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A Layman’s Guide to Quantum Physics the Use of Reason:Insights into what Luther Saw as the Proper Role for Reason in Christian Deliberation

Gary R. Jepsen, Pastor“‘

Come now, let us reason together

,’

says the LORD

.”

(Isaiah 1:18)

In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul writes,

4:3

“

For the time is comingwhen people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselvesteachers to suit their own likings,

and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths

.”The purpose of this essay is similar to that of aprevious essay, “

A Layman’s Guide to QuantumPhysics Scripture: How Luther Meant Lutherans to Read the Bible

.”

It is to give the average person sometools for understanding the proper role for reason in thefaith, life, and proclamation of the church.It is no secret that reason can be used and abused in somany different ways. Some have used it to discoverand unlock the principles of science that have madespace exploration possible, while others have used it totry systematically to eradicate other ethnic groups.Some have used it to seek cures and medicalbreakthroughs, while others have used it to do performtorture and ghastly medical experiments

(e.g., Nazi doctorslike Josef Mengele)

. Christopher Hitchens

(in God is Not Great:How Religion Ruins Everything

)

and Richard Dawkins

(The GodDelusion)

have used “reason” to argue against theexistence of God where as C. S. Lewis, G. K.Chesterton, Malcolm Muggeridge, Ravi Zacharias, andso many others have used their gifts of reason to arguefor faith and for God. Some have used it to study theBible and to discern what the clear message of Scripture truly is while others have used their reason totear down the Bible, rob it of all true meaning, and/orremake it to fit their own wants and desires.Insofar as reason can be used in such dramaticallydifferent and contradictory ways – for both good andevil, our intention here is to discern the proper role forreason in Lutheran deliberation so we might alsodiscern its proper use and application as opposed to itsmany abuses. In effect, to borrow a biblical metaphor,we want to be able to “separate the wheat from thechaff” when it comes to both reasoning processes andthe conclusions to which those processes lead.While engaging in this exercise of discernment, wewill also consider two other biblical words which,although not synonymous with reason, are closelyrelated to it, namely, “wisdom” and “Word”. The pointwill be made that the proper use of reason must be inrelation to “wisdom”, in the sense of the purpose,rationale, or reason, with which God has called allthings into existence by the power of His Word. Inother words, we want to bring our use of reason intoaccord with the way things actually are, the way Godcreated them, as opposed to how we might perceive,imagine, or want them to be. In the course of thatdiscussion, we will discover that, although they can attimes be used interchangeably, “wisdom” is anessential aspect of the “Word of God”. Indeed, whilewe can on the one hand, speak of “the Word of God”and the Wisdom of God”, we can also say that “God iswisdom” and “the Word was God”

(John 1:1c)

.So, too, not only can “wisdom” and “Word” at timesbe used interchangeably, there are also distinctionsbetween them. On the one hand, with regard to“wisdom”, the accent is on the purpose/reason/ rationale that is behind creation. It is comparable to thepurpose and intention that guides an architectural plan.For example, if the purpose or intent of an architecturalplan is to build a functional and humane hospital, theneverything about that plan will harmonize with thetwin purposes of function and humaneness.On the other hand, “Word” encompasses both thesense of a mind as the ability to conceive of a plan andpurpose but also the sense of will as the ability toeffect the accomplishment of that plan and purpose.Picking up on the architectural metaphor from above,“Word” would be similar to the architect whoconceives of a plan for a great architecturalachievement – e.g., the Willis (Sears) Tower inChicago – and the will to see that plan come to reality.In an infinitely greater way, “Word” is both the planand purpose of God for “

the fulness of time, to unite allthings in Christ

” as well as the will to accomplish thatpurpose. “Word” is the means by which God called allthings into existence, as is most clearly revealed andseen in Jesus Christ and as is witnessed to via thetestimony of the Bible.In other words, for the purpose of this essay, our goalought to be to bring our living, our thinking, and ourreasoning into accord with the rationale and purposethat God has woven into the fabric of all that exists.

With that in mind, we continue our examination of these two key biblical words.

* *

ISDOM

* *

Generally speaking, wisdom is a virtue that is valuedall over the world, although what constitutes truewisdom may in fact vary from culture to culture. Assuch, it is also an important concept in Hebrew cultureand scripture. There are in fact hundreds of referencesto “wisdom” in the Bible. For example, both the RSVand the NRSV have well over three hundred referenceswhere the word “wisdom” appears. However, in thatregard, what is perhaps most interesting in the Bible isits distinctive perspective on wisdom. We willendeavor to capture that in the material below.In the OT, the word most commonly translated“wisdom” from

the Hebrew

is “

chokma

” or one of itsvariations. Among other things, it can refer to:-

the ways of God, particularly the way and thedesign with which God created all things;-

wisdom as in discerning the ways of God;knowing & practicing godly and upright living;-

wisdom as in discerning ethical and religiousconsiderations;-

wisdom or prudence in religious affairs;-

wisdom regarding things in general;-

wisdom in relation to the art of war;-

wisdom in administration;-

worldly wisdom and shrewdness.In the NT,

the Greek word

most often translated“wisdom” is

“

sophia

”. In the New Testament it carriesmany of the senses of the Hebrew word. Again, amongother meanings there are the following:

•

the wisdom of God in forming the world and theorder of creation

(purpose, intention & plan)

;

•

the wisdom of God imparted through theScriptures.

