Christianly Thinking – Engaging the World With Truth

Here, in the nineth article of the Christianly Thinking series (and fourth focused on our conception of the truth), we will take a relatively deep dive into the ways of God for engaging and/or not engaging with the world. There is a lot here, so let me summarize before we begin:

1.?????The ways and worldviews of the world are evil.

2.?????To overcome the world’s evil influence, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds and the restoration of our love of the truth.

3.?????Once we have restored a proper and protected relationship with the world (i.e., in but not of), our engagement with the world should first extend to the next closest spheres, beginning with our families.

4.?????Christians are encouraged and empowered to face the challenges of our situation and the chaotic future with hope and promise.

In But Not of the World

“To engage or not to engage?”, now that is the question. As strange as it may sound, such a question resonates precisely within the times in which we live, as it has for faithful Christians so many times before. It is the instruction drawn, for over two-thousand years, from Jesus’ prayer in Chapter Seventeen of John’s gospel.

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but?that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart) by Your truth.?Your word is truth.?John 17:15-17

One particularly important point to make here: The original Greek and several translations do not include the word “one” at the end of verse fifteen. It is important to remember even the most scholarly men are imperfect and subject to mistake. This is one made several times in the New King James Version, the version I still prefer.

Now, read the passage again with “one” removed and consider what Jesus is describing as evil. Is it not the world, and does this not change the meaning considerably? Jesus is asking the Father to keep us from the evil of the world. And not just from the physical evil, but that which would distract, discourage, and destroy them.

The ways and worldviews of the world are evil. Paul picked up this theme in his letter to the Romans.

And?do not be conformed to this world, but?be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may?prove what?is?that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

There are three ways to engage with the command and promise of Romans 12:2: Pursue the world’s ways and worldview, pursue the worldview and ways of God, or allow oneself “to drift along unreflectively surrendering to external forces and conditions, implicitly agreeing to be the plaything of outside forces (Gill, 1989).” I propose we have been largely allowing ourselves to drift.

Drifting along with the flotsam of the world may have been an acceptable strategy when most of society embraced a Christian worldview, but those days have long passed. Somehow, we missed the world’s hostility toward the ways and worldview of God; perhaps we have been distracted.

Again, the ways and worldviews of the world are evil. With the help of our carnal mind, the world has conformed our thinking, and from there, our attention, values, attitudes, and behavior. To reverse course, we must disengage ourselves from the ways and worldview of the world, we must repent of all forms of conformity, and we must reject what the world has to offer as truth and the way truth is acquired. There is a surer truth and a better way! ?

Restoring Our Love of the Truth

Somewhere along the way, many have lost their love of God’s truth. Paul would not have warned of such a falling away if it were not a real danger.

The coming of the?lawless one?is?according to the working of Satan, with all power,?signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among?those who perish, because they did not receive?the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2Thessalonians 2:9-10

Acquiring the love of the truth is simply a matter of receiving it. Think about that for a moment, recognizing that Paul is explaining how Christians will be deceived out of their salvation. Jesus is offering His protection from the greatest deception any Christian will face in the form of the love of the truth. We are only required to receive it.

But we must not assume receiving the love of the truth is a singular event; it is but the beginning of a process whereby sacrificial love – the closest meaning for agape – is developed and proven. Actively receiving the love of the truth, and reckoning the truth we love to be true for ourselves, brings us into Holy Spirit directed transformation by the renewal of our minds.

The following, from Harry Blamires (1963), bears repeating:

The marks of truth as christianly conceived, then, are: that it is supernaturally grounded, not developed within nature; that it is objective and not subjective; that it is a revelation and not a construction; that it is discovered by inquiry and not elected by a majority vote; that it is authoritative and not a matter of personal choice.

Giving time, attention, and study to these foundational truths about “truth” is an expression of one’s sacrificial love of the truth. Begin here and the Spirit will direct you in your meditations and responses to what you are learning. Your mind will be renewed, and the deceptions of the world will become more obvious; you will become less conformed to the world’s ways and worldview.

