British philosopher Philip Goff’s argument against the existence of an omniscient and omnipotent God hinges on man’s cruelty, which he says God would readily ban.
Goff makes up a reality show entitled “Heroic Rescue” that shows whether passers-by will run into a burning building to save a baby. He then states, “the Omni-God doesn’t put babies in danger to titillate a TV audience (although you never know… maybe it’s primetime entertainment for the angels.)”
Many apologists provide good answers to such objections, including God’s respect for man’s freedom, the way suffering may lead to theological breakthroughs, and the humility we should have when comparing our smart ideas to God’s wisdom. But Goff, despite his snideness, may have a good point if we think about primetime education (rarely entertaining) for angels. Scripture does offer hints about that.
One of the clearest teachings about this is I Corinthians 4:9’s insistence that human believers are “a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.” Angels in the audience watch us on stage and learn how God’s grace operates. The angels want to understand the “good news… sent from Heaven, things into which angels long to look” (I Peter 1:12).
So, as one old television show, “smile: you’re on Candid Camera.”