Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Logic, used strictly in the singular, is a science that deals with the formal principles of reason. If a visitor walks in the house with wet hair, it is logical for one to assume that it is raining outside. Let’s be clear that this one article cannot possibly cover the whole scope of what logic is and what it entails. So, why write about logic? I was amazed to hear that some are under the belief that if one exercises logic, they are not a true Christian. But I am not talking about human logic, or higher criticism or reasoning, rather it is the mental capacity that God has blessed us with. If used appropriately, we receive logic from God. God is all knowing and all powerful. He is the creator of everything under the sun. He created us. He gives us all our capacities: spiritual, mental, and physical. God did not make us as robots. He gave us the ability to choose for ourselves. God expects us to exercise this freedom of choice, and that we should use our mental capacities in doing so. If this were not so, God would just be a tyrant ruling over his subjects out of fear. He would not be a God of love. Yet, the so called Christians who believe logic has no place in Christianity continue to daily benefit from the logic that others have used to invent the luxuries of today. They drive their cars, add fuel at the pump, drive to the store to buy groceries where they use refrigerated units to keep their food cool, drive back home and turn on the light switch that is powered by electricity, wash their hands with water provided by indoor plumbing, cook their food on their gas or electric cooktop, and when they are done eating they put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher, then sit down in front of their laptop, TV, or smart phones. Really, this can go on and on but I believe the point is clear. These luxuries were provided to us by God as it was through the people God used to figure out how to invent the “necessities” we use today through logic and understanding.
All the “inventions” that man has created already existed from the beginning of time. God has seen man through all ages. He has gifted man the wherewithal to figure things out. However, not all have been able to figure out and produce with the same results as others. God has a specific plan for each of us in our life. Even within specific fields of study, there are different levels of expertise. I am not a scientist or an inventor, but yet I appreciate the logic and understanding that others have been gifted with by God that I may also benefit from their applied knowledge and understanding.
All throughout the Bible, God gives us examples of logic, choice, and common sense. God teaches us about the consequences and repercussions of the decisions we make and don’t make, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Throughout the Old Testament, God provided the Israelites many, many opportunities to obey the Word of God. The Israelites would follow the counsel of God for a time, but then fall away to do as they pleased. God established the consequences for not obeying, but also gave them freedom of choice to be able to make right decisions, to use logic in weighing the outcome. Logically, to use common sense, and make the right choices. The same goes for us today. If we choose to ignore the Word of God, The Holy Bible, and not use logic and common sense to make our choices, we will suffer the same outcome as the Israelites of old.
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. Deuteronomy 30:15,16,19,20
Decision to Be Based on Evidence—It is not the plan of God to compel men to yield their wicked unbelief. Before them are light and darkness, truth and error. It is for them to decide which to accept. The human mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong. God designs that men shall not decide from impulse, but from weight of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with scripture (Redemption: or the Miracles of Christ, 112, 113). { 1BC 1120.5 }
For me, logically, the choice is clear. God has gifted our minds with power to differentiate between right and wrong, from what works and does not work, and to not make decisions from impulse. Unfortunately, for those who do not believe they can exercise logic in their decision making, they will choose darkness instead of light as they move by their own impulses. Even Paul used logic in presenting the Good News, yet it did not always work. There will always be those that when presented with all the evidence, crystal clear as it may be, will still stick to their beliefs because of their stubbornness, and will make the wrong choice.
Failure of Mere Eloquence and Logic—It had been Paul’s custom to adopt an oratorical style in his preaching. He was a man fitted to speak before kings, before the great and learned men of Athens, and his intellectual acquirements were often of value to him in preparing the way for the gospel. He tried to do this in Athens, meeting eloquence with eloquence, philosophy with philosophy, and logic with logic; but he failed to meet with the success he had hoped for.—The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1084. { VSS 371.1}
To dismiss logic only because what you hear is not what you want to believe is foolish. The Holy Bible is full of verses where God asks us to apply logic in our decision making, that we make the right choices. Apply your God given faculties in making the wise and logical decisions before you. Choose you this day whom ye will serve that you may have life and not death.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9-10
For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
