Egalitarianism

Sadly, this cartoon, more often than not, represents the current mindset in today's America. The spirit of laborious intensity or hard work is quickly evaporating. And, it is this spirit, in conjunction with the spirit of egalitarianism, that could decide upcoming elections. Egalitarianism is the spirit that insists on everybody being equal. Candidates right and left make promise after promise designed to mollify the egos of laziness and egalitarianism.

As Believers in Christ, we should not succumb to these spirits for our calling is of a different persuasion. Dr. Michael Horton writes that the spirit currently is permeating society is anti-intellectualism. He writes in his article, Sloth, that "anti-intellectualism is not humble. It is humble to say, "I don't know, but I'll have to look into that." But it's pride that leads us to say, "I don't know and that's OK." It's arrogant, first, because it makes oneself the center of the universe."

He goes on to point out that "anti-intellectualism makes egalitarianism possible by leveling the playing field. While in past ages, consulting wise elders and the books of the great thinkers was considered an act of humility, in our day it is considered elitist. In such a time, the church should be standing apart from such worldly arrogance, but instead she is often found at the helm of this ship of fools."

Anti-intellectualism is the product of laziness and egalitarianism, producing nothing more than mediocrity, at its very best. At worst, it produces immorality, heresy and stupidity. Our nature, without Christ, is to want everything for free, but how free is that? How free will we be when we are totally dependent on someone else for everything? We are only truly free when we can labor intensely to produce fruits from our own labor. And, when we labor in this way we rise above mediocrity to morality and wisdom.

Dr. Horton provides a perfect completion to this thought.

"So let's stop being lazy. Instead of settling for too little--the trivial things that we call "practical" and "relevant," let us "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," making every effort to study the Scriptures, gathering the kindling of truth from its sacred pages, and then let us fan the flame until its brilliant glow can be seen from distant places by the homeless souls seeking warmth and light on a cold winter's night."

Blessings!