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Verse:But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. —1 Corinthians 2:14
Many people confuse faith with credulity and place reason above faith. Perhaps no other movement in history emphasized the role of reason and perceived liberty as did the French Revolution (1789–1799).
With a strong anti-Christian agenda, the revolution even transformed many French churches into Temples of Reason.
On November 10, 1793, the huge, licentious Feast of Reason and Liberty was celebrated in Paris, in which a woman was carried into the Notre Dame Cathedral and enshrined as the Goddess of Reason. According to the New Monthly Magazine (1868), the republican activist Madame Momoro (Sophie Momoro) was proclaimed Goddess of Reason, and the actress Mademoiselle Maillard (Marie-Thérèse Davoux) was named Representative of Beauty and Nature. Additionally, the Enlightenment prompted a skeptical reading and interpretation of Scripture called the historical-critical method.
Denying the Bible’s divine origin and inspiration, critical scholars regarded it as a mere expression of the milieu in which it was produced.
Its miracles were either denied or reinterpreted as having been produced by natural causes. Bible prophecies were categorized as vaticinium ex eventu —prophecy after the event had occurred. Thus, human reason sat in judgment of Scripture, undermining its transformative power. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul contrasts natural reason with sanctified reason. Speaking of sanctified reason, Martin Luther acknowledged that “when illuminated by the Holy Spirit, reason helps to interpret the Holy Scriptures.” Regarding natural reason, the Reformer warned, “For reason is the greatest enemy that faith has: it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but —more frequently than not— struggles against the Divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.” Saving faith is a gift from God that goes beyond reason and takes us into spiritual and heavenly realities (Hebrews 11:1). As Jesus said to Martha, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God” (John 11:40, NASB). So, allow true faith to enhance your capacity to reason.