How Shall We Judge?

 

        "Eomer spoke: 'How shall a man judge what to do in such times?' 

        'As he ever has judged. Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear, nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men,' replied Aragorn." 

                ~ J. R. R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings 

        I think that this question of Eomer's is of particular concern to most in this age - whether they acknowledge it or not. And I also think that, as a society, we have not sought to work out the answer before needing to use it. Let me explain.

        Over the years, men in the Western nations have operated with an increasingly pragmatic approach to life. The rise of enlightenment(or rather, endarkenment) thought, leading to so-called modernism, and being used in atheist Marxist ideologies has left man with no basis to make moral judgments on his life, his work, or his world. Whatever happens to him, he responds with no other reasoning than that of what must he do to save himself. So he lives for vapid, hollow enjoyment which spirals ever further down into disastrous darkness. I believe that we can see this in no clearer light than in the response of man to this new virus, the response to which has completely upended this world.

        Our society we used to live with, our acquaintances we used to meet, our worldly pleasures we used to take, were all just gaudily painted facades for the utter dereliction and grey emptiness of mankind's existence. There was no reason to do what we did, other than because it worked. Man had no basis to do otherwise: everyone did what was right in their own eyes. He could not make a moral judgement, he could not choose 'the higher path', he could not be right or wrong. In his quest for perfection, he had struck down any standard for morality with the result that his perfection was merely the meanest, lowest level possible to 'get by'. A perfectly pragmatic modus operandi. Pragmatism is simply 'that which works'. But as one theologian said, 'However, 'that which works' must be determined by eternal norms.'

        In 1 Chronicles 12:32, there were certain men who stood out from the rest of the population for one reason: "Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what [they] ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command." There was trouble and confusion at this point in Israel's history. But these were men who relied not on their own understanding, but acknowledged the Lord, and trusted Him to direct their paths(Proverbs 3:5ff). Christian men need to have understanding of these times now, and know what to do. What is decided to be done will indeed look different between households, churches, towns, and countries. But we cannot rely on the authority structures of the world, ones which forsake God's precepts, to instruct our actions. They can and should inform our actions, but not dictate them. 

        Which brings us back to the question: "How shall a man judge what to do in such times?" The answer given states: "As he ever has judged. Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear." In other words, there have been and are still eternal norms, ultimate principles, given to mankind by an sovereign authority that must be followed. What is right and what is wrong have not changed, despite earthly circumstances moving swiftly onwards. What we see now is a rejection of that truth. Man, in his fallen state, cannot ever judge perfectly or justly. But he does have the capability to know how he ought to do so. The eternal norms, or if you like, precepts and principles of a Holy God are the standard by which we ought to judge ourselves, others, and guide us in our actions leading forwards. The laws and commands of the Lord Almighty have never and will never change. 

        F. B. Meyers wrote that one must 'do right because it is right to do right.' Puzzle that one out if you will, and recognize that in order to know what is right, we must look to an authority outside of ourselves. If we merely do what we want, what we make 'right' for ourselves, we have no reason to expect others to agree with us, for their 'right' may very well be the complete opposite of our 'right'. Thus good and ill become defined only by our flawed minds and hearts. It simply cannot work - nay, has not worked. The pragmatic approach to life has utterly failed. Sure, for some it hasn't failed yet, and may not until they die, but rest assured: it will fail, and then it will be too late. Good and ill have not changed: only man himself has, and continues to do so.

        So, we must judge between good and ill, and measure our response carefully and rightly. But our judgement and response will only be right if it is guided and corrected by the Lord's eternal principles. Again, the men of the Lord in 1 Chronicles 12:32 are an example we should follow. These times of furor and tumult, disturbing litigations, and heartfelt distress should serve to point us to the fundamental Biblical principles of judgement of good and ill. Forget this Christmas as simply a time of partying and enjoyment of food and drink. Forget the lights and the decorations and the trees. Forget the presents and things. There are much larger principles which we need to address, in light of these times in which we live, and then know what to do. It won't be easy, it won't be simple. It will more than likely require going against the flow; it will certainly mean disagreement. But that's life - we can't abdicate our duties.

        And indeed, the only reason why we can even hope to be able to judge between good and ill, and take the action required, is because of He who came to earth at Christmas. That will be delved into a little deeper in my next post.

Written by W. A. Moore