http://kenwilsononline.com/2008/05/08/its-the-epistimology-stupid/#comment-347

Your JBS mosaic model for guidance to Truth seems to take care of many of the issues of authority (church or the Bible itself), but ultimately it fails in that it is circular reasoning that begs the question. Once the pieces of the mosaic fit together in the right places to “cohere, hold together, [and] present us with the face of Jesus (truth in person) [so that] we know we’re on the right path”, how is it that we actually recognize this image as being that of the true face of Truth (Jesus)? It must be beautiful, right? Anything that doesn’t fit into our individual ideas of what “love” is, must be thrown away (according to your book). Except everyone has different ideas of what constitutes beauty and love.

Only in our fully redeemed state, in our new bodies in the new heaven and new earth, will we actually come to communal agreement (in Christ) on the definition (recognition) of beauty, love, and truth (the person of Jesus) because He will be there with us, plain to see and experience.

Ultimately there has to be some underlying “assumption” in the authority of the sacred text itself (unadulterated by fallible human interpretation) as inherently infallible (at the very least in the descriptions of Jesus in the gospels). With this underlying assumption or paradigm, just as science operates through such pre-requisite assumptions, then we can actually journey together as a community, along with individual reason and experience (ultimately seeking guidance via the Holy Spirit), in our efforts to know Him (truth) “better”. This “knowledge” must always be subject to spice of humility in that we “know in part” “through a glass dimly”… thoughts?

Critical Thinking is an excellent skill to cultivate for many reasons, but it is only one way to approach Truth. It is a modern myth that rational thinking is superior to all other forms of experience. Particularly when we’re talking about connecting with the Creator of the Universe, we have to realize how limited we are. If critical thinking was all that was necessary then the Law could have accomplished its task.

I think this is why Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that “you diligently study the Scripture because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)

Critical Thinking can help you discern truth, but is only one of the ways we’re called to engage with Truth. Truth is a person named Jesus. I can’t prove he was resurrected, but it is the only way I can explain my ability to continue to fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit that He sent to come along side us. I don’t set aside critical reasoning but I do engage my whole being in my relationship with Him.

Christian believers seem to act as if they think they know what Jesus said or did over 19 centuries ago. In reality, no one today knows one bit of what Jesus ever said or did. Do you understand that?