Faith versus Reason

In this article I want to discuss Faith versus Reason. Faith is knowing as a child and seeing with the heart. It is believing something to be true even when every sinew in your body is screaming that it can’t be. Reason involves believing only that which may be seen or proven or demonstrated to be absolute fact.

 

In the Christian this constant struggle between faith and reason is the battle of the spirit versus the flesh. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 18 verse 3 "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” NIV  The apostle Paul said this in Galatians chapter 5 verse 17 “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” NIV

 

So how does play out in daily life. My take on it is based on my personal experience which is always fraught when pondering these kinds of philosophical issues. However, the first thing we tend to do as Christians, and human beings, when faced with a challenge is to react based on reason. We cut God out of the equation in the first instance and try to solve the problem on our own using the best logic based solution we can come up with. This approach is firmly grounded in the flesh and completely eliminates the work of the holy spirit in our hearts. It is the opposite of trusting in God and having faith. It totally rules out being child like in our outlook.

 

Now God is gracious and allows us to take the reins and do it out way. But, unless our solution involves turning back to God in prayer and committing the problem to him then usually we’re taking the long way around the issue and if we continue to block God out there will be consequences. The bible put it this way in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." NIV

 

In essence then we need to commit all of our worldly cares to Jesus and trust him to solve our problems. It is not easy to step aside and let God handle it. The flesh rebells against the Spirit and rails in self doubt. The temptation is to use reason and solve it all ourselves. If we exclude Christ though then we risk making a worldly mess of things and reaping what we have sown. To enter the Kingdom of Heaven we need to change and become like children. We need to realise that in God’s eyes we are children. He is all knowing and all seeing. He has plans for us and he knows how it needs to happen but he needs us to be childlike in our faith to let it happen. This by stepping aside and allowing him to work it all out. Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11 says this: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”NIV

 

Romans chapter 8 verse 6 tells us that: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” NIV So to live righteously we must put aside the lusts of our fleshly body and renew our minds in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 12 verse 2 says: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

What I am trying to say is that we live in a world that has moved from faith to reason. A world based on secular humanism, progressive liberalism, and that which claims to be science, known as old Earth evolution. We are told to believe only that which can be proven, that which we can see and that which is backed by concrete evidence. However, because it is a corrupt world that science, that evidence and generally that reason. Is in many cases highly dependent on who is presenting it and on what they desire it to support.

 

Faith is marginalised and made to seem weak and inferior. A thing for people who need a crutch. While science and reason are made to seem strong and superior for those who would champion the cause of mankind. This is a dangerous game for those who don’t understand the scriptures. Romans chapter 1 verse 20 says “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” NIV

 

My friends reason and science will not lead to eternal life. There is only one true God, Jehovah. There is only one path to salvation and that is through Jehovah’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Only through baptism and repentance in the name of Jesus Christ is there salvation and eternal life. To enter the Kingdom of Heaven you must have faith as a child. Become one of the children of God. Romans chapter 8 and verse 17 puts it this way: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. NIV

 

Friends I beseech you. Become children of the most high God. Confess your sin to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask him to forgive you and to make his place in your heart. 

 

Reference

 

All scriptures are quotes from the New International Version of the bible sourced from http://biblehub.com/ 10/06/18