Reasoning and Dwelling in Unity?

Who’s Listening to Reason? Have you noticed that those who criticize are usually guilty of the same thing they are critical of? It’s almost like pointing a finger in another direction hoping others will not see who they are. Living in a divided country and a world of the “all knowing opinions on everything”, I expect it from the politically engaged. But as for “Christians” who claim belief in Jesus and the bible, one would expect a different kind of engagement. Does what we say and how we say it really matter? Should those claiming to be “Christians”, take heed to the words that Jesus spoke? I am reminded of words Jesus spoke, “out of the hearts abundance the mouth speaks”. What we say reveals who we are, our character, who we are at heart. I am always concerned when Christians speak hurtful things. I am speaking about the spiritual matters.

In October 2011, two “Christian” men wrote an article titled,” The Evangelical Rejection of Reason” http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/opinion/the-evangelical-rejection-of-reason.html?_r=1, you can read the whole article here.

Though the article begins with a tone of animosity toward Republican Evangelicals calling them anti-intellectuals (1), they give a list of “common” knowledge/theories that proves their point, climate change and evolution. Then claiming “The rejection of science seems to be part of a politically monolithic red-state fundamentalism, textbook evidence of an unyielding ignorance on the part of the religious… But evangelical Christianity need not be defined by the simplistic theology, cultural isolationism and stubborn anti-intellectualism that most of the Republican candidates have embraced.” (Well that sounds unreasonable). They also claim “many evangelicals created what amounts to a “parallel culture,” and listing activities that would describe this “subculture”.

At the end of the article, they state; “But when the faith of so many Americans becomes an occasion to embrace discredited, ridiculous and even dangerous ideas, we must not be afraid to speak out, even if it means criticizing fellow Christians.”

Really? I found little truth here. This article speaks of another denominational divide, Pharisaical (separateness), “brother against brother” mentality added to a political agenda. So in general, Republicans and specifically the Evangelical kind lack intelligence, character and are worthless.  In contrast to them who are “intellectually engaged, humble and forward-looking.” I didn’t discern that in the article. I heard divide…divide…divide. I read their secular thinking (words) but have a hard time finding anything Christ-like in them.

If intellectual dishonesty is the advocacy of a position known to be false. An argument, which is misused to advance an agenda or to reinforce one's deeply held beliefs in the face of overwhelming evidence contrary. I think this can be said of the authors of the article. Their idea of Christians are from their own beliefs and not true of Christians in general. They went beyond of criticizing their “Christian brothers”. They called them stupid shy of using the word.

When I read articles like this or hear “Christians” say hateful things, calling each other names, I am reminded how Jesus compared murder to speaking against your brother, specifically calling someone, “Raca”.(2) Both Greek and Hebrew etymology of the word “rhaka” means empty, vain or worthless one, signifying a lack of intellect and character. There are many that say such things to each other and about each other but does that follow along with the knowledge and truth Jesus taught?

What is truth? Is it knowledge alone? What kind of knowledge are they speaking of that Evangelical Christians need? In Greek thinking there were two words for knowledge, one meaning an “absolute true knowledge” (ginosko) and the other “a general or common knowledge” (eidos, know by sight) of something. These two authors are using the latter, saying two controversial subjects/theories such as evolution or climate change as true science, both subjects that cannot be proven as absolute. I am reminded that at one time common knowledge was “the world is flat”, though the bible states it’s circular hanging in space. The practice of bloodletting was a common practice for over 2000 years. Those that practiced it believed that draining blood from a body would prevent or cure disease, yet contrary to scripture. “Life is in the blood”. There are many examples where “common knowledge” or secular thinking doesn’t make something true? Will the ideas, opinions, and “scientific” or secular knowledge, be the same 100 years from now? Even more important are these understandings demarcations of intelligence and the basis of Christian faith? If the Christian community is divided by such thinking, should we be arguing about who’s right and who’s wrong? Shouldn’t we be focused on the positive aspects of our faith?

