Winston Salem church of Christ

There is a fine line between reason and faith.  God begged
Israel, “Come now and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18).  God offered
Israel a reasonable and spiritual solution to their problems – repent. 

Isaiah 1:18b – “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” 

Faith is reasonable and spiritual.  God does not ask us to blindly believe in His Son.  Prophecy fulfilled proved Jesus was the Messiah.  The resurrection declared loudly that was not a criminal on that center cross.  Both of these are pointed out by Paul in Romans 1:1-4 which is one of the most reasoned out books in the Bible due to it being a treatise on the “righteousness of God” in both its applications – His Character, His Gift. 

But, and this is the fine line, although I am called to reason spiritually, called to think, called to use my God-given mind, I cannot reasonably conclude that I must agree and understand everything before I obey.  The reasonableness of faith is sometimes beyond human reason other than – and this is very important – the reasonableness of knowing I can trust God based upon His character and past record.  Abraham did not understand why God would ask him to sacrifice his son, although he reasonably concluded that God would provide, and could resurrect the dead (Hebrews 11:19).   

I am required by faith to obey even when I don’t understand.  This is where human reason comes into play.  God asks me to think, but God does not ask me to agree that I understand.  Me agreeing with God is not a prerequisite to obedience.  If it was, then I am only really obeying me. 

Although I am required to think, there is a danger in thinking that if something does not make sense to me then it cannot be true.  Romans 12:1 says we are to offer to God our “reasonable” (KJV) service of worship.  That text does not mean that if it doesn’t make sense to us, then apparently we did not understand correctly.  So what Romans 12:1 mean? 

First let’s look at the various ways it is translated and we will see a variety of meanings and nuances of meaning of “logikos” (i.e., reasonable, spiritual, etc.):  

Spiritual

• HCSB – Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.
• ESV – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
• NASB – Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Reasonable (i.e. intelligent)

• KJV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Reasonable and Spiritual (i.e., Proper Response to God)

• RV – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

It is not reasonable for me to think I can solve all the problems with this text considering the abundantly reasoned but diverse meanings by many spiritually minded translators..  But…maybe it is both.  Maybe the meaning is both “reasonable” and “spiritual.”  And what I mean by that is very simple.  God deserves my worship – that is a reasonable response to His righteousness.  God deserves my spiritual worship as opposed to simple rites and laws – because of His righteousness.  My worship is from faith (i.e. in God) to faith (lived in my life) (Romans 1:17). 

Considering that Romans 12:1 is the conclusion (i.e. therefore) to chapters 1-11, and is considered the beginning of the practical application of the theological lessons taught in chapters 1-11, shouldn’t we first and foremost interpret logikos by our interpretation of chapters 1-11? What does logikos have to do with the theme of Romans – the righteousness of God?  What does logikos have to do with grace, faith, and not being under law – the (un)righteousness of man?  What does logikos have to do with individualistic versus nationalistic righteousness –
Israel versus the World? When we see the word logikos we should automatically see “logic.”  Interestingly, the only other time this word is used in 1 Peter 2:2 where it is translated “word” and causes spiritual growth.  I personally believe that our minds are our souls/spirits because it is the seat of the personality.  We should also separate conceptually the mind from the brain.  One is fleshly, but the other is still a mystery to the scientists. Romans 12:1 connects body and mind/spirit.  Circumcision and law are external and can be obeyed even without internal consent.    Maybe when we look at Romans 12:1 we shouldn’t focus on what is logical in every sense, but rather what is logical as a conclusion to chapters 1-11.  “Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase?”  What is the logical conclusion to dying to sin?  “May it never be!”   Maybe when we look at Romans 12:1 we shouldn’t focus on righteousness being defined by external forms – even baptism is defined in Romans 6 as an ethical and moral cause and effect although the form of baptism is itself external.  The outward has an inward effect and the outward can only be scripturally obeyed inwardly. Maybe when we see “which is your spiritual/reasonable service of worship” we should see internal leading the external.  Maybe the spiritual/reasonable service of worship is ME. The point is not that my service must be based upon logical conclusions understood by me.  The point is that my service is a logical conclusion based upon God’s righteousness, me dying to sin and living by grace because law condemns me.  I must give me.  God deserves that.  That is both reasonable and spiritual. That is worship.