REASON

Reason is the intellectual ability of human beings to gather facts and from them draw correct conclusions. Reason is one of the traits of human kind that separates man from animals (cf. Jude 10). There are several abuses of "reason" that are worthy of special attention: (a) There is the arrogant view of "rationalism," the ideology that man, by the use of his own mind, is entirely capable of solving all his problems and managing his destiny. He therefore has no need for religion. This concept really exalts man to the status of being his own "god," and it has its roots in pagan Greek philosophy. (b) A second error is the notion that the Bible must be measured in the light of human reason and experience. If, therefore, a biblical event (e.g., the miraculous) does not conform to modern experience, it is assumed that it is not reasonable to believe that it occurred. Hence, it is rejected as historical reality. This has led certain theologians to attempt "surgery" upon the sacred text, removing all miraculous elements (e.g., Jesus' virgin birth, his miracles, the Lord's resurrection, etc.) from the realm of reality. This concept ignores historical evidence in deference to subjective assumption. (c) An equally fallacious view is the idea that faith must simply be "experienced" by a "blind leap into the dark" -- that investigation, evidence, and deduction are irrelevant to establishing one's religious pursuits. Reason and logic are debunked, and "faith" becomes a "feel-good," venture into subjectivism. This view does not conform to the pattern of apostolic teaching. For example, following his conversion, Saul of Tarsus "confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 9:22). The term "proving" is the Greek sumbibazo, which means "to bring together." Paul appealed to O.T. prophecies, compared them with facts regarding Jesus, and drew the irresistible conclusion that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. The Jews were unable to answer the apostle's logic. There is a legitimate use of "reason" in Christianity.