What Should Christians Think about UFOs?

Questions about UFOs and aliens do not have to threaten Christian faith; they can remind believers of God’s vast and mysterious creation.
The Bible does not directly teach that alien life exists, but it clearly presents God as Creator and sovereign over all things.
Christians can approach UFO reports with wisdom, discernment, humility, and trust rather than fear or obsession.
The mysteries of the universe can draw believers into awe, reverence, and wonder before God.
Even when Christians do not have every answer, they can rest in the truth that God knows all things and remains in charge.

Do UFOs and Aliens Conflict with Christian Faith?

I never believed in aliens or life on other planets growing up. In the evangelical tradition I grew up in, I thought believing such things existed was in conflict with Scripture. As a child, I thought the Bible covered the totality of what occurred in nature and outer space. If it wasn’t in the Bible, then it didn’t exist. As I have gotten older, I have a deeper understanding of the vastness, sovereignty, and even the mystery of God. I am not saying I can explain all the mysteries of God. I mean to say that I understand there is a mystery to God that is beyond human systems and comprehension. For Christians, questions about UFOs and aliens do not have to threaten faith; they can instead remind us that God’s creation is vast, mysterious, and fully under His authority. John acknowledges in his Gospel that Scripture cannot hold all that God does:

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” - John 21:25

I believe both in the errancy of Scripture, with accommodations, and that Scripture cannot contain God.

Inspirational quote graphic with a faded image of a UFO-like object in the clouds and text by Tanita Maddox about the mystery of God being beyond human comprehension.

Why Are People Talking about UFOs Now?

I share this because, following a presidential directive for increased transparency, on May 8th, the Pentagon released an initial batch of 162 declassified files on unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Highlights include Buzz Aldrin’s 1969 debrief describing a “sizeable” object near the lunar surface and military videos of football‑shaped objects and erratic lights. And yes, we live in a time where seeing isn’t always believing. It is hard to distinguish between doctored photos or AI-produced images and the real deal. Some could argue that the declassified files are not legitimate, while others could argue they are. Personally, I won’t spend much time trying to figure out the truth about UFOs, partly because it does not impact what I believe about God, the Bible, or the Christian faith, and partly because the answer does not change my day-to-day life.

The Mystery of God Is Bigger Than What We Can Explain

Many of us like concrete evidence and explanations that we understand. God gives the gift of reason and logic, and we get to use those gifts. However, if we get lost in only valuing what is concrete and what fits within personal or human understanding and explanation, we make God small. We make God small enough to fit within our worldview and experience. We make God small enough so that we can be comfortable. We make God small enough to fit in a box. The problem with this is, of course, that God does not fit in a box, and we are supposed to be drawn into awe, reverence, and wonder by God, Creator of everything:

Psalm 95:3-6 says, “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
Psalm 33:6-8 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”
Exodus 15:11 says, “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”
Psalm 66:2-3 says, Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is the power that your enemies cringe before you.”

Each of these verses models what awe, reverence, and wonder look like, and each passage illustrates that awe, reverence, and wonder occur in our relationship with and worship of God.

How Creation Leads Us to Awe, Reverence, and Wonder

Have you laid down on the grass to stare up at the night sky before? This is often a young person’s activity, but consider revisiting it as an adult. After the sun has set below the horizon, lay a blanket outside in your yard or perhaps a nearby school, playground, park, or the back of a pickup truck, and lie down to look at the sky. If there is no space to lie down, maybe just go outside and look up. Be still and observe the night sky. I say this as someone who does not sit still very well. If you get antsy like me and looking at the sky for 30 seconds feels like 20 minutes, try setting a timer. This helps relieve the impulse to measure time internally, and also allows you to pick a time that is manageable for you. Look at the sky. Notice whatever stars, planets, satellites, and airplanes you can see. Feel small. Feel small in the vastness of God’s creation. Too many times, I can default to thinking I am the most important thing happening. And yes, while I am important to God, I am also a part of His greater creation work. God’s creation extends beyond what I can see and touch in my direct vicinity. Take it one step further and try to count the stars you see. It quickly becomes an impossible task on a clear night with a clear view of the sky. I may not even bother or give up quickly because I already know the task is impossible. It is the impossibility of it that I can use to draw me into wonder. I am in awe of the vastness of the universe reflected by the number of stars, and I am in reverence of the God who made it all.

How Should Christians Respond to the Unknown?

Awe, reverence, and wonder can result from meditating on the mysteries of God. One route we can take with the release of the UFO declassified files is to search for truth and explanations for the images and evidence presented. Another route is to engage with wonder at the vastness of God, whose works cannot be contained in written books. These two routes are not diametrically opposed; it is not either/or, but both/and. We can engage wisdom and discernment in searching for and identifying truth. We can also humbly admit that we don’t know all God has been up to, and the vastness of his sovereignty is far beyond what we can comprehend. Only God knows all truth. Only God knows the mysteries of the universe. Only God understands the unexplainable.

We Do Not Have to Know Everything to Trust God

That posture of humility may be the most faithful response to questions we cannot fully answer: we can seek truth without fear because our trust is not in having every explanation, but in the God who reigns over every mystery. Now, I’m not saying there are aliens and spaceships or life on other planets and in other galaxies. I’m not a conspiracy theorist and am generally trusting, perhaps naive. I for sure place my hope in Jesus Christ over any human-created system. I believe in the Bible and its authority in all matters of faith and conduct. I believe in the sovereignty and majesty of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (the Trinity is another mystery difficult to explain in human terms). So last week, when my kids asked me if aliens existed, and I answered honestly, “I don’t know, but God does, and He’s the one in charge.” As I reflect on those words, that might be a childhood explanation of what awe and wonder look like: I don’t know, but God does, and he’s the one in charge.”

Frequently Asked Questions about UFOs, Aliens, and Christian Faith

Do UFOs conflict with Christianity?
Not necessarily. UFOs simply refer to unidentified objects or phenomena. Christians can approach the unknown with wisdom, discernment, and trust in God’s sovereignty.
Does the Bible say aliens exist?
The Bible does not directly teach that alien life exists. Scripture focuses on God as Creator, humanity’s relationship with Him, and His plan of redemption.
Should Christians be afraid of UFO reports?
Christians do not need to respond with fear. The unknown can remind believers that God is greater than human understanding and remains Lord over all creation.
Can Christians believe in science and still trust Scripture?
Yes. Christians can use reason, examine evidence, and ask honest questions while still trusting Scripture as authoritative for faith and conduct.
How should Christians respond to mysteries they cannot explain?
Christians can respond with humility, discernment, worship, and trust, remembering that God knows all truth even when people do not.

For Further Reading

Tanita Maddox Tanita Tualla Maddox (DMin, Phoenix Seminary) is the national director for generational impact for Young Life and serves as an associate regional director in the Mountain West Young Life region. With expertise in contextualizing the gospel for Gen Z, Tanita has been featured on The Holy Post podcast and has been published in The Great Commission Research Journal, the Journal of Youth and Theology, and more. She has served as a Young Life leader with adolescents for over twenty-six years and serves as a volunteer Young Life leader in her local community. She is the author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God.