by Alan Langstaff

Common sense is a somewhat old term that fell into disuse but is now being used again. Larry P. Arm President of Hillsdale College writes about “common sense:”

“We have been hearing the term ‘common sense’ from the president. It’s amazing that such an old term should sound so refreshing to contemporary ears. I think it is because it identifies so precisely our affliction.

Here is something from Winston Churchill to H.G. Wells that shows how long the best minds have recognized this affliction. The lesson is that expert knowledge matters a lot, but all decision-making requires common sense. Elon Musk is technically very sophisticated, but he would be an ordinary computer programmer without his massive common sense.”

COMMON SENSE – DEFINITION

Dictionaries and the like will give you definitions such as

  • good sense and sound judgment in practical matters
  • the ability to reach intelligent conclusions based on simple perceptions, situations, and facts
  • to live in a reasonable and safe way
  • the ability to reach intelligent conclusions.

AN EXAMPLE FROM US HISTORY

Thomas Paine was an English-American political activist, philosopher, and revolutionary who is best known for an influential pamphlet “Common Sense” written in 1776 – the year of the Declaration of Independence.

Common Sense is common in the sense that is shared by nearly all people. Pain argued for the end of British rule in America, which played a crucial role in promoting self-governance and criticizing monarchy and hereditary succession.

It used common sense argument and its straightforward language made it accessible to a wide audience and inspired many colonists to support the revolutionary cause. It played a special role in galvanizing people.

“Common Sense” was a best seller with 100,000 copies being printed. America at the time was only 2.5 million people. So “Common Sense” had the largest sale of any secular book published in American history, before or since.

One can argue that just as they needed Common Sense two centuries ago, we need it today. No more is this seen than in issues related to sexuality so let us look at this issue today.

THE DEFINITIONS OF A WOMAN AND MOTHER

When Ketanji Brown Jackson was being examined in the Senate as to whether she should become a Supreme Court Judge she was asked the question, “What is a woman?” and she could not give a ‘common sense’ answer. Most people would come up with a definition such as ‘an adult female’ as contrary to a male.

In a more ridiculous proposal, the Governor of the State of Wisconsin proposes changing “mother” to “inseminated person.” This was proposed as part of the Budget Plan. Can you imagine an adult saying to a young child, “How is your inseminated person?” Instead of “How is your mother?” It makes one wonder if such a Governor should be given an intelligent test before becoming a Governor.

ABORTION

Abortion has been practiced for a long time but it is only in recent times that scientists have been able to discover the act of bearing children.

Common Sense would tell you how a child is born – a male seed is planted in a woman and conception takes place. Right from the very beginning that sperm or ‘seed’ has the ability to develop in the woman until approximately 9 months later a baby is born. The conception is the start of it all.

Thus we have pro-choice people who would argue for the abortion of babies up to and including the birth procedure.

I heard one pro-life author ask “is it lawful to take the life of another person without their permission?” Hence is it right to take the life of the unborn? Common Sense would tell us that if conception takes place, a life is created, and that life should not be destroyed.

TRANSGENDER

The big issue today is “transgender” and “transsexuality” that people should be able to establish their own identity, i.e. male or female (or even more) and it is argued that a person can say “I was born in the wrong body.” But common sense would tell you you were born either a male or female gender.

Scientific research has shown that many people, if not most, children will grow out of that feeling of sexual identification of being the opposite sex once they have got past puberty. Recent reports, that are more in line with common sense, show the detrimental effect of surgery.

People are either male or female that is how they were made. Common sense tells you that.

GIRLS SPORTS

The issue of transsexuals spills over into the issue of men in women’s sports. This has occurred in recent college sports such as a Maine boy who scored a dominating win in a girls’ pole vault championship as the Governor of Maine defies President Trump over banning men from Women’s sports.

And so we could go on.

All these are examples from everyday life and as such the response of common sense is simply observable. But then add a Biblical perspective.

BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

The biblical admonitions have been the foundation for centuries.

Genesis gives us the Biblical story of creation and we have the declaration by God Himself that in Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” In simple common sense backed up by the Bible, there are two genders, male and female. This is so regarding sexuality and it is so in response to transsexuality. It is also the common sense purpose of God for marriage and family. It flows over into the question of homosexuality and also to Gay marriage.

When ‘common sense’ and above all ‘biblical revelation’ are rejected you end up in rebellion against God and His laws. Even further than that you end up as Paul described it in Romans chapter 1 when God’s wrath is poured out on unrighteousness.

“because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21 NKJV)

Verse 24 tells us the end result of not accepting “common sense” and the revelation of the Word of God:

“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.”

These issues are big issues and there is much else to discern about them in peoples lives – such as deception, the influence of parents and others, ignorance, indoctrination including schooling and colleges, media and internet influences, and spiritual warfare. More than can be dealt with in this Langstaff Letter.

PRAYER

Further on in Romans, Paul points out that “goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4 NKJV).

God is a God of love and mercy and He desires all men and women to come to Him. Like the prodigal son come to His father in the story of the Prodigal son.

So let us pray that people will have the “common sense” to turn to their Creator, discover God’s love and goodness, and in turn the truth about life and sexuality.