Personality tests often draw an absolute distinction between ‘feelers’ and ‘thinkers’, respectively relying on sentiment and logic to make decisions. This dichotomy pervades our perceptions of people, and indeed, of truth. We would like to think that what is logical and what feels good coalesce, but alas, this is seldom the case: think of addictions that are satisfying but are irrational, or medicine that is logical but is uncomfortable. This blog argues that this is a false dichotomy, if we accept that truth is from God.
People label themselves and others as either logical or as instinctive. However, even with regard to earthly matters, is this really a valid division? It is possible to construct logical arguments around any earthly desire, even to the point of self-deception. Conversely, logic often satisfies a human desire for self-sufficiency. Consciously or subconsciously, we are often selective in what we choose to factor into our logical analyses (the criteria based on our desires), or on what we choose to identify as our true reason for doing something. In social science, ‘retrospective inconsistency’ involves a survey respondent giving contradictory responses to the same question at different points in time. For example, a citizen may cite peer pressure as their motivation to vote immediately proceeding their action, but a decade later will invent (consciously or not) an impetus of social responsibility. Logic and desires are not completely distinct, and moreover, they can be mutually reinforcing.
This combination is often employed to satisfy the actions of the self, without recourse to external input. However, Ecclesiastes tells us that earthly wisdom leads only to grief. Moreover, Proverbs talks of the seduction of earthly wisdom in the guise of a female adultress, whose trail leads to death (see posts on Sheol). Moreover, we see from the story of Nebuchannezar whose disobedience led to a loss of wisdom, and similiarly from Adam and Eve, that human desires, because they are also subjected to the Divine Law, in fact diminish even earthly wisdom. The first point, therefore, is that we pursue earthly wisdom and desires rather than Godly wisdom and Godly desires, and this is an unsustainable position with an inaccessible goal, because anything good on Earth is only a shadow of greater things Above. The metaphor of a shadow is useful: not only it is a mere representation of something more real, more multi-dimensional and more vibrant, it is an epi-phenomena of that something: it is intrinsically dependent on its source, and cannot in itself be captured.
But even if we could have all the things of the world, what good would it be if we forfeited our soul? And this is the second point: by pursuing earthly objects, not only will we most likely burn out before obtaining those objects, but we also forego those greater things from Above. Both wisdom and desire are discussed at length in the Bible. The distinction, however, is not between what is rational and irrational, but rather, what is earthly and what is Divine. With regard to desires, we are told to ‘delight ourselves in the Lord’ by the Psalmist and elsewhere by the Apostle Paul not to yield to ‘earthly desires’. With regard to wisdom, we are warned by Solomon in Ecclesiastes that the wisdom of man is ‘meaningless’ and ‘striving after wind’, and that by Paul, Peter and James that we have ‘the mind of Christ’, a kind of ‘secret knowledge’ of the mysteries of existence that is imparted to us by God. See forthcoming appendix for relevant scriptures relating to each case. In much of the highlighted passages, earthly wisdom/desires are in direct conflict with heavenly wisdom/desires, even to the point where James calls earthly wisdom 'demonic' and Paul makes claims of having a dual personality!
A common criticism often levelled at Christianity is the following conundrum: if God is both omnipotent and all-loving, why does evil happen? I would propose that the secret is in the meaning of ‘love’ – it involves both choice, which inevitably can have negative consequences when the wrong choice is made, and discipline, which will often have uncomfortable ramifications in the short-run. Human aspirations often seek to avoid discomfort, and rational calculations are made to this end. But the amount of times that I have heard people say “if I hadn’t have been through that experience, I wouldn’t be who I am today”, or similar, convinces me that part of the Christian walk is to surrender those intuitions to Him. Indeeed, see scriptural appendix for Paul's take on living with 'the mind of Christ': sacrificing our humanity for the sake of something greater.
If we accept that God is omniscient and all-loving, then really it is rational to allow him to take the reigns. If this means communication through ‘feelings’ or ‘intuitions’, then certainly it is rational to consider those messages, even if they contradict our earthly wisdom. Proverbs, conversely, teaches us some basic ways to apply our God-given rationality. Hence, both rationality and the 'sixth sense' are gifts from God, and as we are created in His image, they are fundamental components of our existence. However, because of sin, these mechanisms can be corrupted. The human brain is capable of greater capacity and deeper thought; indeed, human beings only employ a fraction of their cerebrum at any given time. Conversely, the seemingly supernatural and prophetic perceptions of those who are stripped of other senses (such as blind people) show that human intuition is also a largely untapped resource. Sin has imposed limitations on our human capabilities, and part of the Christian life is allow God to do what we cannot. What God desires of us is always what is best for us, whether or not we know it at the time. Therefore, we cannot evaluate his plans based on logic, because our information is limited, or on feelings, because our desires are tainted.
