Can a Christian be an agnostic theist?

Can a Christian be an agnostic theist? If not, what are the rational proofs one can go to find evidence of God’s existence?

Yes and no. Let me explain:

Yes, there can be Christians who live as if there is no discernable deity who is God. Having a label and not living a life in the conviction of that label is nothing new. Countless ‘Christians’ live lives that stand against everything Christ taught, but do not see themselves as anything less than ‘Christian’. You know them, the ones who promote unbiblical ideologies and practise sin in open defiance to Christ and His teachings. 

So, can a ‘Christian’ be an agnostic theist? Yes. In fact, I was one. For many years of my life, even though I grew up in a Christian home, I did not believe Jesus was the only way to salvation and I felt that God couldn’t be so cruel as to have only ‘Christians’ with Him in heaven. My ideas of who God was were moulded by my view of humanity (and even of myself). I saw myself and the self-centred choices I made as worth pursuing, because if all humanity is inherently good and pursuing the same thing, what’s wrong with me doing the same? 

For many years of my life, even though I grew up in a Christian home, I did not believe Jesus was the only way to salvation

It was only when God opened my spiritual eyes and gave me a new heart, through which I understood the true Gospel, and I was convicted of my sins that I trusted in the supremacy of Christ as Lord of all humanity. It was only then that I understood the sinfulness of my choices (and that of humanity’s) in contrast to God’s holiness. When compared to God’s truth in Scripture, the foolishness of all other views, including agnosticism and atheism, is made evident.

So… 

No, if you are a Christian, the view of agnosticism is incompatible with what Christ taught. He taught that He is God incarnate and the perfect revelation of the Father on earth. To deny this reality is to deny Christ.

If you are looking for rational proofs of God’s existence, there are lots that can be deduced from the nature of the world around us.

Consider the design of creation. Every living cell has within it biological parts that are directed by DNA codes to run seamlessly. What kind of random process can put together raw material into complex information and build machines?

Consider the moral design of man. Every man from birth knows what is right and wrong. Even if specifics are dictated by cultures, all men know that there is a difference between good and evil. That’s why we have justice systems even in the most primitive of societies. Where did that sense of morality come from if random process is what caused us to be who we are? Why us and not the animals that we eat?

Christ taught that He is God incarnate and the perfect revelation of the Father on earth. To deny this reality is to deny Christ

Consider the fine tuning of this universe and our solar system in order for mankind to live comfortably on a planet in an environment that would otherwise be too harsh for life to thrive in. What undirected process could actively select the specific criteria and pull together these various factors into a livable environment?

There are many more ‘rational proofs’ we could look at but, honestly, the real question to be asked to anyone supposedly looking for evidence is: Would any of it matter to someone who is actively suppressing the truth of his knowledge of God?” (Romans 1:18-22). 

The fact is that all mankind knows — deep in their conscience — that God exists and that they are living in rebellion to Him and His rule over us. But God is patient in not dealing with our sin today, so while you have the chance, repent and believe in the Son who was sent to save us from our sins. 

Colossians 1

¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.