Michael Polyani the Great Scientist Philosopher

Michael Polyani the Great Scientist Philosopher

I am at a state in life where I am motivated to read books that have been in my bookcases for years but have not yet been read. One of those books is by Michael Polanyi, one of the greatest scientists in the last generation (physical chemistry) who branched off into philosophy and art. His book, Personal Knowledge, is based on the Gifford Lectures given in Scotland. The Gifford lectures are lectures on natural theology and have produced some amazing classics. My professor of Epistemology, Dr. Arthur Holmes of Wheaton College, did present some of his thoughts in that class. Recently I read, in the truly great book by Fr. Thomas Dubai, The Evidential Power of Beauty, mentioned that Polanyi argued for the beauty of a scientific theory as evidence for his truth. So after more than 50 years on my shelf, the book was opened and read carefully. Here are a few thoughts on this amazing book.

First the book is a what is called in philosophy a descriptive phenomenology of science. It does a masterful job of describing how science works. It draws on the history of science and on more contemporary advances. It also gives a description of the nature of mathematics, pure science and applied science. The book is brilliant, convincing and very difficult. I can never get Alzheimer’s desease after exercising my brain at this level. Here are few choice conclusions form this great thinker.

Science itself cannot be understood in properly in mechanistic materialistic terms. The very nature of science shows a background of intuitive grasp, heuristic backgrounds, and a tacit (assumed pre-theoretical knowledge) that can not be proved by the scientific method. The personal dimension and commitments that are personal pervade science.
Though Polanyi is an evolutionist, he shows again and again that evolution itself cannot be explained by mere chance exercised on a material physical base. Every advance in life cannot be anticipated by the scientific description of that existed at the earlier stage. The advances are unspecifiable in earlier stages. The attempt to reduce life to physics and chemistry makes biology impossible.
The mind is real and cannot be reduced or explained in terms of brain states.
The scientific establishment usually resists the creative innovations that lead to advancement unless it is forced and could no longer resist the new innovations.
Great advances in science are akin to creative art and not just a product of engaging the scientist in mechanical processes of experiment leading to conclusions. The great scientist provides insights that are hard to predict leading to whole new paradigms of seeing.
Polanyi’s description of learning in animals shows a higher level of consciousness than we usually embrace. This was a fascinating aspect of his book.

When I was a student, I took the course Concepts of Biology under the noted biologist Dr. Russell Mixter. I found that it was impossible to describe biological systems and processes without recourse to personalistic language. The attempt to reduce biological law to the laws of physics and chemistry was impossible and led to absurdity. For me, this was an argument for Theism, the mark of God’s personal creation was manifest in everything.

Polanyi opens our minds to the mystery of existence and shatters the illusion that a materialistic explanation for biological and human life is possible. The book Mind and Cosmos by Thomas Nagel, one of the leading American philosophers does the same.

There was much more that I could bring out form reading this book, but it would be beyond the scope of this book.

The Most Important Questions

Sometimes we try to convince people of the way of the Gospel by showing them that those who live according to the Bible live the most fulfilling lives. I think this is true. I believe that sociological studies that would follow people over a long period of time would find this to be definitely true. However, the standard for such a study would be solidly committed believers with clear markers of commitment. This would not work if nominal believers were part of the study. Some years ago, Redbook Magazine did a study of sexual fulfillment and found to their astonishment that those in committed traditional marriages had by far more fulfillment than others. However, it is quite amazing that the Bible does not much appeal to this argument for faith. Yes, there are verses that say a better life ensues when we are submitted to God and follow Yeshua. “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b)

The biblical arguments are stark. First, it argues that we did not create ourselves. We find ourselves in a world where we are taught standards of right and wrong and know that we have violated those standards. The idea of being in danger from the judgment of the creator is a foundational biblical theme. If there is life after death, how can we assure a positive after life destiny. It would seem that the possibility of everlasting life is so serous a matter that resolving whether or not we believe in life after death and where we will end up in that state would be the most important question that we can ask. The New Covenant Scriptures promise the most positive destiny for those who find love and forgiveness of sins through Yeshua’s sacrifice. The promise of the Bible is resurrection life in the Age to Come on a renewed earth. It is quite contrasting to the nebulous hope of Hinduism (and more popular Buddhism) and its escape from karma. It is closer to the hope in primitive religions that present a more concrete hope. The famous mathematician Blaise Pascal was famous for his argument for faith called, “The Wager.” Pascal argued that one should wager on the biblical faith being true and commit one’s life to it. If one is wrong and there is nothing after, one has lost nothing, but if the Gospel is true, then the loss is total and terrible. There is merit to this wager. Indeed, there is no more concrete hope and evidence than for Biblical faith so wagering for it is a better bet than for other religions. Settling the question of our eternal destiny is the very most important issue. There was some level of the fear of God in the culture which made this argument more persuasive.

