What Is the Reformed Doctrine of Human Reason?

What is the relationship between reason and faith? Is reason useful to mankind in learning of his God? This is sort of a hot topic in some Christian circles right now. We know that no one can be saved by logical deduction, but only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because man’s reason could never discover the great mystery of salvation. Does that mean that reason doesn’t matter, or is so absolutely corrupted by sin so as to be useless? What about believers? How could such a gift be useless to those who have been born again, remade into the image of their Creator? What is the historic, Reformed approach to these questions? I was recently led to an old, dead guy who has elegant and learned things to say about all this:

Reason and Faith may kisse each other. There is a twin-light springing from both, and they both spring from the same foundation of light, and they both sweetly conspire in the same end, the glory of that being from which they shine, & the welfare & the happines of that being upon which they shine. So that to blaspheme Reason, ‘tis to reproach heaven it self, and to dishonour the God of Reason, to question the beauty of his Image, and by a strange ingratitude to slight this great and Royal gift of our Creator. For ‘tis he that set up these two great Luminaries in every heavenly soul, the Sun to rule the day, and the Moon to rule the night; and though there be some kinde of creatures that will bark at this lesser light, and others so severely critical, as that they make mountains of those spots and freckles which they see in her face, yet others know how to be thankful for her weaker beams, and will follow the least light of Gods setting up, though it be but the Candle of the Lord [Prov 20:27].

Nathaniel Culverwell, An Elegant and Learned Discourse of the Light of Nature (Liberty Fund, 2001), 10-11.

What Is the Reformed Doctrine of Reminiscing?

To reminisce means to remember happy times. Some of us are more reflective than others, but I dare say if you are a Christian—nay! if you are a human being—that even you have tasted the sweetness of a good reminisce. The memories of time gone by can be sweet, sometimes enough even to cheer a sad soul. It’s now springtime, and the change of seasons is a great time to reflect on good times gone by.

The Lord calls us to reminisce, which makes this an act of holy devotion unto God. Remembering what he has done in the past keeps us spiritually-minded, lest we forget his glorious presence with us now:

They forgot God, their Savior, who had done such great things in Egypt (Psalm 106:21).

But, I ask, how can we reflect on the things God has done in the past unless he has truly done them? It makes no sense, unless he is their Author, unless he is the real Storywriter of our lives. In other words, can you really have a doctrine of Christian reminiscence at all—fondly reflecting on the ways God has delivered and blessed us in the past—apart from the Reformed doctrine of God’s sovereignty? He has brought these things about, exactly as he planned them. Even as the psalmist says:

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old (Psalm 77:11).

And Isaiah is so bold as to say:

I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, “My idol did them” (Isaiah 48:5).

Truly he is the living God. So, when we reminisce on his goodness to us yesterday, it helps us hope in his sure mercies today, and that keeps us close to him always.

Dear Brothers

God loves pleasant things—the sweetness of honey, the freshness of spring, the coolness of water. David mentions another one in this psalm—the gladness of peace between believers.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Quarrelsomeness, jealousy, and bitterness threaten to disturb our unity. These things arise from sin and selfishness:

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (James 4:1)

But to bear an offense, to swallow our pride, to treasure the unity that we have together as believers—this is a high calling and a holy work:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Honor the gospel, dear brothers and dear sisters, by going out of your way to keep peace with each other. Our love-filled unity will be one of the chief jewels of heaven; through the gospel we can enjoy its sweetness even now.

Don’t Shun the Creation

God is not creation. God is the eternally-existing Supreme Being, while creation is all the things he has made. In this way there are only two kinds of things: Creator and creature. To God alone belongs the category of Maker, while the rest of us—people, dogs, birds, trees, rocks, flowers, killa bees, archangels, sun, moon, and star (etc. etc. etc.)—are made. This is what we call the Creator-creature distinction.

Once we have this truth in place, let us freely go on to affirm that literally everything in creation is revelation of God. This marvelous universe talks to us about him. We can learn of his genius and power and knowledge and wisdom and goodness and justice by considering the things that he has made, and how he governs them. This is especially true of us, his image bearers. We too reveal God, which puts the call to holiness in its proper light.

Of course, the God-man Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us, reveals God most of all. He cleanses our unholiness, renews us in his own image, and will in due time usher in a brand new universe where we will enjoy God forever and sin and death shall never, ever enter. Praise the name of our glorious Creator!

