This post was written by Paul Gould on March 13, 2007
I hear a lot of Spinoza’s thinking on campus today – of course hardly anyone knows they are parroting Spinoza –which just goes to show the importance of understanding what has come before. Hence the title of this blog – Antecedents. In 1670 as the Enlightenment was just getting into gear, Spinoza said this about belief in God: “The intellectual knowledge of God which contemplates his nature as it really is in itself…has no bearing on the practice of a true way of…faith…and that consequently men can go far astray in this manner without sinning” (in Theological Political Treatise). Spinoza was saying something we still hear today: “It doesn’t matter what you think about God, just be a good person and everything will work itself out.â€?
But this line of thinking is utterly false. Scripture reminds us many times about the importance of believing the truth about the true God, which moves us to worship. Today, as with Spinoza, faith is often viewed as subjective and private – but knowledge, facts and truth – well, to get that, we need to go to the scientist! Contrast that with A.W. Tozer, who says, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us” (in The Knowledge of the Holy). Tozer goes on:
“The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. “
Which brings me to Pearl Jam. While living in Southern California a few years ago, I went with a friend to a Pearl Jam concert. The minute the opening act finished and Pearl Jam took the stage, the crowd began to energize, rising an hour later to a crescendo as the audience (me included) screamed at the top of their lungs in unison, “I, I, I’m still alive….� And then it dawned on me – this is the secular equivalent of a church worship service. I was reminded of the truth found in Ecclesiates 3:11 – that God has set eternity into our hearts. We are by nature creatures who seek to worship that which is transcendent in our lives. But, if like Spinoza we think that it doesn’t really matter whether or idea of God is actually true, then there isn’t much of a difference between a Pearl Jam concert and a church service.
But we know better, Tozer again: “It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is.�
I am convinced that A.W. Tozer, and not Spinoza got it right on this one. What is your idea of God? Have you been captivated by a sense of awe and wonder at the goodness and greatness of the God who created you? Perhaps this is a good time for all of us to pick up Tozer’s classic The Knowledge of the Holy, or J.I. Packer’s Knowing God, or Anselm or Augustine and be reminded once again of the God whom we worship and serve.
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