The second most important issue is how we should live this life in this world. After devotion to God and his people, the most important matter is to pursue justice motivated by love for others. This is the continued theme of the prophets. The pursuit of justice is the pursuit of the order in society of the greatest destiny fulfillment for the greatest number. However, the first justice issue, that often not recognized, is the presentation of the Gospel with power. The Gospel itself is the “power of unto salvation,” and has the power to lift people out of their bondage and the systems of injustice. Salvation includes that wonderful after death existence but is also includes a purposeful life in this present life Hence Luke 4 and Yeshua’s announcement of the Good News as providing liberty for the captives, the great reversal. Economic issues and other social disparities in our society are important but of much lesser importance than providing the Gospel. Pursuing justice therefore is first of all to bring people to the knowledge of the truth and the unlimited power of God to lift people out of their negative circumstances.

The other matters of justice are also important; economic opportunity, educational opportunity, equal treatment under the law, religious feedom, and overcoming all racism. A follower of Yeshua pursues all of these matters but pursues the spread of Gospel above all.

Should We Indoctrinate our Children?

The way this question is phrased is already assuming that we should not because indoctrination is a negative word today. One young adult objected to teaching our children biblical perspectives as indoctrination. Rather we should ask, should we disciple our children? And of course, my answer is certainly, for Deuteronomy 6:4 ff. commands us to teach the words of God diligently to our children. We are to talk of them when we walk by the way and when we lie down and rise up.

I am the product of a Jewish and Norwegian marriage. My mother and father agreed to not teach us either in the religion of Judaism or Christianity but to allow us to choose our own path when we got older. This seemed very enlightened but was mistaken. Nevertheless, God called me to Himself when I was 12 ½. When we do not disciple our children, we leave a vacuum. They will then be indoctrinated by the larger culture around them, the schools, the internet, and social media. We desire that parents would be in control of those sources of indoctrination.

However, it is not like we desire to produce young adults who cannot think for themselves in dependence on the Spirit. As children are young, they learn basic biblical truths, the memorization of Scripture, Bible stories, and great stories of those in missions. As they enter young adulthood we need to deal with difficult questions, the problem of evil and suffering, other religions, the secular world, the nature of justice, and even economics. If parents are not capable of such a dialogue, they need their young people to be connected to those who can deal with such issues. In addition, they need to be able to understand both sides of an issue, even the arguments of those who are against biblical faith. The young adult learns then to engage in such a way that they are able both to see the other side and not be taken in by it. They can weigh arguments and are not merely indoctrinated. However, walking in the Holy Spirit will be a key to not going too fast beyond the capability of the young person to absorb and deal with the issues. Seeing mature, discipled and educated young adults should be our goal.

Christian Social Justice Movements

I have had dialogue with many due to the election controversy on the larger issue of how much a priority we should make of seeking justice in the society. I wanted to make a few comments on this. First of all, we should note that the historic position of Protestant Christianity was that we should seek justice and righteousness in society. Before the Dispensational Movement that only wanted to save souls and then escape before the tribulation, this was a general consensus. The great revivalists were very committed to seeking social justice as the outworking of revival and as part of their revival emphasis. Certainly, this was true of Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finny, and Jonathan Blanchard, the founding President of Wheaton, who said that his vision was to see Wheaton College used so that the Law of God would become the law of the land. They meant this with the qualification of applying it judiciously in our age and in the New Covenant period. The great social movements against slavery and against child labor and the oppression of the poor came from the revivals. The great thinker/Prime Minister of Holland, Abraham Kuyper (120 years ago) almost said the same words as Blanchard. The Pilgrims and the Puritans, of course, settled New England with this very vision in mind. This produced a unique accommodation to Christianity in America. For example, there are two aspects that I would point to. First, Church properties and income is tax-free. Why? Not only because the view was that Christian institutions benefit society and are a key foundation, but there was another reason. That is true. However, it is also that the Church is its own government sphere apart from the government sphere of the state and the state has no claim on money that belongs to God’s sphere. So it is not a special grant from the state, but rather a matter of a foundational principle of understanding Church and state. This was a key to the United States being a society that was the most favorable to world missions that had ever been seen. So when Christians are pushing back against the darkness they see coming from the left, it is that they do not want to see the death of this special situation unlike any other where religious freedom was so fostered. Cancel culture really sees Christianity and its teaching on sin and salvation as hate speech. So the mass mobilization of prayer for the present situation is a right thing and as we have connected to the many streams of prayer: the cry for mercy, repentance, and revival has been very strong. We have not before seen such a mobilization for national and world prayer for the Church and the country.

