Truth Is Essential To Faith But Not Irrational

So shall the knowledge of

wisdom be to your soul;

If you have found it, there is a

prospect,

and our hope will not be 

cut off.

Proverbs 24:14

     In many parts of the world today Christians are under tremendous persecution, they face martyrdom by means of many forms.  All because they have embraced Christianity and have put their faith in the God of the Bible. Unable to care for much of the necessities of life, food, work, clothes, homes, and facing angry crowds attempting by horrendous means to stamp out this faith, faith demonstrated peacefully by men, women and children. Many of these Christians have no written Word, no Bible to read, only the word of pastors who teach and preach the love of Jesus Christ and their need to put faith in Him.  There are those who would speak against such faith and claim it to be irrational.  Is it irrational?  How can they face these trial and persecutions simply on faith alone?  Faith in what or who?  Where is the reasonableness and how can that be compatible to faith?  

     To say that Christians must become irrational giving reason for their faith to believe in the God of the Bible is infidelity, for is it is said that faith is irrational is of itself by necessity irrational.  The mind cannot comprehend, nor should it, believe to be true that which is known to be false.  That is being irrational.  It is impossible to believe and to not believe the same thing at the same time.  While the people, at least for the majority, they do not know, or for the most part do not care, about philosophy.  We here in this world are impregnated with philosophy attacking true Christianity.  These modern day philosophers assert that it is impossible for an infinite being to be a person, if this be true then God does not have a personality.  If not to have a personality then why put faith in such a being?  If we cannot know and have faith in a God with personality then all that has been done is to destroy religion, there would be no sense speaking of sin, or to have accountability, let alone to have or speak of immortality.  Admitting that faith is blind is only to say that faith is irrational and any sentient person knows that faith is not an irrational conviction.  Yet, for belief leading to faith we must know what we believe and what ground our faith rests.  Skepticism which some would assume faith and find some refuge in and by that skepticism for them who believe that reason leads them to this insecurity is worthless.  

     It is admitted that the truths of revelation are to be received upon the authority of God.  We also admit that human reason cannot comprehend nor prove them, that man must be converted and as a small child then they can receive these Doctrines of the Bible.  But it must be admitted that these Doctrines are irreconcilable with every form of philosophy, to those who refuse to be taught of God, or who are ignorant of His Word.  We also admit and maintain that those Doctrines are not subject to denial or dispute, unassailable so that no sentient person can prove them to be impossible or irrational.  It was the Apostle Paul who disclaimed the wisdom of this world and claimed and taught the highest wisdom, the wisdom of God: "However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of god in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory" (1 Corinthians 2:6-7). HOW WILL SAY THE WISDOM OF GOD IS IRRATIONAL?

     To affirm, although in error, that those men, women, and children are irrational in their faith and practice is to say that God is irrational; careful for to say things as that is to blaspheme the name of God.  It takes more than simple blind faith, in fact, there is no room for blind faith; faith and the wisdom of God is given to His children: "but God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except by the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).  The Word is preached, read, by us, then revealed to us by the Spirit of God.  This is the work of Christians who have had the faith of God given to them, to care for the sick, the ailing, those undergoing persecution, etc. and this by preaching, missionaries going into those countries where the Word of God is forbidden to be spoken or believed, and the need for the written word of God to be distributed to those who do not have His Word, the Bible.  We must do what we can for them, yet we must remember our faith and care for our knowledge as well for our faith is built on nothing less than the authority of God.  

Let Your mercies come also

     to me, O LORD--

Your salvation according to 

     Your word.

                       Psalm 119:41

May You Meditate On His Statutes

Richard L. Crumb