“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
And their word will eat as doth a canker…” ~ 2 Timothy 2:16-17
Upon the release of the Christopher Nolan film, Oppenheimer, many people wonder just who is this man. While many have heard of particular scientists like Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein, Oppenheimer had disappeared into obscurity until rediscovered by the masses with the new film.
Oppenheimer led a legacy that although admittingly, he felt was right, drew the line when asked to repeat. The one piece of history that I can never understand in the legacy of Oppenheimer is, how did he get so far in life?
He was brilliant. Highly intelligent. Handsome.
But he lived in the age of McCarthyism.
For those not familiar with McCarthyism, it is parallel known as the “Second Red Scare.” This was a primarily an American led phenomena headed by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy. It was defined as a hair-trigger assault on Communist ideals and allowed ease of Judicial action against Soviet fueled ideology in the 1940s and 1950s.
Strikingly though, despite U.S. wariness against Communism, we had a Communist sympathizer heading one of the most cataclysmic government programs in U.S. history- The Manhattan Project. The program that was designed to assemble the first nuclear weaponry which was soon to be unleashed on two cities in Japan, thus ending the 2nd World War.
Although never officially joining the Communist Party, it is known that he had attended meetings and paid dues. He knew what officially joining would cost him. Many alleged he was a Soviet informant. It eventually did in 1954 when the Atomic Energy Commission revoked his membership, leaving him to be a collegiate lecturer the rest of his life.
I give this brief history lesson to say this. Within the church, do not compromise truth for intelligence. Sacredness for conformity. God given plans for churchy business schemes. Do not compromise anything.
“…But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness…”
Do not co-labor with ungodliness. Do not attack fellow laborers. With what you build, do not let it be tainted. It is an infection that eats away at the church like gangrene or similar infections. Love all and fellowship with believers. But perhaps, the Word of God says it best,
“14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:14-18