive with the eyes
B) to perceive by any of the senses
c) to perceive, notice, discern, discover
d) to see
the opposite of "unseen things" and "not by sight."
So why does GOD want us to live by faith and not by sight? If faith alone is the big answer, why is the faith of Muslems, Hindus and others NOT honoured?
Because faith has no magic, it is merely the process by which we make our choice at the deepest level of hope and conviction of the reality we want. It is the great divider between people and the great bond between the like minded.
And inside of large groups such as the Christian world, faith achieves the same purpose. Everyone is declaring where they put their trust, their hope and their conviction by their belief in a certain reality.
The funny thing is that in the pre-earth spirit world it was all theoretical but here on earth every person gets to live according to their faith in their true free will choice to accept GOD's purpose for their creation or to reject it for a different reality of their choice like in Matt 13, the wheat and the tares, esp 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. the harvest being when all creation has chosen by faith the reality they most hope to see backed by commitment to holiness (wheat) or not (tares).
Peace, Ted