Pastoral Musings

Is logic simply a human construct?

Did it begin with the Greek philosophers/

Is it only the invention of people who wish to oppress others who don’t know any better?

Is logic a tool of the white man to oppress the other (so-called) races?

Does a desire to think and speak logically mean that a person is placing logic on a plane that is higher than God?

Let me answer the last question first. For me, though I desire to think and speak logically, I understand that God’s thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His ways are higher than mine. His Word tells us as much. Thus I do not cause God to submit to the laws of logic. God stands above logic as Lord and Master.

God also stands above logic as Creator. Logic is something that proceeds from God. I have previously spoken of the fact that the very existence of knowledge points us to an absolute and objective source of knowledge. That source is God Himself.

God the source of logic? Yes, indeed He is. There is nothing in all of the universe that is not subject to God. His kingdom rules over all and His jurisdiction has no boundary. There was a time when all there was was God. There was no universe, no heaven, no starry heavens, and no earth; there was only God. Then we find that God created all things. By Him were all things made, and there are no exceptions. Those things were also made for Him and His glory. God is a God of knowledge, and the only wise God. If there is anything known in the world today, it will be due to God’s creating truth and knowledge.

But wait, you say, that’s all fine, but where is logic in all of this? It is right in the middle of this discussion, and is part and parcel of this discussion. You see, we can have no rational discussion without logic. We can have no coherent manner of speaking and communicating without a standard of truth and knowledge. God is the ultimate arbiter, yet He has made it possible for us to think and communicate so that we can understand one another. Thus logic enters the scene. God has told us through His Word that He is not the God of confusion. God is not into us being totally unable to communicate. God has made it possible for us to speak to one another, understand one another, and discuss various issue. This is because we have learned that the rules of logic, though imperfect due to our own human imperfections in discovering and using them, are helpful in allowing us to speak clearly, fairly, and sensibly.

It is because God gave us logic that you can read and understand this blog post. If you disagree with it, that is because there is something about this post that does not appeal to the form of thinking that you like to use; whether that be logic, or whether it goes by some other name.

If a person decides to reject logic they need to cease speaking with a desire to be understood. They need to cease speaking in sentences. They no longer need to use paragraphs or any other form of arrangement. They need to cease to declare that any person who disagrees with them is wrong. After all, to prove someone wrong, logic will be used of a necessity.

Logic comes from God and is inevitable that we will use it if we are to speak with any rationality.