David Pool

During his tyrannical rule of Russia, Soviet Communist leader Joseph Stalin once stated plainly, “Ideas are much more powerful than guns. We don’t allow our enemies to have guns. Why should we let them have ideas?” Indeed, it is strange to hear truth from such a dishonorable voice. Yet, even Stalin makes an important observation.

Ideas are powerful because they shape the course of people’s lives as well as the course of history. One glance at the past confirms that, for better or worse, entire empires, governments, institutions and human lives lie in the wake of certain ideas that have taken root in the hearts of people and societies. “He who enlists a man’s mind wields a power even greater than the sword or the scepter,” writes Robert Heilbroner.  

Think of all the powerful ideas that we are inundated with today, and I think you’ll agree that their power is immense. It’s one of the reasons that our society is more polarized than ever. But one thing we must not believe is that all ideas are equally valid or true.

The truthfulness of an idea depends on whether it conforms to reality. Ideas can have both shades of truth and shades of falsehood.

For a long time, the notion that no idea is inherently right or wrong, true or untrue has been taught in our universities and schools. “Ideas aren’t right or wrong. They are just different, and each person must decide what is true for them.” While this kind of talk might sound intelligent and even noble, it is deeply flawed. While each person must freely decide what ideas and beliefs they will embrace, what is often overlooked is that ideas have consequences in the real world. As someone has said, “Ideas have consequences, and bad ideas have victims.” They led to actions, changed lives, and even changed cultures for good or for ill. The theologian J. Gresham Machen wrote, “What is today matter of academic speculation begins tomorrow to move armies and pull down empires.”

Are we really to believe that the ideas motivating human traffickers are equally legitimate to those that view racial prejudice as a horrible evil? Just a little careful reasoning makes it clear that not all ideas are equally valid. That is, some ideas have consequences that make life and people better while other ideas can ruin lives.

I would submit to you that the most important idea that a person can hold is their idea of God. In fact, the image that one has (or doesn’t have) of God will determine in large degree the shape of that person’s life. As one Christian writer put it, “We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God.” 

Ideas are powerful and influential. And the ideas we hold about God are the most powerful of all. Let’s be discerning about the ideas that we allow to influence us, and let’s make sure that what we believe is true and conforms to reality.

(David Pool is the senior pastor at Grace Point Church in Powell.)