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\u201cWhy should I live?\u201d This was the question posed by a student to Steven Pinker, cognitive psychologist and Harvard professor. He then took an evangelistic posture to share his worldview with the young woman. He explained that though this was not in his \u201cusual job description as a professor of cognitive science,\u201d he was \u201cchanneling a body of beliefs and values that had taken shape more than two centuries before and that are now more relevant than ever: the ideals of the Enlightenment.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n This singular section in Pinker\u2019s Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress <\/em>sent this reader into deep contemplation. What is the message of the Church regarding our values and beliefs? How do we answer, \u201cWhy should I live?\u201d According to Pinker it is believing in gods that has brought on immaturity and stunted progress in bettering humanity until the Enlightenment came to the fore. He argues the dystopian narrative of the last decade has been propagated by political candidates such as the current U.S. President, whom a large percentage of Evangelicals supported. Theological beliefs about the fall of man and state of depravity as a result, the atonement theories that get misconstrued, the era of preaching of hell and damnation, holiness without grace, and bloody religious wars throughout history have resulted in a sullied reputation regarding the Church\u2019s gospel.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be honest, this book has caused a deep disruption in me. Have we misrepresented the gospel and the Kingdom of God that is righteousness, peace and joy? And, is it evident that Kingdom is brought to the earth as it is in Heaven through the Spirit-empowered church? I am going to quote Pinker\u2019s response to the student and then I will write what I think Jesus\u2019 gospel would say to her in response\u2026<\/p>\n Pinker\u2019s Version:<\/p>\n \u00a0In the very act of asking that question, you are seeking reasons for your convictions, and so you are committed to reason as the means to discover and justify what is important to you. And there are so many reasons to live!<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0As a sentient being, you have the potential to flourish. You can refine your faculty of reason itself by learning and debating. You can seek explanations of the natural world through science, and insight into the human condition through the arts and humanities. You can make the most of your capacity for pleasure and satisfaction, which allowed your ancestors to thrive and thereby allowed you to exist. You can appreciate the beauty and richness of the natural and cultural world. As the heir to billions of years of life perpetuating itself, you can perpetuate life in turn. You have been endowed with a sense of sympathy \u2013 the ability to like, love, respect, help, and show kindness \u2013 and you can enjoy the gift of mutual benevolence with friends, family, and colleagues.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0And because reason tells you that none of this is particular to you, you have the responsibility to provide to others what you expect for yourself. You can foster the welfare of other sentient beings by enhancing life, health, knowledge, freedom, abundance, safety, beauty, and peace. History shows that when we sympathize with others and apply our ingenuity to improving the human condition, we can make progress in doing so, and you can help to continue that progress. [2]<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Gospel Version:<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the very act of asking that question, you are seeking reasons for your life, your purpose. The Life-giver will use your mind, your story, the spirit within you, and the people around you, to speak life and help you discover why you were born. And there are so many reasons to live! <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As a spiritual, sentient being, you have the potential to flourish. You can refine your faculty of reason itself by learning and debating but most important, you can mature in your whole being by loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. You can seek explanations of the natural world God made through science, and insight into the human condition through the arts and humanities coupled with observation and prayer. You can make the most of your capacity for God-given pleasure and satisfaction, which allowed your ancestors to thrive and thereby allowed you to exist. You can appreciate the beauty and richness of the natural and cultural world as God gives us all things to enjoy. As the heir to unknown years of life perpetuated by the Life-giver, you can perpetuate life in turn. You have been endowed with a sense of sympathy and compassion, like your Creator \u2013 the ability to like, love, respect, help, and show kindness \u2013 and you can enjoy the gift of mutual benevolence with friends, family, and colleagues and even benevolence to your enemies, even when it is not mutual, as you love your neighbor as yourself.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And because the Spirit speaks to your mind and heart telling you that none of this is particular to you, you have the responsibility and joy to provide to others what has been given to you so freely. You can foster the welfare of other human beings by enhancing life, health, knowledge, freedom, abundance, safety, beauty, and peace. History shows that when we sympathize with others and apply our God-given ingenuity to improving the human condition, we can make progress in doing so, and you can help to continue that progress bringing the Kingdom of God to Earth as it is in Heaven.<\/em><\/p>\n My intention for writing this is to evaluate the heart and tone of the message I live and share. Am I living and speaking good news? Do I believe in practice that the purpose of the Body of Christ on the earth today is to continue the mission he inaugurated? What is his disposition toward humanity and the natural world he created?<\/p>\n I know I\u2019m not situating this author or his work necessarily. I\u2019m not writing critically or giving insight from reviews. What I can tell you is this week\u2019s reading has left one question ruminating in my heart: Are we \u201cchanneling a body of beliefs and values\u201d that have taken shape for more than two millennia before us, and are we convinced they \u201care now more relevant than ever?\u201d The Gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n