Just A Thought

In 1624, while explaining the interconnectedness of individuals, John Donne made this now-famous statement: “No man is an Island.” Agreed. The same could be said for philosophies. No philosophy is an island. This is true of both individual and group philosophies.
For example, if our society were to decide that stealing was no longer wrong, the implications would be endless. The very definition of property would have to change. People would have to re-think the way they did everything, since it would not be wrong for someone to take your car while you were in the store shopping, or your child while they were at school. Many criminals would need to be released. Companies could no longer charge for their goods. Our economy would collapse. In other words, there would be no way to change a major philosophy like that without catastrophic ramifications.
Unfortunately, many in our world have adopted a major philosophy, and, not surprisingly, the shift in thinking has altered our world in many unpleasant ways. Some people may be shocked to discover the far-reaching consequences due to the adoption of what seemed to be just an academic or scientific theory. Many people, in their rush to be open-minded, may have failed to see the dog that was attached to the tail. I am referring to the theory of evolution, which has been directly connected to the religion of humanism and to other issues such as abortion, euthanasia, racism, white supremacy, and even reincarnation.
Evolution is a philosophy that was made popular by people like Charles Darwin. The idea was not original to him, rather, he set out to find proof for a philosophy that had been in his family for years. Some of his writings indicate that his passion was intensified by personal tragedies which caused him to seek reasons to believe in something other than a Creator. The problem is that you can’t dispense with the concept of a Creator without enormous fallout. If there is no Creator, then life is not sacred. If the fittest survive, then why not try to be the fittest? People like Hitler took up this concept and set out to create a master race by destroying others. Others launched organizations that have been responsible for more “legal” deaths than any of history’s most bloody dictators – their victims have been the unborn.
In my opinion, and in the opinion of many politically-weak scientists, we have all recently observed what happens when politicians take selective facts and fashion a theory according to their desires. We may soon see the practical ramifications of that behavior. According to many scientists, this will be the second major hijacking of science in history – first evolution and now global warming. Both are politically-charged and both are about controlling the masses and their money.
I would love to see a return to non-political science. There is something encouraging and solid about good science; the kind of science that explores the world and accepts its beauty and complexity for what it is; the kind of science that declares only what can be proven empirically. Because theories built on selective data can devastate economies and cultures – no philosophy is an island.

It was a gruesome story which I mention here only because it is so relevant to my point. A co-worker, who was not yet eighteen, shared the account with me in more detail than I will share it with you. It took place on a hunting trip in Montana. He and his buddy were squatting next to their vehicle, waiting anxiously for wild game to pass their way. Two fellow-hunters were standing on the opposite side of the vehicle, facing the same direction, with their rifles resting on the vehicle. Suddenly a deer appeared. Several of them shot at the same moment. Unfortunately my co-worker’s buddy had, instinctively, stood up in order get a better shot. His impulsive action put his head in the line of fire. Needless to say, at that range he died instantaneously. Ironically, he stood to become the victor and became the victim. For him, the only difference between a long life and a premature death was that he stood up.
The clear point of that true story is that doing something “nearly right” can be lethal. Small differences can have big consequences. Consider the following comparisons, noting the result of one small difference:
· Accepting an invitation to: come and dine OR come and die
· A paratrooper jumping from a plane and: pulling a shoulder strap OR a rip chord
· Eating a cone (yummy) OR eating a con (cannibalism)
· Traveling on a highway southbound in the southbound lanes OR northbound in the southbound lanes
· Slamming your foot down to avoid an accident: on the brake OR on the accelerator

In each case, nearly right could be lethal.

Obviously we can’t live our lives scared of messing up, but neither can we afford to be less than honest about the things that matter most. This reasonable rationale is what motivates us to show potential drivers movies about what happens when people are reckless or careless with their vehicle. That is also why we make laws against DWI and DWP (driving while phoning). There are some life and death situations that do not tolerate nearly right.

I propose that if heaven and hell are real, we had better find out which road leads where. If God is real, we had better know how He wants things done. We can’t settle for the philosophy that best suits our fancy. “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.” (II Timothy 4: 3-5)

Here are a few things that some of us might only get nearly right -- which could have eternal consequences:
· Loving God BUT defining who God is according to our own preferences
· Attending church BUT out of ritual instead of relationship
· Praying BUT in fear rather than in faith
· Talking about holiness BUT not living holy
· Believing in salvation BUT not the kind of salvation taught by the original Christians
· Believing in the Holy Spirit BUT not as God’s power that lives within you

Nearly right could be spiritually lethal. While God is not expecting us to be perfect, he does expect sincerity of the heart and whole-hearted obedience to the Bible. If we get that right, God’s grace will cover the rest.