Asking the Right Question

I’ve only begun to express some concerns about where the “soul of science” has taken Western Christianity over the last 2000 years, but one essential question is simply, “So what? What difference does it make today practically speaking?” This is the question Jeff Mikels posed to me back in January of this year, and it’s truly a very important question. If the answer is “not much,” then my thoughts are worth about the same – not much. They are nothing more than casual musings – an intellectual exercise and perhaps “foolish and unlearned questions.”[1] But I don’t believe that to be the case.

I’ve struggled with answering Jeff’s question, not because I don’t have a lot to say on the topic, but because I’ve struggled with how to say it without writing an entire volume to back it up. The problem is that I can make a statement, but by itself it can be easily dismissed. If I say, “Science is a problem,” not many people will consider it seriously. I’d love to make a statement as simple as that one such that no one can reasonably argue with it, but I have to resign myself to the fact that it just won’t happen.

There is much discussion that needs to go into each statement of concern that I have, in some cases, simply to explain what the concern is. I’ve had discussions with people where I’ve posed a thought and we go back and forth for many exchanges before the concern is even understood, let alone viewed as possibly valid.

One issue that stands against us is how fully we already embrace the very things I am calling into question. It is a problem of worldview – “assumptions that affect our lives”[2] I have much to say on this topic alone, and there are many examples throughout history of people overlooking something in one age that is discovered or at least accepted as true in another age simply because of the influence of these foundational assumptions. We can easily miss fundamental truths because our worldview doesn’t allow for them.

I am challenging some of Western civilization’s most sacred cows that have been hallowed for centuries, if not nearly the entire two millennia of Christian history, yet I believe they have been borrowed from pagans and have no foundation in the Bible, nor Hebrew history, nor the first-century Church. In fact, they are antithetical to Christian faith and interfere seriously with the Church’s life with the Lord Jesus.

Probably the biggest area of impact in the life of the Western Church is that we have adopted, as Christian, a compromised worldview – set of assumptions – that come to us directly from pagan, occult religion and philosophy, and we have set aside some very important principles of life and godliness in exchange for a life dependent upon the “rudiments of this world, and not after Christ”.[3]

There is much I need to say in support of that statement, but if we accept that assertion for the moment only for the sake of argument, the question still remains, “So what?”

I have a problem, however, with that question in this context. Asking it in this way seems to work on the assumption that if we can’t identify any problems, then it is perfectly acceptable to have been so influenced – somehow that we can carry fire in our bosom and not get burned, to borrow from Proverbs 6:27.

There is another way, however, to look at this issue: if Paul warned against it, not to mention such warnings in the Old Testament, then there is truly a danger and a destructive impact to the Church just as there was to Israel. So, if my assertion of compromise is true, then there absolutely must be a negative impact even if we cannot immediately identify it. The question is not, “Show me the problem if you’re so concerned about it, and I’ll believe you.” The question ought to be, “There is definitely a problem that needs remedy. How has it affected us so that we might repent?” This, I think, is the problem I have not so much with Jeff’s question as I do with what seems to lie behind it – “Prove to me that we’ve been negatively impacted, and then I’ll repent. Without that proof, I refuse to believe there is a problem.”

Let me use an analogy. It’s like an alcoholic saying, “So, I’m an alcoholic. Show me who’s been hurt by it and then, maybe, I’ll consider doing something about it.” He can’t see what it’s doing to those around him. For him, his alcoholic lifestyle is normal, and even his family has adapted to it. As a result, there appears to be no need for change. What he, and even his family, can’t see is what life would be like if he were not an alcoholic.

Likewise, we Western Christians are so inured to the Western worldview and have so adapted to it – even honor it as superior to all others ever in the history of mankind – that we can’t see what dysfunction it has wrought in the Church. If we could ever get a glimpse of what life with our Lord could be like if we weren’t Western Christians but Kingdom Christians, we might rue the many years wasted in ignorant bliss of the woeful state we’ve been in.

In fact, we do have such a glimpse available to us – it’s in the Gospels and the book of Acts – the more-historical books of the Bible. That’s what life can be like in the Church. Some might contend that it could never be like that because we live in a fallen world – yet it was like that once in the early Church or else the Bible isn’t reliable – not perfect but far different from today’s Western Christianity.

Fundamentally, then, the more important question for all of us – quite apart from the issues I’m raising regarding science and medicine – is do we really believe what the Bible says or is it more of a guideline for us to follow – perhaps even and an unattainable ideal or pipedream? If we view the Bible as authoritative and, even more importantly, Jesus as Lord, then the question isn’t at all, “What’s the big deal?” but “Where has there been such compromise and how do we get right with our Heavenly Father in these things?” That’s no easy question to answer, but it’s one we must wrestle with.

Before I move on, I want to address one comment made to me in this regard. After some discussions about these issues, one friend said to me, “Well, I’m not too worried about this. When He beams me up, He’ll clean me up.” In other words, it’s akin to the thought that we can never “be holy; for [He is] holy”[4] so why get upset about it? I can understand my friend’s resorting to this statement. The issues I’ve raised can be potentially quite upsetting, and it can be far easier to let them be rather than engaging in a wrestling match to uncover problems when life seems just fine as it is. I can empathize with my friend on that point.

Yet, we cannot and must not turn our backs on the pursuit of holiness before our Heavenly Father, if for no other reason than to honor Him and show Him our love.[5] Additionally, we want to be a pure and spotless Bride[6] and to properly show Jesus to the world. Further, what blessings might we be passing up simply because we prefer our current comfort, just like the alcoholic who thinks his life is just fine as it is. Just maybe there is a better life in Christ to be lived if we dare to pursue it. I believe it’s there for the taking, yet it won’t be taken easily or without sacrifice. The alcoholic must sacrifice his dysfunctional way of living in order to gain a far better one. So must we be willing to lay aside that which seems normal for that which is His highest for us, if we want to attain it.

Basically, I’m questioning the approach which sees no need for concern if no ill effects can be shown – “I don’t care if something wrong was done if I’m ignorant of any negative consequences.” The approach we should take is this: if something was done contrary to the counsel of Scripture, the questions should be, “Has it been remedied?” and “If not, what are the negative consequences we may be oblivious to?”

That said, let me proceed in the next few posts to attempt to elaborate more specific areas where I believe the impact can be seen.

Blessings,
Rob

---

[1] 2 Timothy 2:23

[2] The title of a very intriguing book by Christian Overman, Assumptions that Affect Our Lives (Simi Valley, CA: Micah 6:8, 1998).

[3] Colossians 2:8,20

[4] 1 Peter 1:15-16 and Leviticus 11:44-45

[5] John 14:15

[6] Ephesians 5:26-27