Unfortunately, men try to make God into their own image and place him in time, as if he was limited to only one place (time) and one way of thinking. Thus men read/learn something, add their experience in the present time and call it true knowledge and look for proof to say what they know or think is right. The things they gather from the outside and visible, these are the natural (carnal).

Maybe these men are a just a simple reflection of today, where it is common to group people into different categories and divide, the secular educated against the uneducated, rich against the poor with generic name calling and omitting individual character and beliefs. A society where everyone wants to be “right” and their own individual thinking, knowledge, and reasoning makes a matter true.

I am always alarmed when I hear words from Christians dividing Christians, and remembering the words Jesus spoke, “love one another” “they will know you are my disciples (taught ones) if you have love among yourselves”, or “do unto others as you would have them do to you”. 

A true Christian loves all the time, even their enemies. Love Unites, which is the definition of Agape, where in the bible, is translated love. It not only involves affection but actions can be seen and understood.  1 Corinthians 13⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses trust, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Unless a man stands from love to analyze, judge, or know anything; truth and knowledge will always be skewed, usually leaning in the direction of intellect (3), (thought & reason) ONLY rather than the Heart (conscience (thinking), affections, and character).

There are spiritual reasons why God is more interested in the heart over the intellect only. The heart is the whole of a man, the center of his being, which includes his intellect as well as his emotions/affections. Though not see, like the heart at the center of the body. A mans character is revealed on the important things in life, by what he says, does and values in life.  “Where your treasures are there your heart will be also”. “Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up.”

Jesus did not divide people; they divide themselves from one another. The New Testament is full of examples how the Pharisees were more concerned with their laws, doctrines and their own way of thinking, instead of the people they were responsible to teach after all they were the educated people. There is a whole history of how they became separatists.

Jesus spoke many times on how Christians should speak to others. Two illustrations he spoke in Matthew 12:33-37 and 15: 1-20, both speak that the words a man speaks come out of the heart and identifies who that man is. Words matter, what and how we say those words matter, if not to you at least it should to the man that identifies with Jesus and believes the bible to be sacred.

Jesus said, “I am the Way (path), the Truth, the Life”. A life of truth or knowing truth begins for a Christian, with Jesus. All people are important to Jesus. He came to teach men how to love each other. The love he taught would unite one to another and identify those who truly are taught by him. When he spoke he spoke in love toward all even those who hated him and eventually killed him. His purpose was to bind men in their hearts to each other, teaching them how this can be done in a godly, kindly way. He is the definition of love.... God is Love. The things Christians would be producing are of the Spirit of God, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, truthfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 6:22 It’s a spiritual matter.

 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. ³ If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” 1 Corn.1-3

I prefer to hear the Word (Jesus) with a heart of love towards others. Otherwise, we a lot of noise with out substance, and anything we would think, do or value is as nothing. May we begin to reason, speak kindly, and love one another and remember the words of David, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity".

I added a few footnotes for clarification and additional understanding.

(1), anti-intellectualism is hostility towards and mistrust of intellect, intellectuals and intellectual pursuits, usually expressed as the derision of education, philosophy, literature, art and science as impractical and contemptible.

(2), Matthew 5:21-26-Not Raca but be reconciled to your brother. In Jesus’ day all of Jewish decent were considered brothers. The Christians view is the same. In my opinion, all of the human race are brothers.

(3), Intellect: Nous is used in the Greek New Testament – Nous also called intellect or intelligence, is a ….term for the faculty of the human mind….as necessary for understanding what is true or real, vey close in meaning to intuition. It is also described as a form of perception which works within the mind (“the mind’s eye”), rather than only through the physical senses. In philosophy common English translations include "understanding" and "mind" or sometimes "reason" and "thought".  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nous

You may want to read the whole context: Mat. 15:1-20, Mat. 12: 34-37 both referring the things going into and out of the heart.