Rational Faith?

by Terry Wane Benton

The faith we are to have in Jesus is based on testimonial evidence that has stood the test of time since it was first scrutinized in the first century. Each gospel writer (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) was quite aware of the scrutiny they were under when they wrote.

John starts his gospel with the proposition that Jesus was God, that the Word came in the flesh, and then offers eye-witnessed miracles to prove the proposition. He closes by saying that there were many other miracles Jesus performed that he did not include in the presentation of evidence, but says, "these are written that you may believe..." (John 20:30-31) In other words, faith in Jesus was rational and evidence-based.

They were never hesitant to present the evidence and grant the hearers the right to be rational or irrational about it. The implication, of course, is that belief in Jesus is rational, and unbelief is irrational when the evidence is considered fairly.

The product that comes from believing in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, is "you may have life in His name." With an offer like that, based on evidence like that, what is the rational response? Take any of the four gospels and show they were not rational with the available evidence! Your eyes may be opened then if they have not already been opened!