“Common sense” is defined as the ability to make sound judgments and decisions without specialized knowledge, and having understanding regarding logical and obvious matters which are understood universally. Spiritual sense is the ability to perceive and understand spiritual truths which are extraneous to historical or physical contexts. It is the ability to discern truth and absolutes rooted in the Divine, the will of our Creator.
Two weeks ago, I witnessed the absence of both common sense and spiritual sense among a group of people at a Fontana Regional Library meeting at the Cashiers Library. The auditorium was packed to overflow on May 13 with two ideological views of life confronting each other over the welfare of our children and their access to reprehensible reading materials. It was a tragic reminder of the depth of depravity that still operates in our communities. The proverbial “left” spewed nonsensical and non-spiritual defenses and declarations in support of allowing the inclusion and access of pornographic, ideological “woke” materials to our children.
Two of the books – among many – that were brought to our attention by concerned citizens for decency in our libraries were “This Book is Gay” and “It’s Perfectly Normal.” These publications unnecessarily expose children to sexual information, pictures, and pornographic illustrations that are harmful to their development into adulthood and God-given, biologically assigned gender. They are not fit for adults to read and consult, much less young minds in their critical years of training and maturing.
Let it be clear – mine is not a call for the proverbial “book burning” or removal, but a call to place them in the adult section away from young hands and hearts. I will confess as a Christian and pastor that the prurient nature of such books has no place in an institution that should promote learning and not lust, nor the distortion of common sense and spiritual truth.
What I witnessed at the meeting is what sociologists call “motivated reasoning,” which is a cognitive bias where people actively look for information and interpret it in a way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs – even if it contradicts objective evidence! It leads to a resistance to information that objectively and clearly challenges their beliefs.
The absence of common sense was evident in arguments that promoted DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) over the obvious, well-established needs of young children which have been our guide for much of history. The cognitive dissonance and selective reasonings were palpable.
Father Jason Barone of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church said it succinctly in expressing his disdain for this type of literature to the Fontana board: “Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in commenting on pornography and obscenity, said in 1964, ‘I know it when I see it.’”
Common sense has always told us that children are not ready for exposure to these types of materials and information. They are not ready to drive, nor to drink at such an early age, or watch X-rated movies – neither are they ready to consume such lascivious material without doing damage to their young minds. It is just plain common sense. It was sadly missing in this meeting from the persuasions of many I heard that evening. It was a revelation of the decadence that has overtaken our nation as we drown in post-modern nihilism and post-enlightenment thinking.
But it is the obvious void of spiritual sense that burdens my heart the most. The vitriol toward Christian values and convictions, and lack of respect for the Truth of God’s Word (Romans 1; I Corinthians 6; et al.) made it painfully clear to me that those of today’s progressivism – a term co-opted by the LGBTQIA community – have no spiritual moorings for their persuasions, much less that which is sensical. They are rejecting the “plausibility structure” of Judeo-Christian values that have guided Western civilization for hundreds of years. Their only anchor for “truth” was their own narcissistic self-actualized convictions. God is not in their picture. He is no longer deemed reasonable or plausible, and thus no longer part of their belief systems. Chaos can only ensue.
As a minister of the Gospel, I have no ill-will toward any group. I pray for our community and nation. But I will continue to declare the love of God for lost souls and His desire to return us to our traditional, Biblical sense of values and the righteousness that lifts up a nation (Proverbs 14:34). “God, restore our common sense! Grant us spiritual sense!”
Dr. Mark Ford, pastor, First Baptist Church, Highlands