Sermon Preached at Grace Community Church (EPC)
Sun City Grand, Surprise, AZ
Sunday, August 5, 2001
by the Reverend Cooper McWhirter
An Age of Nonsense: “The Failure of Isms”
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
Commencement is the one time each year when students get to hear a speaker say something profound. Yet, of the thousands of commencement addresses every year, few are ever remembered. How many of you can remember your own graduation day from high school, or college? Can you even remember who your commencement speaker was? Then again, at our age, we’re doing well just to remember what year we graduated!
Well, there’s at least one class of graduates who will not soon forget who spoke at their commencement. It was June 8, 1978 and it marked the 327th commencement ceremony at Harvard University. The speaker was the famed 1970 Nobel Prize winner for literature, Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Here was a man who had endured years of imprisonment in the Soviet gulags and who lived to tell about it. In 1974, he was granted political asylum here in the United States. Soon, he became a celebrity of sorts and was highly touted as a speaker and lecturer. At least he was until that fateful day at Harvard.
In his speech titled “A World Split Apart,” he began his address by saying that Harvard’s motto is “Veritas” meaning truth. He said, “Many of you have already found out and others will eventually find out in the course of their lives that truth is elusive … especially when we deceive ourselves into believing that we are in pursuit of truth when in actuality we are not… truth is seldom sweet; it is almost invariably bitter.”
Instead of expressing gratitude for his newfound freedoms and the privilege of speaking before such a prestigious audience, Solzhenitsyn expressed his deep concern for the spiritual decline in the West and especially here in America. In his speech, he wondered why “the Western world has lost its courage.” He denounced Western leaders for foreign policy decisions conceived from a posture of “weakness” and “cowardice” based on the fallacy that “We cannot apply moral criteria to politics.” His audience began to squirm.
Instead of congratulating these Ivy Leaguers, he warned about “destructive and irresponsible freedom” and the “abyss of human decadence.” Solzhenitsyn deplored the “misuse of liberty for moral violence against our young people, motion pictures full of pornography, crime and horror.”
The audience grew more uncomfortable. Some students started shouting and booing, but their insults failed to deter the speaker from making his points known. He identified America’s real problem as being one of “spiritual sickness.” And the root cause was our most prized possession – our “self-centeredness.” We suffer from the delusion, he said, that we are “the center of everything that exists.” We think we are not accountable to “any higher force …” “Is it true,” he asked, “that man is above everything? Is there no Superior Spirit above him?” Founded by Puritans in 1636, Harvard once knew the answers to these questions.
And so I ask you this morning, “Are we the result of some biochemical accident?” We neither created ourselves nor did we presumably evolve from some prehistoric organism. Yet, we presume that wisdom originates with us. What arrogance!
Some of these same thoughts were expressed 3,000 years ago by someone who, according to Scripture, was the wisest man who ever lived [1 Kings 4.29-34]. Solomon diligently studied numerous sciences and disciplines. He was a philosopher, an astronomer, a botanist, a biologist, a breeder of fine horses. He was a man well versed in many subjects. He indulged himself in every kind of pleasure and he did so compulsively and in great excess. Towards the end of his life he composed this written sermon and he did so as a warning to us against excesses, which, in the final analysis, boils down to man’s “self-indulgence,” which is rooted in pride.
For the next several weeks, we’re going to examine our lives in light of the Book of Ecclesiastes, which, I believe, is one of the finest apologetics for the Christian faith. This series will be comprised of topical sermons based upon one of the most profound books ever written. Consider for a moment the author. Solomon was a mighty king who reigned during the Golden Age of Israel. In the modern vernacular, “he had it all together.” He had a keen intellect. He was powerful, influential and extremely wealthy. In addition to his kingly duties, he studied, he taught, he judged and he wrote. Kings and leaders from many foreign lands came to Jerusalem to learn from him [1 Kings 10.24]. Yet, in spite of his practical insight, Solomon failed to heed his own advice, and so in the autumn of his life, he examines his follies with humility and repentance.
And unless we are determined to repeat some of Solomon’s mistakes, we should be attentive and listen carefully to this sage of old. In addressing worldly wisdom what is Solomon’s main argument? It is that: MAN’S WISDOM IS FUTILE.
And to what does Solomon base his findings? It is the summation of, the totality of his own experiences in light of man’s nature. Solomon is not just assessing his own life. He is pausing to reflect upon the vain efforts of all of mankind.
He contends that it is man’s nature to attempt to unravel the mysteries that surround us. We attempt to infuse human reasoning and logic, which only serves to frustrate our efforts. Ultimately, we end up deceiving no one but ourselves. Solomon warns us that we deceive ourselves by beginning with a faulty presumption. And the presumption is that mankind is capable of discovering the undiscoverable. We exhaust ourselves by trying to explain the unexplainable.
Many would take issue with Solomon’s assertion. Just look at the technological advancements made during the last century. People born at the beginning of the 20th century saw the invention of the automobile, the airplane, jet propulsion, space age rocketry, men walking on the surface of the moon. We have traveled through the vast expanses of outer space. We have dived to the deepest of the world’s oceans. We have discovered microscopic organisms. We have engaged ourselves with genetic engineering and we are now toying with the possibility of human cloning. Modern medicine has discovered cures for almost every kind of dreaded disease.
Who could refute what man has accomplished? Why, if Solomon had witnessed these great feats, he would have torn up this book and hollered, “Bravo!” … Or would he? During this same age of advanced enlightenment, Solomon would also have observed: unprecedented human carnage through two world wars, civil and political unrest, a rapid increase in violent crime even in the midst of unparalleled wealth, injustice, treachery and deceit by people in high office, moral corruption, the disintegration of the family, and unbridled sexual misconduct. It appears that just as mankind has been unable to find a cure for the common cold, he has also been unable to find a cure for the common sin!
