I read a wonderful quote in a book I’m almost through by Mark Batterson (pastor of National Community Church) “Wild Good Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God” (2008: pg. 79):
Faith is not logical. But it isn’t illogical either. Faith is theological. It does not ignore reality; it just adds God into the equation…. Faith is not mindless ignorance; it simply refuses to limit God tothe logical constraints of the left brain…. Logic questions God. Faith questions assumptions. And at the end of the day,faith is trusting God more than you trust your own assumption.
I was struck by this quote, because it reminds me of a saying by Augustine: Credo ut intelligam “I believe so that I may understand.”
Faith is not logical or illogical, but theological. It is the firm foundation of life beginning and ending in Christ — God for man and man for God. And there can be no other foundation and no other goal than this one. All knowledge, all logic, has Christ as the center and boundaries.
Lord, I believe…help my unbelief…
Thanks, that quote is an excellent discovery.
Hi Rick. Kimberly introduced me to your blog today. I've enoyed reading your posts, especially this one. I'm a seeker of logic and truth and have always struggled with explaining how that is possible while still keeping my faith. Its been especially challenging since coming to college. This quote sums up the apparent contradiction perfectly. Thank you so much for sharing. It really blessed me!