In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25
I came across a popular article a couple of weeks ago about how uncontacted, remote people groups are at risk of dying off because of contact with the modern world[1]. Of course, there are terrible things that can happen when isolated and technologically limited groups are contacted for the first time by powerful and sinful men, such as abuse, theft, exploitation, enslavement, and murder, as well as natural threats such as disease exposure. Assuming the best of motives of the author, in reading such articles I truly attempt to allow the author to convince and inform me. I find this way of reading easily magnifies and spotlights the points of view and assumptions that are clearly anti-Biblical.
For example, in the above-referenced article there is the statement regarding whether isolated peoples should be left alone: “Many experts argue that non-contact is the only ethical choice, given the historical evidence of disease outbreaks and cultural devastation whenever indigenous groups are forced into contact.” (emphasis original). Here we see the contrast between the Christian world view and a purely secular world view. If this life is the only life, then the only debate is how we can give them the best life here and, since we risk killing them by disease with any contact, I would likely agree with “many experts” (one of which I am not) that modern society is likely to just destroy any comfort and peace they experience and we should leave them alone.
Similarly, in an article published by Big Think titled Why you must be logical and scientific to be a good person [2], there are significant world-view-dependent statements attributed to philosopher and biologist Massimo Pigliucci as he attempts to explain how to have a “good life” through returning to the philosophies of the stoics and ancient philosophers. The article ends with one such quote: “… in the case of both the Stoics and the academic skeptics, the goal was the same: Live a life worth living — a good life, a life of flourishing. And in both cases, they thought, well, the way you get there is by understanding the world and thinking carefully about it.” Clearly, Pigliucci values, above all, using logic, rationality, and deep thought to achieve the “good life,” that is a life of “flourishing.”
Well, as you know, in reading Scripture we see the proper way to achieve the “good life.” Flourishing is not attained by human thought and reasoning, nor by letting your fellow man live his life isolated from the world or from Godly influence. A true life of flourishing is one in which we walk in the footsteps of our master and attain his purpose for our (eternal) lives and his (eternal) joy (Matt. 25:21). One dramatic and repeated example of how poorly man does in attaining “flourishing” when left to his own devices is the repeated refrain in the book of Judges. Israel, the chosen and protected people of God, move through painful cycles of reprobation, rescue, and relapse as God sends his “judges” to guide his people back to him. Alas, the book ends with the verse quoted above (Judges 21:25) that summarizes the big problem when the Israelites were left to pursue their own ways.
And we are them. Thankfully, our God is patient and steadfast in his love for his people! He loves us enough to not leave us without guidance. First through creation and walking intimately with us (Gen. 3:8), then through the prophets, and finally, in the most profound and personal way, in giving His son (Heb. 1:1-3) to open the gates of heaven and lead us to himself. But what do we do with this? Regretfully, we (yes, I) often take God’s presence and grace for granted, ignore the authority and leadership of our perfect King, and do what is right in our own eyes. It is natural for us and painful in its repetition. Should we expect flourishing in this way? I encourage you (as I entreat myself), to continue to bask in God’s lavish love in fellowship with him in prayer, in hearing from him in Scripture, and living together in Christ as a loving community so that, by his grace, he will give us the true “good life” (now and for eternity) by not letting us wallow in our own wisdom.
Seeking the way of the Master,
Pastor Aaron
[2] https://bigthink.com/mini-
