Thursday, January 31, 2019

Purity II

When the time came for their purification ...

 - From Luke 2

There certainly is a lot of talk about "purity" in Scripture. When pure, good things happen. When corrupt, bad things happen. Or at least, this seems to be the case in the rise and fall of Israel.

But historians - - - the honest ones - - - have always observed and confirmed this fact of human behavior.

There is a commitment to standards of personal behavior, as a civilization grows in power and influence. Once on top of the global system, laziness sets in, they begin to scoff at those norms that we were all expected to follow. And decline (usually violent) follows the corruption of morals.

Humans will always mock the idea of purity. For whatever reason, we have equated lack of personal moral standards with being "cool." We strive to redefine morality so that, no matter what we do, at least we can align with contemporary standards of "morality."

Note how readily modern politicians - those that are quickest to denounce traditional standards of purity - define their motivations as being "moral."

We want to be thought of as "moral," no matter how we actually believe.

"He's a decent human being" means "He behaves as I want to, and is nice to the right people, while being hateful, in turn, to the right people."

Purification rites were standard fare in Ancient Israel. They mostly served the purpose of reminding us that we are fallen, that we die, and that the reason we die is because we sin. Therefore we seek to purify ourselves. We want to tame those selfish and urgent impulses that enslave us.

Valuing purity does not mean we expect everyone to act perfectly pure all the time.

It does mean that we understand the perfect standard, and hope to draw closer to it, as we progress through our lives.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Purity

. . . to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.

 - From Hebrews 2

Death is the thing we all fear, and hate, the most. We know we are all mortal . . . yet we strive in vain to forestall the inevitable. Every great philosophy emphasizes the supreme value of living for the moment. Yet humanity obsesses about the future, while attempting to stimulate our urgent hungers and passions, instantly.

Death is the enemy. It is the Big Problem that motivates everything we do, from the most basely violent, to the most nobly elevating.

But humanity, with all of its grace, and power, and creativity, and intelligence, will not approach the problem of death with the simplest and most obvious question: Why do we die?

The answer cannot be found in Science. Well, yes, there are biological reasons why we die . . . but that's not the question. Why did the universe establish death as a thing? Why did it evolve? What purpose does it solve? What good is there in it?

But why do we die? It is a question that requires heretofore divergent philosophies to work together. To add to the Scientific element, we need to probe the philosophical, the theological and ethical underpinnings of the problem of death.

What if our most remote ancestors, lacking a Scientific skepticism and having only their survival instincts and senses intact, had minds that were clear enough, and open enough, to actually touch the divine? What if God, or some evolutionary force, approached our First Parents, for the simple reason that they were approachable?

And then what if truths about our origins and destiny were shared with them, to be handed down? What if those truths are only accessible to minds that are truly open?

This is the origin of Faith.

There's a high order of behavior that belongs in the human heart and soul. There's a selflessness, and a long-view combined with living in this moment, and a mastery of our thoughts, words, and deeds that makes us truly noble. It is how we become the glorious celestial beings we were meant to be.

It's the supremacy of the individual over him or herself, that, combined with the same impulse in every other human heart, the yields the only sustainable human progress.

It's that most elusive of all human aspirations: purity.

Sin is a rejection of purity. And sin is why we must die.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Authority X

Who is he, this King of glory?

 - From Psalm 24


He. Singular.

The King.

The King of Glory.

As you go up the lines of authority, the names and the numbers get fewer and fewer.

As you go up your family tree, the people within each generation are fewer and fewer.

Hierarchies. Chains of command. Lines of authority.

Eventually, you end up with one single person. "The buck stops here." There comes a point where the person to whom you have appealed; the person you follow, is the last in line and answers to no one.

And yet, we have this love affair with the Democratic principle, that the majority rules; that you want to be part of some mass movement, if you want to have value.

Some people go in to vote, and they make their moral and impactful decisions based on what is fair, and what expresses the most care for others - - - especially those that are most needy. And in so doing, they convince themselves that they are virtuous, perhaps more virtuous than others.

