On Recognition, Silence, and the Name We Avoided Until the End
The article The Signal That Should Never Exist was written deliberately without naming God. That choice was not avoidance, denial, or clever ambiguity for its own sake. It was restraint. It was an intentional stripping away of language that has been overloaded, politicized, weaponized, and diluted by constant misuse. The goal was not to remove God from the conversation, but to remove everything that distracts from Him.
In a world where people argue endlessly about belief while quietly holding onto the same assumptions, sometimes the most honest way to reveal truth is to remove the label and let the reality stand on its own.
What unsettles people in that article is not science, aliens, or speculation. It is recognition — the idea of being known before being discovered, accounted for before being addressed, seen without introduction. That discomfort does not come from atheism. It comes from the collision between denial and intuition. This was not written to apologize or reassure. It was written to make a point about why it had to be done this way. Some truths only register when they unsettle, and sometimes that discomfort is the clearest path to understanding.
Scripture speaks directly to this, long before modern language tried to rename it.
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
— Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV)
Knowledge precedes contact. Recognition precedes revelation. God does not learn us when we appear. He knows us before we speak, before we search, before we question. This is not a claim that every person shares Jeremiah’s prophetic calling, but a recognition of the principle Scripture itself establishes: divine knowledge comes before human awareness, and recognition comes before revelation.
Many today claim atheism while simultaneously appealing to “higher intelligence,” “cosmic order,” or “unknown observers.” These are not rejections of God — they are substitutions for His name. The attributes remain. Only the word is avoided. Scripture anticipated this impulse.
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
— Romans 1:19–20 (KJV)
This is not condemnation. It is clarity. Refusing the name does not erase the reality. Removing the noise simply makes the signal unavoidable.
The article describes a form of awareness that does not announce itself, does not dominate, does not threaten, and does not perform. That is not foreign to Scripture. That is consistent with it.
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
— Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
Stillness is not absence. Silence is not denial. God does not need spectacle to exist. He does not need to prove power to those already held within it.
What the article presents as terrifying recognition becomes something else entirely when viewed through the lens of Christ. Because knowledge without love would indeed be terror. Awareness without mercy would be unbearable. But God did not remain distant.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
— John 1:14 (KJV)
Recognition became relationship. The One who knows us fully chose to enter our condition, not as conqueror, not as observer, but as Savior.
Jesus Christ is the answer to what the article intentionally leaves unresolved. He is the point where recognition is no longer cold. He is where knowledge meets grace.
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
— John 10:14 (KJV)
And the presence of God did not end with Christ’s ascension. It became quieter, closer, and more personal.
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
— John 14:17 (KJV)
The Holy Spirit does not shout. He guides. He convicts. He comforts. He is presence without noise — the very thing the article describes, now named plainly.
So let it be said clearly, without hesitation or confusion:
We believe in God the Father, the source of all being.
We believe in Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and Savior.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who dwells with us and within us.
Why the Title Was Chosen
The title The Signal That Should Never Exist was not written for shock, and it was not written to deny God. It was written to expose a contradiction that exists quietly in modern thought, especially in scientific and intellectual spaces.
There are many who reject the name of God while continuing to accept the attributes people have always associated with Him. They dismiss the word, but not the idea. They speak comfortably about higher intelligence, prior awareness, cosmic order, observers beyond time, or forces that precede human understanding — yet insist none of this should be called God. Within that framework, a signal that recognizes humanity before contact, that knows without introduction, and that accounts for us without explanation becomes unacceptable. It violates the boundary they rely on to keep belief unnamed.
To them, such a signal should never exist — not because it is illogical, but because it collapses the distance between what they deny and what they already assume.
The title is meant to hold that tension honestly. It reflects how many people would instinctively react to recognition without revelation, authority without force, and awareness without spectacle. It is not saying the signal is impossible. It is saying that, according to certain modern assumptions, it cannot be allowed — because allowing it would require naming what has been deliberately avoided.
The article removes the name to reveal the reality. This reflection restores the name once the reality is no longer deniable.
The article did not deny God.
It removed the clutter that keeps people from facing Him honestly.
And now, having explained ourselves, we do what the article intentionally did not: we praise Him openly, as we always do.
