Posted: 05/01/08

The Limits of Human Reason

by Israel Wayne

As we discussed previously, God created the ability to reason and has chosen to give us information (Revelation) to exercise that gift. Both Reason and Revelation are gifts from God to equip us to know Him and serve Him.

Neutral Facts?

Some people speak about the "neutrality" of facts. The concept of unbiased fact is a central tenant in Rationalism. Neutrality, however, is a myth. While it may be fair to say that the facts themselves are neutral, the people who interpret them are definitely not. Humans always have a worldview, a grid, a set of colored lenses through which they see. People possess a set of preconceived ideas, notions, beliefs or assumptions about reality that taints and skews the information or facts they receive.

For example, let's say that you are with a team digging for dinosaur bones in Alaska. You come across some fossilized remains of a duck-billed dinosaur laying in a certain rock strata. An evolutionist on the team says, "Ah! This dinosaur is from the beginning of the Triassic period! That means this dinosaur is about 858 million years old!"

"How do you know?" you ask.

"Oh that's easy, you can tell from the rock layers. You date the fossil by the surrounding strata."

You turn to a creationist who is also part of the team and ask him for a second opinion.

"I'd say this dinosaur is less than 4,500 old and was probably buried during or shortly after the flood of Noah's day."

You scratch your head. "How can your assessment be so contrary to your evolutionary colleague?"

"Well, he is using General Revelation, and interpreting it through his worldview, which excludes Special Revelation, but I am using a mix of both observable facts and the recorded history of Someone who was around in the beginning. Namely...God."

I like the story I've heard of a farmer who was in a field helping his cow to birth a calf. The calf was born breech and was coming out hind legs first. A tourist who was driving by quickly stopped his car and ran over to the farmer. "Sir," he began, "I have just one question for you. How fast was that little calf running when it hit the backside of that cow?!"

So you can see that the "facts" do not always speak for themselves. Our presuppositions affect the way we perceive and interpret reality.

The Arrogance of Man

Because an unconverted man has a rebellious heart, he choses to reject the clear Revelation of God.  Autonomous man has listened to the voice of the serpent and cut himself off from the only certain source of truth. In our apologetic method, we must remember that we will not be able to "reason" someone into the Kingdom of God. The problem isn't that they don't have adequate information or reasoning capabilities, but rather they have "suppressed the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).

"And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Cor. 2:4-8, NASB).

We use evidence, but ultimately the evidence itself will not compel the unbeliever. It is the Holy Spirit convicting his heart of sin that will cause him to repent and surrender to Christ.

Let us also remember that the purpose of doing Apologetics is not merely to help people to believe (or even do) the right things. The purpose of Apologetics is to introduce people to Jesus Christ. Truth is not an abstract concept. Truth is a person (John 14:6). God has given us the ability to Reason, and has given us General and Special Revelation for one exclusive purpose: that we may KNOW Him and serve Him.

"And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3, NASB).

Copyright 2008, by Israel Wayne. All Rights Reserved.

Israel Wayne was home educated and currently serves as Marketing Director for the national publication Home School Digest, and the site editor for www.ChristianWorldview.net. He is the author of the book, Homeschooling From A Biblical Worldview, published by Wisdom's Gate. Israel and his wife Brook (also a homeschool graduate) have five young children. Write to: Wisdom's Gate, P.O. Box 374, Covert, MI 49043. 1-800-343-1943 or www.WisdomsGate.orgHYPERLINK "http://www.WisdomsGate.org/" www.WisdomsGate.org

By Israel Wayne Click here for bio and archived articles