Is Christianity Logical? By Dave Miller

 

Is Christianity Logical? By Dave Miller

Perhaps you have heard others remark, as I have, that common sense has become rather uncommon these days. Some seem to think that Christianity does not make any common sense. Or put another way, Christianity does not make any logical sense. Some claim that logic and religion are mutually exclusive, meaning these disciplines never intersect. Dave Miller’s latest book is a direct challenge to such an illogical or irrational viewpoint—rational meaning logical, and irrational meaning illogical. The Bible mandates that we are to think about walking with God from a rational or logical standpoint, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18 NKJV). The transliterated Hebrew word for “reason” is yâkach which means “to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right” (Brown-Driver-Brigg). So, God challenges our mental faculties as well as our emotions. Miller correctly points out that:

“Many well-meaning, religious people take the foolish position that truth is elusive and unattainable, and that doctrinal correctness is unimportant and unnecessary. Only in the task of interpreting the Bible do such people take the position that truth is relative, always changing, and something of which they can never be sure” (4).

The book deals with several relevant questions:

• Is Christianity irreconcilable with logic and reason?
• Is “faith” accepting what you cannot know or prove?
• Did Jesus expect people to believe Him without proof?
• Does Christianity require evidence and proof before being accepted?
• Is the religion of Christ “better-felt-than-told”?

I first met Dave Miller in 1993 when he was lecturing on “How Christ Handled Controversy.” Since that time, I have made it a point to take our family to his seminars, gospel meetings, and other events. We taught together at Alkire Road’s Future Preacher Training Camp, but I was also his student for his class on Logic and the Bible. When he was in our area, I invited him to be on my TV program, Light From Above. For those who would like to see our discussion on some of this material, you can see this on YouTube by searching for “Light From Above #299.”

I was very pleased to see this material published in a format that is suitable for class or personal study. The work is less than 100 pages, so it would be easy to share with someone without a substantial hit to the wallet. Included are 130 study questions to help generate discussion, and the answers are provided for those who stand before an audience to teach.

Dave Miller has a B.A. degree in Speech & Bible from Lubbock Christian University, M.A. degree in Speech Communication from Texas Tech University, M.Div. and M.A.R. from Harding School of Theology, and Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Public Address from Southern Illinois University. Dr. Miller has been the Executive Director of Apologetics Press since 2005.

Originally printed in the West Virginia Christian, Vol. 27, No. 12, December 2020, p. 8. Reprinted by permission.