Opinions, Faith and Tyranny

We live in a time where everyone seems to have an opinion. From young children to older people have opinions and while there is nothing wrong with opinions in themselves, we find ourselves on dangerous ground when these opinions become sacred and untouchable. Someone said "Opinions are like armpits, everyone has them but some stink!"

As someone who works in an educational environment, I am amazed at how strong this post-modern thinking of not daring to question a person's opinions has infiltrated young minds. Is this perhaps linked to the idea that there is no ultimate truth and that we all need to find our own truth as we go along in life because all opinions(beliefs) are equal? This is of course a world view or belief system in itself! This makes you wonder whether we have any right to question the ideas and opinions of Hitler, Stalin, racists and pedophiles? Or are certain opinions and beliefs more equal than others?

This trend could lead(or has it already?) to a new kind of tyranny where no real debate is encouraged and where no opinion can be challenged for the fear of being branded as a bigot or being intolerant! Just look at the reaction(and name-calling!) these last few months over the leaking of e-mails that indicate that all may not be well with the "science" behind global warming!

It also has serious implications for education because good teachers should have the right to challenge existing beliefs, ideas, opinions and views in order to cultivate skills of debate, analysis and evaluation. Children need to learn how to make informed choices, they need the basic human right to have the opportunity to be confronted with alternative world views in order to critique their own world view in an academic way. It's a myth to believe that children grow up without a world view. From my experience as a teacher I can say that the prevailing world view amongst most children goes something like this; "There is no ultimate truth; my opinion is my absolute right; fun and cool are in and cheesy is out, and the only value of education is to get a good job so I can make money".

In the absence of well informed parents and the increase of dysfunctional families, the media has probably become the biggest influence when it comes to the communication of world views. Sadly, most programs like documentaries, films and comedies seem to be driven by naturalistic, narcissistic and humanistic world views. Programs like Discovery Channel, to name one, have a powerful effect on especially young minds, because the theories of naturalistic world views are presented as fact! This in itself would not have been a major problem, but in the prevailing climate of intolerance these views are not scrutinised thoroughly enough in peer reviews and scientific journals. This is because the naturalistic world view was very successful in separating "scientific fact" from religious faith-in Huxley's words "not to allow God a foot in the door"

I believe that the Christian faith is deeply rooted in logic and that truth is able to stand on its own feet, and if given the opportunity in a climate of tolerance and critical examination it will pass any test of the mind and of the spirit! Let us beware of a new medieval darkness where only the acceptable world view of a small insider group of "intellectuals" control what is believed about life, morality and science! The danger signs are already there; try to challenge evolutionary theories, theories about global warming, views on homosexuality etc. The backlash is almost as severe as when you critisise the religious extremism in Islam.

Jesus said that the truth about Him shall make us free! Let us as Christians proclaim this truth with conviction but not in word only but especially by expressing Him who is the ultimate truth. Let us believe that Jesus' prayer in John 17 will be answered "Father, I pray that they be one...so that the world will know"

Redefining Christianity 3

Christianity has in many instances become a book-religion. In an attempt to stay true to the doctrines of Christianity the Bible as a book has taken the place of the Spirit. Jesus' warning about the "yeast of the Pharisees' is relevant in this regard. Many Christians have become slaves of the letter instead of followers of the Spirit. Jesus is known "after the flesh" as a historical person, but not as the Life-giving Spirit who indwells His Body now! His warning to the Pharisees and Scribes is now as relevant as ever; "You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me!"

Some Christians make a big thing about believing every word of the Bible as the Word of God, and the fact that they see the Bible as "inerrant, infallible, and eternal', but than go right ahead and declare that, for example, the gifts of the Holy Spirit were only valid until the Canon was determined by the church, or that infant baptism is scriptural! In other words, what they mean when they talk about the Bible being inerrant and infallible is actually that their interpretations of the Bible are inerrant and infallible! At the same time they ascribe qualities to the Bible that actually only belongs to God.

Anyone who truly loves the scriptures, but even more so the Lord of the scriptures, will find that Christianity is a lifestyle infused and directed by the Spirit. After Jesus emphasised the importance of a deep and intimate relationship with Him, He said in John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" Did Jesus stop speaking to His disciples after His ascension? Paul made it clear that Christ was the life in us(Galatians 2:20) and when defending his apostolic authority he said in 2 Corinthians 13:3; " since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. " The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to help us hear the indwelling Christ speak. In this process He uses the lives of the ancient believers, and the words of Jesus and his apostles as related in the scriptures! Listen how Paul describes his ministry and the effects of the Spirit in the lives of believers; "Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it--not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives--and we publish it. We couldn't be more sure of ourselves in this--that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation. We wouldn't think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to help carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn't written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It's written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives! (2 Corinthians 3-3-6) And this is how Paul describes his preaching and teaching; "and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

It is not only in "organised religion' that we find this pharisaical approach to the Bible, but also in some so called "Biblical Churches" where an attempt is made to do church perfectly according to the 'blueprint' in the Bible. The true blueprint can only be discovered by following the leading of the Holy Spirit or to put it differently; to listen to the voice of the Head Jesus Christ and do only what He instructs. In this process He will follow the principles that He has revealed (and is revealing) through the apostles and prophets! I believe He is still using the Living Word through the mouths of true apostles and prophets to build His church on the revelation of Himself as the chief cornerstone. This is the kind of church and lifestyle that is supported and exemplified by the Bible!