Do all people have a longing for God?

Answer 1

One Opinion

Well, yes. Not all people know it, but they do. This is really based on a belief.

Another Opinion

No. Many people are not interested in God. Most are, however.

The people who present these opinions show NO EVIDENCE!!!!

He who asserts MUST PROVE!

Stance #1: No, not all people have a longing for God.

I will present evidence for both opinions and tell you which one is most likely to be true.

1st Opinion--Well, yes. Not all people know it, but they do.

Romans 1:18

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness

This verse clearly states that we-the wicked men-are suppressing truth by being wicked. Although Jeremiah 17:9 says that our heart are extremely wicked and deceitful, Rom. 1:18 very clearly implies that the truth is that we are not wicked.

this argument kind of says that man is basically good. no comment.

2nd Opinion--No. Many people are not intrested in God.

Ecclesiastes 9:3b

The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their earts while they live, and afterward, they join the dead.

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, for who can know it.

This sounds kind of harsh, but it's true, The Bible says it. If the hearts of men are filled with yuck and deceitfulness, how could our basic nature be good? How could all men have a longing for God?

I wish I had enough time to elaborate more on these opinions, but I don't, so I will write more later on something else

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Stance #2: Yes, all people have a longing for God.

I disagree with the answer given above. Romans 1:18 is not implying that all men are basically good. Romans 1:18, with verses 19-21 for context, is below:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:18-21)

The verse is not saying that the men are suppressing the truth by being unrighteous, but that they suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, or because they are unrighteous.

Verse 21 clearly shows this: "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God...." Because men are unrighteous, they try to convince themselves and others that God does not exist. However, deep down inside they know God exists.

So there really aren't two separate views presented hear; the verse is being misinterpreted. The Bible clearly teaches that man is unrighteous. However, the Bible also teaches that all men long for God. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He [God] has put eternity into man's heart."

We can also see that all men long for God when we look at the world around us. All people have a God-shaped hole in their hearts. They try to fill it with worldly pleasures, but we all can see that worldly pleasures aren't enough. People try to dull their sense of loneliness with alcohol, drugs, or sex, but the only thing that can fill the hole is God.

So yes, all people do have a longing for God.