We are amazing. We have made technological advances our ancestors only dreamed of. We have discovered cures for diseases that our forefathers never knew. We have constructed a modern day Tower of Babel, and we are climbing it intent on touching the very face of God; that is we would touch it if we believed He even existed.
We have ascribed greatness to ourselves and our modern society– convinced that we have evolved a greater consciousness and are now the purveyors of this greatness to those who are not enlightened. Yes, we are very progressive indeed.
And we carry this chip of enlightenment around with us everywhere – into our workplace, our schools, our diplomacy, and our faith – convinced that we can subdue or fix anything be it an economy or a climate.
This talk of enlightenment and advanced consciousness smacks of new age philosophy. Recently my husband, who attempts to steer clear of such topics, rightly suggested that even man’s attempt to control the climate with such ardor is approaching earth worship – pagan in its origins. That is not to say that we shouldn’t be good stewards of the earth that we’ve been given. We should, but I am inclined to agree with my husband’s assessment. Radical environmentalism looks much more like a religion than it does a science. My guess is that most followers of Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) would balk at this – but maybe not. It’s now so trendy to be devoted to this cause. In fact, it is considered enlightened.
Most recently, President Obama has led the charge toward enlightenment. He is not the first to tread this path, and he most certainly will not be the last. Supporters of this movement may be found in both political parties as well as every racial, ethnic and socioeconomic group. They ask that we be grateful to those who carry us into an era of multiculturalism where Christmas can be regarded in a non-religious manner, no nation or type of government is more valid than any other, and humans are regarded as a plague taking up too much room and devouring too many resources.
Those who disagree are told to stop getting in the way of progress. We are asked not to debate the settled science of global warming. And, by the way, don’t spread your radical extremism by dwelling on personal responsibility, moral absolutes, or individual freedoms.
Am I being difficult? I suppose I am, but it is only because I don’t believe that the answer to our problems lay in a health plan, a Climate Summit, or a Nobel Prize. I propose that our problems are largely a result of our misplaced worship and will continue until we address this important issue.
When a society rejects or dismisses God as insignificant the individual will look for something to attribute his worship to even if that something is only a plant, a stream, an animal, or himself. This worship becomes evident as we exalt our intellect, our design, and our science – void of God. It is in the pursuit of these objects of worship that we have continued to add bricks to our tower of enlightenment, unwittingly fashioning our tower on a faulty foundation and with a bad contractor. What we are sure will reduce our CO2 emissions, redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor amicably, and bring world peace to the nations will certainly be our undoing because in the process we have forgotten God.
Our very thinking discounts the creator God who designed his creation to worship Him – not the creation. Throughout history man demonstrates that when left to his own devices he will satisfy himself and his lusts with fervor and expediency. Even those with the best of intentions promote a philosophy of life that is bankrupt when those ideas and agendas are not first submitted to God. And just as the White House contemplated leaving the Nativity out of its Christmas celebration we as a nation have left Jesus out of our lives and arrogantly assumed that we are gods, masters of our own destiny, but we have assumed wrongly.
Though we deny him, this truth remains, Jesus Christ is the only one who offers lasting hope and change, and he claims exclusivity as God. Exclusivity is not en vogue these days or ever really come to think of it. The religious and political leaders of Jesus’ day were threatened by Jesus’ claim and crucified him. As Christmas approaches we might remember that even upon his birth there were those who attempted to kill Jesus rather than submit to his reign and lordship.
Many today regard Jesus as a good man and a wise teacher but fail to heed his words. “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7. This statement demands action and communicates Jesus’ divinity. Throughout the New Testament Jesus makes it clear that he will not share his glory with any man, woman or celestial body. Nor should he, for, he is God whether we recognize him or not.
Yes, there are still real problems that require real solutions, but our first matter of business is in recognizing that we are not God; we are his creation made in his image to do good works that he prepared in advance for us to do. This God of all creation is calling us to abandon ourselves as well as our foolish understanding. God is calling us to humble ourselves at the feet of Jesus – the only one who is worthy to receive honor and praise.
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude vv.24-25