The Intellectual Evangelical

Several friends forwarded me an article from Friday’s edition of the New York Times. The article, entitled “The Evangelical Rejection of Reason,” is a blistering attack on Evangelical Christians by self-identified Evangelicals. I’ve found it difficult to respond to because I don’t find it to be very well-written.

If you have a moment, check out the article before reading on: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/opinion/the-evangelical-rejection-of-reason.html?_r=4&src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB


The one point that comes through clearly is that Giberson and Stephens are really disdainful of other Christians. The article seems to be their opportunity to unload on conservative Christians—and they don’t hold back.

In fact, the article made me think of a poorly-argued high school debate match I once watched. One student laid out his argument and as you watched his opponent, you could tell he was getting more and more frustrated. He rolled his eyes, he condescendingly sighed, and tapped his pen impatiently. Only by sheer will power did he manage to wait until it was his turn to offer a rebuttal. And, boy, did he rebut!

A stream-of-consciousness attack on his opponent spewed out of his mouth. Some of his points were valid, but the general presentation of his argument was overshadowed by faulty logic and unhidden disdain for his opponent and his relevant points went unnoticed.

Like that debater, Giberson and Stephens have some valid arguments, but their contempt for Evangelicals has caused them to make those arguments ineffectively. They seem angry and guilty of several logical fallacies.

The Argument

The general complaint the authors are making is that Evangelicals are anti-intellectual. Evangelicals fail to hold beliefs viewed acceptable by the general scientific community, such as global warming and evolution. They do so in willful defiance of reason and the use of intellect. They also cling stubbornly to a literalistic understanding of Scripture. As illustrations of this phenomenon, the authors cite Ken Ham, David Barton, and James Dobson.

The answer to Evangelical’s assault on reason, they argue, is to integrate secular knowledge with faith. This means promoting social justice instead of opposing gay marriage, incorporating Darwinism with Christianity, and striving to flourish in a pluralistic society.

Areas of Agreement

Giberson and Stephens hit upon something that I have noticed as well. At times, Evangelicals are reactionary. There is such a distrust of secular culture that sometimes Evangelicals fail to really listen to what their opponents are saying.

In fact, I, too, have sometimes disagreed with approaches taken by the three Evangelical leaders the article cites. I’ve sometimes thought Ken Ham should interact more with some of the counter-arguments of secular scientists. David Barton, while rightly realizing the importance the Christian faith has played in our culture, tends to overly romanticize the degree to which our country was ever truly “Christian.” And I’ve differed with James Dobson sometimes as he’s blurred politically conservative opinions with truly biblical positions.

In short, the article is right when it argues that Evangelicals have sometimes been sloppy in their intellectual endeavors, in my opinion.

Poor Argumentation

These valid points are buried within an article that is poorly argued and developed. It’s hard to refute an article like this because so many different accusations are leveled and so many generalizations are made that it’s hard to tackle them all. It’s like a person who gets angry with you and begins to accuse you of so many things, their valid criticism is overshadowed by their frustration and it's hard to address all the issues they've raised. Let me just give a few examples of the faulty logic used.

1. Poor definition of a key term

According to Miriam-Webster, anti-intellectualism is “opposing or hostile to intellectuals or to an intellectual view or approach.” Intellectual refers to that which is “relating to the intellect and its use" or to be “developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than emotion or experience.”

But Giberson and Stephens have taken a hodge-podge of positions with which they disagree and labeled them “anti-intellectual.” In their view, not only is opposition to evolution “anti-intellectual” but so is the moral opposition to homosexuality. Those who disagree with climate change are anti-intellectual. Those who interpret the Bible literally are anti-intellectual. In short, those who disagree with them are guilty of “rejection of knowledge.”

To paraphrase Inigo Montoya, they keep using the phrase “anti-intellectual” but I do not think it means what they think it means. For instance, the authors argue that they “look to the Bible as our sacred book” but those who believe in approaching that book literally are “against reason.” But being literalistic isn’t the same as anti-intellectual. In fact, one could argue that it might be more intellectually honest to jettison Scripture than alter its meaning beyond recognition.

Just because someone disagrees with you is not evidence that they are against the use of the intellect or are simply being guided by emotion.

2. Ad hominem attacks

The article would have been far more convincing if the authors would have displayed a little charity toward those they claim are fellow-Christians. Ham, Barton, and Dobson aren’t just wrong. They are “self-appointed” leaders who are “orchestrators” of a parallel culture in which they are the “beneficiaries” of a “rejection of knowledge.”

