THE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY

In studying the philosophies of education, mathematics, and science, I find myself pondering this question: Of all the philosophies that exist, is there one which might be consistent with Christian teaching? If the answer is no, does that imply that the teaching of the Bible can give birth and support to several schools of thought? Or is the Bible written by men of several schools of thought who explain the precepts of God in terms of their own philosophy. If the answer is yes, would you explain it in detail so that I might read some books expounding this point of view.

I might ask the question in a different way. I think we might agree that any man holds a philosophy whether he knows it or not. Do you consider your philosophy and your religion as separate or blended. If blended, is there something in your philosophy that stems from religion, or does it all (or none) come from the Bible? What philosophical classification do you put yourself in—an Idealist, Empiricist, Stoic, Epicurean, or what?—Kenneth Retzer, Champaign, Illinois

Plato says that philosophy is “the love of the wholeness of things both human and divine.” So long as philosophy is the search for wholeness there is nothing to fear. It is when philosophy becomes unnecessarily technical and speculative that it ceases to have functional value. Plato’s definition reveals that he would equate philosophy and religion. Philosophy searches for reality; religion searches for God. These are one. Aristotle argues that logic takes one near to God, for to be reasonable is to be righteous. Ignorance is wrong. Socrates likewise taught that man is morally obligated to be intelligent. As the gadfly of Athens he insisted that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Self-examination is realized through philosophy and religion alike. While there are some differences between the two, they need not be discussed in this connection.

As to whether there is a philosophy that is consistent with Christianity, I would say that one should not think of philosophy in terms of “systems” but as a study of the things that matter most. One should think of the history of human thought as the story of man’s struggle for truth. This makes Christianity itself a philosophy and every disciple a philosopher. Justin Martyr, who was a philosopher before his conversion, never laid aside the philosopher’s cloak, for he felt that Christianity was the fulfillment of the wise man’s quest.

As to how I might be classified in philosophy, some of my friends would probably describe me as a Christian idealist. Yet there is much to be said for realism, existentialism, and pragmatism. I think Christianity has the strong points of all these. As for Stoicism and Epicureanism, they helped to prepare the human heart for the gospel of Christ and they were largely absorbed into the Christian movement, which is one of the marvels of history. In both religion and philosophy I like to avoid categories and classifications. I prefer to be a truth-seeker.

“Gone to the Christian Church”

I have heard that you have joined up with the Christian Church. I would like to get this matter straight. Could you answer soon, if God wills?—William Wheeler, Eight Mile, Alabama

It is shameful that the great brotherhood of disciples has become so divided. It has not only splintered into three major divisions (Disciples, Christian Church, and Church of Christ), but there is further fission within each of these. Yet we are the ones who plead for unity so adamantly. There is now a big question in my mind as to whether our pioneers were wise in breaking away from the established churches of their day. Perhaps it would be more consistent with our plea if we were a “fifth column” within the denominations working for restoration. Since Campbell’s day we have succeeded in adding three more denominations to those already existing with promises of still others to come. Our pioneers contended that they were not another denomination, but rather a “movement” within the body of Christ working for unity.

I have not “gone to the Christian Church” or “joined the Disciples” anymore than I have joined the Baptist Church or the Church of Christ. I am the Lord’s and I am a member of his body. This makes me a brother to all those in the church of Jesus Christ wherever they may be, and I suppose some are to be found in all religious communions. I work with and identify myself with any and all of the disciple churches because they are a part of the Restoration Movement, at least theoretically. This in no wise means that I agree with everything believed and practiced by any of the disciple groups. I think the “Church of Christ” group is wrong on many things, especially in their attitude, but I work with them and fellowship them just the same. I feel the same way toward the “Disciples” and the “Christian Church.” All these people are my brethren in the Lord and I love them. I am eager to have fellowship with them and to be one with them despite the fact that there are serious differences. All this means that I do not equate endorsement (or agreement in doctrine) and fellowship. I may not endorse the use of instrumental music in worship or premillennialism or the clergy system or institutionalism, but I can nonetheless have fellowship with all those who are in the Lord.

This is a good place to stress the fact that there is a big difference between the church of the Lord and the Restoration Movement. Many in the “denominations” are in the one body of Christ, but they may not be restoration-minded. And many among the disciples are no longer a part of the Movement that brought them into existence, but they are still in the church of Christ. But there is a Restoration Movement within the catholic church of Christ, and I count myself a part of it. This is why I work with all disciple churches. They hold the Restoration as the goal. If there were no disciple churches, I would work among other Christians that I might be in sympathy with restoration principles. And in that context, whether among Baptists or Methodists, I would continue to work for reformation. I would remind my Alabama brother that the great Restoration Movement emerged within the denominations, and it was there that it worked like yeast, and who knows but what things would be much better if it had remained with the ones who gave it birth rather than to separate itself and become another church. I am still looking for the authority for one group of Christians separating from another group.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“If the Tiber floods its banks, if the Nile fails to flood the fields, if heaven holds back the rain, if the earth shakes or famine comes, or pestilence, at once the cry goes up: ‘The Christians to the lions!’”—from the Apology of Tertullian

“The longer I live the more am I certain that the great difference between men, between the feeble and the powerful the great and the insignificant, is energy, invincible determination—a purpose once fixed, and then death or victory.—Thomas Carlyle

“Paul advised the Corinthians to contribute on the first day regularly, but there the phrase implies that each is to lay it aside at home.”—Crozier Theological Review, Vol. 21, p. 248

“The only possible relation these ‘religions’ (Communism and Fascism) can have with Christianity as such is that which was shown by the worship of Caesar at the downfall of the ancient world, namely, persecution of Christians.”—Karl Barth

“Man rises as he stoops to help others. He moves in two directions. He associates with the great souls who have traveled much farther in life’s experiences and who can open to him new vistas of thought and feeling, and he also becomes a part of the less fortunate who needs his sympathy and active support.—H. H. Titus, Ethics for Today, p. 499

“A clash of doctrines is not a disaster; it is an opportunity.—A. N. Whitehead

“I have often wondered that persons who make boast of professing the Christian religion—namely, love, joy, peace, temperance, and charity to all men—should quarrel with such rancorous animosity, and display daily toward one another such bitter hatred, that this, rather than the virtues which they profess, is the readiest criterion of their faith.”—Spinoza