However, one friend who has written us has pushed back against this saying that the emphasis on the U. S. and righteousness is not balanced. He believes that in the present state of the Church, the focus on righteousness in the nation is not right. The Church is in decline in discipleship and is not growing and going forward. Certainly, he is right about the analysis of the churches today. Indeed, without a revival and turn around in the churches, the efforts for biblical social justice will fail. So this has to be the top focus for prayer and effort, revival, and reformation in the churches. Having said that, we do not know that God can not bring both together. Only our discernment in the Spirit can answer this question.

Another friend thinks that the quest for national righteousness is wrong for he discerns that we are entering the tribulation and that the time for this effort is passed. Now is the time to prepare for the persecution and the Anti-Christ. What can I say? So often it has seemed so to past generations. We can not know that there will not be revival and delay in the return of the Lord and more Gospel progress first. Again, we have to be led by prayer and discernment. I have constantly taught that we both need to be ready for his near return and to act for the possible delay, which would lead to seeking revival and social justice.

ON FAIRY STORIES: A Little Piece for Chanukah and Christmas

During graduate school, I was fascinated by a presentation by the famous apologist, Dr. John Warwick Montgomery, on J. R. R. Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Stories. Tolkien argued that all great fairy stories, and often great literary classics presented a general pattern that fit the Biblical narrative. Things start well, but then something happens whereby things go terribly wrong with great trials and suffering, but then there is redemption and victory for the good people, and they live happily every after. This, is, of course referring to the Biblical account where the human beginning is in the paradise of the Garden of Eden, but then things went terribly wrong through the temptation of the Serpent. Human life often became a trial of suffering. However, there are harbingers of the ultimate redemption and the great turn around in Israel’s escape from Egypt and entering into the promised land. Then there is the promise of the coming of the Messiah who will bring final deliverance for Israel and the healing of the nations. All will live in peace and joy under the rule of the Messiah. It is the great reversal. The coming of Yeshua began the process that will lead to the completion of redemption and to the “happily ever after.” So many sense that they are made for the happy ever after end.

Tolkien’s masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, is one of the greatest fairy stories. Tolkien was firm on his exhortation that we should not see the novel as an allegory of the Gospel. However, that does not mean that it does not generally participate in a Biblical orientation because all great fairy stories do so. Only recently was I able to obtain a copy of this essay which I had read over 50 years ago.

My favorite Christmas Story is It’s a Wonderful Life. In this great classic we find that every good life touches many people, but we don’t often see it. When one life influences for good, that person touches others who touch others. The great thing about this story is that the lead character does find out that his life has been a wonderful one. Of course, he lives happily ever after. Now one does not really ever live happy for forever in this present life. Rather, he lives happy forever only in after the consummation and the return of Yeshua.

Chanukah is a preparatory story, a fairy tale in real life, real history. It tells us how Israel was delivered and re-attained their independence as a nation after terrible oppression under the Syrian Greeks. Without Chanukah there is no coming of Yeshua to a Jewish living nation in the first century. Chanukah tells a proximate fairy tale for the happy forever does not last. Alas, the descendants of the Maccabees become corrupt. Then the nation was then conquered by Rome. Eventually the Romans destroy the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary. The Christmas story brings the most amazing tale of the incarnation of Yeshua that leads to the amazing victory of the death and resurrection of Yeshua. But this is not the end of the story. That ending, the final happy ever after ending, comes about only in his Second Coming. We are in the middle of this greatest of all fairy stories, spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom, suffering, rejoicing, and onward until the final victory. That is the ultimate happy ending forever.

