Independence through Dependence?

I am about halfway through reading the memoirs of A.E. Wilder-Smith called Fulfilled Journey.  He concisely describes his observations as to the cause of the "disintegration" of the modern education system.  A couple of sentences stood out to me:  "School is too often no more than a means for the manipulation of opinions and the leveling of society for ideological reasons.  It is no longer for training in independent thought and the formation of one's own opinions based on facts and data.  In such a school system the development of an independent personality is neither possible nor desired." (Fulfilled Journey, Wilder-Smith, pg. 202)  I heartily endorse and agree with this observation as being true to my experience.  In my university days it seemed the focus was more on freedom of speech and expression rather than freedom of thought.

I appreciate A.E. Wilder-Smith's perspective because he is a scholar, scientist, an intellectual, and also a Christian.  A common misconception in the world today is this breed cannot possibly exist.  If someone confesses belief in God and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God in some people's minds is the equivalent of a complete lobotomy.  But history shows that the exact opposite is true:  some of the most independent and intelligent minds believed in the existence of God and the veracity of scripture.  Jesus is the prime example of independent thinking.  Have you read the Sermon on the Mount?  Jesus Christ, the man who claimed to be God-made-flesh, trumped the Law based upon His own authority, and rightly so.  He dashed the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees with supernatural wisdom.  He did not come from their schools of theology, but Jesus crushed them over and over until they were afraid even to question Him.  When Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, and ascended into heavenly glory, even then the light of truth did not pierce the darkness of their hearts and minds.

The idea that schools once were "for training in independent thought and the formation of one's own opinions based on facts and data" was almost a startling revelation.  When I attended university, it was elementary for me to deduce between what was taught and what was believed.  It was not long before philosophy teachers no longer taught philosophy, but proudly displayed their own philosophy as the standard.  Biology and geology presented a similar experience:  we were never taught how to think scientifically or do the work of a scientist, but to accept as fact only what actual scientists had already discovered.  To pass the course, one only needed to regurgitate information.  Ironically, every year or so the books were reprinted as new editions with changes and adjustments to accommodate recent scientific discoveries which rendered old facts obsolete.  Our knowledge was limited to textbooks written according to the consensus of scientists much smarter than us or even our professors.  Are professors allowed to teach independently of material they believe inaccurate based on facts - the same facts which will be rendered obsolete in mere months?  Not if they want to keep their jobs.

Should we desire to develop an "independent personality?"  The answer will differ based upon your worldview.  If you believe that God has created all human beings in His own image individually with unique talents, gifts, and insights, the cultivation of an independent personality should be expected.  But if you believe that we exist based on the random activity of chemicals, energy, from data that somehow appeared and assembled itself over time, an independent personality does nothing to aid evolutionary progress.  I am convinced that the most independent people are those most dependent on God.  They do not need to fear the consequences of being fired for their insolence to oppose the status quo, for these people do not even fear death!  Christians are those who historically have joyfully faced the prospects of deprivation, loss of all things, even loss of life, for the excellency of the knowledge of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Paul states in Philippians 3:8-9, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith..."

Man manipulates, but God convinces.  He does not shout from the heavens, "Believe me or else!"  In Isaiah 1:18 He says through the prophet, "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  Jesus came to earth and allowed the best and brightest of the world to take their shots:  He overcame every one.  God does not force, but He draws us by His lovingkindness.  He does not burden us with rules or ideology (though man is only too happy to oblige!) so we might stay in His favour, and will not crush us if we have questions or struggle to understand.  John 8:31-36 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ³³ They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" ³⁴ Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."  Praise God for allowing us to be free:  free to think and speak, free to act, and free to live for His glory.  You will never know freedom until you are freed by Christ.