Picture the scene. With his iron logic Piper explains to thousands of students why he thinks Christ and him crucified is the meaning of life. Everyone is convinced. But Piper doesn’t stop there:
“Let me give you some Bible verses, because we’re not about logical deductions, we’re about Bible verses.” (paraphrase)
Examples of Bad Logic
We are often persuaded by incredibly well reasoned arguments whose Biblical evidence is lacking.
When I had first become a Calvinist I was chatting to an Arminian. He hammered home to me the logic of Prevenient Grace and pulled on the heartstrings as he questioned the idea God could send people to hell. His argument had me near enough convinced.
Yet when I looked at my Bible study next morning I realised “This doesn’t work.” It sounded great logic, but it had no scriptural support.
Sinner’s Logic
Human philosophy that isn’t supported by Scripture is fatal, even if it is taught an incredibly gifted and faithful Christian. Our minds by nature are corrupt. We can’t “work out” God. He must reveal himself to us.
Let’s face it we would never “work out” Christ. As Paul says:
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Since it was only by the revelation of God we could come to know Jesus, how can we be rooted and built up in him and not continue to depend solely on revelation? Human wisdom has no value.
God’s Agenda
The problem for most of us is the Bible’s main concern isn’t necessarily our concern. We have little intellectual curiosities that God in his Word chooses not to answer.
However, the fact that these issues are not covered in the Word show that they are not important. God’s agenda, in writing the Bible, was to save us through Jesus Christ. Living a Christ-centred life depends on a Bible-saturated faith.
Don’t try to find out your own answers to your own questions. Search the Scripture. Look at what God wants to say to you. And in that way surely you will find eternal life in Christ.
(Picture “Bible Nerd” by jamelah under the Creative Commons Licence)
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Tim Wilson is a primary school teacher in the North East of England. A Bible-believing Christian, he's committed to putting Jesus at the centre of everything he does.
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July 7, 2008 at 3:27 pm
dave bish
Some would no doubt argue with Piper’s verses but it’s better than fighting with logic. It was a classic moment at Word Alive when he said those words… “We don’t do logic, we do verses” i think… but your paraphrase is pretty accurate!
July 7, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Tim Wilson
Agh I knew I’d get it wrong! He he. Indeed. Fighting over verses, if done in a way less “fighting” and more discussing means we might actually understand the Bible better. Logic however, no chance.
Anyhow enjoy Together on a Mission, hope you’re challenged and convicted!
July 16, 2008 at 6:25 pm
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