The Faith-Reason Connection

It is often asserted that faith and reason are in opposition. Indeed, it is often asserted by believers. You know, "walk by faith, not by sight", as if "sight" and "reason" are the same thing. These are not. While faith is "the evidence of things unseen", it does not require that they are without evidence or reason.

Not only does the language not require a separation of church and mind, but neither does God. He has been in the habit of providing reasons to believe since He first started out with humans. There are many examples, but I will just go to the clearest and, in fact, the "trump card" of reasons.

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know ..." (Act 2:22).

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works (2 Cor 12:12).

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will (Heb 2:3-4).

Just a quick and easy sample. What is the most common claim of the skeptic? "If your God would just do some miracle in front of me I'd believe." Shorthand: "If God would give me a reason to believe, I'd believe." What reason? "Some miracle." Well, that is what the Bible offers repeatedly -- signs and wonders.

Remember the story of the lame man in Mark 2? Sure you do. The people had crowded in enmasse to see Jesus. There were so many reporters around that these 4 guys couldn't get their sick friend in to see Jesus. (What ... you don't believe me? Well, the text says, "When they could not come nigh unto Him for the press ..." Isn't that reporters?) So they vandalized the place and lowered him through the roof. Jesus assessed his condition and determined right away what he needed. "And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven'" (Mark 2:5). Well, of course, that's much more impressive than fixing his inability to walk ... if it is true. And they didn't think it was. So Jesus told them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'?" (Mark 2:8-9). This is a call to faith. It is a demand for belief. But Jesus didn't leave it there by itself.

"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" — He said to the paralytic — "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" (Mark 2:10-12).

Jesus saw no need for faith apart from reason. He gave them a reason to believe.

The Bible is full of reasons to believe. We are commanded to love God with all our minds, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, to make a defense. God didn't intend us to be mindless drones. Biblical faith is not blind; it has reasons. The Bible is full of signs. The Scriptures give reasoning and defenses and explanations. Christianity is not without rational defense. The only way to argue that faith and reason are not connected is to do so without any reference to the faith of Scripture. Don't let them trick you like that.