When we think about being reasonable, we think of the word "compromise." We constantly see it in our politics and in our government. One party has some thing they want to pass into law, while the other side is opposed to it. Then they arrive to the point of being reasonable. However, they believe that being reasonable is when one side wants the other to change their position on this bill. If they stand their ground, then they appear "unreasonable" in the eyes of the other party. So then, there is gridlock and nothing gets done.
All this means is that one party or the other has very strong convictions on a particular law or amendment. Sometimes they do "reason" together and compromise on a matter. They declare that makes them reasonable men and women. It seems as though man, without God, can never stand strong in what they believe or stand for. They achieve a compromise that still isn't the right one, but they say it's better than doing nothing at all.
This might be how the world and governments work to get things done, but it's not God's way. If we are to "reason" about God's Word, then Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified) says, "Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord!" When we reason with God about what His Word tells us, there is no compromise to be had. God will reveal His Word to us so we can understand it, but He will not compromise one word of it. Psalm 119:89 (Amplified) says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven (stands firm as the heavens)."
Being "reasonable" men, we have made the decision to compromise when it comes to God's Word, for the "betterment" of the people. We sound like politicians, don't we? We have "reasoned" with the people and with one another, and have decided to do what the people say rather than what God says. King Saul did this in 1Samuel 13:8-14 (Amplified) which says, "So Saul waited seven days, according to the set time Samuel had appointed. But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from Saul." Verses 9-11say, "So Saul said, bring me the burnt offering and the peace offering (which he was forbidden to do). And just as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came! Saul went out to meet and greet him. Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, And that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash." Verses 12-14 go on, "I thought, the Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord, So I forced myself to offer a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which He commanded you; for the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out (David) a man after His Own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."
Saul's reasoning may have seemed logical to him, but God's Word is not to be compromised. We've done almost the same today, in the Body of Christ. In order to keep the people from "scattering from us" (like Saul did), we've reasoned together with ourselves and have made some very costly mistakes. When the people have made up their minds concerning certain things in the Word, we have made allowances for them by "reasoning" instead of teaching the truth of the Word.
When we "reason together with the Lord" like Isaiah 1:18 says, then we will always come to the right decision in our thinking. Isaiah 55:8-11 (Amplified) says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, My ways, says the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater." Verse 11 says, "So shall My Word be that which goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void (without producing and effect, useless) but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent!"
When God said that His thoughts and His ways are higher than ours, He wasn't being boastful, but letting us know that if we're to understand (without compromise) and if we will reason together with Him, then He will instruct us in His Word. James 1:5 (Amplified) says, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given."
We have "reasoned together" to the point where anything supernatural in the Word has been "reasoned" out. After all, how can simply laying hands on someone who is sick, heal them? It doesn't seem reasonable, does it? So, if more people are disbelieving this, then we (like Saul) will reason and dismiss this (or compromise) in order to kep the people from scattering.
When it comes to God's Word, there can be no compromise. The Word of God doesn't work the way we want it to, but the way God sent it to. Reasoning with the Word is the world's way (politics) in disguise.
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