Where Am I on the Presidential Election Controversy

Some of my Facebook friends have made it clear that they believe that there was massive voter fraud in the last election and but for that fraud, President Trump would have won. Others of my friends, even who voted for Trump, think that the whole voter fraud claim is foolish and will get nowhere. It is not that there is not fraud in their view, but not enough to come close to swinging the election in favor of Trump.

Those who have followed my personal page as well as my official page have some idea of my views. I have been consistent on three points. The first is that our primary orientation to politicians should be to support the one who will most support the policies which are more in accord to the Bible. I noted that I disagreed with President Trump on some issues, but his policies overall were by far more in accord with biblical norms. Secondly, I noted that I had great concern from time to time with the President’s behavior and did not think that he should be given a pass on this. I thought this behavior did hurt the country. Thirdly, I noted that there was amazing prophecy predicting Trump’s election from even before he was evening running for President and continuing when it seemed his election was not probable. Some of these prophecies came from what I call “internet prophetic stars” most of whom I had not heard of until recently. But some were good, accountable and humble people. These words were of some comfort to me in my struggles over the Presidents behavior. These prophecies did not mean that we should discount the transgressions against biblical behavior norms.

Since the election, some of the prophets are still convinced that the President will prevail. Some gave prophecies that he would be elected to a second term. I have not sensed that I was to either endorse or despise those prophecies. I rather have sensed that I was to join with the many prayer streams that are intensively praying in a godly fashion. They project a spirit of repentance, are crying out for revival, are asking God to expose fraud and injustice, to have mercy on the United States and to not bring us into his full judgement. It is my evaluation that most of the intercessory streams, some international, with whom I am related, do believe there was serious fraud; that is their prayerful discernment. One person who I know well has predicted that though it was God’s original plan to see Trump elected for two terms, that too many Christians have fallen into an adulation of Trump and have themselves become coarsened and derailed. Thus, God has decided that Trump will not be the President. I still am very concerned for the justice issues and the terrible darkness I see on the left gaining power. We pray, pray and pray. Trying to decide between these prophecies is beyond my capability or calling at the present time, though I do try to confirm or not confirm prophecies when I sense I am called to do so.

I do believe that from all I have read that there has been serious fraud, but I do not know that the evidence is sufficient for a court of law to overturn results. I also sense this fraud and evil to the best of my discernment ability. So, I pray for repentance, righteousness, justice, against the darkness and for an outpouring of the Spirit in revival.

I have not been led to take a position on the prophetic words, predict the outcome of the investigations, or to render a judgment on the condition of the Body of Believers in America, though I have deep concerns about the lack of discipleship as my primary concern. I have been amazed at how much I track with Dr. Mike Brown on all of this. We have corresponded many times about it. This is a time for intense intercession. I believe the mobilization of intercession, greater than I have ever seen in my lifetime, will bear fruit whether or not Donald Trump is elected. I don’t want to do anything to undercut that.

I do not think it would add anything to the debate for me to summarize my rational reasons beyond my discernment sense for thinking that there has been serious fraud. Instead, I affix two links, one to very fine article by Mike Brown that pretty much summarizes where I am at. It contains links to those who summarize the case for fraud. The other link is to an American Spectator article that was a very good summary. This is a very respected conservative journal that has been around for decades. So, let’s humble ourselves and pray. Let us keep at it until the present court and legislative appeals are done and then let us continue to pray for revival more and more whatever the outcome.

https://spectator.us/reasons-why-the-2020-presidential-election-is-deeply-puzzling/

https://stream.org/my-official-position-on-election-fraud/

A Call for a Dialogue Between Black Evangelical Democrats and Evangelical Republicans, White, Black and Hispanic in light of the Georgia Senate Races

The leader of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is seeking to mobilize the members of his churches to vote for the Democrat candidates for the Senate in Georgia. Meanwhile, the other Evangelicals in Georgia are mobilizing to support the Republicans. Two seats are up for grabs and will determine whether the Senate is Republican or Democrat, whether it is a firewall against the more radical Democrat policies or whether there will be Democrat control of the Presidency (if Trump cannot prevail), the Senate and the House. The present battle is super intense with money pouring in from around the country. There are also real issues on whether or not Georgia will again use the controversial Dominion voting systems or whether or not the same weaknesses in voter identification are repeated as in the November election.