But we need strong teams to be effective. We need others. And others see things differently than you. We need to be loyal . . . and to put the people we trust ahead of a faceless, nameless mob that will never care about us when we can provide them no benefit.

You also need wisdom. You need to ask your elders. Perhaps they have tried it your way once, and discovered something better. Wisdom, and sage advice from seniors, and yes, those higher up in some hierarchy, can save you time. They know.

They know.

I hope to develop a fair culture; a society that cares for all. But I will not betray my family, friends and community. And I will lean on the wisdom and advice of my elders and people in authority.

And I hope you do, too. But there's more . . .

Next: Purity


Monday, January 28, 2019

Authority IX

For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room . . . 

 - From Psalm 84

The primary reason that people turn their backs on authority, their elders, their forbears, is very simple:

There's only one of them, or at least, very few. But the people that want you to reject your elders are very great in number. They're always very great in number. The masses always line up against a very small number of people that have influence over others.

And a single person opposing a mob is always a great threat to the mob. This is why big mass movements in societies, that radically change a culture or governmental system, usually result in a purge.

Purges do not have to be violent. You can get people to shut up and keep their thoughts to themselves, by aligning celebrity, sports figures, "popular" people on one side.

People can be swayed by other things as superficial as a crowd: money, sex, and other favors.

The Psalm today spells it out in a creative way. The path of authority gets narrower and narrower, the nearer you get to ultimate authority. Few there are, that find their way all the way to God's throne. But one day with God is better than a thousand, all to myself.

A day with God is eternal life. That's the key.

So that, you have just a few people that influence you. Or you take the easy way, the path with least resistance, and go with the crowd. There, you will get a hundreds times more "likes". Your latest announcement or decision will get shared virally. (Just look at which type of political posts on Facebook get the most "likes.")

Choose the one day.

Choose the one person. A person that loves you unconditionally. A person that has already sacrificed much, to benefit you and others.

Choose the one, over the many . . . the many, the crowd, the mob . . . a fleeting throng that is with you today, but tomorrow could just as easily throw you to the wolves.

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Authority VIII

... and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law ...

 - From Nehemiah 8

There's a general understanding, that defiance and willfulness are immature attitudes.

Sure, in our times, we celebrate people that are "being themselves," and that do or say whatever they want, regardless of what others think.

But that rings hollow . . . because there is always a crowd of people urging on such destructive and unkind behaviors. We would not be willful, or "independent," unless there was an approving crowd.

You wonder if ancient Judah, during it's downfall, had similarities to modern America. But we don't need to wonder, because it's almost certain that they did. Historians that study the rise and fall of civilizations have always noted this common tendency of societies: to attain a level of wealth and freedom, only to squander it by rejecting the attitudes and practices that produced the wealth, and freedom, in the first place.

The dog always goes back to its own vomit.

We reject our elders because they represent something old to us. We don't believe them when they say it was better when they were kids. But wouldn't they know what they're talking about? Were we there to see for ourselves, and prove our elders wrong?

The older our elders get, the weaker they get, and the fewer. It becomes a safe bet, that you can reject their example, and therefore topple your leaders, with impudence and ease. But why? So that we can be in charge? What's this driving impulse to control others?

Things have to get really bad . . . but then a generation comes along, like that of Nehemiah. They dust off some old tome, and get someone to read it to us . . . or we read it for ourselves. And we're frustrated that our grandparents left us such a mess, by rejecting the teachings of their own grandparents.

When you reject those in authority, or your elders . . . you end up rejecting the good with the bad.

And it's a logical impossibility, that they didn't have something good to pass on to us.

Friday, January 25, 2019

Authority VII

I have decided not to pull a selection from today's reading, Matthew 10: 16-22, because the words are chillingly descriptive of our present society. They are sufficient and need no explication.

It seems like the appeal to authority inevitably lands someone on frightening, solitary ground. The human spirit is notoriously resistant to threats. We crave safety.

