Blinded By Human Reasoning
by Bryan Gibson
The apostle Paul wrote about those
whose minds had been blinded to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). Different things
can cause this problem, but one very common cause is what we refer to as human
reasoning. Sometimes we fail to see the truth because we are relying too much
on our own reasoning (Proverbs 3:5-7). If it seems “foolish” to us, we reason
that it cannot be the truth. The Lord certainly knew this would be man’s
tendency. “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). What can we do to keep from
behaving as the “natural man,” to keep human reasoning from blinding us to the
truth?
Obviously, we need to understand
the place of human reasoning—the place our thoughts have in relation to God’s
thoughts. Reasoning is certainly vital to our understanding of the Scriptures
(Hebrews 5:14), but we need to be careful that our reasoning doesn’t take us
away from the truth, that we don’t reason our way out of what is plainly
taught. We need to let these inspired words ring in our ears: “For My thoughts
are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). We may not always
understand everything the Lord says; it may not always “make sense” to us. That
shouldn’t surprise us, because after all, He is infinitely wiser than us.
Sometimes we approach the Scriptures as if we’re trying to get God to agree
with us. That’s the wrong approach. Our job is to bring our minds and lives
into agreement with His will. Approaching the Scriptures with humility is the
key to seeing the truth that we must believe and practice. “The humble He
guides in justice; and the humble He teaches His way” (Psalms 25:9).
The story of Naaman in 2 Kings
5:1-14 illustrates our principle very well. Naaman went to the prophet Elisha’s
door, hoping to be healed of his leprosy. Instead of coming out himself, Elisha
sent a messenger to Naaman with these words: “Go and wash in the
One passage that many have “reasoned to death” is Matthew
19:9: “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual
immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and
whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” This passage seems “too
hard” to many, and so the human reasoning begins. When some people get through
“explaining” this passage, people can divorce and remarry as many times as they
wish, for whatever reasons they wish, and still be pleasing to God. But the
passage says what it says, and no amount of human reasoning can change it. The
teaching of Jesus is right; it is what is best for us; and we must humbly
accept it and practice it.
“Trust in the LORD with all your
heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge
Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the
LORD and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise” (1 Corinthians 3:18).