Reason vs. Revelation

by Israel Wayne

In the previous essay, we discussed the fact that the only two ways we can know anything are by General and/or Special Revelation. General Revelation is what is evident from our five senses as we observe the world around us. Special Revelation is when God makes Himself known to us by some means other than the natural created order. Both are God revealing His laws and truth. Revelation is the only way we can know anything.

Reason is the ability God has given to us to internalize, and make moral judgments regarding, the information we receive. Reason and Revelation are two sides of the same coin. God made them both.

Let me put it this way. Suppose when you were born you were immediately placed in a box. You lived in the dark box for the next sixty years and never had exposure to the outside world. You would have all of your mental capacities. You were born with a fine brain and the ability to think. However, without information, you know virtually nothing. Worst of all, you don't know that you don't know anything.

God gave you the ability to reason, but reason alone isn't enough. You also need information. The only way you can get information is if God chooses to give it to you (which thankfully He has). (Romans 10:14-18.)

The Age of Reason

Let's say you DIDN'T grow up in a box (or at least let's hope you didn't grow up WATCHING one!), and you have a worldview that embraces both Reason and Revelation as being friends. Then one day, you bump into a guy named Immanuel Kant at the library and he tells you that you don't need God to receive correct information, all you need is Reason. Then his idealogical grand-step-nephew, Richard Dawkins, tags along behind him and reaffirms this idea by saying that any belief in God is "faith" (something he considers to be evil), which is the antithesis of Reason (or Science). Now you have a dilemma. It's like you've just been told you can't play with the neighbor kid because he isn't kosher (or perhaps because he is).

You suddenly have a tension you never experienced before. A perfectly good friendship has been spoiled by narrow-minded, philosophical bigotry.

The Religious Tension

You decide to leave the library and visit a church. The preacher says if you want to know the truth, you need to rely on God and not your own human intellect. That makes logical sense to you. The problem is, you have this nagging question in the back of your mind that Kant may be correct. Are you going to commit intellectual suicide if you choose to believe God and not rely on your own understanding?

This tension is intensified by the fact that we realize that we are using our human intellect (which according to the Bible is fallen) to interpret the facts that we receive from the world around us (a world that is also fallen).

"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:6-8, NASB). 

So if we are using a fallen Reason, to understand Revelation (which in the case of General Revelation has been marred by the curse), how can we ever be certain of anything?

Why Is The Truth Hard To Know?

Romans 1:21 says that even in a fallen world, the unbeliever KNOWS the existence and power of God by means of General Revelation. So, General Revelation isn't the problem. Nor is there a lack of God's divine Special Revelation (2 Peter 1:3). The breakdown doesn't come from a faulty brain. Rather our lack of true knowledge comes from a rebellious heart.

This is why Paul says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2, NASB).

Reason and Revelation, therefore, can only be reconciled when the WILL, MIND and HEART of a person is brought into submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

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.org

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