If torture were not so effective, it would never be used.

Bullying is a form of torture. Groupthink and mob behaviors are highly effective in controlling the masses. We want to be safe. We want to get along and fit in. We want to be anonymous.

A person can't even introduce a topic for discussion in our times. We seem afraid of open and respectful dialogue. These reflectionary writings are intended to be thought-provoking. The views of the author are not the point . . . in many cases, I do not share my personal views here. I keep them hidden. The idea is to put ideas from Scripture out here, and let them define themselves.

The goal is to have a safe place where any questions may be asked, and any thoughts shared, without threat of being attacked or insulted.

Because this is the thing most lacking today. We need to be pushed, challenged, prodded, and moved. And we need to be okay with that.

This is the end goal of "Reflectionary":

To embrace divergent views and celebrate the dignity and honor of the human intellect and spirit. 

But it seems that even such a laudable goal as that, may be a risky one to advance.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Authority VI

I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 

 - From Galatians 1

The Apostle Paul had an interesting mix of motivations. In his pre-epiphany stage, he hated the Church of Christ. He despised it. He found it deplorable. It was more than an inconvenience to him . . . he could wipe out the life of a Christian, as easily as a modern New York government official could wipe out the life of a potential human being, full of promise and as-yet untarnished by the world.

Saul Paulus, the Apostle-to-be, was his generation's archetypal anti-Christian. He was so offended by the Truth of selfless love, service to others, and eternal life, that he found it obvious that the embryonic Christian movement must be aborted, before it caused one more moment of discomfort to somebody.

Behold the solidarity of Saul the Pharisee, with modern anti-Christians.

But Saul Paulus also appealed, always, to authority. He was zealous for the traditions of his ancestors. Many modernists could care less for their ancestors. For whatever reason, they have no reason to follow in the footsteps of anyone that came before. Their heroes are not Washington, Lincoln, and Churchill. Their heroes really aren't even King, Jr.

But their heroes might be Beyonce, Macklemore, and Kaepernick.

Why would I care about a dead person?

Saul Paulus was full of hate . . . but his devotion to elders proved that he had a soul that could be redirected to Truth, Real Love, and Holiness. At risk of wording this the wrong way - - -

Although Saul Paulus was violently hateful toward the Church, he had the right kind of hate . . . because it was framed by a regard for authority, and tradition.

It was the kind of hate God could turn around.

But we're in trouble when we have haters that don't defer to any authority. This is a blind, directionless, random form of hate. It cannot be steered toward something good.

No filters, no boundaries, no ground rules. It is a recipe for people that fight dirty.

In the kind of street brawl that typifies modern politics, people that have no traditions or regard for any elders, and that are driven by hate . . . have an unfair advantage.

Give me haters that revere their grandparents over haters that don't, any day. They can be reasoned with.

And in the long run, they are way more successful in advancing their goals . . . without violence, than haters with neither root nor branch.


Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Authority V

 . . . for you judge the peoples with equity . . . 

 - From Psalm 67

Christians should not be afraid to identify with the God of the Bible. Although we are imperfect, it sets forth standards that dwarf any other human philosophy.

Somehow, unbelievers and other skeptics have gotten it into their minds, that Christians advocate hate and injustice. They study spots and proof-texts of the Bible, to demonstrate this. And they, very easily, produce evidence in the form of Christians (humans) that fall short of God's perfect standard.

As Matt Hook has said: "Yes, the Church is full of hypocrites. And we always have room for one more."

Consider the concept of "equity." It is an important doctrine of anti-Christians. They believe that Christianity yields societies without equity. Christianity is not fair. And anti-Christians even downplay the idea of "equality." They don't want "equality." They want "equity."

God agrees. God created the principle of equity. If Christians fail to push equity, it's their own hangup, not God's. 

When we appeal to the authority of our elders . . . when we yield to people and concepts that have a higher standing than we do . . . when we act so that our seniors are not displeased . . . it goes all the way back to a lifestyle that emulates a God that is, if nothing else, equitable. 

