Austin Bible Church
There are three primary systems of human perception – rationalism, empiricism, and faith.
Rationalism makes reason the sole source of knowledge and makes it superior to and independent of any other form of perception. Rationalism makes reason the criterion to determine what is real and what is not. Reality does not depend on the human senses or experience. Rationalism makes reality what you think it is. Rationalism places the merit on self and depends on human intelligence. This system of perception has led to the development of many systems of philosophy.
Rationalism subjects Bible doctrine and scriptural interpretation to the test of human reason. Therefore, rationalism always rejects dogmatic authority. Rationalism depends on human intelligence. Therefore, God did not make rationalism a criterion for learning Bible doctrine. If God had done this, He would be arbitrary and unfair, which is contrary to His perfect and absolute attributes.
Empiricism is the scientific system of learning by observation and experimentation. Empiricism says that reality depends on the human senses and puts strong emphasis on experience. Empiricism has no place for theory, only what can be proven by observation and experimentation. Empiricism relies on the function of your sensory system relaying information to the brain. You must smell, see, hear, taste and/or feel in order to come to any conclusion. Empiricism also places the merit on self and depends on human intelligence. Therefore, God did not make empiricism a criterion for learning Bible doctrine.
Faith depends on the authority, truthfulness, faithfulness, trustworthiness, and ability of the object of faith. A great percentage of information that you have learned has come through faith, like 1+1=2. When you began to learn, you accept certain things to be true solely from those teaching you. Faith is a non‑meritorious system of thinking and does not place the merit on self, but the object of the faith. Faith does not depend on human intelligence. Therefore, faith is the only system God could use and be consistent with His perfect essence and His grace policy toward the human race. The validity of faith depends on the object of faith. Heb. 11:1.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, NASB)
You cannot apply rationalism or empiricism to learning spiritual information – Bible doctrine. The filling of the Holy Spirit is always required. The result is spiritual IQ that is beyond any human IQ that has ever existed. The system must always be faith. Spiritual phenomena is an unlimited subject. Faith is an infinite condition of perception. You accept the Word of God by faith. You understand the spiritual information taught while filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit transfers that information to the left lobe of the soul as gnosis Bible doctrine. From here, it must be believed by faith. Then, the Holy Spirit converts this to full knowledge (epignosis) and transfers it to the right lobe of the soul or heart. Here, it is now applicable to the spiritual life to life’s situations, events, and problems. See category on the Grace Apparatus For Perception.
As a child you accepted a lot of things to be true by faith. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 18:2-3 that we all must be like that child in our non-meritorious faith acceptance of spiritual things to grow in the spiritual life.
"And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. " (Matthew 18:2-3, NASB)