Faith versus Common Sense

Faith versus Common Sense · 21 January 2023

Contrary to what Doris (Maureen O’Hara’s character in Miracle on 34th Street) says, faith is not believing in something regardless of what common sense says.

I think it odd that the common notion about faith versus common sense is taken from a movie. Actually, I do not know whether the notion comes from the movie or the movie just voices the notion. But it does not really matter. All that matters is that the notion is not correct. At least not when it comes to faith in God.

When it comes to faith in God, we think of substance and evidence. Or at least we should. For the Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV):

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Substance and evidence. Not what people tend to think of these days when they think of faith. But they ought to be. They are surely what we think of when we think of common sense. Either that or we think the thought that common sense is not so common in reality. But I digress.

I like the notion of believing in something even though our common sense tells us not to. At least when it comes to the movie Miracle on 34th Street. After all, little Susie wants to believe in Santa Claus and Doris wants to believe in Fred Gailey. Neither of which makes much common sense. But in the film, they are rewarded for their belief because it is a feel good movie. One that tugs on our heartstrings even today.

But believing in something in the face of common sense or reason is a notion that should be relegated to the movies and not to real life. Common sense and reason should be the hallmarks of Christian faith. Substance and evidence abound for its claims. But do not take my word for it. Indeed there are many more learned people than I who can expound on this notion. My favorite authors are C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, and Josh McDowell. Sean McDowell, J. Warner Wallace, J.P. Moreland, R.C. Sproul, and others are becoming new favorites. All of these folks talk about reason in their faith. All of them talk about evidence for their faith.

I want you to do your own digging, so I will just point out one thing about substance and evidence having everything to do with faith. Detractors.

Enemies of and detractors from the Christian faith come in all shapes and sizes. They come in various forms too. Some are indifferent. Some are hostile. Some are even violent. And they have been since the beginning. From the Sanhedrin to Pontius Pilate to the Roman Empire to seemingly the whole of society today, Christianity has had its enemies and detractors. But these enemies and detractors have all had to admit that the one piece of evidence that could have brought Christianity to a halt before it even began is missing. And it will always be missing. Jesus’ body was not in the tomb after the third day.

There are many theories out there about what happened to Jesus after He was crucified and buried in the tomb. But none of them fits the evidence as well and completely as the stories in the Gospels. None. Which is why people have seen fit to try and argue the gospels away. They try to besmirch the integrity of the Bible. They try to discredit the authors. But the weight of evidence is too great. Both believers and non-believers agree on the facts. At least they do if they look honestly. Then, the choice must be made. Do you follow the evidence where it leads? Or do you go on believing what you want to believe.

Which is where faith comes in. And common sense. When the evidence is honestly weighed with reason and common sense, there is only one conclusion that can be reached. Jesus rose again. Then, you need to decide what to do with this conclusion. (But that is another story.)

I would urge us all to think again about faith and common sense. Are they really at odds with each other as Doris suggests? Or are they part of the same thing? Look deeper. Check out the arguments for and against. (Which by the way, those against rarely urge you to look at the arguments for. Or when they do, they show you slanted views.) I hope you will see that faith and common sense are not at odds. Unless, of course, you are little Susie wanting to believe Kris is really Santa Claus.

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