Have you ever tried to communicate with one of those people knows everything, is very confident of this fact, and refuses to hear otherwise?

At work I run into this type pretty regularly. It’s common among a bunch of engineers because we’ve been taught such definitive principles that the conversations are often based on the concept that the correct answer should only be one thing. So, we argue the correct application of physics, or the theoretical affects of thermodynamics. In the end, my workplace is pretty good because most of the people know enough to know that they don’t know enough. Instead of trying to stand their ground, they willingly admit when they begin to get in over their heads. But there are thosefewe who will argue anything and everything because they are fully confident in some piece of knowledge that they have because some random person somewhere down the line told them something….so, it must be true.

Politics brings out even more of these types of people. Experience has taught me that there’s not much of a point in talking politics with people who are firmly-planted into any camp. Sometimes, I like to have an intellectually honest conversation about the pros and cons of the candidates, but I have to steer clear of the know-it-alls. They spout out the pros of their candidate, the cons of the opponent, and declare anything to the contrary as lies. These people have read the pamphlets and know “the facts” because it’s printed on glossy paper…so, it must be true.

The biggest source of know-it-alls, by far, is theology. Church pulpits and pews, atheist gatherings, agnostic discussions, internet forums, and libraries are filled with people who are supremely confident that their answers are correct. When religion is discussed, friendly chats turn into heated debates. Opinions of life-time acquaintances can instantly change based on one’s belief of particular issues. I am constantly amazed at how many people know everything and can conveniently define God. I’m also amazed at how rarely any two of these people ever have the same opinions. But, these people have their interpretations and in most cases, this opinion was dictated to them from behind a wooden pulpit by a man with a tie…so, it must be true.

So what about me? I’m a self-professed shallow thinker. But still, I must have my beliefs, opinions, definitive statements of faith. Here it is. My definitive declaration for all six of my loyal readers (that’s a 50% increase over the past two months!). I am supremely confident that…I don’t have all the answers. When I was younger (because I’m so old now), I thought that there was this certain knowledge out there that I had to obtain and everything would become abundantly clear. If I could just find this mysterious piece of information, I could fully understand all things theological and otherwise. I was sitting in the office of Doctor Shurden one day discussing the concept of knowing definitively what to believe on various issues. At one point, he sat back in his chair and smiled and said “John, the older I get, the less sure I become about some things. But, the more comfortable I am with that.”

It has taken me a while to grasp this concept, but I think I’ve begun to actually embrace it. Dr. Shurden wasn’t telling me that he was comfortable in ignorance. He was telling me that as he learns and experiences more, he begins to realize how much bigger God is…and that’s a comforting concept. After all, what good would God be if we could fully understand Him? The more infinite He becomes, the more amazing his works, his love, and his grace are because they’re focused on such a finite individual such as myself.

What do you think. Is this idea taking the easy way out? Can we actually understand more about God? Am I living with my head in the sand?