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DISCERNMENT
Living Fully in the World With Christian Discernment
PurposeThe United States is a pluralistic society in which orthodox Christian
believers will increasingly live among people who do not share our
deepest convictions and values.
The main purpose of this class is to :
• Grow in awe of God, his grace and his word.
• Practice discernment - our ability to respond winsomely to those
who see things differently.
• Grow in understanding of our time in history and why many do not
share our scriptural convictions.
• Grow in love for those who see things differently
Discernment Exercise #1
A Better Connected World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaNfeClDMu0
Discernment Exercise # 2
Prince EA “Can we Auto Correct Humanity”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRl8EIhrQjQ&t=17s
Discernment
• What is being said? What’s at stake or being argued for?
• What’s the essential or foundational issue?
• What’s being made attractive? How?
• Where do I agree? Seek points of agreement first; Christian have
an unfortunate reputation of being negative, condescending, and
disagreeable.
• What might I challenge?
• What is a Christian response?
What is a Person?
Nancy Pearcey
“Moral issues always bring us to the question – What
is a person?”
To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion
to the youth – Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance, to
understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise
and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1
The Beginning of Wisdom
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to
our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has
spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all
things, through whom also he created the world. He is the
radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his
nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his
power.
Hebrews 1.1-3
The Beginning of Wisdom
Christ
Theology
Philosophy
Biology
Law (Justice)
Ethics
Economics
Politics
Sociology
Government
History
Art
Math /Physics
Music
10
Western Civilization on one Slide!
Pre-ModernClassical Period -1600 AD
Modern1600 AD – 1945 AD
Post Modern1945 – Present
1300 AD 2013 AD
Enlightenment
Nihilism /
RelativismRenaissance
Reformation
Scientific
Revolution1300-1550
1450-1600
1550-17271860-Present
1650-1945
Middle Ages
& Church
Fathers
An age of ultimate confidence in the autonomous
individual, free from all tradition, guided by human reason
,science, and technology as the universally valid arbiters of
truth.
“…immaturity is self-incurred if its cause is not lack of understanding, but
lack of resolution and courage to use it without the guidance of another.
The motto of the enlightenment is therefore: ‘Sapre aude!’ Have courage
to use your own understanding”
Emmanuel Kant
What was the Enlightenment (or Modernity)?
Pre-Modern Basis of Truth
Reason
Revelation (Scripture)
Tradition
Enlightenment (Modern) Basis of Truth (This is the setting into which Darwinistic Naturalism was introduced)
Reason
Revelation (Scripture) Tradition
Post Modern (No Truth – Just Individual Choice)
ReasonRevelation (Scripture) Tradition
Individual
15
Center of Meaning for Each Age
Pre-Modern
Classical Period -1600 AD
Modern /
Enlightenment
1600 AD – 1945 AD
Post Modern
1945 AD – Present
30 AD 2013 AD
Creator God Individual Reason Individual Will
Discernment Exercise #3
Neil Postman, "Technology“ (start at 6.05 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbAPtGYiRvg&t=116s
Discernment Exercise #4
Pride, Lust, Technology—and the Bible. A Conversation
with Leon Kass (end at 1.26 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsvaWsFpLsM&t=112s
Main Points• Technology isn’t just an assembly of gadgets , devices, or
techniques; but rather more ; like a principality or a power
• Technology can seduce us into believing a lie that sin and death
can be eradicated by our reason, hard work, and creativity
• A utopian view of technology ignore the scriptural claim that we
are broken and sinful.
• Wisdom is the recognition of our “creatureliness” and that the
world is given to us by our creator with a way of life designed
into it.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his
might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able
to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this
present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly places. .
Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation, Spirit, Word
Ephesians 6.12
The Beginning of Wisdom
The Limits of Science and Technology
“The existence of a limit to science is, however, made clear by its inability
to answer childlike questions having to do with first and last things –
questions such as ‘How did everything begin’; ‘ what are we all here for?;
‘what is the point of living?’ ”Sir Peter Medawar
“Science can tell you that, if you add strychnine to someone’s drink it will
kill them. But science cannot tell you whether it is morally right or wrong to
put strychnine into your grandmother’s tea so you can have her property”John Lennox
“Great God, Creator of the Universe, and our eternal power, how
great thy fame in every corner of the whole wide world! How
great thy glory, which flies wondrously above the far flung
ramparts of the heavens with rushing wings! “
Johannes Kepler(1571-1630)
German Astronomer – Developed Key Laws of Planetary Motion
The Secret of the Universe
Viewing Science and Technology “Christianly”
“Speculations? I have none. I am resting on certainties. I know whom
I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which
I have committed unto him against that day.”
Michael Faraday (1791-1867)
Major contributor to Electromagnetism and Electrochemistry
Viewing Science and Technology “Christianly”
Louis Pasteur (1827-1912)
Discovered the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization.
“Posterity will one day laugh at the foolishness of modern
materialistic philosophers. The more I study nature, the more I
stand amazed at the work of the Creator. I pray while I am engaged
at my work in the laboratory.”[As quoted in The Literary Digest (18 October 1902)]
Viewing Science and Technology “Christianly”
J.J. Thompson (1856-1940)
Nobel Laureate in Physics, Discoverer of the Electron, Founder of Atomic Physics
"As we conquer peak after peak we see in front of us regions full of interest and
beauty, but we do not see our goal, we do not see the horizon; in the distance
towers still higher peaks, which will yield to those who ascend them still wider
prospects, and deepen the feeling, the truth of which is emphasized by every
advance in science, that 'Great are the Works of the Lord'." (Thomson 1909, Nature, vol. 81, p. 257)
Viewing Science and Technology “Christianly”
Main Points• Technology isn’t just an assembly of gadgets , devices, or
techniques; but rather more ; like a principality or a power
• Technology can seduce us into believing a lie that sin and death
can be eradicated by our reason, hard work, and creativity
• A utopian view of technology ignore the scriptural claim that we
are broken and sinful.
• Wisdom is the recognition of our “creatureliness” and that the
world is given to us by our creator with a way of life designed
into it.