REGARDING RATIONALISM

ISAIAH 55:8–9

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord

(Isa. 55:8).

While Christianity cannot be classified as a mystical religion, neither can it be considered rationalistic. From beginning to end, the Bible teaches that man cannot fathom with his own reason the depths of God, especially His grace and plan of redemption. Reason alone cannot deliver man from his bondage to sin. Reason cannot enable man to live a righteous life worthy of the acceptance of a most holy and righteous God. Only faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ can bring the redemption man so desperately needs.

One would think that human history, with all its hostilities and evils, would be sufficient testimony that man’s logic is incapable of leading man into all truth. Yet, many philosophers throughout history have believed just that. Rationalists such as Ayn Rand, who wrote her philosophical treatise, Atlas Shrugged in fiction form, maintained that man’s reason is his autonomous moral compass, his own self-made redemption.

Probably the best known rationalist, however, is Descartes. Descartes and other rationalists of his era maintained that the human mind was the source of truth both about man and the universe (and ultimately about God Himself). They believed that when the mind is operating according to the appropriate logical method, it can unlock the nature of existence.

This highly optimistic view of man’s mental capacities is, of course, contrary to Scripture. Christianity maintains that reason is the means by which we understand God’s creation; but it is only a tool, not the source. God alone is that incomprehensible source. We stand in awe of God, as David did, that the thoughts of God are too vast for us to fathom. This does not mean that there are no points of continuity between God’s thoughts and man’s, but it does mean that we cannot make our own finite, fallen minds the standard of all truth. We know truth, but we do not know it completely. No matter how logical we might be, we could never reason, for instance, that salvation is all of grace. Our reason cannot be the source of such truth. It is as Jesus declared—He alone is the source of all truth, for He is truth.

CORAM DEO

Isaiah 59–61

1 Thessalonians 4

God is incomprehensible, but this does not mean that He is not known. All men “know” God in a sense and are responsible to worship Him according to that knowledge. We can apprehend God but not comprehend Him. Meditate on today’s passage and the verses below. Thank God for how great He truly is.

For further study: Job 5:8–9 • Ps. 139:17–18 • Isa. 40:12–14 • Mic. 4:12

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