•

knowing and practicing godly and upright living;

•

having a breadth of intelligence;

•

having knowledge of diverse matters;

•

a sense for how worldly things

(institutions, devices,etc.)

work;

•

human wisdom summarized in various proverbs;

•

the ability to interpret dreams and give sageadvice.Just as in our contemporary use of the word, thebiblical use of “wisdom” carries a variety of meanings.The exact meaning is often determined and indicatedby context.* *

ORD

* *The word “

wisdom

” is very closely related to “

theWord

”

(logos)

as it is used in John 1:1. As noted, themeanings are not exactly the same but they doconsiderably overlap. “Word” carries the followingsenses:

∗

the wisdom & power of God;

∗

the wisdom

(plan, purpose, intent)

with which Godmade all things;

∗

the reason, purpose, cause, ground

(as in foundation)

of existence; the intention of God in creation.

∗

a mandate, decree, or an order

(as from a king)

;Notice how the understanding of “Word” overlaps with“wisdom” in the sense that the “Word” not only is thepower of God to speak and call all things intoexistence, but it also implies the organizing principle,purpose, and intention of God when He created.Similarly, “wisdom” carries those same meanings.Both point to the reason or rationality behind why Godmade things the way He did. We may or may notunderstand God’s purposes, but, until that day whenHe makes all things new and reveals His purposes tous, we are called to conform our wills to His revealedWord and wisdom.“

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,that you may prove what is the will of God,what is good and acceptable and perfect

”

(Rom.12:2)

.“

As obedient children, do not be conformed

to the passions of your former ignorance

”

(1Peter 1:14)

.* * * *In the Bible, whether the Old or New Testaments, alltrue wisdom comes from God; it is called forth by HisWord The explanation for this is quite simple – Godmade all things! In other words, because true wisdommeans the ability to conduct oneself in the world in away that is in concert with reality

(the way things really are)

,that means one must live and act in a way that is inconcert with how God created all things – thewisdom/purpose/intention that God has woven into thefabric of all that He has made. Psalm 104 says,

104:24

“

O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all

…”

(NRSV)

Ps 51:6 – “

Behold, You desire truth in the inward being;therefore teach me wisdom

in my secret heart

”

(NRSV)

.In short, the way to live properly is to bring one’s lifeinto accord with the wisdom of God – the way, theintention, and the rationale with which God hasordered His creation. To go against the order and

purpose of God would be infinitely more foolish thanto try to paddle a canoe against the current in awhitewater rapids; it would be as foolish as to try touse a sledgehammer to repair a delicate watch. Itwould make no sense.

OME

IBLE

ASSAGES

EALING WITH

ISDOM

In addition to the Psalms quoted above, let us considersome of the many biblical quotes about wisdom.Jeremiah 10:

“

It is He

(the L

ORD

)

who made the earthby His power,

who established the world by Hiswisdom

, and by His understanding stretched out theheavens

”

(see also 51:15)

Jeremiah here clearly affirms “wisdom” as theunderlying purpose and intention of God thatundergirds all that He has made.Psalm 111:

“

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it

”

(see also Proverbs 1:7; 9:10;15:33)

Here the psalmist clearly expresses the importance of bringing our human wisdom into accord with the willand purposes of God.1Kings 3:28 “

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king (Solomon) had rendered; and theystood in awe of the king, because they perceived

that the wisdom of God was in him

, to render justice

.”Solomon’s wisdom was a gift from God due to hisexpressed desire to conform his will to God’s.Job 12:13 – “

With God are wisdom

and might; He has counsel and understanding

.”From whom does “wisdom” generate? From God!Ps. 14:1 – “

The fool says in his heart, ‘There is noGod.’ They are corrupt, They do abominable deeds,There is none who does good

”

(also Ps.53:1)

If all wisdom flows from God, those who deny Godand His existence can be nothing but foolish.Proverbs 2:6 “

For the LORD gives wisdom;

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding

”

(re. “mouth” – think Word)

Notice how wisdom is a direct expression or result of the proclamation

(Word, purpose, intent)

that flows from themouth of God.Proverbs 3:19 “

The LORD by wisdom founded theearth

; by understanding He established the heavens

.”This proverb underscores the fact that the earth andcreation itself were and are founded on the wisdom –as in purpose and intent – of God. God’s purposes arethe ground or foundation for all that exists.Colossians 3:16 says, “

Let the

Word

of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all

wisdom

…”In this Colossians passage, “wisdom” and “Word” canbe seen as almost interchangeable.Note the marvelous relationship that exists between“wisdom” and “Word”. Indeed, regarding the passagesabove, wisdom is at times virtually synonymous withGod – i.e., His Word and His ways. In answer to thequestion, “Can there be wisdom apart from God andHis revelation?” the Bible clearly answers, “no”.“

The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’

”

ISDOM OF THE WORLD VIS

VIS

THE

ISDOM OF

There is in Scripture, especially in the NT and thewritings of Paul, a clear distinction between thewisdom of God

(especially in the gospel)

and the wisdom of this world.Job 28:

“

Whence then comes wisdom

? And where isthe place of understanding?