Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Monday, May 04, 2009 2:11:54 PM
Does religion belong to the sphere of the irrational, while the secular world belongs to the sphere of the rational? That is what the neo-scientists would have us think. Actually, the Christian religion belongs to the sphere of the rational, and the secular world is caught up in the irrational. What theologians refer to as “the fall” was in effect an escape from reason to the irrational.
Society’s escape from reason has darkened man’s understanding of religion, philosophy, ethics and science. Educational institutions commonly teach that the entire universe originated from a tiny bit of matter no larger than the head of a pin. I can only suppose that this little bit of matter was eternal, for surely in this post-reason age there is no room for a Creator, who is the source of all things. And so we begin with this tiny bit of matter, which for no particular reason explodes in a “Big Bang.” We are told that the explosion was so great that it could not possibly be compared to anything known to man. As the direct result of this explosion, something happened which has never happened since: order proceeded from an explosion.
There have been many explosions in human history, but in every recorded instance, chaos and destruction has been the result. Nevertheless, our scientists and educators tell us that as the result of this Big Bang, which admittedly happened when there was no one to record it, something happened which was absolutely contrary to what has been observed ever since man has taken note of physical occurrences. In every situation known to man, explosions have resulted in chaos, disorder and destruction. In fact, with regard to observed explosions, chaos and destruction have always increased in direct proportion to the size of the explosion.
Men return from war after having been injured by a bomb. Some have arms or legs missing. Whatever remains of their bodies is reconstructed by surgeons who have studied for years to learn the intricacies and workings of the human body. But that knowledge is not enough. They must also possess the skill resulting from years of training in order to rebuild that which has been destroyed by a blast. Still other soldiers injured by explosions, even though they had once been brilliant, are no longer able to feed or dress themselves. This is what we have observed about explosions.
However, we are told that the Big Bang, an explosion far greater in force than anything known to man, resulted in intricate patterns of order and interdependency. And even more remarkable, we are told that out of impersonal matter came personhood, consciousness, intellect and discernment. This view of origins is the direct consequence of man’s escape from reason, logic and rationality. In opposition to this scheme, in John 1:3 we read that creation was the work of the Logos, or Christ Jesus, who is the source of all reason.
A proper understanding of creation is foundational to science, philosophy, ethics and religion. However, we can no longer have an objective and rational discussion of creation for fear of offending agnostics and atheists, who have made a willful commitment to irrationality. Why is there such a rejection of creationism today? Because immoral men are uncomfortable thinking about a Creator who will hold them accountable.
Of course, the rejection of reason affects different people to varying degrees. There are many with whom you can have a reasonable discussion of political or social issues. It is marvelously pleasing when we find elements of reason remaining in anyone’s thinking. However, once a discussion begins to have implications with regard to sin and judgment, the natural man constructs a wall which no reason can penetrate. Within the context of describing our daily lives, no man will ever accept the notion that something came out of nothing, or that order came out of chaos. However, if the context is creation, all rationality must stand on its head, for fear that if there is a Person behind creation, then He must hold all men accountable.
The Bible does not present any rational arguments for the existence of God. God is self-revealed. Therefore, we read in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God,” and in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word.” I accept God’s self revelation without attempting to rationalize His existence. However, I will by no means allow the atheist or agnostic to say that his position is rational. In Romans 1:18-19, the Apostle Paul wrote that unrighteous men know that God exists, and yet they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Consequently, I say with all the authority of God’s word that sin, rebellion and unbelief are irrational.
[Unpublished work; friends of VfT]