The Equation to Destruction

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The subtraction of God from the learning process uproots learning at its base, and in turn channels it toward no ultimate goal. Various movements have developed in the Western culture since the Protest Reformation in the 1500’s that saw God as the center of learning, and many have in various degrees sought to subtract the knowledge of God from the learning equation.  Humanism, Secularism, Darwinism, Behaviorism, Scientism, Atheism, and other types of “isms” have come; all showing the fallacy suggested by II Timothy 3:7 that in the last days that men “shall be ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  Here we can look for the equation to destruction, whenever the basis of truth is neglected and quest for truth distorted!

The destructive forces of these “isms” all presently have set their roots firmly in Europe, and are becoming more evident than in the United States—learning without reference to God and being actually “anti-Christian”.  The USA has not moved to destruction quiet as rapidly as Europe, as evangelical Protestantism, a preservative salt, has touched a large part of the nation and in turn has instilled some effects on learning and schooling inherited from the Protestant Reformation. Millions of Americans are born-again Christians of one sort or another, and there is nothing like this in Europe except in very small groups.  This is a big difference.

Scientism is the worship of science.  Dr. Joshua Zorn, whose article, “The Testimony of a Formerly Young Earth Missionary,” <http://asa.calvin.edu/ASA/resources/zorn.html> with over a million hits, has observations that apply to the threat of scientism. He said: “A brief word must be said about the danger of the anti-Christian propaganda being distributed by certain atheistic scientists. Yes, it is true that many atheists try to make the case that science has disproved certain Christian doctrines. However, the case is very weak. In dealing with these kinds of arguments, we must learn to separate the wheat from the chaff. Often, the scientific facts are solid, but their philosophical interpretation is anti-Christian and unproven. While confusing the issues for many, these arguments do not mean that Christians should oppose science. However, we must be on guard to oppose anti-Christian philosophies masquerading in the name of science. “

Zorn says:  “Many Christians who otherwise are positive toward creation through evolution, nevertheless believe in the special creation of Adam.”  He states “the word ‘evolution’ means different things to different people so we must be careful not to misrepresent others. Some use ‘evolution’ to mean ‘life developed by random accidents and natural selection and so life is meaningless.’  If this is what is meant, then all Christians are opposed to ‘evolution.’  Zorn brings out “there are many sincere Christians who do accept most or all of the scientific theory (as opposed to the naturalistic philosophy) of evolution. We could call them “evolutionary creationists”. If Zorn’s analysis is correct the evolutionary creationists, who interpret the creation story as an inspired parable along with the creationist who regard it as six literal twenty-four hour days would not believe in Darwinism, faith in evolution itself as Creator and not God.

Here is where I would say we should distinguish between “science” and “scientism”.  Science does not disprove the Christian message at all, as actually the two do very much to harmonize except one is in the empirical realm, while the other is in the spiritual realm.  Recall Christ did not say God was an empirical entity, but that “God was a Spirit, and they that worshiped him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”  John 1 brings out that creation was by the Word of God, the “Logos” which is consistent with reason, order.

We can observe the great void that has been created whenever a culture has subtracted God from the learning process—particularly in the social, political, and moral realms.  Putting our faith in Humanism, Secularism, Darwinism, Behaviorism, Scientism, Atheism, and other types of “isms” is not wise. For example, the “isms” can applaud all the types of sexual immorality that tend to spread throughout the land when faith in God falters or is distorted, as it undermines the basic unit of the family. The homosexual revolution now taking place in America has already taken place in European places with all the adverse factors to be associated with it. When we look at the lessons of history, as for example the fall of the Roman Empire, we can observe how this factor became one destructive influence in that culture. In the Bible we can see how and why God so strongly opposed the worship of Baal with its rampant sexual immorality for it would lead to destruction!

II Thessalonians 2:1-4 in the 1599 Geneva Bible says:  “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our assembling unto him, that ye be not suddenly moved from your mind, nor troubled neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as it were from us, as though the day of Christ were at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that the man of sin be disclosed, even the son of perdition, which is an adversary, and exalteth himself against all that is called God, or that is worshiped  so that he doeth sit as God in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

Secularism is a philosophy that seeks to remove the spiritual elements from life, including learning. The empirical alone is accepted as truth, which leaves a void. Although it promises a type of utopia, it in the end can become most destructive.  It may bask in the forces of Humanism, Secularism, Darwinism, Behaviorism, Scientism, or Atheism, but it creates a dangerous void. It is a void that is being filled by a religious pluralism in Europe that contradicts itself; and it might well open up to the grasping clutches of Islam, a bondage that can paralyze the freedom to learn that was in many ways a product of the Protestant Reformation. The equation to destruction is very much  developing in the contemporary American culture, as we seem to be going the way of Europe by seeking to subtract the faith in God through Christ, particularly in the educational patterns of our land. It creates a moral bankruptcy and could well be one of the reasons for lack of educational achievement in American public education!

In his book, The Influence of Historic Christianity on Early America,  Archie P. Jones brings out that:  “Early America was founded upon the deep, extensive influence of Christianity inherited from the medieval period and the Protestant Reformation. That priceless heritage was not limited to the narrow confines of the personal life of the individual, nor to the ecclesiastical structure. Christianity positively and predominately (though not perfectly) shaped culture, education, science, literature, legal thought, legal education, political thought, law, politics, charity, and missions.” (Resources for Thinking Christians, November 17, 2012)

In his book , The Messianic Character of American Education, Rousas J. Rushdoony  (Resources for Thinking Christians,  November 17, 2012) says that:  “Before the 1830’s and Horace Mann, no schools in the U.S. were state supported or state controlled. They were local, parent-teacher enterprises, supported without taxes, and taking care of all children. They were remarkably high in standards and were Christian.”

The article said:  ”However, from Mann to the present, the state has used education to socialize the child. The school’s basic purpose, according to its own philosophers, is not education in the traditional sense of the three R’s. Instead, it is to promote “democracy” and “equality,” not in their legal or civic sense, but in terms of the engineering of a socialized citizenry. Public education became the means of creating a social order of the educators’ design. Such men saw themselves and the school in messianic terms.”  (I would say, we are deifying humanity in humanism and demonizing our society in the process.)

The summary went on to say:  “This book explores the philosophical premises of government education as completely anti-Christian and anti-Biblical as to be a very real threat to the survival of Christianity in America. As the title signifies, educators, imbued with behavioral psychology and evolution, not only reject Christ as Messiah, but pretend to be themselves messiahs offering their own seductive and poisonous brand of salvation through the institution of secular humanist education. It is hoped that this book will permit more Americans to understand why public education has failed and why it must be replaced by Christian schools and home schools that will restore literacy, morality, and reverence for the Creator of all men.”

John Robbins in the Forward of Dr. Gordon Clark’s book, A Christian Philosophy of Education refers to Proverbs 1:2-7, as he quotes:  “Solomon explained the purpose of education long ago:  “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity:  To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion, (a wise man will hear and increase learning; and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel), To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…”

The ancient advice from Proverbs 1:2-7 is something we need to hear in contemporary American education, especially as we see the moral foundations that made our nation great rotting out from beneath us. The threat of Islam is on the horizon, and all the “isms” mentioned earlier in this article are attacking.  The war is on!  And subtracting the spiritual relationship with God in American education from the acquisition of our empirical knowledge leaves a void that will bring destruction!

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by Joe Renfro, Ed.D., Educational Columnist, Radio Evangelist, Retired Teacher and Pastor, 5931 West Avenue, Lavonia, Georgia 30553,  706-356-4173, joerenfro@windstream.net

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