In Isaac Newton’s famous statement, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” he encapsulated an enduring truth of human progress. This principle, deeply embedded in the sciences and humanities, recognizes that each generation builds on the wisdom, labor, and insights of those who came before. Yet, it also implies a responsibility: not to merely maintain a past vision granted to us but to exceed it into the present, to press beyond the horizons they weren’t able to reach during their lifetimes.
This may seem like a fancy idea, something to throw in a book or include in a seminar, but it’s much more simple and fundamental than that. This comes up for us as children and later as parents. Parenting, mentoring, internships, education, and training all have the idea of building others up so they can go further on their own without the need for us. Faith is also very much like this.
The Hall of Faith: Hebrews 11
This interplay between legacy and “innovation” echoes through the chambers of the Hall of Faith. Chapter 11 of Hebrews is chuck full of examples of faith from the Old Testament. It could be easy to idealize and idolize these “heroes” of the faith, but a brief reflection on each character reveals perhaps more examples of their lack of faith than the presence of it. Regardless of their flaws, they still did something that was bigger than themselves.
Perhaps that’s part of the writer’s point. Why else quote Samson, Gideon, or Barak as examples of faith? These may be bad examples of faith, but still examples of it. After all, it only takes the faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain, and thus mountain ranges. One of the points of Hebrews 11 is that “these all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (v. 13)… and they still did it. These examples serve as a testimony for ourselves when our own ego and assumptions get in the way.
Faith is about more than our individual current lives – Faith demands more perspective and acceptance than that. Love more so. Hebrew’s writer is trying to make a point clear. Our faith came to us from others and, as such, it out to inspire the same thing. Faith is never a solo or just an individual thing – it fundamentally deals with how we engage with the world of human relationships and society. As such, personal faith ought never begin and end with us. At the end of the chapter, the writer of Hebrews says, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40).
“Therefore…” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Without missing a beat (there were no chapter headers or verse numbers), we are hit in Hebrews with a “therefore” that is clarified with a “since.” Hebrews will summarize the last chapter, move their examples to our present moment, and nail down the only metric and model of a Christian disciple in three verses:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
In Hebrews 12:1-3, the writer, whoever he/she was, envisions a “cloud of witnesses” — the saints and exemplars whose faith and actions light the path for those who come after. As a stadium around a race field, some have already run their race and had their turn. They stand, not as a judge, but as perspective and inspiration. They ran their race. Now it’s our turn.
Intriguingly, Jesus also ends up in this mix of “witnesses.” But, why wouldn’t He be? He also “died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (v. 13). He, for the joy set before Him, went through the Cross so we might pick up where He left off. He invites us to both stand on His shoulders and run the race He also ran. He is the source of and full picture of what faith looks like.
Hebrews, however, seems to position Jesus, in this metaphor, more as the Coach, Referee, and Goal, a theme the Apostle Paul picks up in Corinthians and Philippians. Jesus acts as both the model and mindset, the means and the end.
Here, too, the call is not to settle into the assumptions of the past but to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” There is a personal element assumed here – this is about your and my race. We’re not standing as witnesses of other people’s races. It is us the writer encouraged to strive forward in ways that honor past contributions by applying them to the unique demands of our time. Jesus stands beckoning us, while all those in our past cheer, to get off our mat and get moving.
Jesus made disciples to make more disciples in all the world (Matthew 28:19-20). Why would He approach you or me any differently than Peter or Martha? He wouldn’t ask people to check a box, read a book, or subscribe to a statement. He’d take you on a field trip to a pagan city, pray at the Temple, and then go fishing with Pharisees the next day, while He used scripture and everyday life to disciple you. It’d be years just to make it a way of life, much like recovery. It’d take longer to get it down so you and I can repeat the process well.
We’ll return to Discipleship in a bit.
A Growth Mindset: A Key to Progress
The concept of a growth mindset aligns perfectly with this idea of building upon the past while pushing forward. A growth mindset believes abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. This perspective encourages individuals to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and view effort as the path to mastery. It helps us break free from the assumptions and baggage of our pasts.
In the context of standing on the shoulders of giants, a growth mindset allows us to appreciate the achievements of those who came before us while believing in our capacity to contribute and innovate. It’s not about comparing ourselves to the giants, but rather accepting them as human and using their work as but one of many we live on top of today. It’s about taking them seriously and being grateful learners.
