You do not have to choose between faith and reason. It can be both. It has to be both. We recall that Joshua 1:8 commands us to meditate on “this book of the law”. Meditation means to think deeply about something. It is a charge to think about the book of the law, and to consider how one might live a life that is in agreement with it. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. The Christian faith does not remove the need for reason and thinking. It rather invites us to think from a place of faith.
According to 2 Peter 1:4-8, it is never enough to have faith. Certain things must be added to your faith, including knowledge. Knowledge is the raw material you need for productive thinking. Knowledge is the fuel for your creativity. We think about scientists today as people governed by logic and reason. But the first scientists were people inspired by the Holy Spirit to seek knowledge of how things work in nature. Many scientists who are thought to be atheists have been misunderstood. They are not atheists in the sense that they deny God, but they made the critical decision to seek knowledge and then think.
Faith-based thinking is the most productive mode of thought. The Christian faith is not ignorant. It is an intelligent tradition. Everything of faith will be reasoned out at some point. You need a leap of faith for the initial believing. And as you believe, words will come. You will receive enough knowledge that you will then have to think through, for the word to be performed. You require faith to accept the initial word of God. In the passing of time, you will have to reason, “how shall these things be?” Then the Holy Spirit will overshadow you, leading to every truth. You will have to think, meditate, and then move towards your goal.
