Too often, a false dichotomy is created between intellectualism or rationalism and faith. The problem is that many educational institutions no longer teach that the bible is a historical book, which presents a history of God's involvement with man in the physical world. Many of the historical facts can be verified empirically. The bible, properly interpreted using a consistent hermeneutic, must be the foundation of any epistemology.
Whereas no amount of rational thought will bring a nonbeliever to saving faith, Holy Spirit can and does use our God given minds to break down the secular roadblocks that often hinder nonbelievers from receiving that saving faith. We must then recognize the limitations of rational thought in bringing about saving faith, and yet we can use it to strengthen our faith in times of doubt which can and does arise in our Christian lives, and in presenting a case to nonbelievers that belief in God is rational. When we recognize that our knowledge is finite, whereas God's is infinite, then we can recognize that we must trust the God who created us and all that we see, and not let logical inconsistencies hinder us from the truth. If we take the historical evidence of the bible, we recognize that God entered our world through his son Jesus Christ, who died on a cross for our sins, and was resurrected on the third day. That is all that matters. What more do we need to put our faith in Him!
Furthermore, Holy Spirit uses our rational minds to interpret scripture such that, even with noetic effects, we are able to develop and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is through our study of the bible, prayer, and our fellowship with each other, that we develop our relationship with Jesus Christ. The stronger our relationship with Christ, the greater our discernment in receiving biblical knowledge. This is so because as we come to know the Spirit of Christ, we come to know the mind of God.