3. Gross generalizations and Guilt by Association

The authors are also guilty of gross generalizations. Everyone with whom they seem to have some sort of beef is thrown together. The literalist is a David Barton apologist. The pro-life pastor is for one of three Republican presidential candidates.

Such generalizations, which occur in almost every paragraph of the piece, make it very difficult to respond to the substance of the article. Am I the one being attacked because I believe the Bible is literally true and I reject knowledge? Or does the article have a more narrow focus? Maybe there is some guy out there who is voting for Rick Perry, owns every book by Ken Ham/David Barton/James Dobson, believes in a vast secular conspiracy, is for prayer in schools, is angry about the removal of the nativity, against pornography, can’t read, and is against any sort of multi-culturalism. And that’s the guy they’re really ticked off at.

But in reality, they are committing the logical fallacy of guilt by association. If I believe that if the Bible says it I believe it and another guy who believes the Bible is true is a cultural isolationist, I must be a cultural isolationist as well.  And if I take a stand on a moral issue like homosexuality, then it means that I have the same opinions as others who are opposed to homosexuality.  This isn’t a well-thought piece and it betrays a lack of understanding of the diversity of conservative Evangelical thought.

Observations

1. Conservative Evangelical Christians are not the only group guilty of reactionary positions and poorly thought out positions.

This article is a great illustration of the truth that Evangelicals do not have a monopoly on poorly thought out positions. For instance, the Occupy Wall Street Crowd could surely give us some great examples of secular argumentation that fails to pass the mustard in terms of logical cohesiveness. There is nothing uniquely Evangelical about intellectual laziness.

2. The goal of Christianity is not to be found intellectually appealing to the lost.

Paul is very clear that Christianity’s worldview will not be accepted by the secular world.

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18-24

This was true in the first century and it remains true today. This doesn’t mean Christianity is anti-intellectual but rather that intellectuals are often anti-Christian.

There is a profound difference.

The understanding of reality as advocated by God has been actively resisted and rejected by many intellectuals.

3. A person doesn’t need to be intellectual to be right.

I say this somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but there’s a great deal of truth in this. David Stowe writes that John Stuart Mill called “Conservatives ‘the stupidest part,’ [and they were] but they were also right….”

Being intelligent doesn’t make you right. Being anti-intellectual doesn’t make you wrong—just ask your average financial advisor who has struggled to navigate the current economic crisis.  What makes you right--or wrong--is the degree to which your thinking aligns with how things truly are.  My prayer is for God to give us the grace to understand and rightly process reality.

Forgive and Forget?

At the beginning of Sunday's sermon, I addressed a question that had cropped up frequently after last week's sermon: If God forgives our sin, how is it possible that it will be brought up in the future?

During the week, I tried to find out how others had answered this question pastorally.  I was encouraged that Pastor John Piper found it necessary to address this question a few days after he preached a sermon dealing with a similar theme.  If I'm not always going to be as clear as I like, I'd at least like to make the same mistakes as John Piper. . . .


Here are four truths that are helpful to develop a biblical understanding of God's forgiveness and future accountability for sin.

1. Everything we’ve done will be known.  Scripture is very clear on this point--good and evil will be made manifest.

Luke 8:17 "For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light."

1 Tim 5:24-25 "The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden."

Ecc 12:13-14 "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil."

Matt 16:27 "For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done."

2. Our sins will not condemn us. There will be no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).  Romans 4:7-8 tells us our sin will not be counted against us (cf. v. 22).  It is in this sense that I believe our sins are forgiven. They will not be brought up in any context in which the purpose is condemnation or punishment.  There is no sin credit in our account, only Christ's righteousness.  God "forgets" our sin when it comes to punishment.  All He sees is Christ's righteousness.

3. We will suffer loss of reward (1 Cor 3:10-14).  Even though we won't suffer condemnation for our sin, we will suffer loss of reward for our disobedience.  As our lives are laid out before God, our sinful acts will be consumed with fire.

4. Our future joy is dependent upon our current obedience.  Your current obedience causes you to grow in your ability to experience God's joy in the future (e.g. Matthew 25: 14-30).  This doesn't mean that some won't enjoy heaven.  It means some will be able to experience more fully the joys of heaven because of their obedience.

Praying for you today as you strive to begin today to worship God for eternity,
 
Pastor Daniel

A Task Unfulfilled

I was sitting at my computer on Wednesday evening when I decided to do a quick check of the news. “Steve Jobs Dead” read the headline on the Drudge Report.