Do I vote as an evangelical? Do I avoid choices that would dishonor the memory of my grandparents?

Good . . . because in so doing, I am pursuing the Kingdom of God on earth.

I am advancing the perfect society in which equity prevails. 





Monday, January 21, 2019

Authority IV - 500th POST!

 . . . and since I was so furiously enraged at them . . . 

 - From Acts 26

Over the weekend, most recently, a news item made the viral rounds, got everybody mad, was debunked, and then everybody settled  back in to their routine: the next thing to make them mad.

It seems like the early days of the Church were like that. There were people chomping at the bit, just to be mad at someone, or something. 

Read your Facebook, just a little bit. People are eager to be angry! They would rather read something inflammatory, than something uplifting.  The Apostle Paul spent his time, prior to his conversion, being mad, angry, furious. He was so worked up, that he couldn't see straight. There must be a narcotic effect to being angry, otherwise we want want to be mad so much.

Paul always appealed to authority. He was mindful of his superiors. As a pharisee, he persecuted the Christians, with the support and encouragement of the higher-ups. As a Christian, he appealed to Christ. When at trial, he appealed to Caesar. He always worked the chain of command. He respected it, and used it. 

Paul practiced the acknowledgement of who's in charge, and the debt he owed his elders . . . and it made him very effective and quite possible, spared his life for many years. 

This is my 500th post in the "reflectionary" series, or . . . "The World and the Real World." I want to look at the Bible as real people do . . . not those with seminary degrees. Not the people that can translate Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Aramaic. 

My background is filled with men and women that never went to college. I always had more regard for their understanding of Scripture, than I did for someone highly educated. 

I always deferred to the wisdom of a mechanic, or blue collar laborer, over that of a professor, or teacher. I've never had much respect for an ideological person that uses a position of authority, like a teacher, professor, or preacher, to lord it over those in their charge, that trust them, and follow them.

My regard for the true individualist does not lend itself to joining any mass movements. I do not want to be "on the right side of history," or popular. I do not want a large following. I want people to trust themselves, and lean on their own wisdom. I want people to listen to their true elders - the family members and neighbors that actually will give them time of day. We should not be overly influenced by people that get paid to talk. 

By this keeping out of any mass anything, I find myself not in a position to make too many people furious. People tend to assume that I'm, of course, on their side. But I do not like "sides" and I do not like partisanship. Well . . . I guess this is an infuriating attitude.

There was a song once, that "God and I make a majority." Indeed, that's true. We do not need to be part of any marches today. 

Think for yourself. When you reflect on the word of God . . . you find yourself in a dwindling group.  

Friday, January 18, 2019

Authority III

 . . . and on this rock I will build my church . . . 

 - From Matthew 16

The prioritization of authority seems to be tied closely to faith.

I can, first of all, take the advice of my Grandparents, years after their respective deaths, as reliable . . . because I have faith that I will see them again. They were human, mortal, and fallible. But the advice they gave me, and their example, is sufficient to let it influence my own decisions.

And in the context of eternity, who really cares about the mistakes we made in this life? This is what forgiveness and grace are all about!

I wouldn't do many things, even still today, if I thought it would cause my grandparents to be disappointed in me. There are certain things that I refuse to do, for I know it would disappoint them. So much more, my relatives that are still living. Why would I create tension in the heart and spirit of my siblings, mother, aunts and uncles, and cousins . . . just to gain some attention for articulating something controversial?

No . . . far be it from me to do this. I believe that there are some things far more important than the world and its problems. My need to be noticed, and to have posts that are "liked" by hundreds, is not more important than my need to make it into eternity, and to see as many people as possible there.

My faith in the goodness of the outcome modeled by my grandparents, is the very thing that drives me to a great concern for things like injustice, poverty, and even the concept of "privilege." I can move forward a positive vision, because I believe in forever. Except, I can advance those important causes, without forcing wedges between myself and my closest loved ones.

There are plenty of other forces that drive families and friends apart. We do not need to exacerbate it with politics.