The arbitrariness of our logic and our feelings can easily find root in our sinful nature, as Paul's shizophrenia explicitly reveals; much better that we choose to anchor it on God’s heavenly authority. I would say that from experience, yielding to God’s plan, whilst frustratingly irrational at the time, will be retrospectively the optimal path, even to attain our earthly desires. Ironically, therefore, even a selfish, rational individual would best achieve their aim through their system of logic by yielding to God's plan. So even earthly systems are subjected to God's authority: "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17).
I am inclined to write “a balance must be struck”, but this would obviously contradict my argument – there is no balance, because there is no distinction. If there is a balance, it is intrinsically contained in God's Divine Being. Arisotlean 'Ethics' that attempt to arbitrate a human balance between extremes will always fall short for this reason: they take as granted that there are two extremes in the first place. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God: the Word was with God in the beginning. PURSUE GOD, AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW. Interestingly, the word ‘logos’, hear meaning word, is the root our word ‘logic’. The Hebrews saw God as a mysterious force to be accessed by ritual and emotion. The Greeks, however, saw God as the ultimate rational force, the possessor of divine knowledge based on perfect and timeless information. In the Word of God, the two coexist and even complement each other. For this reason, when a Christian says ‘I have a word from God’, what they mean is that God has imparted a piece of divine knowledge to them, that is infinitely rational, perhaps through an emotional stimulus. 'Words', as we know them, occupy either space (if they are written), or time (if they are spoken). But God is timeless and omnipresent, and so His Word is clearly above our earthly laws.
If you find yourself in a maze, it would be convenient to have direction from somebody with a top-down view of the situation, who could guide you to the exit; especially one who loves you and wishes you to be free. Without this direction, it may seem rational simply to follow your compass (a 'moral compass', perhaps?). This strategy, however, would lead to a dead-end. The friend looking down may advise that you back-track in order to conjoin the appropriate path. This seems irrational, based on your own desire to go in a certain direction, but at the same time, you know that it is rational on a 'higher level' because it is actually more conducive to the fulfillment of what your real desire is - to get out of the maze. Earthly wisdom and desires lead us further into the maze (see my posts on 'Sheol' to see how the lure of earthly wisdom and earthly desires lead to sup-optimal existence, which interesingly, often takes the visual form of an inescapable labyrinth).
I would posit that in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve walked with God, what was desirable and what was rational were one and the same, because the Law of Love reigned supreme. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Through Christ, we can return to this state by living with the Holy Spirit (see relevant literature).
However, we will also suffer from Paul's internal tension between flesh and spirit. The key to Christian maturity is to distinguish between the two at every decision point, and crucially, to act accordingly. Often, our desires will deceive us, and we can use our biblical analysis to refute those desires, as Jesus did when He was tempted in the desert. At other times, what will seem rational will not coalesce with what we feel to be right; biblical examples abound, such as Abraham being ordered to sacrifice his son Isaac, or Jonah feeling led to travel to Nineveh. And crucially, notice the inevitability of the final outcome: Abraham's obedience was rewarded, and Isaac was spared. Jonah ended up in Nineveh whether he liked it or not, but because of his initial disobedience, had to undergo a period of correction in the belly of a whale. This is another Sheol, and comparable to that period of 40 years when the Isralites had to wander in the desert for 40 years, after rationally calculating, on the basis of the sentiment of fear, that they could not defeat the inhabitants of the Promised Land, contrary to God's direction. And yet, ultimately God's promise remained. It is better to seize the promise as soon as possible, and to concomittantly obey his instruction immediately, for although God will not revoke it, the discipline and regret that accompany the 'second chance' are not worthwhile. It is the equivalent of taking a 'sunken hit' on an investment opportunity - nothing is gained, but something is lost. Although at the time, taking the leap of faith seems uncertain, it is actually far more secured than the uncertainty that accompanies the chaos that exists without God's divine order (see posts on 'Divine Order').
Seek first His kingdom, and we will find that we are acting both rationally and in accordance with what we desire. If, however, we take those earthly gifts to be the object of our efforts, then we will be dissatisfied. Not only do we place the wrong target in our sights, but we pursue those desires in irrational ways, if left to our own devices. Our own devices are limited; those of God are not.
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