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Faith Transcends Reason
Bible study on faith.

Rationalism, otherwise called Modernism, is a Hermeneutical method of interpreting Scripture in light of that which the interpreter deems rational. Characteristically, Rationalists deny miracles in Scripture since they seem "unreasonable." For example, Modernists deny that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Faith transcends (rises above the limits of) Rationalism. Faith "is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). "Hermeneutics means theory of interpretation" (A Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation, p. 282). Christians live by faith, not by theories of interpretation.

Faith transcends Rationalism because it is not limited to human theories, logic, reason, knowledge, and understanding. This message rings loudly in Scripture demanding that we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). However, Rationalists walk by sight, not by faith.

Hebrews records two examples of faith in the destruction of Jericho. The first is the destruction of the walls. The Bible says: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days" (Heb. 11:30). Now what does circling the walls of Jericho for seven days have to do with the walls falling? Logically, nothing. Rationalists attempt to explain this event in a way which dismisses the intervention of God. But we understand that Israel obeyed God in a very simple thing whereby God gave them victory over Jericho.

The second example of faith, in the destruction of Jericho, is the salvation of Rahab. The Bible says: "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace" (Heb. 11:31). Remember that the spies told her to bring her relatives into her house, not to go outside the house during battle, and to bind a scarlet cord in the window through which she had let them down to escape (Josh. 2:17-20). Then after the walls fell, Joshua sent in the spies to rescue Rahab who lived on the wall (Josh. 6:20-23). Now what does tieing a scarlet cord in a window and staying in a house have to do with being saved from the destruction of Jericho? Logically, nothing. And what does faith have to do with the salvation of Rahab and her household? By faith she obeyed God; therefore, God saved her. The cord did not save her - God saved her because of her faith.

Paul writes: "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Rom. 15:4). What do we learn from the Scriptures? We learn obedience through faith - not through logic and reason. Faith rises above the carnal mind of man to obey God whether or not His commands seem reasonable.

Now think about those things which God desires from His children today? Think about the manner of life God desires us to live. And think about the salvation He is ready to give all those who walk by faith. No, we cannot earn God's blessings. But He requires that we walk by faith in obedience to His ordinances apart from human reason and understanding.

Do you believe? If you do, you will obey God whether or not it seems rational to your mortal mind. God is not seeking to save "smart" people. He is seeking those who believe. Concerning this fact Paul wrote: "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:20-21).