Wisdom Wednesday: Wisdom in Causal Reasoning
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:6–8) NASB 95
Jesus made a distinction between physical birth and spiritual birth when speaking to the revered Jewish teacher, Nicodemus. In chapter 3 of John’s gospel, the well-known account of Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus is recorded. Jesus introduced the concept of being “born again” to Nicodemus – distinguishing our physical birth and beginning of life, and our spiritual birth when we “believe in Him” [referring to God’s Son, Jesus; see John 3:16-18.]
Jesus introduced the concept of “causal thinking” where Nicodemus was directed to think about cause and effect. Nicodemus might not “see” the inner spiritual work of a second birth, but he could “see’ the effect in a person’s life. Like the wind that we cannot see, we know it is blowing because we hear the effect. So, it is with the second birth by God’s Spirit, which we cannot see. We know it has occurred because we can see the effect in a person’s changed life. Believing in God’s Son is the cause and spiritual rebirth is the effect. Spiritual rebirth, then is the cause that leads to the observable effect in a changed life.
We can illustrate this in a simple “causal diagram”:
Believing —> Second Birth —> Changed Life
Jesus applied the concept of causal thinking by showing that unseen spiritual things can be “observed” by the effect they have in the physical world – in our lives. Consider several other examples.
- The desires of the Heart – Jesus explained that the state of a person’s heart (their treasure) is revealed in the way they speak. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)
- The genuine intent of the heart –Jesus warned of false prophets (teachers) who proclaimed great things. He instructed His followers to watch the results of the lives and teachings of these prophets. “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16-20; see also Luke 6;44)
- The foundation of a life in trials – The tests of life reveal the spiritual basis for a person’s life. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock”. (Matthew 7:24–25)
On one occasion, Jesus pointed out how the disciples made an incorrect causal analysis. They were reasoning about the unseen spiritual condition (a cause) that resulted in the effect of blindness. John recounts the occasion:
As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)
The disciples gave Jesus two choices:
OPTION 1: Son sinned in the womb —> Son born Blind—> Son suffers in life
OPTION 2: Parents sinned —> Son born Blind —> Parents and Son suffer in life
But Jesus responded with a third alternative that they had not considered. Jesus recognized God’s sovereignty to accomplish His ultimate purpose to reveal His character (to glorify) to fallen men and women.
Jesus said, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3a) Jesus gave a third causal Option:
OPTION 3: GOD allowed —> Son born Blind —>God is glorified (Revealed)
Plainly, this man’s blindness was caused by God, and Jesus healed his blindness resulting in God’s work being displayed.
We need to be careful when reasoning about cause and effect in spiritual matters. It is reasonable to see things happening (effects) in the physical world, and wonder about the spiritual cause, but we must follow Jesus’ guidance and allow for causes that we do not understand, but that ultimately reveal God’s character.