In a 1999 lecture entitled “The Failure of ’Isms” philosopher Russell Hittinger said, “Once upon a time people really believed that the modern “isms” would provide an order of truth to replace the older worldview of Christianity. It was the belief that such isms as Communism, Marxism, and Darwinism were true, which made them powerful … compelling.” Add to this my own list of isms, which would include belief systems such as modernism, liberalism, relativism, hedonism, and moral rationalism.
He went on to say, “But on the eve of the millennium, this faith in secular ideologies is in tatters. It’s difficult to find anyone who will argue that any secular ideology describes reality and provides a sure foundation for … our lives.”
So what has happened? In a word it is postmodernism, which is a term coined by theologian Francis Schaeffer over a quarter of a century ago. Postmodernism is the belief that there are no universal truths or norms. As Hittinger points out secular liberalism flatly denies that absolutes exist.
On the other hand, postmodernism accepts diversity. It accepts all kinds of spirituality. In America, today, cults and religious sects are enjoying unparalleled growth and cultural acceptance. You name it and we’ll claim it. Such practices as witchcraft, divination, astrology, goddess worship to Gaia worship to Native American shamanism. All of these practices are in vogue. My how religious we have become!
In these postmodern times, nobody argues whether a religion is true or false – because nobody believes in a single truth anymore. “If you believe in Christianity, that’s fine – just so long as you accept my belief in goddesses such as followers of Sophia or Mother Earth or aliens from outer space.”
In a postmodern world, the only offense is to claim to have truth, the only truth. When Alexander Solzhenitsyn delivered his powerful indictment of Western culture, the New York Times was scornful in its attack of him. “He believes himself to be in possession of The Truth,” the editors smugly wrote.
Today, Christians must be able to defend biblical truth from the supposition that there ARE absolute truths. Secondly, Christians must be able to articulate that such truths ARE knowable and that these truths are universal, irreversible and recognizable.
Apparently, we Christians are failing miserably. In 1965, 63% of Americans believed the bible to be literally true. Today the number has dropped to 32%. Morality has followed this same downward trend. In one Gallup poll, 69% of respondents said right and wrong vary “from situation to situation.” That’s more than two-thirds of Americans who reject moral absolutes and have bought into this idea of moral relativism.
In his newest book titled, Boiling Point, George Barna, the well-known research analyst and co-author Mark Hatch reported that while most Americans, today, claim to be Christians, this commitment is becoming less and less meaningful. Consider these findings: 85% of all adults claim that religious faith is very important in their lives. Also, 85% claim to be Christians. More than four out of five adults claim to know the basic teachings of the bible and nine out of ten own at least one bible – that’s all well and good.
Yet, just one in four adults and only one teenager in ten believes in absolute moral truth. In fact, less than half of those who call themselves “born-again” Christians believe that anything is “absolutely true.” One-fourth of these so-called born-again Christians believe that Jesus committed sins and only about half believe that the Holy Spirit and Satan are living entities – not just symbols.
We live in an age that Barna and Hatch call “evolving values.” Our culture’s moral relativism has led to an abandonment of traditional values – including loyalty, morality, accountability and sacrifice. These were principles, which your generation abided by.
Most distressing of all is that the Church seems to be in lock step with today’s evolving values. Many Americans, today, do not join churches. Instead, they attend churches based on concerns such as: how far they have to drive, the scheduled time of worship, the kinds of emotional experiences they can enjoy and whether the sermon is upbeat and contemporary in style and format.
None of these reasons are inherently bad, but all too often people are choosing their church without regard for doctrinal purity and reliable teaching. “Convenience, comfort and emotion” tend to be the criteria that drives today’s spirituality.
So what’s the answer to our moral malaise? Where do we turn for help? To the government? No, the government, at best, can only encourage moral behavior by means of rewards and punishments. It’s powerless to change people’s attitudes.
What about the media? Not hardly. The media has become one of our most secularized institutions. A paltry 8% of reporters, broadcasters and commentators attend church regularly.
What about our schools? No, the public schools have surrendered the battle for values. They pride themselves for being “values-neutral” by teaching kids to choose for themselves what is right and wrong. Assuming that there is such a distinction between right and wrong, good and evil.
The only institution that can reverse our moral decline is the church; the people of God. The church is the very instrument God has chosen to fight for the hearts and minds of modern man.
Don’t think that Solomon dismisses all wisdom as vanity. He does not. He only rejects man vain efforts to find wisdom within himself for Solomon knew that: GOD’S WISDOM IS BENEFICIAL.
Time and time again scripture tells us that wisdom originates with God. His wisdom is discernible. It is achievable. His wisdom is highly favored. His wisdom is beneficial for our well being and happiness.
Wisdom is self-attesting. It is grounded upon undeniable truths that can never be diverted or excused. Scripture tells us that it was from wisdom that God created the heavens and the earth [Psalm 104.24]. From out of God’s mouth comes knowledge, understanding and all truth abides in Him only [Proverbs 2.6].
The pursuit of wisdom is above all earthly things. It is more precious than fine pearls and precious jewels [Proverbs 3.15]. God’s wisdom is more profitable than silver or gold [Proverbs 3.14]. And so why do we play the fool and search for worldly wisdom? All we need to do is simply ask God and He will graciously provide us with all good things.
Let us pray…
