Did you recoil at the sight of the website title? You ask, how can worship be “rational”? Isn’t Christianity supposed to be just a “love relationship” with God? You ask, why do you want to make a big fuss about all this biblical “worldview” and all that? You say, faith is all about “heart knowledge” and not “head knowledge,” so why bother with rational thinking when it comes to faith?
Considering the anti-intellectualism and false piety that is so rampant today, you might be one of those who has been deceived into thinking that Christianity is just an emotional roller coaster ride meant for maintaining warm feelings.
Well, if that is so, its about time you woke up and read Romans 12:1.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (NIV)
There are two Greek words, pneumatikos and logikos which can be translated for the word “spiritual.” The word pneumatikos appears quite often in the Pauline letters, however, logikos appears only here. This means that Paul intends to convey something very specific here. The Greek word used for the word “spiritual” is logikos, which refers to logic, reason, and understanding. Which is why the KJV translates that clause as “reasonable service.” Young and Darby translate it as “intelligent service.”
Thayer translates the word logikos as “rational, agreeable to reason, following reason, reasonable.” The etymological roots of the word logikos is derived from another Greek word logos which can be translated in various ways most commonly refering to logic, speech, reason, and doctrine. The English word “logic” is derived from logos.
Therefore, the clause in this verse is best translated as “rational act of worship.” Thus, the intellect plays a very important role in sanctification and Christian discipleship involves redemption and renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2). To dispel any misconceptions, I do not use the word “rational” in a historical sense which many would consider a spiritually pejorative term. Rather, I use it in the most literal sense possible which means “having reason or understanding.” I do not endorse Cartesian rationalism which ignores God’s revelation. Rather I write about Biblical rationalism, which starts of with Sola Scriptura as its one and only foundation.
Jesus very plainly said, “If you hold to my teaching then you are my disciples” (John 8:31). So, if one does not know the teachings of Jesus, there is nothing left for him or her to “hold” to, and it follows that one cannot be a disciple who knows nothing next to the biblical Jesus and His teachings.
In the modern (?postmodern) church when doctrine and teaching is resented and frowned upon, we need to urgently recover an attitude of biblical intellectualism, renew our minds with Scripture and be faithful soldiers in God’s Kingdom.
Some of you might be offended by the picture of the gun in the image header. Well, this denotes two things: spiritual warfare within ourselves and preaching the gospel. When it comes to spiritual warfare, as he describes in Ephesians 6, Paul uses military metaphors as he describes each component of the Christian’s armor. When it comes to preaching and defending the gospel, as in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul uses military language again, saying that the “weapons” he fights with are not of this world and that they have the power to “demolish strongholds.” Again, so why a picture of the gun, since the weapons we fight with are “not of the world”? Well, this denotes the constant vigilance we ought to keep on our souls during spiritual warfare and the intellectual conflict involved in preaching and defending the gospel.
There are three words which sum up the purpose of my blog. First, the Biblical worldview, then worship, and finally warfare. Worldview comes first. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “you worship what you do not know” (John 4:22). Thus, worship has to have content to it. The Father seeks those who worship in “spirit and truth” (John 4:23). We cannot do whatever we want to do and call it worship. The Israelites tried to create a golden calf, but God was not impressed with their sense of aesthetics. Thus, worship, the way God demands, presupposes truth. Worshiping God is what we were made for. That is the defining factor. After worship comes warfare. Warfare occurs within and without. It refers to spiritual warfare within our minds and the rational combat involved in preaching the gospel. In both cases, victory depends upon wielding the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, with skill and precision.
This website is meant to chronicle my thoughts regarding these issues and provide encouragement to fellow pilgrims who live by faith and not by sight, as we toil for the Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
