Faith trumps all . . .

Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.― C.S. Lewis

Question: Dear Dr. Roane, will you please explain 1 Corinthians 1:25-27. I thought God expects us to use our intellect. Furthermore, it seems to me that any belief system must be logical, including Christianity.

Answer: First let us take a close look at the verses and then make some general observations with comments.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Brothers, consider  the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.… 

I don't really think Paul is downplaying using our intellectual powers to ascertain truth; rather what he is saying is that Godly faith trumps man's opinion.

Smarts, let's face it― either we have them or we don't. Some get more than others, but each of us has to live with what we have. However, in the journey of life what we do with ours is more important than what we have. Many a smart man has made a dumb decision and suffered the consequences. So, what is better to have: a lot of intelligence or a lot of wisdom? I say that in general wisdom trumps smarts any day of the week.

It is for this reason that a brilliant atheist is called a fool (Psalm 14:1); whereas, the truly wise shall become like little children to enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3). The Quaker Elton Trueblood, a favorite philosopher of mine, once wrote that:

"Early in life I realized that shallow waters are often muddied by philosophers to make them look deep." (Or words to that effect.)

And, so it is with theology. Theology is not all that hard, once you believe, and stop trying to figure it out for yourself. Belief brings clarity. Inquisitive doubt brings confusion and contradictions. If God said it, then that should be enough for any of us.

The Virgin Birth? No problem ... if you believe. The Resurrection of Jesus? No problem, if you believe. Jesus walking on water? No problem ... if you believe. Now, that is not to say that you may not gain a greater understanding when you apply syllogistic logic, reason and native intelligence to such; however, to get beyond the muddied waters, you must first believe.

It is then no wonder that Christ would say,

"All things are possible to him that can believe (Mark 9:3)."

That goes for everything. All miracles, the creation, the endless universe, the Church triumphant ... everything! Therefore, Christ message to the Church of the 21st Century is:

"[That] the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham (Galatians 3:8-9)."

Now, to the critic, I realize that the Galatians text is within the context of comparing faith with the works of the Law, but nonetheless, this does not negate the overriding principle that faith is the key to understanding what is and the channel for all spiritual blessings.

So it is with much in life. Electricity? I don't understand it; but I do believe it is there because I see the results. The Holy Spirit? I don't fully understand that either, but I do believe that His presence is real because I see the results. The choice is ours. Either we believe, or we do not. Either we trust, or we do not. The choice is ours. The consequences, however, can be dangerous if we fail to obey what we know in all likelihood to be true.

Such truth is not the end results of some syllogistic argument; nor the end-game of a highly constructed debate― thank God! Otherwise, most of us would be left behind. No, truth rest in one person― Jesus Christ; therefore, my prayer is:

Oh, that I may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own . . . that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:8-9)

This I say, because in all circumstances faith trumps intellectual prowess every time.

Now, I am as always yours in the Bonds of Calvary!

JimR_/