Though the unitary support for Democrats among blacks declined in the last election, Black Evangelicals still vote Democrat. It is hard for the Black Evangelical Democrats to understand how their brothers and sisters in the faith can vote for the party they see as not supporting the government help that they need, both in welfare, housing, and public education. For them, this is the overriding issue. Abortion for example is a choice that others make even if wrong, but this is less the problem than allowing the poor to continue to be in want. No one forces a person to have an abortion, but poverty leads to real destruction as well. They also are not seeing challenges to their religious freedom or the LGBT agenda since this is not the world of their concern or interaction. Abortion is common in the black community.

The other Evangelicals cannot see how the Black Evangelical Democrats do not see how legalized abortion brings the judgment of God. How can they not see how it has undercut their own population? They do not understand how their brothers and sisters cannot see that the very policies they think are crucial are the very ones that keep their poor in the cycle of poverty. They point to vouchers in education as a game-changer for the poor. So also enterprise zones and economic development are crucial. The moral issues of support for the traditional family are also central to them. They know their brothers and sisters are morally conservative but do not see how they cannot see that the culture is now going in directions that destroy the morals of the community. Can’t they see the dangers to religious freedom and the cancel culture?

These two communities are like ships passing in the night. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the key leaders of these two groupings could meet for an extended dialogue with heart sharing, some scholarly papers (with understandable language), and interaction? I think this would be great. Could there be some empathetic listening? This happens all too rarely. Maybe some positions would change, but at least there will be deeper understanding.

Bible Based Concerns for a Biden Administration or Any Other

I was recently reflecting on the issues that need much prayer if Joe Biden is finally confirmed as president, issues for which we need to pray much and in which we need a righteous stand. Here are a few. I call them Bible-based concerns or Torah based concerns.

The abortion issue is #1. While the greater saving of lives may be more by promotion and witness than by law, a law giving abortion rights to the end of the 9th month can and will bring terrible judgments on the nation. A Biden administration will return to the policy of full funding for abortion re: Planned Parenthood. Biden has said he will try to repeal the Hyde amendment which prevents taxes from direct use for abortion, thus giving a conscience respect to pro-life people. Also, they would want to return to the policies of the Obama era seeking to strong-arm other nations to have abortion rights.
The LGBTQ agenda which seeks to cancel all who morally opposes this agenda as haters and their views as hate speech. This agenda includes forcing private creative art businesses to give their services to support gay marriages and other celebrations making the believer violate conscience. It also requires biological men to be given access to women’s dressing rooms, or in schools to the shower rooms of the girls. It may destroy women’s sports by allowing biological men to compete with girls. It will require the military to accommodate transgenders as well. There could be pressure for other nations to embrace the full scope of the LGBT agenda.
Religious freedom. On this, there may be opposition to the non-profit status of organizations that do not do gay weddings and support the gay lifestyle. Also, there may be a return to the Johnson amendment which restricts the free speech of churches. Trump removed this restriction. On other religious freedom, issues see #3 above. We also need to be aware of the freedom of the team at the public school to pray publicly or the coach to pray without it being official. Also, people have been fired for their public profession of their views on marriage, etc. There is boycott and cancel culture pressure.
Defending persecuted Christians in other countries though American policy pressure may be weakened.
Censorship by social media and big tech of Christian/Messianic Jewish and conservative views may increase. Paypal, banks, and other services can block accounts for organizations that support traditional values. Tremendous pressure could be brought to bear on those who hold to traditional values.
The continued oppression of the black community by removing vouchers for private schools is possible. In my view of biblical justice, every person has a right to educate their children in a world view context in which they believe and where they can succeed. One of the keys to elevating the black poor is private vouchers to escape the cycle of failure and poverty.
Enterprise zones and opportunities for blacks by business incentives are important. This includes apprenticing and training. We need to pray these efforts developed by President Trump, Senator Tim Scott, and HUD Secretary Ben Carson continue.
The issue of prosecuting those who violated the law in bringing FISA spying applications against Trump officials and taking us through almost 4 years of investigations that were political and unjust may become moot. We as Bible people do want justice.
Dealing with Antifa and the violent left and their destruction of businesses and cities may be very weak. Will a Biden administration deal with the criminal acts of such people? Biden will not be radical enough for these groups.
Support for Israel. Will a Biden administration roll back the progress made on recognizing Jewish rights in Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and their rights to the Golan and to settlements in Judea and Samaria? Or will they go so pro-Palestinian that the progress will be lost?
The Iran situation is a major issue for Bible believers. It is our desire that Israel is protected, and that Iran never gets a nuclear bomb. They even profess that they would drop it on Tel Aviv. Leaving the Iran deal and pushing hard on Iran in sanctions has been a key to the new alliances between Israel and Sunni Arab nations. This is another crucial Israel issue.

