Church Gathers to Mourn Significant Loss

Many gathered for services across the globe as a hero of faith was laid to rest, though not nearly as many as were expected. While an investigation is on-going, here is what we know so far.

 

Critical Thinking is dead.

 

Born an eternity ago in the mind and heart of God, Critical Thinking was a gift to all. Critical Thinking’s Father is quite impressive–omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient–Critical Thinking grew up in the midst of THE KNOW IT ALL. Critical Thinking is preceded in death by older, wiser siblings…Humility and Discernment.

Critical Thinking was always inquistive–always questioning the hows and whys of what was seen and heard. Can you even imagine? You thought your toddlers had a thousand questions a day about life, ladybugs, and bedtimes. Ha! Try raising Critical Thinking! “Why, why, why, why…why?” And not just questioning, Critical Thinking was always comparing, contrasting, evaluating the good or bad of an idea or action.

 

Here are two of my favorite AND TRUE stories about Critical Thinking.

Recently, at the MOMA–Museum of Modern Art, a young man took off one worn and ratty Converse High-Top sneaker and tossed it aside while he adjusted his sock that had scrunched down. He was amazed and amused to watch museum goers begin taking pictures of his shoe, appreciating its “beauty” and the apparent statement it made. A line formed. A line of at least minimally educated, museum goers, lined up to see the random sneaker…each reading into the “art” whatever nonsense value and explanation they wanted. We no longer know how to distinguish what has value, what is to be treasured greater than gold and what is common.

 

Have you ever seen a people so gladly willing to be deceived? We are the most highly educated, low information people the world has ever known.

With Critical Thinking gone, no one considers, no one probes, no one examines. A world of casual lookers but very few leaning into any issue to pursue truth or wisdom.

 

Critical Thinking knew our thoughts were to be on things that were true, lovely, noble, just, holy, and good. But with Critical Thinking gone…every thought it seems is wicked, rebellious, corrupt, and dangerous.

 

I sure miss Critical Thinking. I found myself weeping over the loss a few weeks ago on a Sunday.

We have been in ministry over 20 years and on our rare Sundays off we enjoy going to other churches. “Church-cations” we call them and we are quite good at planning them. Summer Sundays have found us going to one church on a Saturday night, an 8:00 on one side of town and an 11:00 service on another. We just like to see what others are hearing and seeing, what others call good or bad.

 

On our “Church-cation” this year we went to a church of a different denomination, genuinely curious to see if any of the recent strife we have seen in the news could be felt in the pews. There was certainly no indication of division or hostility but there was certainly death in the air. About 10 minutes into the message, I looked around and realized that only my family had Bibles. We weren’t the only to have Bibles out and open, we were the only ones with Bibles…at all. I started noticing the laps and legs of those around us. Any bags or books? Any paper or pens? Nothing.

 

The pastor didn’t give a chapter or verse to look up. The slides on the screens had quotes from famous people but were not set up with Scripture as though everyone would be reading or following along with the Word on the wall. No one wrote anything down. Everyone sat quietly listening and smiling. I noticed a young girl in front of me with a backpack of pins, typical of a teenager, but many were entirely contradictory to anything that would have reflected Christ. When we left an elderly gentleman wished us well and I noticed his name tag had pronouns listed below his name.

How does that happen?

How do you have people so unaware that while they are nodding along in agreement with the Gospel, they are negating it in application?

 

The death of Critical Thinking is certainly a part of it. But the greater grief here was over the total absence of THE WORD. It was nowhere to be found. And without it, no standard to be given.

As a teacher, here is what I would think if students showed up to my class with no book, paper, or pen.

• You do not intend to question anything said.
• You assume and accept all as truth.
• You assume your own understanding of everything.
• You do not desire any greater context from the verse, chapter, or book.
• You do not desire to dig any deeper into words or meanings.
• You do not desire to remember anything after leaving the room.
• You found no need to note anything for future question or consideration.

Friends–our Jesus is not just Savior. He is Rabbi Teacher too. And as much as He wants us to TRUST, He wants us to TASTE and TEST.

 

Critical Thinking is dead. And the loss is sad for society when it is felt in politics, culture, and the economy. But when Critical Thinking is gone from the church? It is far more than sad. It is damning. And we are far more than grieving fools. We are lost. Friends, we are living in a world ruled by deception. We MUST seek to be wise in the Lord. We MUST be Berean. We must resurrect Critical Thinking.

#evangelicalsforharris