Deadly Rationalism

You may say, “I believe all that. You surely don’t think you are telling us anything new!” I don’t hope to tell you very much that is new; I only hope to set the table for you, arranging the dishes a little better and a little more attractively so that you will be tempted to partake.

How to Be Filled With the Spirit, 12.
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Preaching: Deadly Rationalism

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. –1 Corinthians 2:4-5

There is today an evangelical rationalism not unlike the rationalism taught by the scribes and Pharisees. They said the truth is in the word, and if you want to know the truth, go to the rabbi and learn the word. If you get the word, you have the truth….

But revelation is not enough! There must be illumination before revelation can get to a person’s soul. It is not enough that I hold an inspired book in my hands. I must have an inspired heart. There is the difference, in spite of the evangelical rationalist who insists that revelation is enough….

In His days Christ’s conflict was with the theological rationalist. It revealed itself in the Sermon on the Mount and in the whole book of John. Just as Colossians argues against Manichaeism and Galatians argues against Jewish legalism, so the book of John is a long, inspired, passionately outpoured book trying to save us from evangelical rationalism–the doctrine that says the text is enough. Textualism is as deadly as liberalism. Faith Beyond Reason, 23-24.

“Lord, I believe strongly in the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures; I am committed to expository preaching. So I see the danger and pray that You might keep me from this error of textualism. Amen.”

On this day…

• Jeremiah 18:1-6 – 2025
• Psalm 118:14-21 – 2025
• 1 Samuel 18 – 2024
• 1 Samuel 17 – 2024
• The Daunting Task – 2009
• Isaiah 49:8 – 2008
• Ten Commandments – 2007
• Song of Solomon 1:16 – 2007
• Psalms 107:7 – 2007