We live in a world Nietzsche predicted: a culture overwhelmed with information but lacking in depth, bombarded with philosophies, ideologies, and spiritualities yet paralyzed by indecision and division. We fight over meaning. Our nihilistic world, Evangelicals included, is divided on so many lines that progress is emasculated. Where others hoped for a future of creators and overcomes, we find a world of consumers, scavenging for meaning from fragments of old ideas while clinging to the comfort of familiar tribal affiliations. We, however, have witnessed how Nietzsche’s Might of Will and Übermensch also turned in on themselves.
Looking Backward, Moving Forward
Paradigm shifts in science offer a lens through which to view our relationship with past knowledge and future progress. Thomas Kuhn argued that scientific revolutions occur when anomalies accumulate that cannot be explained by the existing paradigm, leading to a crisis and eventually a new paradigm. This isn’t exactly “debated” in science, politics, business, or culture. It’s also observed in generational gaps and family tensions.
Often it’s our old guard (not just “theirs”) the things we refuse to accept and let go of, that prevent those around us from experiencing Truth. It happens between parents and children. There is a well-known butt-hurt/infighting issue within academia and the political left which is diagnostically identical to the closed-minded and near-sighted Evangelical. Humans like to prefer our “truth” over that of others. Paradigm shifts break free from the assumptions and stigmas developed by others before.
This process of paradigm shifts illustrates how progress often requires us to challenge and sometimes overturn established ways of thinking. However, it’s crucial to note that revolutionary ideas are built upon the foundation of previous knowledge. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, for instance, while radically transforming our understanding of space and time, was deeply rooted in the work of predecessors like Immanuel Kant, Spinoza, and Henri Poincaré.
“The glory of God is a human being fully alive.”
Saint Irenaeus
Einstein himself acknowledged this debt, stating, “The years of anxious searching in the dark, with their intense longing, their alternations of confidence and exhaustion, and final emergence into light—only those who have experienced it can understand it.” This sentiment reflects both the struggle for innovation and the importance of engaging seriously with the ideas of those who came before. It does not mean a lot of things, like throwing everything away or dehumanizing people.
If we’re paying close attention, the common variables are relationships and ego. It’s things like tribalism and hard lines. It’s the names, rhetoric, gossip, hypocrisy, toxicity, immaturity, and so forth. We’re talking about humans getting in the way of not just other humans, but of themselves. In fact, psychologically speaking – it starts the other way around.
The Challenge of Individual Change
Nietzsche didn’t exactly call for “Recreation,” as in New Creation Theology, however, he has fostered It. He wasn’t unique – just unique in his time. Others beat him to it. The wisdom of the past — from Lao Tzu’s Daoism to the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, from Jesus of Nazareth to Søren Kierkegaard, from Carl Jung to Dallas Willard — challenge us to integrate the lessons of history with the demands of the present. Each of these figures engaged their predecessors, not merely to replicate their wisdom but to transform it. They, at least, did something.
“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards”
Søren Kierkegaard
As we grapple with global challenges, the importance of individual change becomes increasingly apparent. I’d suggest the personal peace we seek and the global conversation are not disconnected. For example, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore emphasizes this point: “We need to figure out how to get individuals to change themselves. It’s not just about policies and programs; it’s about personal transformation and the ripple effects that can have on communities and societies.” Learning from the past, instead of defending it, positions us to not repeat it.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santayana
This call for individual change resonates with the Christian concept of metanoia, or transformation of heart and mind. Paul’s clear instruction in Romans 12:1-2 is that our minds are transformed, not by laying others down, but by laying ourselves down: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.“
Theologian N.T. Wright says, “The gospel is not just about getting individuals to heaven, but about the transformation of the whole world.” This transformation happens at the individual level (i.e. the subjective) and then is lived out in society. It is not forced into society to be accepted by individuals.
The answer to Nietzsche — and the nihilism he diagnosed — we must reclaim the wisdom of the past, the acceptance of our present, and the courage to live forward-facing. This requires moving beyond the mere debate of existing ideas into genuine engagement: wrestling with the same Reality that other people like Jesus, Jung, Einstein, Buddha, Nietzsche, and Aquinas did. Their ideas and lives are not monuments to preserve but tools to wield; not obstacles but foundations.