A respect for authority is one thing that drives the life, career, and voting decisions of close to half the population. They are concerned about caring for others. They want fairness. But they also believe in loyalty among friends and family, and have a respect for authority. And this balanced approach to life gives them a perspective that is, in the long run, safer, more positive, more affirming, more inclusive, and most importantly, more effective in bringing real progress to humanity.

Monday, January 14, 2019

Authority II

Do not lord it over those in your charge

 - From 1 Peter 5

We celebrate the confession of St Peter, which is an appropriate launch-pad for the topic of authority. Some people refuse to go against the wisdom and example of their elders. They will even vote as they have been taught. Family disunity is not worth political fealty, or devotion to a passing cause.

But lest we ridicule the weak moral pillars of people that just do what will keep their elders happy, let's look at the Christian expectations of those in authority, an excellent list straight out of today's reading:


  • Tend to the flock in your care. Make sure they are fed, housed, clothed, healed.
  • Provide oversight. Be the one that has taken responsibility for them.
  • Do your task eagerly, cheerfully. Don't do so grudgingly, with complaints. 
  • Don't expect any financial gain through your efforts. 
  • Don't boss people around. Don't throw your "weight" around. Don't be a typical "white male."
  • Be a good example in everything
So . . . you can see why people would want to follow the example of someone like that. There are obviously cases where the blind following of elders was the wrong, and even the evil thing to do. 

We're not talking about that. 

The elders that I have followed are good people, honorable and charitable people. The good elders that I have seen others follow were the types that earned the trust of those that followed their example. 

If Conservatives highly value chain of command and authority, it is because they have had an inordinate experience with good leaders, good shepherds and elders. Of course they will follow such an example. 





Saturday, January 12, 2019

Authority

The Lord shall give strength to his people . . . 

 - From Psalm 29

We have been looking at the moral foundations that inform the way we think, make decisions, and vote. So far, we have studied the concepts of Fairness, Caring, and Loyalty . . . using the lectionary readings as a framework.

We have found that fairness and caring are hard qualities to force on others. We have our own way of manifesting these virtues. People that describe themselves as "liberal" tend to vote, with only these two dimensions in mind. They are not typically concerned about the other four foundations, one of which we just studied: loyalty.

If people were more loyal to their family, or to their church, than they are to politics, the world would be a much better place today. Families and churches are uniquely equipped to address problems in fairness and caring. And many people simply choose to address both needs in person, directly, through charitable work, and not forcing a method on others by way of government coercion.

It's not . . . well, fair, to force people to embrace the government approach, when they are doing plenty, anonymously, in private, to better the lives of others. It becomes unfair, indeed, to force others to accept bureaucratic action when they are doing more than enough. And it does not demonstrate care, at all. In fact . . . when one group of people is out doing circles around government, in world disaster relief, it is simply wrong not to stop and learn how they do it. It is evil to avoid approaches that would leverage those that do relief well.

We turn now to the next moral foundation. It, too, along with loyalty, caring, and fairness, is a foundation used by Conservatives, in equal weight to the others.

And this fourth foundation is authority. Conservatives tend to respect authority, or chain of command. There is a major segment of any population, as much as 65%, that simply wants to do what it's told, make no waves, not rock the boat, and go home at the end of the day, to a predictable and steady lifestyle.

This is the sincere wish and vision of the majority.

This view holds that, when making decisions on life, career, buying a home, voting, etc., people that have a high regard for authority will think long and hard before going against the advice of their own elders. Authority is closely linked to loyalty.

And the idea itself goes back to the belief that God is in charge. That it really doesn't matter what we do, that He will take care of things. And from that belief comes the conviction that we will do well to listen to other people that also follow the Lord.



Thursday, January 10, 2019

Loyalty X

I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, "Give them up,"and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth.

 - From Isaiah 43

Our eternal reward is linked to family. So many times, we are promised a reunion with all of our descendants.

Even the wayward ones? The prodigals? The rascals?

