Reason Versus Faith

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
John 12	Psalms 66

Reason and logic can be useful when it comes to the things of God, but they can take us only so far. If we depend on them too much we will miss some of the most significant things God has for us. For when we press our reason too far upon the things of God we begin to form our own God rather than conforming ourselves to God and His ways.

This was, and still is, a key issue regarding people's acceptance of Jesus. During Jesus' incarnation on earth, He performed many miracles primarily to affirm His claim as the Son of Man or the Messiah. It was a bow to reason to help people bridge the gap between belief and reason. But for many, reason won out over belief and they failed to accept Jesus for who He was.

We see a prime example of this in the 12th chapter of John. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead and many were inclined to believe. But many still did not bridge the gap to belief. Primarily due to word of Lazarus' being raised from the dead, a large crowd gathered a couple of days later to greet Jesus as He entered Jerusalem in what is known as His triumphal entry. But John tells us in verse 37 of that chapter that, "Even though He had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him." In verses 42 & 43 we get a clue into the reasoning that kept them from believing, or at least accepting Jesus: "because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God." And the Pharisees did not confess Jesus for who He was because they feared they would lose their following.

But Jesus brought this reasoning into perspective in verse 44 when He said, "The one who believes in Me believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me." Did these people, Pharisees and others, truly love God? Did they seek to obey God? If they truy did, they would look to Him for answers about Jesus and would have known that He was God's Son and that all their concerns over believing in Jesus were insignificant compared to following Him. This was the point at which faith had to step in and inform reasoning and they failed to do it. Therefore, they missed the most important opportunity of their lives.

We are no different. Our reason frequently blocks faith or at least holds it at bay for a while and we miss out on or delay the best God has for us. We simply need to take the time to talk with God and seek His guidance, allowing Him to inform our understanding. With God's guidance, it will all make sense and both reason and faith can move forward together.