The Question of Reason

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him"

— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 2: 6-16

How is it that two similar people may be exposed to the same Truth and yet have two completely opposite responses to it? Both may be very intelligent people, but when faced with who God is, one responds in fear and adoration while the other dismisses any notion of God with disdain. What separates the one from the other?

Sometimes I wonder at the use and effectiveness of reason in apologetics and/or evangelism today. This is not to say that one should not use reason nor that Christianity is an unreasonable Faith, but do we place too much trust in the use of reason?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

- Romans 1: 18-23

God's works are plainly seen. From the largest galaxies in the universe to the smallest components of the atom; from the amazing complexity of the human body to the tiny crystal-like structure of snow-flakes, there is much in the natural world that will and should fill the human mind with awe and wonder. Who could create such things in all their myriad shapes and sizes and beauty. Such is the sin of men that they would do everything in their power to disown the God who made them rather than bow the knee in worship.

Why does one believe and the other disbelieve? Why does one who, upon seeing and hearing of the sinfulness of men and of their utter depravity and hopelessness, turns and throws himself upon the mercies of Christ while the other does all that he can to convince himself of mankind's "inherent" goodness and lack of need for a saviour? Is the one who disbelieves "wiser" than the who believes? Is the one who believes of a more gullible nature? Surely not, for there are men with great minds and mighty intellects that have responded in faith to the Gospel and there are multitudes of men of low learning who have spat and trampled upon the Blood of Christ.

So what then separates those whom respond in faith and those who do not but grace?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

- Ephesians 1: 3-6

This was done so that no man should boast of himself, but that if he should boast, to boast in the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 1:31)

How then do men believe? No doubt God is a God who uses reason (cf. Isa. 1:18) and the Apostle Paul himself reasoned with those in the synagogues or marketplace (cf. Acts 17:2,17, 18:4,19), but I've come to realize the limits of Reason. One could provide 101 reasons for the resurrection of Jesus Christ or for the infallibility of Scripture, but they can no more turn a man to Christ unless God, in His Mercy, opens his eyes and understanding to spiritual things.

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

- 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

To Him who is able to save and save to the uttermost.
Soli Deo Gloria