A Danger of "Progress"

I have almost finished a book of compiled essays by C.S. Lewis titled, God in the Dock.  Throughout the book I have encountered passages which in our day have proved almost prophetic as Lewis shared thoughts and insights.  After hearing the frantic claims of politicians quoting scientists concerning how swift action must be taken on climate change, what Lewis wrote years ago is relevant today.  In an article printed in 1958 titled "Is Progress Possible," C.S. Lewis had this to say concerning government control and overreach in the name of science:

Again, the new oligarchy must more and more base its claim to plan us on its claim to knowledge.  If we are to be mothered, mother must know best.  This means they must increasingly rely on the advice of scientists, till in the end the politicians proper become merely the scientists' puppets.  Technocracy is the form to which a planned society must tend.  Now I dread specialists in power because they are specialists speaking outside their special subjects.  Let scientists tells us about sciences.  But government involves questions about the good for man, and justice, and what things are worth having at what price; and on these a scientific training gives a man's opinion no added value.  Let the doctor tell me I shall die unless I do so-and-so; but whether life is worth having on those terms is no more a question for him than for any other man...I believe in God, but I detest theocracy.  For every Government consists of mere men and is, strictly viewed, a makeshift; if it adds to its commands "Thus said the Lord', it lies, and lies dangerously.

On just the same ground I dread government in the name of science.  That is how tyrannies come in.  In every age the men who want us under their thumb, if they have any sense, will put forward the particular pretension which the hopes and fears of that age render most potent.  They 'cash in'.  It has been magic, it has been Christianity.  Now it will certainly be science.  Perhaps the real scientists may not think much of the tyrants' 'science' - they didn't think much of Hitler's racial theories or Stalin's biology.  But they can be muzzled...We must give full weight to the claim that nothing but science, and science globally applied, and therefore unprecedented Government controls, can produce full bellies and medical care for the whole human race:  nothing in short, but a world Welfare State.  It is a full admission of these truths which impresses upon me the extreme peril of humanity at present. (Lewis, C. S., and Walter Hooper. God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014. pages 350-352)

When I hear campaigning politicians quoting unnamed scientists as if there is a unified consensus amongst them - of precisely what the problem is and what we must do or sacrifice to rectify it - I am most wary.  These plans seem to always include taxes and vast sums of money, basically a grant given to forward a political agenda by citizens to "research" or implement what is already outdated or deemed too expensive for practical use.  From a biblical perspective, to say there are only 10 years left for the United States to address a global issue is rubbish:  do we think so much of ourselves to go beyond the Word of God?  This is my issue when such time-sensitive assertions of global catastrophe are made.  According the the Bible at any given time there is (after the visible return of Jesus and establishment of His kingdom) at least 1,000 years to go until God dissolves this planet and universe.  Jesus Christ has not yet come in judgment, as He is not sitting on the throne in Jerusalem ruling nations with a rod of iron.  Jesus has created all things, sustains them, and He will someday unmake all to make way for the new heavens and earth where only righteousness dwells.  Do I think we should be good stewards of this earth God has created and entrusted to our care?  Certainly.  But I do not for a moment think man wise or powerful enough to know how to save a world God created (and we have done our best to destroy - even by application of scientific discoveries like the hydrogen and nuclear bomb) and still He upholds all in His wisdom and might--regardless what scientists supposedly claim.

I will gladly allow C.S. Lewis to conclude with the final flourish of his article:  "What assurance have we that our masters will or can keep the promise which induced us to sell ourselves?  Let us not be deceived by phrases about 'Man taking charge of his own destiny'.  All that can happen is that some men will take charge of the destiny of the others.  They will be simply men; none perfect; some greedy, cruel and dishonest.  The more completely we are planned the more powerful they will be.  Have we discovered some new reason why, this time, power should not corrupt as it has done before?" (Ibid, pg. 353)

Taking Responsibility

In light of a scandalous report aired on national television, a Australian Senate candidate resigned today.  The sordid details recorded in a strip club were so damning his political career was at an obvious end.  In a statement Steve Dickson was quoted as saying, "The footage shown does not reflect the person I am. It shows a person who was drunk and not in control of his actions and I take full responsibility for allowing that to happen."  It could be easily argued to the contrary:  his actions to become inebriated, to visit such an establishment as a public leader, and to do and say things which were reported portrayed exactly the sort of person he is - whether it fits with his preferred image or not.  To say our actions do not reflect the person we are is true because it is more than a reflection:  it is the real us on display.  Our actions and words paint a far more truthful and informative portrait of who we actually are rather than values we claim as our own.