Since Wednesday night, I’ve read a great deal about Jobs and his life. I found out he was adopted, wondered how he managed to keep so much of his life a secret and, of course, marveled at how his accomplishments have impacted so many lives.

But it was his comments in one of his final interviews that really captivated my thoughts. When asked why he had authorized a tell-all biography, Jobs responded: “I wanted my kids to know me. . . . I wasn't always there for them, and I wanted them to know why and to understand what I did."

It was a sad statement to read.  Jobs didn’t necessarily express regret that he had made the decisions that he had, but he certainly realized he had made a choice. Jobs had chosen to pursue his career at the expense of allowing his children to know him. 

For all of his accomplishments, it was a tragic decision and one that Scripture warns those of us who are parents to avoid. It is especially tragic for the believing parent who has a special charge to bring up their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).

To fulfill this charge takes time.  Our children do not know God intuitively.  It is the joyful task of each parent to spend the time necessary to help them know the Lord. 

The Great Prosperity and the Great Regression

There is a fascinating info-graph on the New York Times website, which can be found here.  There are a lot of nuggets to be gleaned from the graph, but let me make just a few observations.

1. For those who are wealthy: There is a disturbing lack of correlation between the increase in productivity  and the increase in wages.  Perhaps there is more data that is relevant here, but it appears that those who have access to resources are leverging those resources in such a way as to hoard profits. 

James' words to the wealthy are strong: "Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and hte cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.  You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth.  You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter" (James 5:4-5).

2. For those who are "poor": Do not envy the wealthy.  It is easy to lament one's condition when one compares oneself to the very wealthy.  But the wealthy have troubles of their own.  Consider: Do you believe that greater access to wealth would increase your spiritual maturity?  Or do you believe that the odds are greater that more wealth would tempt you to be drawn away from God and more in love with the material world (Prov. 30:7-9)? 

3. For all of us: Our increasing level of debt is a symptom of a culture that refuses to deny itself anything. 

Some will see this chart as symptomatic of the greed of the wealthy.  Others will see it as a sign of our economic misfortune.  I see in it the signs of a nation that has jettisoned not only biblical principles but human wisdom as well.

Christians, Injustice and the Death Penalty

While speaking about Jesus’ words on justice from Luke 11 on Sunday morning, an example of injustice popped into my head.  I thought about sharing it but was hesitant to speak “off the cuff” on what is an extremely controversial topic.  I decided I would instead spend some time mulling it over before sharing it publically. I wanted to make sure I worded my thoughts as carefully as possible. If you plan on reading my next sentence, please commit to reading the entire article.


Christians who are concerned about justice should be uneasy about the death penalty.

At a recent Republican primary debate, when moderator Tom Brokaw noted to Texas Governor Rick Perry that his state has executed 234 death-row inmates while he has been governor, Brokaw had to pause because of the cheering. Brokaw was eventually able to ask his question: has Perry ever struggled to sleep at night, wondering if any of those inmates were innocent.

Perry’s answer was firm. “No, sir. I’ve never struggled with that at all.”

Really? Never?

There have been 234 (actually, now the number is 235) executions since Perry has been governor--that is almost two executions every month.  There has never been a moment where he felt unease and lost sleep as he thought about the fate of those men and women?   Perhaps there has been and he simply can’t say so because of the political implications.

I’m in favor of the death penalty because I believe the government has the right to “wield the sword” and punish the wicked as well as reward the just. Even so, here are four things that I believe should burden a Christian’s heart as he or she thinks about justice and the death penalty.

1. Racism. Christians should be troubled by the fact that ethnic minorities face a far greater likelihood than Caucasians when convicted for the same crime.

2. Poverty. Christians should be distressed by the fact that those who are poor often receive inadequate legal counsel. One study found that two-fifths of all errors in capital punishment trials were due to gross incompetence on the part of the defense legal team.

3. Capriciousness. There seems to be a lack of uniformity regarding when crimes warrant the death penalty.

4. Vindictiveness. The believer should not wildly applaud the death of the wicked. When justice means that a human life is taken, there should be mourning and a sobriety of spirit. A spirit of vindictiveness is not a spirit of justice.

This is not meant to be an argument in favor of abolishing the death penalty. However, the believer who is passionate about justice should consider carefully their acceptance of a system that seems to be riddled with injustice.