Furthermore, loving the truth is loving Jesus – Jesus said to him,?“I am?the way,?the truth, and?the life (John 14:6).” This brings us back to Jesus’ prayer for His disciples, “Sanctify them (set them apart) by Your truth.?Your word is truth (John 17:17).” Our sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 6:11) by the truth of the Father, whose word is that truth. And so, we can also say that the study of God’s word – written and spoken – is an expression of our love of the truth.

The mystery here is deep, and so we must remind ourselves:

Let a man so consider us, as?servants of Christ?and stewards of the mysteries of God.?Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 1Corinthians 4:1-2

For the Sake of Our Children

Like our carnal mind, the world conforms us subtly. It plays the long game. The Western education system patiently indoctrinates our children from kindergarten to 12th grade. Outside the classroom, children’s entertainment and social media persistently press their ideologies upon unsuspecting minds. Parents, for the most part, feign helplessness against the onslaught.

But we are not helpless, and we are responsible. Faith in the word of God is desperately needed – I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). The grace of God flows down the authority structures He has ordained. Failure to practice parental authority in the will of God robs our children of God’s grace – grace to stand against the onslaught of the world’s attempts to conform them, grace to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Most of my Baby Boomer friends have children who are now making eternal decisions for their children. The best thing we can do for our grandchildren is to humbly confess our failure, ask for their parent’s forgiveness, and offer to help them all do better. They may refuse our help for several reasons that I will not get into here. Even then, we are empowered to wage war on their behalf.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against?principalities, against powers, against?the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual?hosts?of wickedness in the heavenly?places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand?in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 4:12-13

Whether we are allowed a more involved role or not, Paul Billheimer’s (1975) assertion is correct:

Prayer is where the action is!

A Hopeful Word about Wisdom

A noted and secular cognitive scientist, John Vervaeke (reference to 4 Horsemen video), has proposed that the “Meaning Crisis” provides a growing opportunity for religion to reassert itself as the best source of meaning and purpose for humankind (i.e., the best worldview). Society and those living in it have lost faith in science and reason. The isolation created by Covid was apparently the straw that broke the camel’s back, particularly for younger generations. The vast replacement of jobs by Artificial Intelligence (AI) will exacerbate the crisis and expand its impact to the GenXers and Baby Boomers.?

With the coming proliferation of AI, the value of knowing things (i.e., intelligence) will be available to everyone willing to engage with an AI “assistant.” Consequently, wisdom – applying knowledge into proper action – will become the new differentiator. Two important notes here:

1.?????For those unaware of the disruptive impact AI will have, consider the way the internet leveled the playing field in terms of information acquisition: DIY videos for everything from irrigation systems to car repair; medical and legal reference material available to everyone with a browser.

2.?????I am NOT recommending anyone engage an AI “assistant” until they understand the costs and risks of exposing themselves to a very soon to be higher intelligence currently under the control of potentially nefarious characters and companies. And yes, that is the truth of the situation (call me if you need convincing).

Here is some hopeful news: Those who practice Christianly thinking have a distinct advantage in the area of wisdom acquisition. While secular humanists continue to look to the created (i.e., the human mind) for wisdom, we can go directly to the source of all wisdom. While they are trying to create ways of drawing wisdom out of the carnal mind, we can be encouraging and edifying people toward discovery of the Life Who is our wisdom (1Corinthians 1:30) – we have the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:16). While they are manufacturing domain specific wisdom using cognitive science, we can be practicing divine wisdom in all domains.?

More hopeful news: As Christians, we have been edified and empowered with a Reality the world cannot offer. Living within us is the One Who desires to engage the world’s lost, wandering, and distressed persons with the genuine, highest, and supernatural values they desperately desire: Meaning, purpose, hope, identity, wisdom, comfort, home, etc.

God bless you with a growing desire and love of the truth, and opportunity to share it with others.

Have a strong day in the Lord,

Rob

#iamjustthepen

Billheimer, P. (1975). Destined for the Throne. Bethany House Publishers; Minneapolis, MN.

Blamires, H. (1963). The Christian Mind. Regent College Publishing; Vancouver, BC.

Gill, D. (1989). The Opening of the Christian Mind. InterVarsity Press; Downers Grove, IL.