Let us pray much on these biblical issues, but first of all that we can share the Gospel with full freedom. That Gospel includes content that some will now say is hate speech since the Gospel is good news in the light of our violation of the Law. The Law includes standards that are rejected by our society and warn people about sin and hell including sexual sin. Without the Law, people do not see that they are in danger of Hell before a holy God. See the book by Ray Comfort, Hell’s best Secret. Do note that the Gospel preached as classically presented will be called hate speech. We cannot stop that, but in the cancel culture, will the government seek to prevent such preaching and presentation?

White Privilege and Black Challenges

While staying at our hotel during the time we were teaching at the New Jerusalem Congregation outside of Wheaton, Illinois, I happened to hear an interview where the black person being interviewed gave one of the better presentations of white privilege. Unfortunately, I did not get his name. I think it was on ABC on Saturday morning.

The subject explained that white privilege did not mean that there were not underprivileged whites or underprivileged from other ethnicities, but that blacks were underprivileged on the basis of the color of their skin in a unique way. Therefore white skin color gives whites a leg up. I thought about a time when I was ministering in Brazil. I remarked that Brazil seemed to be a wonderfully integrated society. Blacks and whites intermarried, and every shade of skin and variety of ethnic appearance was common. My host disagreed with my conclusions and said that shades of skin color produce a hierarchy of privilege. It was not that one could not succeed, but there was more of a barrier to the darker the skin. I have no doubt that that is true. Why is this the case?

Human beings favor those that look like them. They relate more easily to those with a greater reflection of their own appearance. I cannot quote from the studies, but I have read such in the past. Whatever group is a majority will tend to favor their own kind over against the minority.
Secondly, there is a fear of blacks, partly due to skin color favoritism in our psyche and partly due to the actual crime statistics. However, this fear tends to diminish in a neighborhood where the middle class and upper-middle-class blacks live. In one of our homes in Maryland where we lived for ten years, we had black neighbors next door and across the street. I think all accepted them fully. Our children played together. One was a veterinary doctor and the other in high tech. Part of the issue is class status and not skin color. However, where the police are concerned, the testimony is overwhelming that blacks are pulled over disproportionately without reason and are treated more harshly in the same situation as whites. Note the testimony of Senator Tim Scott.
There is no question that the black community experiences a disproportionate level of economic disparity in economic outcomes.
Yet there are some realms where being black can give a leg up such as in school admissions at some universities.

So, what is to be done? Some argue that the answer is massive funding for reparations from slavery or affirmative action where the positions of blacks in schools, jobs, government service, and more is strictly proportionate to their numbers. A spoils system thus replaces a meritocracy. But this is not possible. Does one really want an equal proportion of brain surgeons by fiat? Or engineers to build buildings and bridges? Or nuclear physicists? The skill of creating a flourishing business cannot be parcel out to ethnic proportions.

There can of course be government programs and incentives to help. One is charter schools and vouchers for private schools for the parents’ choice. A second is economic incentives for the father to marry and raise his children. Welfare can be so reformed. Another is economic incentives for business development in the cities as well as incentives for businesses to train and hire.

Ultimately, the solution will not be found by the disadvantaged becoming more and more demanding and bitter over their disadvantage. Exponential spending increases sometimes throw good money after bad in programs that do not work. 50 years of experience causes us some doubt about many programs.

