Human reason is unreasonable when it comes to spirituality. . .

Martin Luther taught that human beings, after the fall (that humanity changing event in the garden of Eden where Adam and Eve succumbed to the wiles of the adversary and committed the first sin) became captive to "original sin."  Through baptism we are granted grace and mercy via Christ our Savior and Lord.  Original sin, however, still lurks around the corner, seeking to hold us in bondage.  The good news is that baptism keeps original sin in check.  That's why we daily remember our baptism, gives thanks for the water and the Word and speak freely and joyfully about it to others!

The Reformers taught that the "unregenerated human will" (that which has not been molded and shaped by a life-transforming sacrament) will only turn away from God, defy God, and even be an enemy to God.  "It has only the desire and will to do whatever is opposed to God. . ." (Formula of Concord, BC, 492.)

Without Christ as the center of our very existence we are prone, drawn even, to do what is contrary to the holy will of God.  In a word, we are bound to sin with no awareness that it is even sin. In fact we can justify most of what we do through human reason.  Our original-sin-captive-will is bound to take the opposite tack that God would have us take.  No matter how hard we might try on our own not to go that direction.  We cannot by pure human will and reason come to God and furthermore when bound to sin we wouldn't choose that path anyway!  Reason cannot get us where we want to go-- even if we thought we might want to go there in the first place!!

BUT, (and thank God for the "but") through the power of the Holy Spirit acting in our lives, through the Word, the proclaimed Word, the sacraments and grace of the community of saints we are drawn toward God, brought back into relationship with him and made fully alive!  Reason cannot bring us to faith!  Thinking it out cannot help us!  Intellectualism will not get us closer to God.

Faith and a transformed life will not just come to us in the middle of night through our own intelligence and reason.  

Faith comes to us via the Holy Spirit and it defies reason!  I guess you could say it is un-reasonable.

"It is God's will that people hear his Word and not plug their ears."  (FC)  So we bask in the glory of the Holy Spirit and do our best to open our plugged ears, and hard hearts.  When we realize that something has changed within us we give thanks and praise to God for gifting us with faith and converting our hearts, minds, bodies and souls for Jesus who loves us most.  We have no merit in this process but it is solely accomplished by God's Holy Spirit in us.  

Have a blessed day and give thanks for even the smallest shred of faith in your life!  Through it God can move mountains!  Come Holy Spirit.  Amen.