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Why Faith Makes Sense: Reasons You Can Believe God is Real

Review

Why Faith Makes Sense: Reasons You Can Believe God is Real

As a Christian, author and pastor Will Davis Jr. tells readers that he has made a rational, volitional and spiritual decision to follow Jesus Christ. Davis has researched, studied and sought-after evidence to believe in Christ's deity, miraculous powers and resurrection from the dead. He has wrestled hard with difficult faith-related issues and questions, and has used his mind to do so. Rather than checking his intelligence at the door of faith, he spends chapter upon chapter explaining why Christians must engage their intellect as believers (it's not an option).

To start, Davis offers a thoughtfully presented section on how God has made contact with humanity throughout the ages. "When God speaks, acts, works, creates, and reveals, it's always deliberate." God never launches an eternal truth toward humans randomly; He always has a specific target (a person) in mind. In the same way, God always has a desired outcome, and when He makes contact, that person will be required to use his mind to decipher the message. "For God, the mind is the port of entry to the human soul. When He establishes a contact, He uses thoughts, words, concepts, and ideas."

Building upon this premise, Davis shares how God has met with biblical characters from the very beginning of recorded history. God spoke to Jacob through a dream, and when he awoke, Jacob was required to use his intellect to interpret the meaning. God mysteriously communicated to Noah that He was going to destroy the world by a flood and instructed him to build the ark. Noah somehow understood. Moses was told to return to Egypt through a burning bush and spoke words Moses could understand. In every case, God revealed Himself to humans using their minds and abilities to consider.

Davis details how societies as whole entities rely on God to survive. The implications are that people who embrace the reality of revelation must also embrace the reality of a revealer. Revelation is critical because it implies there is ultimate accountability and that humans are pre-programmed to receive messages from God. Thus, those who argue that Christianity is for non-thinkers are incorrect. God always reveals Himself via a mental component; most people discover Him by thinking about Him first.

Davis's foundational premise on thinking and revelation then expand to other required hot topics: understanding the Bible as a trustworthy source, the six holes of the theory of evolution, the problems with humanism, how faith and reason fit neatly together, and the undeniable evidence for God. Readers will appreciate Davis's skillful handling of the faith and belief issues, and individuals from both camps certainly will be given much food for thought.

Reviewed by Michele Howe on November 13, 2011

Why Faith Makes Sense: Reasons You Can Believe God is Real
by Will Davis Jr.

  • Publication Date: October 1, 2008
  • Genres: Christian
  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Revell
  • ISBN-10: 0800732480
  • ISBN-13: 9780800732486