Embracing Discipleship: Complexity in Relationship
In our increasingly complex world, the ability to synthesize ideas from various disciplines becomes crucial. The concept of “T-shaped” individuals, who have deep expertise in one area but can collaborate across disciplines, embodies this approach. By cultivating both depth and breadth in our understanding, we can better navigate the multifaceted challenges of our time.
Now…discipleship. A previous post touched on the idea of “relational discipleship.” It was a whole model that we sometimes jokingly referred to as the Wheel of Judgment. I recall first being trained in it, and training other pastors in it, wondering, “..but what kind of disciples are we making?” We can’t just engage in relationships to get people more involved in church. We can’t vein vulnerability on a church program level without going all-in on vulnerability. If we are going to make disciples, we better be sure as Hell that we know what a disciple is and what one of Jesus should look like.
In other words, we ought to count the cost and take His words seriously in a personal, introspective, and honest way. Discipleship is something that transcends “church” and religion. It’s things like parenting, coaching, counseling, mentorship, training, education, and leadership. We ought not disciple people to conform and maintain our assumed beliefs.
Discipleship is both simple and requires everything – it’s about developing a way of life and helping others. It’s about dealing with our lives and sin. It’s about engaging with others and sharing in humanity. It’s about being brave, patient, peaceful, joyous, honest, and kind. It’s about a lot of things. But it boils down to how we live our lives and how we perceive things.
Fighting Personal Reductionism
The world is complex and so are we. It’s a big freaking world and we’re small little beings. Learning to navigate the chaos and order of the world, figuring out what is Truth and how to live in Love, are not trivial things. Self-honesty and peace are something we can have if we want it – thus, if we don’t have it, there’s something about us getting in the way. It’s easy to take for granted that almost all ideas, information, and knowledge come to us second-hand. Maintaining human dignity and love while pride, greed, and hate are justified by every tribe is a sacrifice, in some sense. This is where faith comes in. Doctrines and theology have places only in the sense they do the above. Ideas have consequences way more than we realize.
Moreover, embracing complexity allows us to move beyond simplistic either/or thinking. Reductionalistic thinking has been a poison in too many circles. We’re not about pre-defining what is allowed to be known – we’re about building community and humans up. It’s about the relationships we foster and have being more important than what we get out of the relationships. As systems theorist, Donella Meadows, noted, “Remember, always, that everything you know, and everything everyone knows, is only a model. Get your model out there where it can be viewed. Invite others to challenge your assumptions and add their own.”
Nietzsche’s legacy is a reminder of the power of creative thought, even in a world of despair. But it is also an invitation to move beyond his vision, to respond not only with our will and might but also with hope and love. It means we use our minds. The vast wealth of knowledge available to us today is not a burden but a gift, offering the potential to transcend nihilism and embrace meaning with honesty and courage.
Cultivating Hope and Resilience
In facing the challenges of our time, cultivating hope and resilience becomes paramount. Theologian Jürgen Moltmann’s Theology of Hope provides a complementary perspective, arguing that hope is not mere optimism but a transformative force that can shape reality. He writes, “Those who hope in Christ can no longer put up with reality as it is, but begin to suffer under it, to contradict it.”
It’s incarnational. “God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
Joseph Campbell
The existential crisis of our age need not be permanent. But the task is ours — not to settle for left-behind fragments but to weave something new. It is time to leave nihilism behind, not by rejecting the past but by standing on its shoulders and reaching for a future marked by authenticity, integrity, and hope. This is our race to run, our mountain to climb, our meaning to create. Others have dared to live their lives. Now it’s our turn to build upon that vision and go even further, embracing the complexity of our world while striving for transformative change at both individual and societal levels.
A World of Giants
Imagine our world full of giants, standing on the giants of the past, and working together, with the next generations of giants. Intentionally without ego, full of love and truth, we can drop some of the things. We can change the way we talk without having to change what we talk about. We could, maybe, get along with each other and not secretly “dislike” people so much. I wonder if this is closer to Jesus’ vision of the world than the Fire and Brimstone others are fixated on.
If we could even get 7% there, I wonder what we could do.
