The Transforum is a website launched by a group called Strategic Christian Services, which was founded and is still run by Dennis Peacocke. He has a very unique and interesting story, and he is unapologetic about his Christian apologetic:
“Reformation requires the building of a critical mass of non-Christians who recognize that Biblical truth properly applied is the only viable long-term solution for the problems we are critically facing today.”
That is a bold vision. Think about that. As always, Dennis’s boldness provokes me to think critically and carefully. Agree or disagree with him, I consider him an important voice because he has been engaged in critical analysis since the 1960s, first as a Marxist radical, and then as a convert to Christianity.
As a student of the Bible and world events, and as an independent philosophical mind, he is explicitly not looking for liberals or conservatives to provide answers to the issues of the day. Instead, he is after deeper cultural transformation through critical reflection, starting with these six questions:
- How do we build strong relationships?
- How do we prepare our children to succeed in life?
- Which values both preserve our freedoms and unite us corporately?
- How do we create long-term prosperity for the largest number of people?
- What is the proper balance between national centralized government and local government?
- How do we balance the need for global cooperation and national sovereignty?
I took Dennis’s Strategic Life Training 2-year course in 1999-2001. I found it to be uniquely formative and foundational for learning how to use Biblical assertions as analytical tools. More personally, had I not taken his course when I did, I probably would be either hopelessly dogmatic as liberal or conservative–or as a total rebel to both–instead of appreciative of the unique contributions of each to exposing certain key questions. And from these questions, one can then look deeper at those ancient Biblical truths that truly represent the wisdom which is available to us now to solve our greatest problem.
For the wisdom of the Biblical God is redemptive when rightly seen. In solving our greatest problem “before the foundation of the world”–the problem human sin and God’s wrath against it–we see the solution to all subsequent problems. This solution is Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, the one mediator between God and man, sent to set all aright (Ephesians 1:9). This redemption in Christ is the unspoken meta-narrative that is unfolding slowly beneath all the headlines.
Dennis is eager to bring these things to the public conversation in a “Great Debate.” I believe this is an outstanding starting point for critical but redemptive geopolitical analysis.
Embedded in Dennis’ vision is the idea that the eternal Biblical truths can be incarnated and demonstrated without the use of exclusive institutional thinking or religious language. These truths, from the Christian perspective, have proven themselves time and again in the affairs of non-Christian nations. Indeed, every system based on the rule of law, and not on control by the strongest, is a reflection of a law-giving Creator. To follow this kind of thinking through, if you believe there is harmony between God the Creator, the inner workings of the human mind and conscience, the natural functioning of the universe, and the proper coordination of human activity, then one can see why Dennis is so passionate about his vision to bring these truths before non-Christians in ways that serve them and their proper roles in society.
This will not be without opposition of course, and that opposition has been functioning to this day. But like Dennis, I believe any man-made system of thought is ultimately oppressive of men, women, and children. And like Dennis, that is why I an not ashamed to argue from Christian values, even as I use logic, history, scientific data, and other processes of inquiry to seek winning insights into the challenges of the day. This is about liberating the conscience of any person who will listen from bondage to various controls and deceptions.
Following Dennis’ lead, I hope that every other worldview with its own ancient claims comes out into the public square to have the needed depth of discussion about the issues of the day, rather than keeping us locked into the narrow liberal vs. conservative debate.
For I believe in this process of open scrutinizing of all truth claims and all forms of wisdom, we will indeed find new solutions and opportunities to serve the next generation, and I believe this can take place without expecting the world to convert to any one worldview, but instead to accept a coexistence of scrutiny-in-plurality among many worldviews, with the shared goal of passing on what’s best to the next generation.
Foolish utopian vision? Maybe. But if we can’t unite out of love for our children, while accepting diversity among equals as humans, what other peaceful coexistence can we expect? And if we can, then perhaps there can be transformation that lasts, for the betterment of all.
Updated 7/7/09.
