Do the Right Thing

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Last night the pastor leading our Bible study mentioned how he sometimes set up small "tests" for
church-workers he interviews.  That it told him something about a person whether a person picked up or ignored small trash in the church' hallway, or straightened out a rumpled rug at the church' entrance.

I call that wisdom.  The things we do, especially the small things, say more about our heart-attitude than all the theology crammed into our brains.  In the pastor's examples, what candidates do shows their attitude toward the Church, in ways their academically brilliant ecclesiology doesn't.  And not coincidentally, shows their care for the cleanliness and safety of the church' people...who are the Church.

Scripture's wisdom and truth is that "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."  Our deepest operative attitude shows in what we consistently do.  And what we do consistently becomes our character, who we are.  Scripture's wisdom is therefore to "diligently guard your heart, for out of it are the issues of life."

My Christian take is that what we "guard" for in our operative beliefs, and acts, and character, is simply that we "do the right thing."  That seems the most basic social "good" we expect from others, and ourselves.  And because it's most basic, it's common to all human beings.

C.S. Lewis opens his Mere Christianity with an illustration that's always impressed me.  When people on a bus protest someone taking their seat, they appeal to some idea of right behavior that they seem to believe the other person (street-punk, Muslim, housewife, atheist, or the Archbishop of Canterbury) certainly knows, and recognizes as governing the situation.

Lewis also points out that we show we know and acknowledge this common "law" of right behavior when we break it.  We don't argue there is no such "law:" but rather, that some exception to the "law" justifies us in breaking it.

It's only the most basic manifestation of scripture's truth that God has written His law in men's hearts (Romans 2:15).  And because it's the most basic, everything else follows from it.  All our beliefs and actions toward what's "right" are the beginning of our moral sense, and our theology: the beginning therefore of everything we are, and become.

My Christian take is that God puts His simple, basic "law" in our hearts: and that He evaluates what we become in simple, basic reference to it.  In God's judgement...the only judgement that matters...a man who does the smallest right thing is the greatest righteous man.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Woe to the Stiff-Necked

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to bring on this city and all its towns the entire calamity that I have declared against it, because they have stiffened their necks so as not to heed My words.’…”     --  Jeremiah 19:14,15

“Stiff-necked” means self-willed, and stubbornly opinionated: people who won’t listen to God, or obey Him.  People who defiantly continue in their own way even when it brings disaster on them, as it always does.  People too proud to admit to God, or to themselves, that they’ve done anything wrong, and repent.

To the stiff-necked, God says “I am about to bring a calamity upon this place, at which the ears of everyone that hears of it will tingle.” (Jeremiah 19:3b)  The entire chapter is a catalog of the horrific results God promises will come upon the stiff-necked.

This is a time for Christians in America to repent.  This is not a time to be stiff-necked.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

"A Man With No Labels"

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Our spiritually-perceptive Australian brother Tim and I had been discussing the deceptive "boats" Christians get on-board with: the political, doctrinal, phllosophical, national, ideological (etc.) canned worldviews or mindsets every human being is expected to join in, and subscribe to.

Deceptive because they lure us on-board with some partial truth they say "explains all."  And as Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan cogently observed in her History's People (about the "guiding ideas" embraced by Hitler and Stalin), what we accept as "explaining all" thereafter "justifies all" that we enact in its behalf.

"Boats" because they convey us, once aboard, where the captain of deceit wills, whether we wish to go there or not.  Many aboard the "Christian conservative" boat loudly bemoaned last year that it was sailing to Port Trump: but that's where it went...and they with it.

The same day Tim and I were e-mailing back and forth, my beloved brother Kasumba Nathanael in Uganda posted the following meditation on facebook:

"Jesus is outside the camp. He is a man with no labels. And the moment you link up with one group or another, and take unto yourself the labels and causes and agendas and issues of this or that group, then it is you cease following Jesus and begin following men. That will lead to pride, division, strife, and trouble. Men love to build empires and fight enemies. But Jesus has called us to something better and higher. He has called us unto Himself.

