It's not every day that the person claiming the world's highest IQ publicly professes faith in Jesus. But, South Korean prodigy YoungHoon Kim known for his reported IQ of 276, shared a bold, three-sentence post on X (formerly Twitter) that caught the world's attention:
"As the world's highest IQ record holder, I believe that Jesus Christ is God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him."
The tweet from @yhbryankimiq was short. But the echo was loud. In an age of skepticism and celebrity self-worship, a man praised for his intelligence pointed people to Christ β not credentials. Within days, the post garnered over 14 million views and a quarter-million likes, sparking global conversations about faith and intelligence.
π€ Faith and Genius: Are They Really at Odds?
Many believe faith is a crutch for the weak-minded, while reason belongs to the thinkers. But that belief has never matched reality. History is filled with brilliant men and women whose minds and hearts belonged fully to Jesus β C.S. Lewis, Francis Collins, Blaise Pascal, and more. In fact, Francis Collins, who led the Human Genome Project, wrote The Language of God about how his scientific discoveries strengthened his faith.
YoungHoon Kim's post reminds us that intelligence doesn't replace the need for God β it often points toward Him. As Pascal once wrote, "The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of." Faith doesn't dismiss intellect. It deepens it with meaning, identity, and hope.
βοΈ Jesus and the Mind
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He didn't just say love God with your heart. He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37)
Faith isn't blind. It's grounded in truth β a truth that holds up under questioning, reasoning, and exploring. The Gospel is not afraid of thinkers. In fact, it welcomes them.
π‘ What This Moment Reveals
In a world obsessed with IQ tests, test scores, and performance, this moment draws us back to something far more lasting: the truth about who we are and who God is.
We are more than our intellect. More than achievements. More than what others praise us for. And even the most brilliant mind in the world knows that truth is not a formula β it's a person. Jesus didn't come to win arguments. He came to save souls.
π Scripture Reflection
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will isβhis good, pleasing and perfect will."
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
π± Gentle Reflection
- β’ Have you ever felt like faith and intelligence were in conflict?
- β’ What does this story stir in you about identity and belief?
- β’ How might God be inviting you to love Him more deeply with your mind?
β¨ A Small Practice
Set aside 10 minutes this week to journal through this question: "Where have I separated my faith from my thinking β and how can I reunite them?" Invite God into your learning, your doubts, and your ideas. Ask Him to show you how faith can guide your thinking, not silence it.
Today's Faith Focus
Faith doesn't require abandoning your mind β it requires offering it to God.
π Prayer
God, thank You that You welcome my questions and my thoughts. Thank You for not asking me to leave my mind at the door of faith. Help me love You with all that I am β including my thinking, my searching, and my intellect. Let my mind be renewed by Your truth and shaped by Your grace. Amen.
π Go Deeper
Books that explore the intersection of faith and intellect:
- β’ The Language of God β Francis Collins
- β’ Mere Christianity β C.S. Lewis
- β’ I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist β Geisler & Turek
- β’ Cold-Case Christianity β J. Warner Wallace
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