| I was assigned to write my thoughts regarding an article that Mark A. Noll wrote entitled "The scandal of the evangelical mind". My review is below: Although quite bold, Noll begins his article with a dissection of the world we live in today compared to the “used-to-be” world, that is now relocated to old theology books, and he articulates his dissatisfaction with how the intellectual priority of society has descended to very low on our list of important matters. I completely agree yet find myself plagued by the comfort in under-achieving and being uninterested in the history and happenings of the world, both current and past. It has taken at least a year to sink in my mind that learning enhances my faith, and not just religious learning either. Rather, business classes, English classes, science classes, etc. all help me integrate my faith and give me a broader understanding of my God. With understanding this principle that teaches learning should be incorporated in the church, as well as the faith, we can move on to debate and write even more complex and influencing theological articles and really take grip on the government and lives. Currently, crisis hits and Christians rely on ‘feeling the spirit’ to solve the problem rather than being proactive and empathetic. People rest their rumps in the pews and mumble a prayer for God to do all the work, and then they go home and watch NFL on their big-screen TV. I sit back and ask what in the heck has gotten into us? Few of modern “Christians” know what the Bible has to say regarding abortion, gay marriage, let alone his promises. Rather, Christians rely on Sunday school lessons, watered down versions of the passion and consequences that the Bible is really about, to tell them what to do about these modern issues. I stand beside Noll and his frustration with modern society. Where can we get with a society that is raised on revivalism; the constant fluctuation of closeness to God depending on when we need him and when it’s convenient to believe in Him? What good is it to only believe in God when it’s beneficial to us? With this attitude, we are bound to get nowhere fast and rest contently in our laziness and obesity. Until our society steps up to the challenge of Christianity and moves away from the band-aid of Christianity, I am convinced that spreading the gospel will be virtually impossible to the developed nations that are content in the self-saturated lives. To push modern society towards more education and a deeper relationship with God, an emphasis of discontentment with the current standards and a desire for something deeper will have to infect the very roots of the current culture. The Nintendo generation will have to realize that true life doesn’t come prepackaged in a box like Kraft Dinner, but rather comes from learning and thinking independently, creating one’s own sense of identity apart from his/her friends. Until video games contain theological and enlightening content and work becomes what we live for, I am sure that this culture will slowly kill itself. There will be fewer and fewer intellects that are interested in where the world is going and the true gift of Christ’s salvation. I fear that this will happen far sooner than it should and it will be to God’s dismay. All I can say is that “for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” in every study, theological debate and thought. |
