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August 27, 2007
As a man thinks, so is he.
I once had a conversation that stands out in my mind. It was with a high school student, who was doing homework and having trouble with a question. I was looking in his history text at a map of the U.S., trying to understand the problem. As I looked, I realized the map was incorrectly drawn, and the question could not be answered correctly without contradicting the text.
Now, that’s not a huge issue for me. Books are produced by people and people make mistakes. Many textbooks have errors. But here’s the issue: No matter what I said, and despite my pointing out obvious discrepancies on the map, he would not accept that the book was wrong. It was, after all, a textbook. It was reliable. It was inconceivable that it could be wrong.
I have not forgotten the conversation, because the position he took scared me. It was my first encounter with someone who simply refused to think when data fell outside his predetermined parameters.
Later, when I taught college, I discovered that he was not alone. I encountered many products of America’s public education system who simply could not think. Their vaunted “critical thinking” skills were nonexistent.
Americans are far down the road to being a people of ignorance. Survey after survey has shown that Americans in general know little about their history or their government. We are now governed by popularity polls and sound bites, not leadership and statesmanship. Those who should lead are more concerned with showering money on the masses, securing their next election. Projecting this trend into the future is depressing, indeed. A free people must be an educated, responsible people.
How does this relate to the church? I’ll tell you: American Christians are no better off than the culture from which they spring. A great many of those professing to be Christians, to love and worship the God of the Bible, are notoriously ignorant of Bible. (From my contact with European Christians, I think they are no better off.)
Churches are in the main centered on themselves, and do little to serve the community in which they exist. "Worship" is very often listening to "Christian" radio, where the music is sometimes excellent, but more often is musically mediocre and theologically worse.
I recently visited a large, highly regarded church near here. In many ways, these folks are doing things right. But their music, the centerpiece of corporate worship, was entirely about thanking God — for what He has done for me.
Where are we when great numbers of Christians live a life focused on themselves and their desires, and thank God only as He is convenient for them and helps them achieve their goals? Where are we when the lives of those calling themselves Christians are indistinguishable from anyone else?
This is not a good thing. This does not honor the God we profess to worship. The religion of a people shapes their culture and way of life. American culture was in large measure shaped by Protestant Christian principles. Our system of higher education was started by the church. There was an understanding that education was important to a free people. The religion of America today is hedonism and worshipping at the altar of Me.
No people on earth have lived with the privilege and opportunity of modern Americans. And in recent decades, few people on earth have so radically turned to self interest and radical individualism.
Where are the Christians? Where are the people of God? Are they so busy chasing their own dreams and fantasies that they worship God in name only?
It seems so.
What happens when the church, which is supposed to be salt and light to society, is as insipid and as incapable of careful thought and action as the culture around it?
Posted by at August 27, 2007 12:42 PM
Comments
Dear Larry,
it,s always encouraging to see people having problems with what is going on around us because this is the start for looking for the real truth.
Do you really believe that Christianity we notice around us today has anything to do with the spiritual church of God? The saints of God today are not easily to be recognised, it is also written in the bible that God is working something that even if we tell the people nobody will believe it. Our only gospel to the people is our belief that if somebody really for any price wants to find the real God , than He might show mercy and open this persons eyes to see the road to Him. REgards. Stelios
Posted by: s.koussis(Athens-Greece) at August 28, 2007 12:39 AM
Larry, It amazes me that you are allowed to take up internet space with the drivel that you write. Obviously being Jewsh does not mean that you have insight, enlightenment, or something to contribute to society.
I'd rather hear from Seinfeld or Larry David.
Posted by: Hansen at August 31, 2007 10:59 PM
Hansen,
Thanks for the comment. Always happy to know someone is reading my drivel.
So what is it, specifically, that you have a problem with?
Posted by: Larry at September 1, 2007 02:07 AM
Larry,
I totally agree with you. I seek to add an additional point. While as you say, much of our culture WAS started and formed from religious views and groups, it has come full circle. Our so called 'culture' is now influencing our religious lives, so much in fact, that the self-centeredness and materialism of our society is not perceived as negative or wrong or sinful, but has been incorporated into the church model.
Posted by: YW Alex at September 26, 2007 11:59 AM
I am growing up around teens who have no clue to what they believe. They claim to be Christians, but there is not one shred of evidence to support this claim. I agree with Larry, in saying that although there is a mass quantity of Christians, there is a small group of quality Christians. This is nothing short of an epidemic. I'm glad to see that someone else has noticed the lack of "quality Christians." I pray that Christians will see that, it is the glory of God that truly matters, and not our own selfish wants.
Posted by: Jordan at September 26, 2007 10:41 PM
Jordan and Larry,
I would seek to disagree slightly with your designation. While they may designate themselves as Christians, Paul teaches us that true change occurs in the acceptance of salvation, outward evidence of our justification in the blood of Christ. If that change is lacking, then the designation and being of a Christian is absent. That is not to say the seeds of change are not there, but they appear dormant for the time being. This is colaborated in James, for faith without deeds is dead. Prayer for illumination of these requirements and gentle guidance should accompany anybody labeled 'Christian'
Posted by: YW Alex at September 28, 2007 11:17 AM
Alex, first off I would like to say thank you for being respectful. What I am having a problem with is the statement that without this change, the designation of being a Christian is absent. I believe that you can be saved without a dramatic change. I think the reason we should have this change, though, is to show that the Holy Spirit lives in us, which will in turn lead others to Christ. We also see in the Bible that those who's faith is weak, we are called to love them and be with them, not to condemn them,(not to at all say you are). The end of the matter is, whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Our salvation is not dependent on the bearing of fruit or a dramatic change in our lives, although this change is most certainly called for.
Posted by: Jordan at September 28, 2007 05:40 PM
Guys,
Suggestion: You might find it much easier to discuss this if you went to the discussion forum for this site. Click on the link near the upper left of the main page of this site. Registration is free, easy and immediate, and there are others who might enjoy the conversation.
Larry
Posted by: Avi at September 29, 2007 01:44 AM
Hi Larry -
When I clicked the link I got a message that said basically, "Sorry, but this forum is not available at this time. Please try again later."
But it would be nice to be able to discuss stuff in the forum if it were active.
PS - you don't have to post this. I just wanted to give you an FYI.
Mita
Posted by: Mita at October 26, 2007 06:32 AM