This last week in devotions I was reading Matthew 5. I have been reading the Bible since I was 12 ½ and read through it for the first time when I was 14. I am more and more amazed by the Bible, its unity, and its profound quality. I still find new insights and things I have missed. Again, I was reading Matthew 5, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” I prefer Luke’s version. “Blessed are the poor.” It is more stark, and leaves out the words “in spirit.” Matthew 5 tracks with Luke 4, where Yeshua says that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him to, “Proclaim good news to the poor.” The Gospel is the proclamation of a great reversal. The poor become rich in faith through the Gospel and this leads to God’s provision. That through the power of God there is a supernatural quality to life that overcomes all the disadvantages, including one like mine in where I lost my father at a young age, or being raised with terribly dysfunctional families and yes, to being raised in the context of a poor black neighborhood with a single mother parent. I am in favor of good programs as noted above, but I ultimately believe that only the Gospel can enable the marginalized to overcome; it will not come by quotas or asserting victim status. This only breeds division as we see with the offense Asians that they are not accepted at Harvard in proportion to their attainments. The Gospel can lift people like nothing else and make people the heads who have been the tails. Sometimes I dream that a mighty revival will hit black churches and bring about changes we can hardly imagine. Then the blacks will lead the revival and the white churches will have to receive from the blacks. The Azusa Street revival in 1906 that led to the formation of the Pentecostal Movement was led by a black preacher with an anointing that was unparalleled. “Do it again Lord, but multiplied in city after city.”

Social-Political Action and the Antichrist

Some Christians have criticized other Christians for being too political. Can we clarify what too political means?

As a student of Wheaton College in the 1960s anti-war years, the Evangelical faculty held up the examples of the great reformers of the 19th Century. We were inspired by the examples of ministers of the Gospel who also engaged fully in the political and social issues of their day. The great revivalist Charles Finney and his fight against slavery is an example. So also, Jonathan Blanchard, the founder of Wheaton who stated as written on his memorial plaque in the old main tower, Blanchard Tower, that his purpose and motivation was to see, “The Law of God become the law of the Land.” This orientation continued until the end of the century when the Evangelicals fought against child labor and got child labor protection laws passed, also anti-prostitution laws. The driving motivation was those matters that were foundational in Biblical law, morality, and ethics. Then what happened? A theology developed in England under a teacher who taught that working to improve this world was a diversion from our effort to get people into heaven. This theology was marginal until World War I. Two things then happened. First, many of the large denominations began to accept German critical theories of the Bible and undercut confidence in the Bible and the Word of God. Evolutionary ideas were part of this. Secondly, the war-shattered confidence that Christian efforts could improve society in any meaningful way. It would be a very short term gain at best, so our efforts should be to get people into the lifeboat to go to heaven. Of course, people had to make a living so there would be vocations for Christians, but this was a secondary matter. The great philosopher Dr. Arthur Holmes of Wheaton used to say in our class, “We have lost a hundred years.” The consensus of Wheaton was for prayer, revival, evangelism, and also passionate social involvement. The idea of influencing the cultural formation centers of society was a common desire.

How much is too much social/political action? I think we understood that if evangelism and discipleship were not strong the other spheres of society could not be influenced for good over the long term. Prayer and the power of God were necessary to all. A strong Church was the center and church vocations were highly valued. Everyone has to know their calling and the proportion of their investments in time and energy in different spheres of society, but also to recognize the importance of the whole. When I left Wheaton, I did come to realize that most of Evangelical Christianity did not share the passion of Wheaton for this comprehensive emphasis.

However, beyond this, there is another point. When do we seek to mobilize the whole Church for political and social action in an unusual thrust of emphasis? Beyond normal responsibility. History tells us that this is when the issues are foundational issues of Law and morality in the culture and matters of life and death. The issue of slavery is a primary life and death struggle. Those Evangelicals who believed this responded with great mobilization. This includes William Wilburforce at the beginning of the 19th century in England and those named above in America. Of course, there were those of a more quietistic bent who criticized the involvement. We at Wheaton were all in on the social involvement orientation and did not want to give the culture to the devil.

There are issues that are matters of scientific-social study that do not rise to the level of primary life and death struggle. For example, economic policy is a matter of what will produce the greatest good for the greatest number in the population. Believers try to study the issues and take the best position they can. We should be chastened by noting that there were Christian Socialists and not just anti-Christians socialists who wanted the state to control all and to shut down charities and churches. Socialism is in my view is a wrong economic theory, but it is not inherently atheistic. Christian socialists looked at the harsh individualism of unbridled capitalism as anti-Christian! They certainly wanted robust Christian freedoms and human rights. Many political issues are judgments about programs and policies that are debatable on an empirical basis.

