Faith and Reasoning

Faith and Reasoning

Many of the conflicts that arise among God’s people could be avoided if there was a clear understanding of the difference between walking in faith and walking according to our own reasoning. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Heb. 11:17.

Abraham was tested when he offered up his son. His reasoning troubled him because the Isaac who was to be sacrificed was the same Isaac who was to become a people as innumerable as the sand on the seashore and the stars of the sky. Had Abraham gone around conferring with flesh and blood (i.e., people who judge according to their own reasoning), he would certainly have been robbed of all his faith, and Isaac would never have been sacrificed. But Abraham kept the matter to himself, and his faith was perfected by his works.

There is always a struggle between faith and reasoning. When something needs to be done in the church, faith and those who live by faith see the situation one way, and those who live by reasoning see it quite differently. But in the end, faith always triumphs over reasoning. Therefore the Scriptures say: “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” “What should we do?” you ask. Before we assert or insist upon anything, we must examine ourselves in each situation to see whether we are in the faith or are merely using our reasoning. By faith Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle and turned to flight foreign armies.

Elizabeth greeted Mary with these words: “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45.

When a person walks by faith, their reasoning and understanding are in darkness. However, after they act by faith, their reasoning and understanding become enlightened. Faith embraces God’s understanding and lays aside its own understanding. Note, however, that when faith is not living, it is important that a person is not so reckless as to abandon his reason. Yet the moment we come to faith, our reasoning is no more than a temptation, just as it was for Abraham. What is to be done in a church where reasoning and faith both want to rule? There will be war, but God’s Word tells us to fight the good fight of faith. We must not draw back from this battle because we are intimidated by human reasoning, since we are promised victory through faith—not through reasoning.

George Muller could not have supported several thousand children by his reasoning. Yet by faith he managed it.

The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud. What is the dark cloud? It is when our reasoning is darkened. It is only when our reasoning becomes a dark cloud that God’s light can shine for us. When the glory of Egypt and the glory of the Egyptian court became dark for Moses, he gladly refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. That was faith. When Sarah considered her aged body, her reasoning became a dark cloud, but in that darkness the light of faith shone for her. Mary knew no man and yet she was to give birth to a son. Her understanding could not comprehend it, and it became as a dark cloud, but the Lord dwelt in that darkness.

Therefore, dear soul, do not be so hasty to express the opinions that come from your reasoning, because whoever believes will not act hastily. Whoever seeks faith waits upon the Lord and does not act impulsively according to his reasoning. Jesus’ brothers told Him to go up to the feast in Jerusalem, but Jesus said, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. . . . You go up to this feast.” They walked according to their reasoning, which was always ready and waiting to tell them what was right in their own eyes. Jesus, on the other hand, walked in faith, and His “time” did not always correspond with that of human reasoning.

This must be practiced diligently and thoroughly to be understood. God is faithful when he gives the promises of Abraham to the children of faith. This is the Isaac whose mother Sarah is the Jerusalem that is from above. The children of reasoning are the descendents of Ishmael whose mother Hagar is the earthly Jerusalem. It is not surprising then that the children of reasoning persecute the children of faith, and that Ishmael quarrels with Isaac over the possession of the Promised Land. Nevertheless, what do the Scriptures say? “The son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” In other words, those who rely more on human understanding than on God’s understanding will not inherit anything. But those who by faith seek God’s understanding and forsake their own understanding will inherit everything.

There are essentially two kinds of Christians in this world: those who live by their reasoning and those who live by faith—Ishmael and Isaac. What kind of Christian are you? Are you the thoroughly rational type? Do you always know what is right? Or are you one of those who are always perplexed, but not in despair, one who is always eagerly waiting and seeking until faith grasps the things that are unseen?

It can appear impressive and prestigious to always have an answer for everything. But the man of faith must wait upon the Lord, and then when the darkness has become sufficiently great, he can lay hold of God’s light on the matter. In this way the Scriptures again prove true: God will not give His glory to another, and “Without Me you can do nothing.”