Weight Gain, Self-Control, and the Grace of God

You should be familiar with the basic plot of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  The short story by Robert Louis Stevenson has been subjected to numerous adaptations. In 1931, there was an Oscar winning movie version, but most versions have been b-grade movies at best. 1951 saw the birth of Son of Jekyll, so to speak. Six years later came Daughter of Jekyll. In 1944 Mighty Mouse met Jekyll and Hyde Cat and Abbott and Costello had a run in with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1953. Perhaps the most creative adaptation, which I have only heard about and not seen, was The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Rock ‘n Roll Musical.

But just in case, let me review the basic details of the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: a scientist concocts a potion that divides him into two personalities: the benevolent, kind Dr. Jekyll and the evil, murderous Mr. Hyde.  At first, Dr. Jekyll enjoys the freedom to commit various crimes under the guise of Mr. Hyde. However, as time progresses he finds the anecdote that turns him back into Dr. Jekyll to be less effective and the demon that is Hyde grows stronger and stronger until he is overpowered. No longer is Jekyll able to resist the power of Mr. Hyde. He is trapped.

It should come as no surprise to you that many adaptations, such as The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Rock ‘n Roll Musical fail to capture the finer nuances of the story. It was not originally some sci-fi horror story. It was written in the late 1800s by Stevenson not about the horrors of scientific hubris but rather about the horror within every human heart.

Dr. Jekyll struggles against his sin nature and speaks of the struggle in terms similar to Romans 7. The potion that he concocts was designed to free him of these rather unpleasant urges; to separate him from his evil side. However, the power of his evil side begins to overwhelm him. This is not just a story about a creepy scientist—it is about every person and the terror of the power of sin!

This should be a struggle that every believer feels.  We have a desire to control our sin nature but at times are completely overwhelmed by it. 

I've felt this reality in my struggle with gluttony.  I knew that my metabolism would slow down when I made the transition from my 20's to my 30's, but no one warned me that my metabolism in my mid-30's would be slower than my metabolism of my early-30's.  I am approaching the point where my gluttony can't be concealed by a fast metabolism!

Let me quickly present four principles on self-control from the book of Titus, especially Titus 2:11-14. 

1. All of us are to exercise self-control.

Throughout the book, various groups are either explicitly or implicitly told to have self-control: children of leaders of the church (implied, 1:6); leaders themselves (1:8); older Men (2:2); older women (in relation to wine); young women (2:5); young men (2:6); and slaves (2:9)

God expects the members of His church to be able to live sensible lives—to be in control of their actions.  This attacks the insinuation of many that some people are incapable of controlling their baser urges. 

2. Our ability to exercise self-control is the grace of God.

In Titus 2:11, Paul says that "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men."  This grace "teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness... and to live self-controlled... and godly lives in this present age" (v. 12). 

Salvation protects us from ungodly behavior and promotes self-controlled, godly behavior.  Self-control is itself a fruit of the Spirit.
3. Part of the motivation for our self-control is our future.

When I'm failing to practice self-control in my eating, I'm thinking very little about the future.  I'm thinking about the present enjoyment of another chocolate-chip cookie.  But Paul tells Titus that we are to live in expectation of "the blessed hope" which is "the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior."

I'm not motivated by slogans or cute sayings.  I'm motivated by the future appearing of my Lord Jesus Christ!

4. The provider of our self-control is our savior.

Finally, Paul tells Titus, the one who provides our salvaiton and ability to practice self-control is our savior.  He "gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (2:14).
 
I hope you find these principles encouraging.  Self-control is a challenge each of us has.  May God lavishly bestow His grace upon us!

A Little End-of-Summer Cleaning

When I find an article that interests me, I sometimes copy and paste a link to it and save it for use in a future weekly blog. When I find I have a bit of a back-log of articles, I end up tossing a lot of them out.

But as I was getting ready to throw out some of the articles I knew wouldn’t make it into a blog, I found two that I wanted to make sure I mentioned. I believe I found out about both of them through http://www.teampyro.blogspot.com/.

The first article is about a new booklet from Kevin DeYoung describing why his congregation switched to the ESV translation. It can be found here. In the article and the comments that follow are some great thoughts on the nature and purpose of translation.

The second article is by Rodney Stark and Byron Johnson, writing in the WSJ, and correcting the assumption that the church is losing young people in droves.

What interested me about this article is that it directly attacks many of the narratives put out by George Barna. Barna has been highlighting the declining attendance of young people in the church and proposing some ways to combat the trend that I believe would only make the problem he purports to observe worse. This is an important article for many of those who are so desperate to appear relevant to read. Check it out here.

Thanks for letting me clean out some of my summer junk!