I think, yes. That is the nature of my reward. Childless women are even promised children that number as the stars in thy sky. If our reward is eternal, and God's possibilities endless, then large families area  piece of cake.

Since there is going to be a great family reunion anyway - - - (this is the aspiration: family, and not some hormonal college frat party throughout the ages), then shouldn't we direct our thoughts, our goals, our loyalty . . . back to family?

That grandfather that we remember as being, basically, a racist - - - that ancestor that we now know to have been on the wrong side of 21st Century sensitivities . . . still, for their time they may have been okay, and eternally may have had their faith in the right place. You want to be there . . . you want to enjoy endless lifetimes immersed in the justice, freedom, and equality you crave.

The key is found in loyalty to family, to elders, to the wisdom that comes with years of living.

Politics is a horrible reason to divide friends and family.

Let's elevate loyalty to its rightful place in our enumeration of essential values.

 - Next: "Authority"


Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Loyalty IX

 . . . one who is more powerful than I is coming . . . . 

 - From Luke 3

So, what are the things that we have put ahead of loyalty to honorable people? 

What are the reasons that we would turn our backs on the only people that would share their last thread of clothing with us? What could be so important, or stimulating, that we would denounce the generations that saved, invested, sacrificed, and shared, so that we could live in the most wealthy and free country in world history?

What is so urgent, or important, that we would insult our elders . . . those that have been manifestly loyal to us? Why would we deny loyalty to the ones that modeled perfect loyalty for us?

Well, you're talking about a voluminous treatise to merit doctoral study. What are some of the things we have put ahead of real, sacrificial love?

We could start with anti-racism. That's a big one. "I am willing to listen to other viewpoints, but I don't listen to racists, misogynists, homophobes, Islamophobes," etc. 

That's the biggy. And we can catch probably anybody and everybody saying, or doing, something, that will qualify them to be someone we don't listen to. Because, you know, we want to be so virtuous. But the problem is, the person with these standards can be caught violating their own rules, too, eventually. And if their ethic of elder-hate gets passed down a generation or two, they're not going to like being on the butt-end of it. 

Resentment's a viable reason to reject loyalty. Up until now, every generation in America has fared better than the one before. Perhaps the Millennials are disappointed that it's different for them. They do emphasize "fairness," after all. But envy is never a good emotion, and it absolutely is dangerous if it gets too strong of a foothold in wealthy societies. 

No, I'm not going to be loyal to you. You didn't leave me enough money to live off of for the rest of my life.

The elephant in the room is the cause for disloyalty that nobody wants to talk about. Our generation is over-sexed, over violenced, and over-stimulated. We want what we want, and we want it now. Everything comes in bite-sized chunks that may be consumed instantly. We do not want barriers. No parameters. No standards. No expectations. No obligations. Just let me do what I feel like doing.

The payoff on being able to do whatever you feel like doing, is that you will feel good. We all are enslaved by the siren-song of pleasure. 

That guy over there, with his middle-aged divorce and the opportunity to act like a teenager all over again, in the dating world, has got a good thing going. In principle, I know it is unwise and immoral. But I want those same options for me, just in case.

It makes it even better that we have made morality such a moving target. Because, it really . . . does . . . feel so good.

We have a number of reasons why we might shelve any practice of loyalty. Oh, of course. . . . in most cases we can even say "I don't have to have the values of a dead person."

If loyalty were a thing . . . most of our problems today would go away. You would not vote in ways that would create extreme friction in your family. You would want to be able to share your voting decisions with your grandparents, without feeling like you have broken their trust and good faith. 

And the positive forward movement of our society and culture would not be impeded. In fact, it would probably advance more rapidly, in the right ways. 

John the Baptist could have had the crowd in his hand. He could have stepped up and taken on the mantle of "Messiah," if he wanted. But he realized there was someone greater than he. He knew who the Messiah was, and did what we all should: point out the way, to others. This is loyalty. 

