Reasoning
What we think about impacts us!
What we think about impacts us!
To reason is to intentionally think about something, understanding that what we intentionally think about impacts how we feel, how we view the world, and how we live in the world. The Psalmist notes that those who are happy are those whose "delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper" (Psalm 1 NRSV). A further admonition we receive from Paul, in his letter to the church at Philippi, in regards to what to think about is this: "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8 NRSV).
To reason is to intentionally think about something, understanding that what we intentionally think about impacts how we feel, how we view the world, and how we live in the world. The Psalmist notes that those who are happy are those whose "delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper" (Psalm 1 NRSV). A further admonition we receive from Paul, in his letter to the church at Philippi, in regards to what to think about is this: "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8 NRSV).
In reasoning we want to discern what is true, and in more than just a head sense. Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus that "the eyes of your heart may be enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). While we reason or think to understand what is true we also want to experience the reality of it.
In reasoning we want to discern what is true, and in more than just a head sense. Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus that "the eyes of your heart may be enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). While we reason or think to understand what is true we also want to experience the reality of it.
"The gospel of Jesus directly repudiates all false information about God and, therewith, about the meaning of human life; and it works to undermine the power of those ideas and images that structure life away from God. But for it to have this effect we must use our ability to think" (Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart).
"The gospel of Jesus directly repudiates all false information about God and, therewith, about the meaning of human life; and it works to undermine the power of those ideas and images that structure life away from God. But for it to have this effect we must use our ability to think" (Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart).
To guide us in our reasoning (our thinking), we will begin with disciplines which will draw us into Scripture:
To guide us in our reasoning (our thinking), we will begin with disciplines which will draw us into Scripture:
These will be followed by disciplines which will help us reason with others and within ourselves:
These will be followed by disciplines which will help us reason with others and within ourselves: