Calculus to Chimps

 

This is not a SOAP, but just some thoughts about theological mysteries.

Sometimes when people wrestle with deep theological questions—like free will vs. predestination, the Trinity, or how God is both just and merciful—they get frustrated because none of the answers seem to fully “fit.” I get that. I’ve been there too.

I call this the “Calculus to chimps” problem.

We know from science that chimpanzees can learn some basic sign language. They can understand simple arithmetic like 1+1=2. But there’s no way to teach a chimp calculus. It’s not that calculus isn’t real—it’s just completely beyond their capacity.

Now imagine the gap between us and God. The distance between human and chimp is tiny compared to the distance between finite humans and the infinite Creator of the universe. Some truths about God—especially how divine sovereignty, human freedom, and eternal realities work—are simply beyond what our minds can grasp fully.

That doesn’t mean these truths aren’t real. It just means that we see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12). We are given enough light to walk in faith, to love and follow Christ, but not always enough to tie up every theological loose end.

For me, that’s a comfort. I don’t need to have calculus-level understanding to trust that God is good, just, loving, and true.

It’s okay to ask the deep questions. It’s also okay to admit that sometimes the answers are above our pay grade—and to worship anyway.

After all, is it really that surprising that there’ll be things about God and His creation that we don’t have the capacity to understand?

#FaithAndMystery #CalculusToChimps #Theology #Humility

Note: the ideas are mine, but I had ChatGPT help with the above text as well as to create the Calculus to Chimps illustration.