16th March 2022
Empires of the mind
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NKJV)
Whilst addressing a war time audience at Harvard University, USA in 1943, Winston Churchill said, ‘The empires of the future are the empires of the mind…’. Churchill had seen the ability of the ideologies of his day: Nazism and Marxism, to capture the minds and loyalties of his generation and was giving a warning that it was ideas that would captivate and conquer in the future.
Throughout the Christian era, Christians have had to engage with the ideologies of their day. For example, when Paul spoke in the marketplace at Athens he encountered and debated with followers of two influential philosophies of his day: Epicureanism and Stoicism.
We live in a pluralist and postmodern society where some believe that there is no truth, only ‘truths’ and that the multiplicity of civilisations, cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles should be treated on an equal footing where none is considered superior to any other.
This poses a problem for those attempting to promote or defend the truth claims of Christianity. How can we show the truth of Christianity to those with an ideology that views all claims to truth as equally valid?
The idea that whatever is sincerely believed and practised may be regarded as true – something is true, if it is true for me – needs to be unpicked. Let’s consider what happens when different people sincerely believe incompatible and contradictory views; can all be right? If this ideological approach to truth is right, what justification can be given for opposing sincerely held extremist views such as Nazism or communism that were responsible for the brutal deaths of millions of people?
Clearly there needs to be criteria, standards of judgement, which allow certain viewpoints to be considered as unacceptable, and whilst ideological pluralism discourages the search for truth (since it claims that all truth is relative), Christianity actively encourages such a quest. It teaches that what is capable of being tested should be tested, and Christians should show a willingness to hear what purports to be truth, to judge it, and willingly accept what is found to be true.
Christianity is concerned with the transformation of human existence through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It involves believing certain things are true and that this truth can reliably influence our decisions, actions, and perceptions. But, as the header scripture shows, Christians are always encouraged to discover and test truth claims.
Prayer
Father, we thank you for your revelation of truth through Jesus Christ; help us to present that truth in the best possible light in today’s culture. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study by Eddie Marsh
About the writer:
Eddie Marsh attends the Sheffield congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Please email the local congregational contact (see below) for information about the Sheffield congregation’s meeting venue and time.
Local congregational contact:
Email: sheffield@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church