"We are in this world, but not of this world. Here we have no continuing city; for we seek a city whose builder and maker is God. Therefore, we are pilgrims passing through the many camps we come in contact with; exchanging greetings in the marketplace, dining in the restaurants, sunning on the beach, or playing in the fields — but only for a while. For this is not our home; this is not our camp.'Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.' (Hebrews 13:13)"

I was amazed again...though I shouldn't be...at this manifestation of God's love, and power.  That, even in my miniscule and fallible experience of Him, God is speaking His unified and unifying Truth into the hearts of all who will hear Hm,  across all His earth.

Praise Him !!

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Blasphemy Laws

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

"...they...called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, 'O Baal, answer us!' But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.  And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, 'Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.'..."     I Kings 18:26-7

Baal was a false god.  His priests' idea of God could not be otherwise than false.

So Baal's priests believed they had to defend their god by their own futile and puny actions.  Elijah's God proved more than capable of defending Himself.

In Muslim-majority Indonesia, a Christian politician was recently convicted of blaspheming against the Quran.  Maybe the court felt that they had to defend the god of the Quran because they knew in their hearts their "god" could not.

Maybe he was busy relieving himself.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Simplicity Quotation Found

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

For years I've quoted, mis-quoted and paraphrased a quotation that beautifully makes a point about wisdom.

It was one of those inspired quotes you hear or read once, and remember the idea forever...but can never quite find again.

I was sure I'd read it in C. S. Lewis, and watched for it every time I was re-reading something of his.  I searched the internet for it among his writings, unsuccessfully.

I found the quotation yesterday: not exactly as I'd remembered it, which was probably part of my problem in trying to find it.  A problem also that I'd looked the wrong place, since the version I found was attributed to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.:
 

"I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my right arm for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.

"Attributed" to Holmes; since that formulation hadn't been found in his writings either.  Who actually authored that quote, or something like it, seems unknown.

But it's the idea I remember, and find so striking: that understanding is not merely "either/or," "simple" or "complex."

I've read far too many experts (usually academics) who are quite unable to convey any cogent understanding of their field to interested, intelligent laypeople.  For some reason, these experts are often chosen to write the textbooks.

Inability to convey understanding indeed seems the point in many experts' writings.  That having mastered its full knowledge, I know such light-years more the detailed complexity of things than any lesser mortal can ever possibly comprehend.  Inability to convey understanding is often the self-validating (as John Dryden called it) "priestcraft" of the learned expert.

That's possibly why I was certain the "lost" quotation was by C. S. Lewis.  I esteem him as one of those rare souls whose mastery of knowledge (in his academic field, and in Christian apologetics) gave him the simplicity "the other side of complexity."  Gave him understanding so thorough that it could be stated simply, in words accessible to all.

In that, Lewis follows Jesus.  My mentor in the faith, Derek Prince, once pointed out the striking fact that Jesus' recorded teachings use very few words of more than one syllable.  The One Whose knowledge comprehended all things, conveyed His wisdom in homely sayings about fish and seeds, coins, and sheep.

Simplicity cannot be esteemed for its own sake.  "The simplicity this side of complexity" is mere ignorance of reality.  Sometimes willful ignorance, such as that of politicians who campaign by (and just possibly, believe) mindless slogans...and afterwards complain that "nobody knew health-care could be so complicated."

"The simplicity on the other side of complexity," from knowledge rather than ignorance, is God's gift, and wisdom.  It was Jesus' gift, and His wisdom.

Praise Him !!

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

The Politics of Cain

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

"Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.' Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' And he said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?^'  He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.'..."     --  Genesis 4:5-10

How is it that many American Christians choose to identify themselves with the politics of Cain ?  To make common cause with those whose anger, hatred, violence and murder God puts under His curse...those who lie to God's face...those who deny to God's face that they are "my brother's keeper" toward the poor, and refugees, and the sick ?


                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Jesus Warns of Mis-"leaders"

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

"And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many."

                                                                                              --  Matthew 24:4,5

Jesus speaks as if the end-times will be especially characterized by the proliferation of deceivers.