Praise
Heavenly Father,
we acknowledge You not as distant or abstract, but as present before all things and faithful beyond our understanding. Long before we searched, questioned, or named anything at all, You were there — seeing, knowing, and sustaining. You do not rush us, and You do not abandon us when we hesitate. Your patience is not indifference; it is mercy. Your silence is not absence; it is strength held in reserve. In a world restless for answers and addicted to spectacle, You remain constant, unshaken, and sufficient, loving without condition and waiting without withdrawal.
Jesus Christ,
in You we see what recognition truly means. You did not stand apart from humanity as an observer, nor did You confront us with terror or force. You stepped into our fear of being known and revealed that to be fully seen by God is not destruction, but salvation. You walked among weakness, bore suffering, and carried truth without cruelty. Through You, knowledge became grace, and judgment gave way to redemption. You showed us that love does not retreat from truth, and truth does not exist without love.
Holy Spirit,
You remain with us in ways quiet yet unwavering. You guide without spectacle, correct without condemnation, and strengthen without demand. When every other signal fades, when noise overwhelms and certainty collapses, You remain — steady, faithful, and present. You dwell with us and within us, leading not by force but by truth, not by fear but by peace.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
You are worthy of praise not because You require it, but because all truth, when stripped of distortion and noise, leads back to You. In You, recognition finds meaning, understanding finds rest, and faith finds its home.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
we come before You with humility, not because we have everything figured out, but because You have never stopped seeing us clearly. Thank You for Your patience when we search everywhere except where truth has always been. Thank You for staying present when we hesitate to name You, and for remaining faithful even when we surround ourselves with noise to avoid silence. You do not withdraw when we struggle; You wait, steady and unshaken, until understanding catches up with honesty.
Thank You for the wisdom that strips away distortion and leaves truth standing on its own. Thank You for Jesus Christ, who showed us that to be fully known by God is not something to fear, but something that saves. Through Him, recognition became redemption, and knowledge was no longer cold, but filled with grace. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, who walks with us quietly and faithfully, guiding without force, correcting without condemnation, and remaining when everything else fades.
We ask You now to guide those who are unsettled by being known, those who are uneasy with silence, and those who sense Your presence but struggle with the weight of naming it. Give peace where fear has taken root, clarity where confusion has lingered, and courage where truth has been avoided. Teach us to seek understanding without arrogance, to pursue truth without pride, and to walk in faith without fear.
May our lives reflect humility before You, honesty with ourselves, and love toward others. May we listen more than we speak, remain still when noise tempts us, and trust that Your presence is enough — even when answers come slowly.
We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
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“So let it be said clearly, without hesitation or confusion:
We believe in God the Father, the source of all being.
We believe in Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and Savior.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who dwells with us and within us.”
Since 2007 the percentage of atheists in America has doubled. It is still a low number at 4% but if it doubles as quickly as it has since then it will be 8% by 2045.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/07/8-facts-about-atheists/
That number is very concerning, but just as concerning is the number of “nones” in the U.S.
“Nones” are described as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religion.
“Nones” make up 28% of the U.S. adult population a number that has almost doubled since 2007.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2024/01/24/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe/
“Nones” would not make the statement of faith that you have above.
So, approximately one-third of the population does not believe in the triune God as described in the Bible.
There is some good news, even if a huge portion of America is Biblically illiterate. We reached a long time Bible reading low in 2024, but younger people have picked up the Bible and appear to be reading it.
https://www.barna.com/trends/bible-reading-trends/
If this barna report is accurate, “boomer” Bible reading has really fallen off. The numbers indicate people who read their Bibles at least once weekly.
So, the numbers are skewed a bit since reading the Bible once weekly is hardly enough. How do I know this? I can only use myself as an example but in all the years that I’ve considered myself a Christian, the times I’ve gotten away from daily Bible Study have hurt my knowledge greatly. Others may be better at remembering what they read, which could make a difference.
I always appreciate your use of scripture, John. It is what sets your blog apart for so many others.
I did read your post “The signal that should never exist” yesterday. The reason I did not give it a like was because it confused me. It didn’t unsettle me, I just didn’t figure out what you were referring to. I can’t give a like to something I don’t understand.
My confusion started pretty near the top with the subtitle:
“Why recognition is more terrifying than first contact.”
