Reason is a God-given quality of man's soul and granted a position not unlike a judge in a court. It has to pass judgment on all kinds of matters pertaining to life’s many-sided activities and problems.

By development it may attain to a high degree of penetrating insight and efficiency, and its field of labor be extended as its ability becomes more matured.

Yet the Word of God has set it certain limits, beyond which it must not attempt to extend its jurisdiction, or else its findings will not be honored.

Yes, and it is told to its face: “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.”

Now, this is highly insulting to human reason which plays such an important part in human affairs. “I cannot know!” Oh, such taunt!

And the Word of God goes still a step further, and declares to reason: “You are not only unable to understand what we are about here, but you are a hindrance in the way.” (See 2 Corinthians 10:5.)

The Christmas message has surely things in it insulting to human reason.

When God wanted to bring his firstborn into the world, why did he not have arrangements made for his coming in a different way?

Let a young, unmarried woman be with child, having conceived by the Holy Spirit, as we read in our confession. What an insult to reason!

And the Son of God Almighty makes his appearance into this world in a stable. The King of kings and Lord of lords passes by the capital city of his nation and selects two small villages to play an important part in his life, one for his birthplace, the other for his childhood home! Where has reason had any part here?

And, taking a hasty survey of Christ’s way of working, Judas seems to have had some ground to stand on when he became increasingly offended at the Lord’s strange and, as he thought, unwise proceedings.

And the same views can be entertained about the whole movement, called Christianity. Where it retains its purest forms, human reason feels baffled and insulted.

Can reason approve of this for instance: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29, KJV).

When such a review of the Holy Spirit’s program is presented in the court of reason, it is simply thrown out as no evidence to take up time with. “Foolishness!” is hurled after it.

But, as the court takes a recess, an intellectual giant, Paul of Tarsus, speaks loud enough for judge and jury to hear it: “The foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men” nevertheless.

What then? “By faith we understand” that God made no mistake when he chose a virgin as mother for his beloved Son and a stable in the little village of Bethlehem as his humble birthplace.

And thus all along the way, faith beholds the divine meaning in God’s Word and God’s leading and dealing, where reason is only insulted and offended.

It is not reasonable, at all, that I, a lost and undone sinner, can be saved and have assurance of it simply because I put my trust in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. And that when I am spiritually weak and downhearted and I have lost faith in myself, yet should be strong in the Lord to gain victory over the enemies of my soul, that is more than reason can comprehend.

Rev. E.M. Broen was the first president of Lutheran Brethren Schools. He was born in Tufsingdalen, Norway on October 7, 1863. He was instrumental in the early formation of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. Near the end of his life he returned home to Norway and passed away on February 24, 1938 at the age of 74. This article originally appeared in Faith & Fellowship Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 1, 1934.