Here’s another post regarding the principle of “faith toward God”. It is my attempt at providing a reasonable response to today’s prevailing faith teachers. Some of us were led to believe that reason is an enemy of faith, and at times, it is, when it is faulty. At the same time, we are encouraged to apply reasoning.
Here’s an example of bad reasoning.
Matthew 16:5-12….(vs. 7) “And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.”
Jesus attempted to teach the disciples what He meant by the leaven of the Pharisees. It was the doctrine of the Phrisees and the Sadducees of which He was speaking, not that they had forgotten to take along with them bread.
Jesus replied “why reason among yourselves, oh ye of little faith”. Poor reasoning can cause our degree of faith to diminish.
Here, we are encouraged to act just the opposite.
Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Another example of bad reasoning was when believers thought of themselves more highly than they ought. (Romans 12:3) One might think his place in the body is simply not spiritual enough.
Acts 6:2, “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”
What is truly reasonable is that we “present our bodies (to the service of the Lord) which is our reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) This would include serving tables.
In our relations to the world, we also will use reason.
The unsaved may ask of us a reason why we are Christians. Reasoning is a positive in this case, one that may lead to another’s salvation. (1 Peter 3:15)
Therefore, understanding the differences between right and wrong, good and bad reasoning, is important as we walk with the Lord.
Here’s an example of bad reasoning.
Matthew 16:5-12….(vs. 7) “And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.”
Jesus attempted to teach the disciples what He meant by the leaven of the Pharisees. It was the doctrine of the Phrisees and the Sadducees of which He was speaking, not that they had forgotten to take along with them bread.
Jesus replied “why reason among yourselves, oh ye of little faith”. Poor reasoning can cause our degree of faith to diminish.
Here, we are encouraged to act just the opposite.
Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Another example of bad reasoning was when believers thought of themselves more highly than they ought. (Romans 12:3) One might think his place in the body is simply not spiritual enough.
Acts 6:2, “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”
What is truly reasonable is that we “present our bodies (to the service of the Lord) which is our reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) This would include serving tables.
In our relations to the world, we also will use reason.
The unsaved may ask of us a reason why we are Christians. Reasoning is a positive in this case, one that may lead to another’s salvation. (1 Peter 3:15)
Therefore, understanding the differences between right and wrong, good and bad reasoning, is important as we walk with the Lord.
