Bible Students

Philosophy gives reasons for beliefs. This form of reasoning can also be identified as sharing attributes with apologetics. In this sense, both philosophy and apologetics give reasons to believe in certain things, and reasons to not believe in others. Philosophy gives clear arguments to believe in certain things.

Self-reflection on one’s beliefs may reveal greater reasons to believe something. For example, someone who believes in a God and also sees beauty around them may come to the conclusion that this God is loving, because they have given him the ability to perceive beauty. Through this self-reflection, this individual has come to the conclusion that God is loving through observing his surroundings and reasoning from them. 

Philosophy is also critical. It gives reasons to not believe in something, and examines why we believe things to begin with. Apologetics shares a common stream with philosophy here as well. Both give reasons to not believe in a certain idea or set of ideas. For example, through critical examination one might come to the conclusion that their worldview is incoherent. 

One instance of this might be the contradiction between being pro-abortion and against murder. One must resolve the contradiction by changing some part of their beliefs due to the critical examination. Either they must become pro-life, pro-murder, or ignore the issue and remain in their incoherent worldview. 

Philosophy is also the path to wisdom. Wisdom examines thoughts, paths, and decisions, and decides what is likely to make a positive change or a negative change. Wisdom is the power to see the good path. Philosophy, through self-reflection, that ability to see. 

Self-reflection on one’s actions (an example of applied philosophizing) might reveal a habitual action that repeatedly leads to a negative outcome. For example, a person in self-reflection might draw a connection between sleeping in and being unproductive for the rest of the day. They may also discover that waking up early increases their productivity throughout the day drastically. They then may decide it is a wise thing to wake up early. This self-reflection has led to wisdom in this individual’s life. 

In Matthew 22:37, Jesus states: “Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (NIV). The Life Application New Testament Commentary writes on this passage, “…the mind is the center of a person’s intellect”. It is important, then, that the Christian loves God with their intellect, not only their emotions. To serve God faithfully is to include intellect in worship. Reason. Wisdom. Jesus shows that to worship God without the mind is to be unfaithful to God’s calling. 

For the Christian, this is especially important. Philosophy, which brings wisdom, is ever-present in the life of each Christian. Psalm 1 shows how the life of the Christian should be defined by wisdom. The godly are wise because they apply the reasons they have for believing in God to their lives. They believe, and so they act. They know the way, and so they follow Him. 

How does one apply these attributes of philosophy in a practical way? Self-reflection is the answer. The one who is able to reflect on their own beliefs and actions is one who is able to produce reasons they believe in their beliefs, reasons they don’t believe in the things they don’t believe in, and the ability to grasp wisdom. Self-reflection therefore is of incredible value in the life of a Christian. How can one know to be a Christian without reasons to be a Christian? How can one remain a Christian without reasons to not be something else? And how can one be a good Christian without knowing how to walk in the ways of God? Reflecting on actions, and the Words of God, bring these answers to life. 

Faith and reason are closely related in the Bible, especially in the New Testament. They do, however, mean different things. Reason refers to the examining of evidence and coming to a conclusion. Britannica defines reason as, “a statement or fact that explains why something is the way it is, why someone does, thinks, or says something, or why someone behaves a certain way.” 

Reason is what one does when they examine mathematics. A child learns to reason that one and one make two. For the disciples, they reasoned that the collective experiences they had of encountering Christ after His death must mean He was raised from the dead. For those whom the disciples preached to, their willingness to die for their message was reason enough for the new converts to believe. 

Faith is slightly different than this. Where reason is the objective examination of evidences, faith is the subjective examination of evidences. Faith is the practical application of reason. Where reason can easily take place in a classroom, faith is the lived out reason. A great example of faith is faith in God. One should not have faith without reason. Rather, when one comes to a conclusion through reason (for instance, that God exists), they should be faithful to that reasoning even when emotions and desires push in the opposite direction. 

Where reason might be the examination of mathematics, faith is the examination of the history of mathematics, and the belief that the laws of mathematics will remain constant going into the future. There is no proof that the laws of mathematics will continue to be constant in the future, but there is evidence in the past to incline one to believe in the continued constant behavior of mathematics. In the same way, when one goes to sleep, they usually do not worry about whether or not they will wake up the next morning. Most people believe they will awake the following day. There is no proof for that, however, because they have always woken up after falling asleep in the past, they can have assured faith that most likely that will not change today. 

In addition, faith is applicable. Where faith does not falter under wavering emotions, it also must apply the reasoning in a practical way. Faith in Christ does not simply mean reasonably believing in His raising from the dead, but also practically applying that in a way that shows a coherent worldview. If one believes something, they should live like it. If one does not apply something they believe, then that may reveal the individual does not truly believe this thing. Faith in Christ includes the application of reason. 

Scripturally, Peter draws on this idea in 1 Peter 3:15, where he writes “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (NIV). The “hope” he refers to here certainly refers to faith in Christ. It is important to note that Peter says to give reason (to others) for this hope. He assumes here that the hope his readers hold has a reason behind it. 

On 1 Peter 3:15, Craig Keener writes, “The ‘defense’…implies especially (though probably not only) the image of a legal defense before a court…”. The idea of defending the gospel in a court setting invokes the imagery of using solid reasoning. Who could win a court case without using their mind? To defend the gospel required a cunning spirit. This reasoning is necessary for the advance of faith in the gospel. 

What does this mean today, though? It means faith should not be grounded on imagination. One should not be a Christian only because their parents are Christians. One should examine whatever evidence they find, both for and against Christianity, and follow the path of those evidences. If the reasons and evidences for Christianity are good and able to put proper faith in, then put faith in them. If they are poor and unfounded, then do not put faith in them. What difference is there between being a Christian because your parents are Christians, and being an atheist because your parents are atheists? One must make their faith their own, through personal reasoning. 

Philosophy, reason, and faith all share a common thread. The three ideas are all examinations of truth and reflection on its meaning. As discussed, philosophy gives reason for believing something. It gives reason for believing against something. In addition to those things, philosophy gives wisdom for those who choose to reflect on themselves. While reason is revealed by simply examining evidences, faith and wisdom come from reflection and application. Wisdom is the understanding of the way, while faith continues and applies that wisdom. 

Wisdom and faith are closely related. The wise are those who follow the Lord in faith. The faithful are those who wisely follow Him. Through philosophical reflection, one can gain both wisdom and faith. Without those two aspects of the Christian walk, one cannot be true to the Christian worldview. The results of examining evidences for Christianity can not result in only a knowledgeable understanding of Christ. This understanding must be accompanied by action, brought forth through wisdom and faith. Without that response, it may be questionable if there is a true belief at all. Christians are certainly sinful and foolish, no doubt, and well aware of it. However, a practical denial of truth through action reveals a disconnect in their belief.

Bibliography

Barton, Bruce, Philip Comfort, Grant Osborne, Linda K. Taylor, and Dave Veerman. Life
Application New Testament Commentary. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House
Publishers.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/reason.

Keener, Craig S.. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove,
Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.