Today, the question of when should a person of faith substitute faith for reason evidently still continues in the minds of many people. One recent example in the media was of a known “snake-handler” minister who confused faith with reason–one too many times.
Based on a Biblical passage from the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 27 and 28, some background information is first in order. The Apostle Paul, on is way to Rome on trumped-up charges before Caesar, finds himself in a shipwreck. The captain of the grain-laden cargo ship, apparently disregarding instructions to the contrary, sets out in the most dangerous month for sea voyages in Mediterranean regions.
Having successfully survived shipwreck on the shores of Malta, the great Apostle [Acts 28:1] was greeted by rescuing villagers who wanted to build a fire for the shipped-wrecked survivors.
Soaked and shivering from the cold, Paul gathered together some brushwood and built a fire. Suddenly, a viper snake grabbed hold of his hand. First thinking Paul guilty of some heinous crime, having first survived shipwreck to now face death at the mouth of a viper, the villagers were more amazed with what followed.
Paul, suffering no apparent ill effects, shook the snake off into the fire. After waiting for Paul to suddenly fall dead in front of them, villagers quickly changed their thinking and thought Paul was a god instead.
Two things come into play here. First, Paul had previously received a “word” from God that he was going to appear before Caesar in Rome–regardless of any viper snake bite or shipwreck.
Secondly, Paul was innocently going about his business when the event occurred. He was not looking to prove his faith; moreover, he was not looking for a crowd to impress.
However, in a later Biblical passage in the New Testament, we have the case of Peter and the rest of the disciples being caught in a storm out on the Sea of Galilee. Suddenly, he and the other fishers see a figure walking on the water towards them. First believing it a ghost or apparition of some sort, they cry out in horror until the figure of the Christ makes himself known to them.
However, only Peter cries out to Jesus: “Lord, if it’s you, bid me to come to you!” Faith is in action, but wisdom is at work as well.
“Come!” said the Christ and out came Peter walking on the water towards the Man from Galilee! Faith said, “Come!” Wisdom was in that word came only to Peter and not to the other disciples. It was Peter’s faith that Jesus was dealing with here and not that of the other disciples. In other words, Peter had a definite word from God and the others did not.
Knowing the difference between faith-wisdom and simply reason takes spiritual maturity and discernment not easily reached by many people–even of faith.
