G.K Chesterton On Reason vs. Faith

G. K. Chesterton

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) was one of the biggest Christian apologists of the early 20th Century (literally, about 400 pounds worth).  A staunch Anglican, he battled against the materialistic worldviews of renowned friends and peers such as H.G. Wells, H.L. Mencken, and George Bernard Shaw. In his book Orthodoxy, Chesterton exposes the fallacy of pitting reason against faith.

"It is idle to talks always of the alternative of reason and faith.  Reason is itself a matter of faith.  It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all.  If you are merely a sceptic, you must sooner or later ask yourself the question, "Why should anything go right; even observation and deduction?  Why should not good logic be as misleading as bad logic?  They are both movements in the brain of a bewildered ape?"  The young sceptic says, "I have a right to think for myself."  But the old sceptic, the complete sceptic, says, "I have no right to think for myself.  I have no right to think at all.""  (G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, 2006 Relevant Media Group, p. 23)

Providence

When trials come our way, it is very tempting to question the providence of God. For example, it would be very easy for a military veteran who was recently laid off to ask why? This trained paramedic lost his job in Illinois, moved to Colorado, and had to get a job "delivering pizzas to make ends meet". Why?

Perhaps this may give us some insight...

Colorado man delivers pizza and saves heart attack victim

I don't know the faith of anyone involved in this incident, nor will I suggest that God's reason for this trial has met it's ultimate purpose.  But I will suggest that the Linn family is very thankful that Christopher Wuebben got laid off as a paramedic.