Those words threw me off right from the beginning. When I see the word “terrifying”, I don’t think of God but maybe I should. I know that better men than me have been terrified when God sent an angel to talk to them.
As I re-read “The signal…” with what I now knew, I really liked this sentence:
“What proves proximity is knowledge of history.” I trust that the Bible is historically accurate. I believe the creation account, and I believe in all the miracles of the Bible.
There are many parts of “The signal…” that are very clever and fit my understanding very well.
This is a part at the end that would have steered me wrong as well:
“The scariest signal the universe could send is not a declaration of arrival. It is not a warning of destruction. It is not even proof of superior power.
It is proof that we were never alone in the dark.”
As a kid, the knowledge that God loved me and that I was never alone, particularly in the dark, was a great consolation. It still is.
Anyway, I admit to not catching on but I appreciate the effort and I also appreciate your post today. You did a great job of weaving scripture with some really good points.
Thank you for this post, John. May God give you a restful night’s sleep and may He bless you and yours.
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You’re very welcome, Chris, and thank you for taking the time to engage with both the article and the Sunday Musing so thoughtfully. I wrote these together because I was already aware of the confusion the article would cause. There are times when how we word things matters deeply, especially when we are speaking about God.
There is a verse in Scripture that speaks to how, when God moves decisively, understanding is no longer limited by language — that all will comprehend what is being communicated. We see a foreshadowing of this at Pentecost:
“Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”
— Acts 2:6 (KJV)
That passage gave me the idea to write the article the way I did — speaking in the language people already use, rather than inserting God’s name immediately, until the explanation in the Sunday Musing, knowing they would recognize the meaning more clearly once the noise was removed. For those who already believe, the article would understandably feel confusing at first, because the foundation of belief is already there. It was written primarily for those who are still questioning whether there is a God at all.
I appreciate the data you shared and the care you put into laying out your concerns. You’re right about the numbers — while atheism itself remains a smaller percentage, the rise of the “nones” reflects a much broader distancing from the triune God revealed in Scripture, and that trend should not be ignored. Your point about biblical literacy and consistent engagement with Scripture is also well taken. Depth doesn’t come from occasional exposure; it comes from discipline.
I also appreciate your honesty about your initial confusion with The Signal That Should Never Exist, especially regarding the subtitle and the use of the word “terrifying.” Your observation highlights an important distinction. For those who know God, being known by Him is comfort, assurance, and peace — as you described from your own experience. The “terror” the article points toward is not meant to describe God’s presence for believers, but how recognition would feel to those who reject God’s name while still relying on His attributes. What is consolation in one posture becomes confrontation in another.
Your reaction to the closing lines illustrates that difference clearly. What you rightly experience as reassurance — never being alone in the dark — is only unsettling to someone who insists there is no One there to begin with. That contrast was central to the piece, and your response helps bring it into focus.
Thank you for revisiting the article after reading the Sunday Musing, and for your encouragement regarding the use of Scripture. I appreciate you reading carefully, engaging honestly, and for your kind blessing. It truly means a great deal. I hope you have a great night and day ahead. God bless you and yours always. 🙏😎
“There are times when how we word things matters deeply, especially when we are speaking about God.”
This is so true. In our times, when trust in just about every area of life is at an all-time low, people often take the concern of Christians in the wrong way. I know that there are many legalists out there who are using their “beliefs” for their own profit in some way. At the same time, there are still sincere believers who are open to dialog about God’s nature and are happy to “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (Psalms 96:3)
I understand now that “The Signal That Should Never Exist” was written primarily for those who are still questioning whether there is a God at all. I certainly can put myself in that position mentally (to a certain extent) and the article would be something that would cause me to wonder.
I appreciate an article of outreach like that. With the numbers of people who believe in God decreasing, it should be a main concern of believers.
I also appreciate this comment:
“Depth doesn’t come from occasional exposure; it comes from discipline.”
and this comment:
“What is consolation in one posture becomes confrontation in another.”
Again, these comments are so true.
I’m glad that you felt that my comments helped bring the contrast that you were looking for in your piece into focus.
You are welcome, John, and thank you for your efforts.
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you have a great week. May God bless you and yours always.