In the end, loyalty requires the humility and honesty of John. You don't have to have all the power to yourself. You don't need to feel "good" right now. You do not have to blame others for your problems.

But you do need to identify what is permanently good and praiseworthy, and make yourself loyal to it. 






Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Loyalty VIII


. . . they sent Peter and John . . . 

 - From Acts 8

Decision-making and leadership is hard. There was a reason why so many cultures have gone with "elders' as leaders. When you have an Elder System, you don't have to worry about elections. You don't have to deliberate with yourself, whether or not to take charge.

When I was in my twenties, I was offered the position of Deacon in the my church. But I noted that, in Scripture, Deacons were required to have attained some maturity and experience in life. They were to be the husband of one wife. I noted that I didn't even have a wife and cannot be a deacon. And that ended the discussion.

We have too many people . . . young people . . . asserting themselves as leaders. We have Congresspeople from their own respective single districts, assuming they can have sway over the rest of the country. We have people being elected by emotionally-driven segments of the population, that have not the life experience, or gravitas, to weigh matters carefully and consider all viewpoints. And we're celebrating the brashness of this process and the people it produces.

It was not so in Native American culture. We owe a lot to them. Our system of Federalism was inspired by the Mohawks. Our sense of appreciation for all peoples comes from our early association with them.

We need their reflective methods today.

I know how my father saw the world, and his father before him. That’s how I see the world.

                  -   N. Scott Momaday, Kiowa/Cherokee

Any philosophy that dismisses the wisdom of forefathers and mothers, outright, is unwise at best, dangerous at worst.

We need to begin with respect for the elders. We will all be elders one day. Failure to stop and listen to them is a path to bitter regret at the end of life.

The early Church established a system of deacons and elders. This was derived from the Old Testament system of tribes and elders. It was orderly, and enabled the steady and effective introduction of reforms into the culture.

The early Church sent Peter and John, and others, because they wanted to be treated seriously, and they wanted a sense of godly authority to go forth.

We need some Peters and Johns, to send to Washington, today.





Monday, January 7, 2019

Loyalty VII

The Lord sits enthroned 

 - From Psalm 29

The 29th Psalm lists reasons to be loyal to God. A lot of time is spent describing His Voice - - - it's thunderous, world-shaking impact. But then we're reminded of the good things God will do for us - He will feed us, take care of us, protect us, 

But even though resistance to God is certain death, and loyalty to Him is certain eternal happiness and life . . . still people (most of us) will resist Him. Loyalty is not something we want to do. There's no good reason for us to reject others, especially those that will provide good things to us, and to ours. 

We don't want to be loyal to someone. Another person might eventually require something of us, that we don't want to do. Our generation of infinite choices, especially, is loathe to promise anything to anybody. We might need something . . . something that feels good, for instance; and for whatever reason, that person to whom we might be loyal will suggest otherwise. We'd rather not be beholden to anybody; and we don't want to limit our choices by being loyal. 

It drives our voting behavior. We will vote for whomever makes us feel good; even if it creates friction between us and others. 

But God demonstrates a built-in commitment to loyalty. The evidence is there - the case is made: Follow Him. Commit to Him and be loyal to Him.

Loyalty, well-placed, is a good thing. And loyalty simplifies everything for us. 

Good parents are loyal to their kids. If my choice, this Friday night, is to either go on a date with some new friend, or to go to the home football game, where my daughter is the drum major, I choose my daughter. The decision is easy. I have let loyalty make it for me. 

We do not consider loyalty to be much of a criterion for anything. When we vote, we want to feel good - - - we want to be "on the right side of history," or to be on the "cool" side of things. We want to be noticed by certain people. 

And loyalty to God may get in the way of those transitory, good feelings. It becomes easy to drop the idea of loyalty to people. The values of our forbears may easily be dismissed, if they do not align with what makes us feel good, today.

Loyalty is not a concept that can co-exist in a world based on feelings. 




Sunday, January 6, 2019

Loyalty VI

All kings shall bow down before him . . . 

