The myth of pure rational inquiry

I am not neutral. I assume (my presupposition) a great many things when I seek the truth about a certain statement. First I presume that the language that I am seeking the answer in can communicate in such a way that other people (most importantly myself for I am the one employing it) can understand. Second I am assuming that truth can be known. Not everyone shares this presupposition so that makes me non-neutral there as well. I will seek the Scriptures and pray to God in Jesus’ name when faced with a decision that I am unclear on and need some wisdom from Him. Fourth I will employ my rational mind and senses (if necessary) to make sense of the statement presuming that I know when to use each and when one or the other will inhibit my pursuit of truth. Fifth I will understand that my perspective of the situation is, by definition, incomplete for there may be other people with a different perspective or more thorough understanding of the statement and situation so I will seek counsel and perspective where that becomes important. Also I will understand that my world can be misinterpreted by me because I am not only finite, I may let my sin nature, although defeated, control my thought process and actions.

No, I am not neutral and this is only a small portion of the thousands of assumptions and presuppositions I make on a daily basis. The Bible says that no one is neutral hence no one can make a purely rational or even sensual investigation of a truth claim. That is total depravity. And whether we ascribe to the Arminian or Calvinistic view of the grace of God in salvation and sanctification one thing is clear: only through God’s grace can we make sense out of this world and come to the truth.

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