Crumbling Castles

I read the following passage in Francis Bacon's The New Organon last night, and it set me thinking about the idea that truth has nothing to fear, and the miring effect fear has had upon the Christian Church. I find Bacon's depiction of philosophical/theological fear very applicable to modern Christendom.

"For the studies of men in these places are confined and as it were imprisoned in the writings of certain authors, from whom if any man dissent he is straightway arraigned as a turbulent person and an innovator...
Moreover, as things now are, to discourse of nature is made harder and more perilous by the summaries and systems of the schoolmen who, having reduced theology into regular order as well as they were able, and fashioned it into the shape of an art, ended in incorporating the contentious and thorny philosophy of Aristotle, more than was fit, with the body of religion....you will find that by the simpleness of certain divines, access to any philosophy, however pure, is well-nigh closed. Some are weakly afraid lest a deeper search into nature should transgress the permitted limits of sober-mindedness, wrongfully wresting and transferring what is said in Holy Writ against those who pry into sacred mysteries, to the hidden things of nature, which are barred by no prohibition. Others with more subtlety surmise and reflect that if second causes are unknown everything can more readily be referred to the divine hand and rod, a point in which they think religion greatly concerned — which is in fact nothing else but to seek to gratify God with a lie. Others fear from past example that movements and changes in philosophy will end in assaults on religion. And others again appear apprehensive that in the investigation of nature something may be found to subvert or at least shake the authority of religion, especially with the unlearned. But these two last fears seem to me to savor utterly of carnal wisdom; as if men in the recesses and secret thought of their hearts doubted and distrusted the strength of religion and the empire of faith over the sense, and therefore feared that the investigation of truth in nature might be dangerous to them. But if the matter be truly considered, natural philosophy is, after the word of God, at once the surest medicine against superstition and the most approved nourishment for faith, and therefore she is rightly given to religion as her most faithful handmaid, since the one displays the will of God, the other his power."

How often does the church hold itself back from abundant growth and powerful shaping of culture by its fear? Secret fear, in the recesses of our hearts, that if we let go of one piece of the card castle it will lay ruined at our feet. Fear that delving deeper will disintegrate our faith. Fear that our "summaries and systems" just might not be the sum total of all truth that we subconciously believe them to be. Fear that our faith is not really unshakable.

Why is the Church not a vital catalyst in the shaping and growth of culture? Why does our faith seem irelevant to desperate, hurting people? Why does the Church appear culturally impotent? Because many (myself included) are bound by fear and pride. We idolize our systems and structures, and in doing so often become stagnant, obsolete, and irrelevant. We feel safe within our castles of cards. Pride creeps in unnoticed and we grow secure. We are in control, we know how God works. But as 1 Cor. 10:12 says, "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

By no means am I advocating disrespect and disregard for the rich heritage that has preceded the Modern Church. Rather, I echo Paul's concern," Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." (Col.2:8)

We take refuge in theologies, in dichotomies, in self-imposed traditions. "These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." (Col.2:23)

The world sees through us. We do not, but they do. Never fear...they see.