Faith, Reason & Evidences

To modern man, the Bible is on trial, and he judges whether or not it is true. If he finds it to his liking he might believe it, at least the parts that make sense to him. That is man-centered faith, which is not faith at all.

 This is how many Christians witness: they talk about what Christ has done in their lives, they cite "evidences" from archeology,  science, history, etc.  They try to talk people into the kingdom.  Often that produces man-centered faith and phony "conversions."

 The Lord says in Heb. 11:1 that that faith comes before evidence. In fact, Heb. 11:1 says that faith IS the evidence – all the evidence you need.   How can that be?  This is backward to the way modern Western minds think.  We are trained to think that our reason looking at evidence is sufficient to judge everything, including the Bible.  But the Bible says faith must govern our reason.

 Almost all people have reason, but not all people fear the Lord, and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10 and other places).     Reason and wisdom are two different things.  Faith, so called, that comes from reason is not faith at all. Faith is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8-10).

 But what of reason?  Surely I am not saying that you should believe something in the  Bible if it goes against your reason?   That is precisely what I am saying. (1) Your reason (and mine) fell in the Garden of Eden and is corrupt. It often gives wrong answers; (2) Your reason was created by God.  What is created cannot judge the One who created it.

 This sermon has much more.