The Need To Return To Common Sense
Word-of-the-Day: ‘(6) Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. (7) In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness (8) and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.’ (Titus 2:6-8)
When Thomas Paine wrote ‘Common Sense’ back in 1776, in support of American Independence, the book listed why it was ‘common sense’ for the colonies to separate from the British Empire, that the master-servant relationship between the Crown and the Colonies was no longer tenable. Paine understood there was going to be consequences of the actions the Continental Congress and the Colonial Army was about to make. Nevertheless, Paine’s pamphlet served as the literary impetus to the colonists to accept the Declaration of Independence and the efforts to break free from British rule.
Common sense, as Paine and others define it, as seeing the surroundings and environment that one finds themselves in, and using the facts of the situation, critical thinking and logic, determine the proper course of actions to take, weighing the benefits and detriments or consequences the action would bring. It was understood a war with Britain would result in much death and suffering on the American people, but there would be more suffering and subjugation if they took no action.
Since then, up until recently, American children were taught to discover and develop their critical thinking skills, to have common sense when confronted with choices they needed to make. Education was not only the ‘three R’s of Reading, ‘Riting, & ‘Rithmatic’ but also logical development and recognition, through the lessons of history and the use of ‘trial and error’, or in scholastic terms, ‘theory and practice’.
It is important for our youth to develop and use these skills early on, and Paul, in his epistle to Titus provides this in Titus 2:6-8. In order to lay out the groundwork of having a foundation of sound Biblical doctrine, Paul provides Titus to equip the young men (and by proxy young women) to use critical thinking and sound logic, to have the ability to examine facts, and through examination of Titus’ actions (and perhaps the actions of other Righteous members of the church on Crete), to then act accordingly to God’s will and instructions and not in their own will.
Using these skills, the young Cretens would be, as Paul stated, self-controlled and having integrity so their example, both inward toward the church and outward into the Creten society, would show them and Jesus as honorable and Righteous. The ‘theory’ involved would be to use Biblical principles and Jesus’ examples and teachings to develop the ‘practice’ of determining the consequences of their actions. The facts of Jesus’ teaching and the Scriptural references provide that following them provides blessings for those who follow them; the consequences of attempting to follow one’s own path, by their feelings in place of the facts, provide chaos and ruin.
The teaching of developing the skills needed for using common sense were not limited to the people of Crete but were taught throughout modern history, after Jesus’ Ascension, to those whose nations were Christian. Good manners, being thankful, and avoidance of following sinful leaders or performing illicit actions were provided up until recently, in Europe and America. But in the mid-20th century, after World War II, we find that Biblical instruction waned, that children were taught under an agnostic or atheistic curriculum, removing God from the classroom, and thus critical thinking and common sense from instruction.
We find ourselves in a world today in chaos and confusion, with people lacking common sense and critical thinking. We wonder how ‘wokeism’, which is driven solely be feelings over facts and devoid of Godly instruction, has become such a driving force when it is obvious the consequences of its actions have caused so much pain and suffering.
The cause is simple; we failed to provide the Righteousness of providing Godly instructions and to navigate the facts of life that are presented to our children. The solution is simple, yet will be difficult to implement; a return to providing the instruction of critical thinking and the Truth of God’s Word as given to Titus from Paul. The theory of indulging our feelings is answered by the practice of such actions, and the consequences is the chaos we face. It would be all negated by the theory and practice of Righteous living, under God and in His terms.
These lessons do not have to be limited to future generations; they can be taught today to the young and old alike. It is never too late for Righteousness to be taught or learned, and is never wrong to be implemented. Be that example of Christ in our darkened and depressed world. ‘They hate us ‘cause they ain’t us’, but if they can learn to have Jesus and follow Him and His ways, they can become like us and be blessed as we are.
