PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE

BY MATTHEW LITTLE

The Symptoms Versus The Solution

In a recent interview, Pierce Morgan, a famed British journalist, interviewed Richard Dawkins, a famous atheist and biologist. In what only can be described as a rare moment of solidarity, Dawkins dismissed the “woke” agenda that is invading our culture and affirmed what most Christians believe - that there are only two sexes. He implied that all of this “gender dysphoria” talk is untenable and unsustainable in our culture. During the interview, Dawkins declared that, “There are two sexes, and that’s all there is to it.” He added that LGBTQ activists looking to discredit the reality of two biological sexes are pushing “utter nonsense.” Morgan then pressed Dawkins to explain what he would do now that society is intent on policing our words and making sure that all that we say is inoffensive and tolerant. His response was, “The only possible response is contemptuous ridicule. I shall continue to use every one of the prohibited words. I am a professional user of the English language. It is my native language.”

I found myself reluctantly applauding this atheist and secretly wishing that believers, who trust in God, would be as bold and courageous as this man who does not even believe God exists. Nearing the end of the interview, Morgan asked Dawkins how we should combat such “nonsense”. Dawkins replied, “Science.” This is where I would like to challenge us with a word of caution. The end goal of the follower of Christ is not to be content that the world joins us in decrying the symptoms of a pagan world that has deviated from God. Rather, we want them to agree on the solution. Dawkins agrees that society is wrong on the above-stated issue but rejects that Jesus is the answer. This means that he is as lost as they are.

Mark 10:17-22 relates the story of a rich man that came to Jesus. He claimed to want eternal life and based upon his conversation with Jesus, he would have decried the moral deviations that were present in his culture. The text affirms that he did not kill, steal, murder, etc. Yet Jesus said, “One thing thou lackest” (verse 21a). He would have agreed to the symptoms but he was unwilling to reach out by faith and believe in the solution. Jesus said to him, “Take up the cross, and follow me.… And he was sad at the saying and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (verses 21b22).

We are not engaged in a ministry of renovation but one of restoration. Our goal is not that culture would be reformed but that it would be regenerated. We are not seeking only agreement with the culture on the problem (although that is helpful and often unexpected), we are trying to point them to the solution. Dawkins agreed with Christians on the lesser point but he still showed contempt for the greater one; mainly that Christ died for him, forgiveness of sins and eternal life are free for the taking, and the only requirement is to put his personal faith in the risen Christ. Our society does not adhere to our morals but this should upset us far less than the fact that they haven’t put their faith in our Messiah.