Day 17

It is not true that Christians must abandon reason in order to embrace faith..
Faith & reason complement one another rather than compete..
Christians are not called to blind faith or a leap of faith. Instead, our faith has a firm foundation in a variety of evidences such as the historical evidence for the Resurrection, the reliability of the Bible, and validity in historical findings..
Biblically, faith is having confidence in something you have not experienced with your senses. Biblical faith is not “blind”; it’s not the act of “believing without a reason.” Just the opposite; biblical faith is the act of believing in something unseen for which we do have a good reason in God’s Word..
For example, when we believe that God will keep a promise, this is faith because we cannot “see” it and yet we have a good reason for it: God has demonstrated that He keeps His promises..
Reason is a tool that God has given us that allows us to draw conclusions that He has given us in His Word..
We are supposed to reason from God’s Word, taking it as our ultimate unquestionable starting point..
We are commanded to seek wisdom and understanding. God wants us to use the mind He has given us. But He wants us to use our minds properly, in a way that is honoring to Him..
Yet it is impossible to “reason someone into heaven.”. We need the help of the Holy Spirit even to understand and accept the fact that Jesus is Lord..
It is ultimately the Holy Spirit who convinces people and enables them to receive Christ..
But, always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)
So it is our duty as followers of Christ to preach the gospel and reason with unbelievers..
“He (Paul) went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there……..” (Acts 17:17)