THE STATE OF THE UNION

Early Pennsylvania was a 'holy experiment' by William Penn and others to found a city on brotherly kindness - Philadelphia - free of the political/religious persecution of mother-Europe. They were aiming for a more beautiful expression and assimilation of the gospel in society, I suppose we could say.

But in later years the First Amendment seems to have come to be applied by some people in more of an Enlightenment, Epicurean sort of way - with God being pushed upstairs, or into the private domain, trying to separate religion from public policy, I think Tom Wright might say.

The idea that public policy can be separated from any sort of belief-system soon unravels though, doesn't it. It's impossible for public policy not to have some belief-system underneath of it! Hence, the culture wars we're seeing in America today.

Where is this going to lead?

Will the current tit-for-tat continue?

Or will one perception of truth prevail in public policy, while the other easily gets pushed into privacy?

Or will the clash crescendo to the point where it becomes obvious to nearly everybody that it's not possible for public policy not to have some ideology underneath of it?

If so, would that be more likely to result in a decisive suppression of one system of perceived truth?

Or will it highlight the inadequacy and impracticalness of Post-Modern airy-fairyness; and of an Epicurean, Enlightenment-type separation of 'religion' from public policy - and could that realisation have positive effects for the proclamation of the gospel, and for society - almost like another, more positive Renaissance of sorts, if the Lord tarries?

What is the state of the Union, in this regard?

And for that matter, what is the state of the West; of Europe?

The Gospel as Public Truth

Sort of running concurrently with the Reformation I guess, was the Enlightenment which tried to throw off the shackles of some Middle Ages Church dogmas - not by asserting an alternative religious dogma (as some perceived the Reformers to be doing), but by claiming that religious assertions were nothing more than merely subjective and that they could and should therefore be separated from objective facts. 

The aim was to push 'religious' dogma out of the public arena - leave it a private thing, if an individual wants it - and let 'science' reign as the only objective public truth.

Some Church dogmas of the day, maybe people had good reason to want to throw off: others, not. And it is true of course that truth needs to have a basis in fact - historical fact, and scientific fact. 

But as it's turned out, it isn't as easy to get to know facts (historical and scientific) as objectively as the Enlightenment may have wished. There's often still a lot of hypothesis and subjectivity going on, in the way information is interpreted and concluded and re-asserted. 

Some people, realising that, have gone so far into the airy-fairy in Post-Modernism as to think that nothing at all can ever be called a 'fact', everything is only as it seems in the eyes of the beholder, or as he wishes it to be. But that isn't adequate - it is possible for some conclusions to be better than others, because some conclusions really work, while other ideas don't. 

Another thing is that it's a almost a category mistake to call the gospel a mere 'religion'. By its own claim, it's also history: it claims that the crucifixion of Jesus, and His burial, and His resurrection on the third day really happened. The significance claimed for that event is such that it's meant to make an impact for good not only in individuals but through them to all public spheres - family & national. So that makes the gospel more than just a 'religion' separated in the Enlightenment sense from the rest of public life: it's personal and spiritual, yes; but it's also history; it's educational; philosophical; theological; contractual (covenantal), legal; societal; philanthropic - and can even advise politics! In fact all of the above are in a sense inseparable. In fact, it was the gospel which instilled 'empirical knowledge' as a value into previously largely-superstitious and mythical pagan ancient European and Asian society.

God is Truth. Truth is a Person - Jesus Christ. He is also the Way; and the Life. Jesus Christ is being revealed to hearts not by flesh and blood but by the Father in heaven. We can also be as sure as anything of the historical truth of the gospel. The Bible-story fits perfectly with all observable science correctly interpreted. Experimentation in any other field - e.g., sociology, or public policy - also shows the gospel works, and works best. 

The GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.

Learning to be Led by the Holy Spirit

Have you ever experienced this:

Something seems good and desirable, and as far as you know it makes sense, seems fine - but you just don't quite feel right about it?

It's a bit like stepping on a wet tile, right after you've just put your socks on, when you're in a hurry to go out!

You might try hard not to feel too bad about it, but the uncomfortable feeling is there. 

You try rationalising about it, but you still just can't find a settled, lasting peace about it.

So you might go and ask someone for advice, but even if he or she thinks you should go for it, you still have this sense of dread about it.

Like a bird fluttering around unable to find a safe perch on which to rest the sole of her foot.

You're hesitant, even though you don't wish to be - it's a real spanner in the works!

That's the Holy Spirit guiding you, "No". 

Then other times, you might be presented with an opportunity - and straightaway it's like a bell rings true inside of you, and you just know you can safely say 'yes'. 

You just know that you know - even without knowing all the details!

Thinking about it, you feel as smooth as velvet, deep down inside. 

If someone asks how you know, you answer that you just know!

Instead of a sense of dread, there's a sense of peace - maybe even joy.

That's the Holy Spirit assuring you, "Yes".

Any time I didn't follow that inner witness of the Holy Spirit in my spirit - the still small voice of the Spirit - I soon came to regret it. Things never worked out as well as I'd hoped, to say the least.

But every time I've taken hold of it by faith in the unseen, and followed it, the blessing of the Lord has always been so enriching - and He added no sorrow with it! Not only for me, but for everyone around me.

You can be led by the Spirit of God, through your spirit - because that's where He is, if you've received the Spirit: He is in your spirit. 

"...he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit" (I Corinthians 6:17). 

So He will lead you - not through your emotions, nor even by just thinking it through as thoroughly as you can - but by the inner witness of the Spirit, or by the still small voice of the Spirit, in your spirit.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). 

Ask the Lord to guide you always. 

And practise being sensitive to how you feel in your spirit, by the Holy Spirit. You will perceive it. 

Then:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6). 

And you will find that:

"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22).