IDEALISM, SELF-AWARENESS, AND WISDOM

 Idealism is necessary but dangerous when not accompanied by wisdom. Through idealists like Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao, idealism has murdered more than the common criminals.

 

The late Christian philosopher C.S. Lewis had observed that idealism is often more costly than purposeful criminality:

 

·       Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

 

 We are left to ask, “How does something that was intended to create good end in genocide?” Unless we first resolve our personal but hidden drives for love and significance, these life-controlling psychological drives take over and twist our best intentions. How? Because our primarily driving force focus is not on the needs of others but on the needs to prove our worthiness and goodness in the face of our accusing conscience.

Sometimes, these drives are expressed in twisted and unexpected ways. For example, in In The Significant Life, attorney George M. Weaver identifies the overwhelming and often twisted drive to establish our self-importance:

 

·       In 2005 Joseph Stone torched a Pittsfield, Massachusetts apartment building… After setting the blaze, Stone rescued several tenants from the fire and was hailed as a hero. Under police questioning, Stone admitted, however, that he set the fire and rescued the tenants because, as summarized at trial by an assistant district attorney, he “wanted to be noticed, he wanted to be heard, he wanted to be known.” (44)

 

Evidently, this drive for significance is so powerful that it can overrule the moral dictates of conscience. One mass-murderer explained in his suicide note, “I’m going to be f_____ famous.” (45)

 

This drive for significance can even override all other affections. On December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman, a zealous fan of the Beatle John Lennon first obtained his idol’s autograph before gunning him down. He explained:

 

·       “I was an acute nobody. I had to usurp someone else’s importance, someone else’s success. I was ‘Mr. Nobody’ until I killed the biggest Somebody on earth.” At his 2006 parole hearing, he stated: “The result would be that I would be famous, the result would be that my life would change and I would receive a tremendous amount of attention, which I did receive… I was looking for reasons to vent all that anger and confusion and low self-esteem.” (47)

 

However, Chapman’s idealism has now been re-channeled in a constructive direction. Pastor Ken Babington spent thirty-five years communicating with Chapman, including in-person prison visitations. According to Babington, Chapman demonstrates a deep remorse and regret for what he’s done. He and his wife Gloria started a ministry called All About Jesus Ministries and has written three booklets about his life and provides them free of charge to any prison ministry, as well as pays for the postage. https://myfaithradio.com/2016/god-redeemed-tragic-choice/

 

We all need love and validation. Generally, we spend our entire lives pursuing these without ever admitting to ourselves that it is these needs that drive us. Instead, we attach ourselves the people and ideals that might fulfill our needs.

 

How then can we meaningfully fulfill our needs so that they will no longer commandeer our ideals? Even after clinging hopefully to every word of five highly recommended psychologists, I have found relief and awareness only through the One who loves me and has died for my sins and who promised:

 

·       “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

 

It has only been through the assurance of His love that I have been able to face the truth about myself. Besides, with self-acceptance have learned to accept others with all their brokenness.