Articles
Critical Thinking Skills - 10
It is not easy to be totally committed to the truth. Such a statement may seem shocking, but in a certain way lack of commitment to truth underlies the entire world of sin. There is plenty of objective evidence leading to the truth that fornication is destructive on many levels, from unwanted pregnancies to abortion; from robbing a young lady of her virginity to prostitution; from the spread of STDs to the scourge of AIDS. But what politician has the courage to speak out forcefully about the damage done to society by indiscriminate, uncommitted sex and push for laws to curb it for medical, emotional and economic health and well-being? (Note that I am not suggesting such legislation on the grounds of Biblical morality per se.) Critical thinking is thus sacrificed to the gods of status quo and personal liberty.
Similar arguments can be made relative to the legalization of recreational marijuana, the ubiquitous availability of alcohol (and the bars/nightclubs and other related venues that are hotspots of assault, murder, drug dealing, etc.), gambling and other popular vices. These things are not legitimized by rational arguments that they promote physical health, community harmony, fiscal soundness, etc. Rather, critical thinking is overridden by greed, individual rights and carnal pleasure. A “good time” is prioritized over the safety, security and environmental quality of the decent.
What other things undermine critical thinking skills, as outlined in Scripture? Here are a few:
The foolishness of idolatry. Isaiah pulls back the curtain on the pure stupidity of idolatry. He ridicules the worship of that which was carved out of the same limb used to build a fire: “Then it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take some of it and warm himself; yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; indeed, he makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image, and he falls down to it. He burns half of it in the fire; with this half he eats meat; he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.’ And the rest of it he makes into a god, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, prays to it and says, ‘Deliver me, for you are my god’” (Is 44:15-17).
Isaiah then adds: “They do not know nor understand; for He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, ‘I have burned half of it in the fire, yes, I have also baked bread on its coals’ … He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, ‘Is there not a lie in my right hand?’” (44:18-20). These are the same people who throughout their history had seen genuine faith in their ancestors and had seen or heard about the great miracles of God in delivering and blessing them. They had also seen the moral degradation and spiritual destitution of those who worshiped the gods they created with their own hands – and then they did the same! Their lusts fed their lack of reason, and once this happened they could not recognize the futility of their own actions.
Note that these were not isolated incidents; the whole culture of Israel was infected with the deceptive embrace of idolatry. It is frightening to think that an entire society can fall into the same pattern of insensible thinking.
Blind ambition. The Sanhedrin Council was completely flummoxed at what to do about Jesus: “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation” (Jn 11:47-48). John records this conversation late in the ministry of Jesus; i.e., there has been plenty of evidence given – which they themselves acknowledge – that Jesus has divine credentials: “this Man works many signs.” Yet, incredibly, their only thought is how to neutralize His popularity. They fear Roman intervention if Jesus keeps gaining adherents.
The acting high priest, Caiaphas, only makes matters worse with his illogical advice: “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish” (11:49-50). This is a classic false dichotomy: leave Jesus alone and the Romans will destroy us OR kill Him to save the nation. The right answer is NEITHER. The right answer is: “Let’s unite behind the One who is displaying divine power via healing the sick, raising the dead and controlling nature! How can we lose if He is on our side? Look what God did to His enemies in the past!” But no, their ignorance of the law, their ambition to retain power and their fear of Rome all combine to undermine critical thinking. Thus, they make the decision that guarantees the very downfall they hoped to avoid: they murder their own Messiah and Savior.
Sheer stubbornness. The Pharaoh of the exodus is the poster child for this trait, but he is not alone. Pure self-will that resists the will and power of God is illustrated time and again. But note the following of Pharaoh:
Ø Even though his magicians replicate the rod/serpent sign, Aaron’s serpent consumed theirs (Ex 7:12). What should Pharaoh have logically concluded from this?!
Ø The plagues came and went according to the pronouncements of Moses, and even Pharaoh himself was given a hand in repealing the plague of the frogs (Ex 8:9-11). So much for fakery. Again, what should Pharaoh have realized if he exercised critical thinking skills?
Ø Pharaoh’s magicians even drew the proper conclusions after Egypt had been decimated by the first seven plagues: “Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?” (Ex 10:7). Yet Pharaoh dug in and Moses unleashed the swarms of locusts upon the land.
People today justify their ungodly behavior with trite phrases like, “The heart wants what it wants.” Let’s rephrase it: “I insist on having my own way; I want it, and I am going to have it. I don’t care what God or the Bible says about it.” Neither Pharaoh nor people today with the whole history of mankind in their rearview mirror falter via a lack information. We see what happens when people are led by lusts, selfish ambition and insistence on their own way: such eventually leads to disaster. The issue is not raw intelligence; it is the willful rejection of what is clear and plain for the pleasure of the moment. The lack of critical thinking is spiritual suicide.
