Are We Human Paper Towels?

And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’
You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the
signs of the times. –Matthew 16:3

You have probably seen the ad with the tagline, “Bounty is the quicker picker upper.” The spilled drink starts to roll down the edge of the table, heading for disaster on the white carpet. The day is saved because Bounty paper towels are supposedly much more absorbent than their competition.

In reading the book, Live Not By Lies, the author used a unique combination of words as he described the lack of discernment of the typical America as we slide toward socialism. He suggested that we have become uncritically absorbent. In other words, we swallow new ideas hook, line, and sinker with practically no biblical acumen. Young people are especially vulnerable to this type of philosophical indoctrination as they are constantly being baptized into cultural ideas that are contrary to the scriptures. Things like social justice, social equity, intersectionality, and the likes are just new terms for old thinking. Sadly, many people still fall prey, even those in the Christian homeschooling movement.

In the midst of teaching the 3 R’s, we must also make it a priority to teach our children to think critically. This definition of critically does not mean to automatically attack anyone and anything. Instead, it is a challenge to think through various propositions. This means we should examine, interpret, evaluate, reason, and reflect in order to make informed judgments and sound decisions. Biblical words for this include ponder, meditate, consider, and discern. Colleges and highs schools suggest they teach critical thinking when, in fact, all they do is indoctrinate. How do we know this? Suggest another alternative answer, that is both logically and biblically accurate, and you will experience the mockery of the teacher/professor and many of the students who do not know how to think for themselves.

I can appreciate this. I did not learn how to think until I was a senior in college even though I was an “A” student. How could this be? I was a good memorizer. Teachers and professors would give me information, and I would parrot it back to them via tests and class discussions. Still, after fifteen years of schooling—not education—I did not know how to test and try the philosophical spirits of the age (1 John 4:1) Neither school or the church taught me how to reason.

Education, in its truest sense, is not about us automatically absorbing everything that comes our way but being able to test and try ideas, hopefully through the lens of scripture, to know if they true and right. There are many great apologetic ministries and curricula out there to help. With all that is bad with YouTube, it also has some videos that are great aids. Although I do not always agree with conservative talk show hosts, I have found listening to them is also advantageous in learning how to think regarding the political and cultural landscape.

The goal of education is simply not to fill our children’s minds with knowledge. It is not about enabling them to get a degree that guarantees a certain income level. If that is all we do, we make them susceptible to the teachings of others who are antithetical to Christ. Today, I am seeing too many Christian homeschoolers fail to understand the roots of so-called “Social Justice,” Equity, and Critical Race Theory (CRT). They are totally ignorant on the matter. Worse yet, many are arrogant in their ignorance. This is definitely not a good combination.

While I would love to see more pulpits in the American church address these issues in order to equip the saints, far too many pastors are teaching to itchy years while others want to sit around and talk about theology but give little meaningful application how to live it out in the world. It is therefore incumbent upon us parents to teach our children how to think critically.

God is not bringing His creative order to fruition without accompanying signs that gives us insight to what He is doing and how the world is reacting. In teaching our children how to think critically, they will be spiritual quicker-picker-uppers, and will hopefully be able to prepare for the messes and spills that are coming their way in the not-too-distant future.