Soren Kierkegaard, the 19th century Danish philosopher, is quoted as saying that, “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true. The other is to refuse to accept what is true.” In his day, Kierkegaard was considered a very liberal Christian philosopher. But if we use today’s standards for truth, he could be considered a rabid truth seeker at all costs.
As many of you know, I have been going through the book of Romans on our weekly Bible Studies. The apostle Paul laid out the case that the depravity of the mind has two primary characteristics. First, ungodly men will “suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18). The act of suppression is intentional and conscious. The apostle was clear that the individuals know the truth, but they must intentionally work to hide and reject the truth in order to excuse the actions of their depraved minds. Make no mistake about it, to suppress the truth is to promote a contradictory lie that sooths their corrupt minds and allows them to live as if there were no consequences to their idolatry and paganism. For instance, every pro-abortion politician, doctor, university professor, and every average village idiot, is suppressing the truth, and as a result they are doing the work of the father of lies, the devil. It does not make any difference if they have believed what isn’t truth or have refused to accept what is true, as Kierkegaard said. With their actions, they have allied themselves with the father of lies.
Jesus told the Pharisees as much when he said: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Jesus’s words were a powerful indictment against anyone who makes excuses for morally inexcusable behaviors. If a Christian finds himself making excuses for leaders who support the shedding of innocent blood or who support the lunacy of men believing there are women, they have joined forces with the devil and against God’s kingdom. Paul told the Galatians church: “Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Moses also wrote, “Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood” (Deut. 27:25). As Christians we need to be as clear as we possibly can to say that we do not approve, encourage, or turn a blind to this injustice.
The second characteristic of the depraved mind is idolatry (Romans 1:21-23). Paul described their idolatry this way: (1) they did not honor God, (2) did not give thanks to God, and in their foolishness their hearts became hardened, (3) and exchange the glory of God for the images of created things. All humanistic philosophies like, new age, socialism, and all “liberation theologies” are a move away from the “glory of the immortal God” to honoring the creature. How so, you may ask? Allow me three examples. Latin Liberation Theology uses poverty (a human condition) to define righteousness. Black Liberation Theology uses the color of the skin (a human condition) to define righteousness. Feminist Liberation Theology uses sex (a human condition) to define righteousness. What do these three movements have in common? All of them are based on some form of the human condition, and none of them are focused on “the immortal God,” their claims notwithstanding. As you can see, if your theology is founded upon visible human circumstances, you have taken your eyes from the invisible God. Let me close by reminding the readers of the words from the apostle Paul: “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man.” (Next: God’s truth as the only foundation for righteousness).
Σχόλια