In the 20th century, two movements produced Christian mobilization for social and political action. Sadly, both largely failed in the short term, but the witness they gave was important. The two were the Christian resistance to Communism and Nazism. Both were perceived as from the spirit of the Antichrist and had to be resisted at all costs. It was a minority who made such resistance in martyrdom. These resisters stood for human rights, conscience, and liberty. One great example is the Barman declaration which was signed in 1934. This was early in Hitler’s reign before serious killings began. However, they saw the tyranny of Hitler’s making the state dominant over the Church. Would that the greatest number of the churches would have been mobilized behind these courageous leaders. History would have changed greatly for the good. They were criticized for their stand, but today we look back on this group of German pastors and theologians and see them as a bright testimony. They saw the spirit of the antichrist and sought a mobilization of resistance. However, most missed it and stayed submitted to the tyranny. And most denied that things were so drastically bad. This is one reason why the church in Germany is powerless today and constitutes a small minority.

The spirit of the antichrist was also behind and is behind Marxist atheistic communism. In Russia, the push back required small cells and underground action. Many Christians were soon killed in the blood bath. Yet, how many even in the west thought communism would be progress. Today we think of these resisters as heroes.

The spirit of the antichrist coming into political control or potentially coming into political control justifies unusual mobilization for social and political involvement. We need to resist the gathering storm and now wait until the full destruction comes upon us. If we perceive potentially life and death issues form an antichrist spirit gaining control in our nation, then an emphasis on mobilization, on promoting our cause, on information is justified. We cannot shrink back at the cost of job loss or marginalization. We must speak out and live boldly. No, those who do such are not overly political. Yes, they have to always lead with the caveat of the centrality of prayer, evangelism, and discipleship wherever possible. However, the mobilization is a fight of life and death. When the great Detrick Bonhoeffer joined in the plot to kill Hitler, he did not have sufficient prayer support to bind the powers of darkness that protected Hitler. He was executed. Today we see him as a hero.

Christian survivors from Nazi and Communist oppression (some experienced both) warn us of the signs here. Soft totalitarianism is here. They argue that this is the time of resistance. Christians often see it when it is too late. They rationalize that it is not so bad. Then great tragedy and death take place. I would recommend Mike Brown’s great book Jezebel’s War on America. He could have easily said Antichrist’s war on America. There he gives an account of these life and death issues. Cancel culture seeks to persecute Christians who preach God’s Law and traditional morality. The issues of abortion to the 9th month, loss of religious freedom, cancel culture, and the loss of jobs for failure to salute to anti-Biblical agendas is a growing movement. The LGBTQ agenda does not just foster basic freedom for their group but fosters shutting down those who have a different moral vision and accuse them (us) of hate speech. Due to the cancel culture arising from this, people have lost jobs, low and high positions over the intimidation of these people. It is life and death, not only in the matter of abortion, but the destruction of traditional norms in the society will lead to literal death. The suicide rate of transgender people who do transition surgery commit suicide at a rate of more than 40% of the average. See Mike Brown’s video, “In His Image,” on that. The breakdown of sexual morality for relativistic sexual ideas leads to more criminality, violence, and death. We can look at other issues that motivate. Coddling Iran will lead to more death and indeed did so. I believe that the anti-Israel orientation is of the antichrist spirit as is of course anti-Semitism. More Christians will die in other lands from persecution without strong advocacy from the United States. Then we have social media that has the ability to control buying and selling and communicating. Pay Pal cancels accounts! Banks refuse to lend. This is eerie and anticipates the mark of the beast as a requirement for buying and selling. China has this down to a T. My evaluation is that Christians did not become overly political. Rather, they also bathed their involvement in prayer. Were some carnal in their approach. Yes, maybe a large number but still a minority. But I think the motive was an intuitive grasp, many unnamed, to rise up and push back against the antichrist. One book I am loving that makes this so clear is by Rod Dreher, Live not by Lies. The testimony of those who lived under antichrist oppression is key, and they are warning us that the country is drifting toward this. Do I think our push back can succeed without revival? No, but we must both seek revival and push back. Thank God for someone like Mike Brown who is so pushing and mobilizing others to resist. So also Denis Prager, and Jorden Peterson. Someone might ask about the radical right white supremacists. Yes, this also is the spirit of the antichrist and must be resisted. However, these folks do not control large corporations nor are they visible in legislatures and government leadership. So, our battle has to be focused on where the problem is. With prayer, revival, and resistance, we can win. If we don’t and we see more darkness and the tribulation is fully upon us, then our total victory is near.