We've always believed false prophets and false doctrines will increase in those days, as the "father of lies" tries to lead astray, if he can, even the elect.

But Jesus is Lord of all things, not just "religious" things: and the father of lies doesn't limit his deceptions to only false "religious" prophets and doctrines.

I have to believe Jesus means we should as well beware those who spread false history, or false science, or false "news," as specifically "Christian."  David Barton, for example, who peddles lies of "America's Christian heritage" as his "Christian" version of American history.  Or the media-organizations "WorldNetDaily" and "The Blaze," spreading partisan lies as Christian "news" (though "The Blaze" founder is himself actually Mormon).

Significantly, Jesus doesn't warn us against the deceivers that "Christian" spin-doctors warn us to fear and hate: "the homosexual agenda," communists, jihadis, Trilateralists.  I've never heard any of those proclaim their lies in Jesus' name: nor heard of any Christians misled by them.

Jesus says rather to beware those who "mislead" in His name..."Christian" deceivers.

I understand Him to mean those grasping for worldly power by teaching lies, hate and fear...in Jesus' name.  Maybe He means the "Christian" Conservative political machine.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Nationalism and Patriotism

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

"Kingdoms of men”…by definition…are always opposed to The Kingdom of God.

If we "believe in God," God's view is always The Truth on any matter.  And that’s God’s view when the people of Israel ask Samuel to give them a king “…like all the nations…”

“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.’ ” (I Samuel 8:5, 7, my emphasis)

When we compound our rejection of God with PRIDE (satan’s own sin) in our human kingdom, it’s hard to see that any affront could be more odious to God than nationalism and "patriotism.”

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Morning in America Again ?

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

One of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns used the slogan, "It's Morning in America Again."

It was a famous, and successful, image for Reagan.

Never mind that Reagan's reality was shallow ideology, boastful false-front "toughness," "deregulating" corporations to citizens' harm, hostility to commonsense environmentalism, and rebellious nationalist spirituality posing as Christianity.

It was a very evil time.  The beginning of mourning for Christianity prostituted to political deceivers.

But never mind all that.  Image was what Reagan was about: and what his followers believed.

We seem to have another president for whom image is greater than reality.  Though we should give him credit for being unhindered by ideology...except as unrelenting self-promotion is an ideology.

It's Mourning in America.  Again.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Conspiracy Theory

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                               

Conspiracy theories are the plague of today's world.

Worse than a plague.  The Black Death killed millions, filling anonymous mass graves throughout the world.  And with the death of their bodies, the plague lost its power to do them harm.

But plagues of mind and spirit do harm for as long as mind and spirit exist.

I used to think the harm of conspiracy-thinking was that it was untrue.

But it's not.  There truly are conspiracies.  The Soviet Communists were completely open
about theirs (if a conspiracy can be "open"), telling us to our face "we will destroy you."

But there are far too many conspiracy-theories to spend our lives trying to determine which are true.  Perhaps International Jewry really is working behind the scenes to pervert our morals, and subvert all gentile nations.  Perhaps the Trilateralists are secretly manipulating all national and international power-structures to do their nefarious will.  Or it could be the Rosicrucians.  Or the Jihadists.  Or the race-mixers.

Maybe "they" are all working together, a grand pan-conspiracy of conspiracists, to implant electronic-chips in our bodies and fluoridate our water.  Maybe "they" are all conspiring together to convince us they don't exist, and we should "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

But where conspiracy-thinking goes wrong: or rather, starts wrong: is its operative idea that some group of people are working behind the scenes of mundane reality, doing evil, and we should be afraid they will harm us.

Undoubtedly, evil forces are working behind the scene...and on the scene.  Undoubtedly, some evil men are always willing to (as they believe) use those forces to their advantage.  And some people are always willing to use that fact to create fear, to their advantage.

What rules conspiracy-theory out of Christians' thinking is the knowledge that God is also working behind the scene, and on the scene, in His sovereign authority.  And against God's rule no evil . . . conspirators, conspiracy-theorists, and fear . . . will EVER prevail.