As Christians this should strike us to the heart.  Long have professing Christians been dogged as hypocrites - rightly or falsely.  People in the world can often hold distorted views of what qualities Christians ought to possess, but even their critical observations can be valid.  It is fine for us to make our beliefs and values known, but having done so it is important we hold to them.  We should not blame others for our failures when it is clear we have played the fool.  Better to humbly admit our faults and seek to do what is right instead than to go on the offensive against hypocrisy in others as our defence.  It is possible to believe sound doctrine but not hold to it, to know what is right but fall short of a perfect standard.

One of the chief problems in the world - aside from denying the reality of the one true God - is the prevalence to deny our sinfulness.  There remains the erroneous notion that people are basically good when the Bible and all evidence points to the exact opposite:  there is no one good like God, not one.  When we sin through drunkenness, lust, self-righteousness, or pride, it is not a moment of weakness or a poor decision but an ugly,glimpse of the real us shining through which makes us squirm - the sinful us we work to keep hidden away behind nice manners and social decorum.  People don't know half the story of how wicked we actually are and neither do we because we are unable to comprehend the absolute perfection of the holy God.  Man is rotten at the core and will tirelessly do all he can to conceal, deny, explain away, or justify himself.  People will kill themselves instead of facing consequences for their shameful deeds.  If there was a hidden camera tracking our words, deeds, and thoughts, our guilt would be damning evidence to all.

Praise the LORD through faith in Jesus Christ we can be born again and receive new hearts and renewed minds by the Gospel.  How wonderful is the grace of God, that sinners like us can be forgiven on the basis of Christ's atoning sacrifice.  The stakes in this life are far higher than political careers or having a good reputation but eternity in heaven or hell which awaits us all.  Those who confess their sin and repent, trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, make their heavenly booking as God's adopted children, whilst those who deny their sin also deny the Saviour who loves, died, and rose from the dead to save sinners.  Owning our sin is the first step to repentance and forgiveness.  "Taking responsibility" for our sin does nothing to wash us of our guilt which remains forever.  God bids us be reasonable:  our sins, which are red as scarlet, He will wash white as snow by the shed blood of Jesus if we will agree to His gracious condition to trust in Him as LORD and Saviour.

Salvation Made Simple

As much as we say we prefer things to be easy, there is part of us which likes a level of difficulty and complexity.  Take puzzles for example:  a 20 piece puzzle is not as satisfying or fun to complete as a 500 piece puzzle.  Board games like "Candyland" or "Snakes and Ladders" are fine for little kids, but there is a point when most people actually want more of a challenge, more strategy with actual decisions which impact the outcome of the game.  Supporters and fans of professional teams and athletes pay money to watch players compete at a high level.  They would not likely pay to watch little children play tee ball but will pay hundreds of dollars for the chance in person to see M.L.B. players compete in the Home Run Derby.  The higher the stakes, the greater the difficulty, the bigger the stakes, the greater the honour and glory man gives and receives.

A similar dynamic is found in religious pursuits where great sacrifice and devotion of a person can be revered over the object of worship.  Supposed spiritual truth gained at great cost is carefully guarded and offered to only those deemed worthy.  The religions of the world are often a complex and demanding means of working to make oneself worthy, yet Christianity as revealed in the Bible stands by itself founded in the grace of God through the Gospel.  Followers of Jesus Christ always run the risk of reverting back to a system of works to prove themselves righteous when righteousness is a gift of God by grace through faith alone - faith which works righteously.

Jews and Gentiles both struggled to lay aside the fleshly impulse to look to men for guidance rather than the scriptures applied by the Holy Spirit.  Worship under the Law was highly complex and incredibly demanding and the aid of priests was necessary to approach God.  The Catholic church bears a loose resemblance with the demands placed upon adherents to partake of Mass, holy communion, confession, and on with the help of priests.  Among the religions of the world there always seems to be a level of religious bureaucracy to know or reach God - some guru, shaman, priest, prophet, or angel.  Like levels of difficulty in a Sudoku book or a video game, to advance means greater skill, knowledge, sacrifice, or devotion.  It is obvious people find some satisfaction in making spiritual advancement as complex and difficult as possible because the tendency is prevalent!

