Cover of Created in God's Image
What are laws of logic? What gives us the ability to employ them in our thinking? How does a Christian answer these questions?
First, we must recognize that the laws of logic are not God and they are not some standard above God. There is no standard above God. He is the highest. Logic cannot be equated with God. Instead, logic finds its source in the character and thinking of God.
…the laws of logic are a reflection of His [God's] thinking.
…the logical constraints of God’s thinking are the constraints of His own personal nature, which man is to emulate. [1]
That is, God thinks logically. He does not contradict Himself. He is perfectly coherent and His Word is perfectly coherent.
Logical laws are elaborations upon the fact that God does not contradict Himself (His word is not yes and no, 2 Cor. 1:18) and that it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18). [2]
The two texts referred to are 2 Corinthians 1:18 and Hebrews 6:18, which state, respectively,
But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
God is true; He cannot lie. His word does not contradict itself.
In short, when we ask, “What are the laws of logic?” the short answer is that they are how we express the thinking of God, the nature of God’s thoughts being determined by His nature.
The Christian Faith, then, can account for using these laws. Man is created in God’s image and has the capacity to think and reason. Man is to “think God’s thoughts after Him.” Anthony A. Hoekema writes,
Man’s rational powers, for example, reflect God’s reason, and enable man now, in a sense, to think God’s thoughts after him. [3]
The laws of logic are universal, invariant, and immaterial. Only the Christian Faith can give a sure foundation for them and their use in man’s thinking.
References
[1] Bahnsen, Greg, Van Til’s Apologetic: Readings and Analysis. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1998. pg. 236.
[2] Bahnsen, Greg, Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith. Nacogdoches: Covenant Media Foundation, 1996. pg. 149, n. 10.
[3] Hoekema, Anthony A., Created in God’s Image. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986. pg. 71.
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[...] Comments « A Christian Basis for the Laws of Logic [...]
Fine review/recommendation/synopsis. It was not so long ago that I had someone debate me furiously that logic is a created order therefore leaving God above logic and free from it. We were discussing the very nature of Godhead, namely triunity. Her conclusion, “Since 3 is not 1 and 1 is not 3 then God is Himself a contradiction.” My reply, “Were God to say that He was 3 persons and yet only 1 person, then you are correct. If God were to say that He is 1 God and yet 3 Gods then you are correct. But, as it God presents Himself, God is 3 Persons and yet one God. This is not a contradition.”
Her thinking was completely unfinished. This line of…umm, reasoning?…is the springboard for every theological error. IE, ‘God is free to contradict Himself. Since that is so, we cannot dogmatically cling to anything from Scripture.’ It feeds the notion of antirationalism. While of course God is not Himself logic, we should rest assured that He is logical.
Great points about how letting God “contradict himself” undermines the entire foundation of Scripture in and of itself. This is a great article which illustrates the necessity of God being logical as a result of his character. I particularly enjoyed this portion:
“In short, when we ask, ‘What are the laws of logic?’ the short answer is that they are how we express the thinking of God, the nature of God’s thoughts being determined by His nature.”
So simply put and true.
In Christ,
TONY
Creation-Club.org
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