REASONABLE FAITH: A 21st Century Update of Charles H. Spurgeon

Known as the “Prince of Preachers,” Spurgeon pastored the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London and became renowned for his powerful, Scripture-centered preaching. His sermons, lectures, books, and devotional writings reached millions and continue to challenge Christians to examine their beliefs and convictions in the light of Scripture.

THIS IS NOT A REPRINT OF CHARLES H. SPURGEON’S ORIGINAL BOOK.

More than a century has passed since Spurgeon preached and wrote in defense of the Christian faith. While his confidence in Scripture, his defense of divine truth, and his insistence that Christian belief is intellectually reasonable remain valuable and relevant, believers today face philosophical, scientific, historical, cultural, and theological challenges that require clear and direct answers from the Scriptures.

This edition is a 21st-century presentation of Spurgeon’s defense of reasonable Christian faith. I have preserved his earnest desire to see believers think carefully and stand firmly upon biblical truth while substantially rewriting and expanding the material for readers living today. This is not an update or an annotated edition of Spurgeon’s original work. The chapters examine God, logic, and the cosmos; why a blind universe cannot adequately account for existence, order, and intelligibility; the logical necessity of divine justice; the witness of creation to its Creator; why genuine faith is consistent with sound reason; absolute truth in an age of relativism; the intellectual roots of modern skepticism; the authority and reliability of Scripture; the historical reality of biblical prophecy; intellectual objections to Christ’s atoning sacrifice; the historical case for the resurrection; the continuing power of the gospel in a secular world; the supreme claims and authority of Jesus Christ; the philosophical dangers of humanistic thought; and the evidence upon which Christians may confidently stand. These subjects reflect the structure and apologetic emphasis of the present volume.

Where necessary, Spurgeon’s theological language, arguments, and interpretations have been revised to conform more closely to the historical-grammatical meaning of Scripture. Reasonable faith does not require intellectual surrender, mystical impressions, private revelations, or belief without evidence. Christian faith rests upon Jehovah’s self-revelation in creation and His Spirit-inspired written Word, the historical reality of Jesus Christ, His sacrificial death and resurrection, and truths capable of serious rational examination.

My prayer is that this 21st-century presentation will encourage Christians to recognize that biblical faith and sound reason are not enemies, examine skeptical claims carefully by the Spirit-inspired Word, resist philosophies that elevate human thinking above divine revelation, strengthen their confidence in the authority of Scripture, deepen their trust in Jesus Christ, and become better prepared to give a reasoned defense of the hope within them.