The Simple Life

The men at our church are studying a book called Living Wisely with the Church Fathers by Christopher Hall. It’s part four in a lovely series on the life and thought of ancient Christians and how their insights can help us live as faithful Christians today.

The Church Fathers (men like Augustine, Origen, and Chrysostom) focused on cultivating a beautiful blend of spiritual prosperity and earthly simplicity. Training in godliness through the word, prayer, and fellowship with godly saints results, according to the Fathers, in a humble life, a simple life, in a word, the good life.

In the face of rampant materialism, self-worship, and obsession with earthly accolades, let us live wisely by living humble, simple, spiritually-cultivated lives, lives which are seasoned with grace, with contentment, and with the equi-readiness (I think I just made up a word) to suffer terrible trial, enjoy blessed prosperity, and do everything in between, all unto our amazing God, through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Tech

Right now I’m reading a brand new book called God, Technology, and the Christian Life by my main man Tony Reinke. I gotta say, I’m vibing. Let’s be honest. It’s a pretty dope time to be alive. Technology is amazing, and we can use it to promote God’s glory. I mean, here we are, blogging. It’s all pretty astounding if you ask me.

Like every good thing, modern tech comes with its dangers and snares. It’s a matter of stewardship for mature believers to excel in. In all our tech endeavors, let us focus on the true, the beautiful, and the good, and let us do good to everyone, especially to the household of faith all up in the digi-space.

The Psalms Got Something to Say

What do you do when you feel helpless? Where do you go for help when you feel discouraged, or weak, or angry? This is the whole issue of worship and idolatry in a nutshell, and the Psalms got something to say about that.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

When you’re feeling out of sorts, don’t look to yourself. Don’t look to your successes. Don’t look to your possessions. Don’t look to your enjoyments. Look outside yourself. Look up. Look to God! This is our great act of worship, to look to our Maker for help. He helps his creatures, not the other way around.. It is our happy duty to seek refuge in our loving Creator at all times.

Do not attempt today without looking up to God.

Chin Up, Christian

Discouragement is a normal part of the Christian life. Truly the heavenly Way is not without its thorns and thistles. Consider the international symbol for discouragement: when we feel discouraged our faces fall and droop towards the ground. Sadly we all know what it’s like. But I’m going to give you something helpful to use the next time you feel this way. It’s from one of David’s psalms:

But you, O Lord, are…the lifter of my head. (Psalm 3:3)

Discouragement is part of God’s plan for us. He lets us go through it for many reasons, but one of them is clear from this verse: to teach us about everything he is for us in Christ. The Christian life is not about figuring it all out and reaching a certain level where we are never downcast again. Every step along your path to glory is designed by your amazing God to teach you to trust him more, including your discouragements. The Almighty is the One who tenderly lifts your chin, so that you may behold him again and rejoice. Look to him now with the eyes of faith.

Chin up, Christian!

In Sanity

King Nebuchadnezzar went insane. Everything he spake did not have logic. God humbled the ruler of the world and made him eat grass. You’ve heard of the Daniel Diet, but what about the Nebuchadnezzar Diet? In a word, he got rekt. It was a complete undoing from the inside out. You can read all about it in Daniel 4.

Your sanity—your ability to think and reason and interact with reality—is a gift from God. It is a sparkling jewel that sets you apart from the animal kingdom. Your reason is a platform that has been given to you on which to know the Creator who lives forever. A mighty gift! Use your intellect today to seek God in his word, to rest in the finished work of his Son, and to praise and worship him who is real. Isn’t that what sanity is all about?

What is the Reformed Doctrine of Holidays?

Tis the season. Holidays are approaching in rapid succession. Families shall gather and celebrations will ensue. But I’m sure in the midst of it all there’s one nagging question driving you mad: What is the Reformed doctrine of holidays? Not to worry! We are here to help.

The short answer is that the Reformed tradition has all the holidays. 52 to be exact. That’s right, every Sunday. God blessed the people of Israel with many feast days in which to enjoy his good gifts; he has blessed his church with feasting days of plenty, one in every seven!

So as you gather with your family and friends over the next several weeks to eat and enjoy, let it be a reminder that, in Christ, you have this to look forward to every single week. For the Lord’s Day is the perfect day to gather with family and friends to feast and fellowship.