When Jesus came to earth in human form, the Son of God, in establishing a new covenant through His shed blood on Calvary He trumped the old covenant of Law.  When the veil in the Temple was torn top to bottom at His death, it confirmed Jesus Christ is our High Priest and no longer is anyone other than Jesus required to know God and be saved.  We do not need the prayers of priests, apostles, saints, or prophets to have an audience with the Almighty, no additional sacrifices of bulls, goats, or sheep are required to have favour with the KING of KINGS, for He provided atonement with His own blood.  There is no prophet who can compare at all with the humble Prophet, Apostle, and Rabbi from Nazareth Jesus Christ, and He is infinitely more than any of these roles also held by others being God Himself.  Jesus is the one who has promised to pray to the Father who has sent the Holy Spirit to regenerate all who trust in Jesus and guides us into all truth.  How awesome is this!

No longer does man need to work to prove himself worthy of forgiveness or that divine wisdom can be entrusted to him because Jesus has offered salvation by grace through faith.  The prophets of Ba'al spent all their strength leaping about, shouting, even cutting themselves hoping to invoke a response from their god, but it was a fruitless endeavour.  People to this day exhaust themselves in their frantic efforts to prove themselves worthy, but only Jesus is worthy of all honour and praise.  It is because we are not worthy and never could be worthy we come to Him in humility and faith, asking for forgiveness with thanksgiving.  Gone is religious bureaucracy, for Jesus alone forgives sin and presents us faultless before the Father.  There are no hoops to jump through to know God but to believe our risen LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Jesus has come to us and has drawn all men unto Himself so we might be saved and experience abundant life.

ANZAC Dawn Service 2019

I told the LORD if He would wake me up, I would go to the dawn service on ANZAC day.  I awakened before my alarm and walked to the cenotaph in Riverstone to join the throng which had already filled the square in front of the train station.  This is one of many dawn services I have attended on ANZAC day, commemorated annually on 25 April.  Those who attended the service were treated to a historical occasion - one I did not expect (besides the drone which buzzed around for half the service, a noisy nuisance).

The format of the service had a notable addition to hymns, poetry, the LORD's prayer, and the Last Post:  a speech, prayer (in song), and interpretation of a local Muslim imam.  In light of the Christchurch massacre it was decided to extend an invitation for the Imam to address the crowd and pray.  I thought it was a strange thing indeed, to hear prayers in Arabic those Diggers likely heard at a distance from minarets all those years ago at Gallipoli before they gave their all.  It was the first time ever, the imam shared, a Muslim had been asked to share like this and was grateful for the opportunity.  His words were measured with an Australian accent and translated carefully:  he often mentioned the grace of God and never said "Allah" - only "God."  If I was a not a Christian, what he was saying sounded on the surface very Christian.  But the god of Islam and the Koran and the God described in the Bible are two different deities:  they cannot be reconciled as the same, and the wise will not be duped.

The people who attended the dawn service were of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, and this is the world in which followers of Jesus live.  There are some who want Muslims (and Americans, for that matter!) to "go back where they came from," but I am glad they live among us.  How will people ever hear of Jesus Christ of the Bible who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?  There are deceptions all around, but it is only the truth of the Bible and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit we need to be light in a world of darkness.  Years ago I learned in some countries people are identified as Muslim or Christian due to their family background and this information is included on your identification.  In many countries it is illegal to be born Muslim and later decide to become a Christian.  Jesus Christ, in whom dwells the fullness of God bodily (Colossians 2:9) died to save the souls of Americans, Diggers, Muslims, to free people from bondage to sin and the power of Satan, and to provide life abundantly.

In the parable the master was not concerned to have the wheat and tares grow up together, fearing the tares would somehow strip the wheat of its nutritious properties.  No:  the wheat and tares were permitted to grow up together and when the time of harvesting came they would be sorted.  So it is for all the people at that ANZAC dawn service and all the world.  God knows every single person who has been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, the only Way to God.  What is the chaff to the wheat?  Praise the LORD He has sent Jesus to be the Saviour of the world and we can have love, forgiveness, and eternal life through Him.