“Fool-osopher”
“Fool-osopher” – a blind man looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn’t there. This is how some view the study of philosophy, and how I was introduced to the field of inquiry as a new Christian.
As with all sincere questioning and honest searches for truth, however, I have discovered that we end up circling back to a wonderful Scriptural principle or Biblical reality; even in “fool-osophy”. In all actuality, the early philosophers were on a quest for truth and were considered “Lovers of Wisdom”. Because of this, I believe we can discover deep truths about philosophy, about life issues, and about our Great God.
Philosophers were, and still are, on a quest to discover what are termed “first principles”. This is the primary task of philosophy, according to Aristotle. These first principles are undeniable basic truths that cannot be deduced by anything else. They are the most basic foundational truths upon which other “truths” can be deduced and placed upon. In mathematics they are the “axioms” by which we are able to prove that something else must be correct (if you can remember back to your high school math classes). This is where the blind man and the dark room come to mind.
As Christians, we realize two things. First, a philosopher, from ancient Greece or elsewhere, has no authority to declare what these “truths” might be! We, as humans, are limited in our perspective, our knowledge, our scope, and our longevity. The lost are also spiritually blind. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (I Corinthians 4:4) Secondly, only THE Universal Lawgiver can declare these first principles, as the philosophers have termed them. God has called them His Commandments. These blind men are looking into a dark room. Imperfect fallen creatures looking into themselves and into the world to discover truth.
The fact that great minds of the past have labored to discover these first principles should tell us something crucial. As human beings, it is essential that we grasp some universal truths to build our lives and our societies upon. I believe this is what God was doing in Deuteronomy chapter 5, as He was reiterating His commandments to the children of Israel when they were about to enter into a polytheistic, pagan land. Canaanites were sacrificing their children to the gods of sensuality. Sound familiar? Sex is America’s new god. Simply put, in too many cases, the abortion industry sacrifices babies at the behest of their mothers so that they can continue their immoral lifestyles without limitations. God restates the 6th commandment in chapter 5 and also Deuteronomy 6:4 states: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” God was giving the nation of Israel first principles. Truths upon which all other truths are deduced from! There is one God. Build on that truth. Thou shalt not sacrifice your children! Built upon the 6th commandment.
“Thou shalt not kill” – a first principle we should build upon. Abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide? No, no, and no. Are human beings special, set above the animal kingdom? Yes, this is one of God’s first principles. This is why we drive by a dead deer on the side of the road without a second glance. Yet if a dead body is discovered, the road is closed until an investigation is able to determine the cause of death. Even the atheist detective understands the sanctity of human life, for God has written his first principles (commandments) on our hearts. On his heart. On all of our hearts.
Proverbs 4:7 tells us that wisdom is the principal thing… and Psalm 11:3 laments: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The black cat, alluded to earlier, is indeed there as first principles. These pivotal foundation truths, that philosophers have searched for, ARE available. Blindly the secular “authorities” have been searching in all the wrong places and have come up with their own principles. In doing so they have destroyed the Judaeo-Christian foundations of the West, God’s first principles, and deduced faulty conclusions upon faulty first principles! This explains why one political party in America campaigned almost solely on abortion rights forever, or threatened they would be forever taken away. One can easily build a very distorted view of the value of human life upon the first principle of materialistic evolution. A vitally important foundation has been destroyed. What can the righteous do? What will happen to America if we continue to build upon these unscriptural first principles? I contend that we are already seeing the fruit.
The fruit of the implementation of Biblical principles unto the greater society has brought us the Judaeo-Christian West. This gave us a culture that even atheist Richard Dawkins is appreciative of. Stating that he loves living in a Christian society, he was quick to remind us that he still disagrees with everything Christianity teaches! Convenient. Enjoying the fruit of a Christian society, while undermining the tree that brings the fruit. Need Richard be reminded of the fruit of atheistic, totalitarian regimes that trumpet his own teachings? Dawkins, like much of the world, disagrees that humans were made in God’s image, but greatly marred that image in the fall. (Romans 5:12) He doesn’t believe that because of our own sin and rebellion against God, we deserve punishment. (Romans 6:23a) He certainly bristles at the idea that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin on the cross. (Romans 5:8) And to his own condemnation, Dawkins rejects the great Gospel truth that God offers us the free gift of salvation, to whosoever believes – trusts, places their faith in – the risen Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:23b)
This Gospel, teaching us about God’s AMAZING GRACE, causes the blind man to see, the dark room to be illuminated, and the elusive deep truths about life to become crystal clear.
Submitted by Jeff Schuldt
Assistant Pastor of Faith Baptist Church
Pastored by Dean Noonan
Oak Creek, Wisconsin