 - From Psalm 72

I have often wondered why doubters and cynics can't just act as though there is a power greater than themselves. Why not leave some space for what you do not know?

If there is a perfect person among us, then it would be foolish for the rest of us not to do whatever that person says. But then a perfect person could prove it, by being immortal. Wouldn't perfection entail perfect knowledge and morality, as well? Isn't corruption and death an indicator of lack of perfection?

But if the person is not perfect, then he is foolish to act as though he understands everything.

Therefore, it is logical for us all to operate as though there is One greater than us.

Snarky artists play around with Christmas songs, to make them more politically correct. They take the power of the original intent and language).

Don we now our pride apparel.

God rest ye merry, Christian folks

Born that all no more may die.

Little baby, pa rum pum pum pum . . . 

"Little baby"? The idea isn't that it's just some ordinary baby being born!

A baby changes everything, indeed!

It's the Baby, Jesus!! The King of Kings has been born!!

Why wouldn't the plan of the ages, a plan that erases injustice and disease, and hunger, a plan that abolishes death forever, be accomplished by a great hero that is like us in every way . . . but also one to whom the praise of all history is due?

Even if there's a chance that it's true, why wouldn't we jump for joy that it's been done!

There is a King of Kings. He has been born. And this baby will change everything! This is where loyalty begins. You can be loyal to someone that you can trust. And as in all things, you practice your loyal to Him, by being loyal to imperfect humans, unconditionally.

Loyalty is the glue that holds it all together. It is the thread of society. And it is ultimately the guidepost to such things as justice, health, and happiness.

We need more loyalty. Why should evil people be the only ones loyal to each other?



Saturday, January 5, 2019

Loyalty V - THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you,

 - From Isaiah 60

It's always darkest just before the dawn. It's the quietest then, too. When camping, the nighttime creatures are intense in the their chorus, between sundown and an hour or two after midnight. But one by one, they drop away. When it is at it's quietest, it seems even the breeze dies down, until there is total silence. If you have not fallen asleep by then, the quiet itself is unsettling. Every sign of movement outside may be a skunk, a raccoon getting into your stuff, or even a bear!

Total darkness, and total quiet. The darkness may be bearable, if there were some sounds. But the quiet has its own brand of creepiness. You feel lonely, vulnerable . . . lost.

The world has been covered in darkness at various points in its history. In the moments before Creation itself, it was totally dark, and totally quiet. But the sad lonesome scene was broken up by the warm voice of God.

In the days before the flood, the world became very dark. The rampant sinfulness was accented by the gathering clouds. As the sky grew darker, the sense of rebellion against God and Nature began to isolate each human, one from the other. Brothers, sisters, parents, children, became enemies, so hopeless had become the human condition. People living in darkness and silence will begin to do irrational things.

But then the rain came down . . . and ultimately, the sun broke through.

Sodom and Gomorrah. The enslavement of the Hebrews in Egypt. And the downward slide of the kingdoms, first of Israel, then of Judah . . . as darkness and silence from on high became the norm, people responded by retreating into their own selfish interests, their own wanton lusts.and the reckless voyeurism and exhibitionism that is the wont of unchecked humanity.

And it seems like God is eternally silent.

It was like that just prior to Christ's first Advent. It was even known as "400 Silent Years." After forging an intimate alliance with His people, since the dawn of history, God had fallen silent.

But in that Silent Night . . . that darkest of all eras, of Roman wealth, power, corruption, despotism, and decadence (don't they always all go together?), at the conclusion of centuries in which God seemed nonexistent . . . He came.

Christ shone as a light in the darkness. He came at history's darkest moment (up to that point). So many had forgotten the promise that most people missed it. There were, however, three men of great wisdom, living in the Middle East. They came a great distance to see the Boy King.

You've got to listen to the authorities. Watch for the signs. Go for wisdom rather than popularity.

When the Son of Man comes, there is only One "Right Side of History."

True Loyalty demands that we stay true, and stay patient. Our friends, in their impatience will lure us away from watching for the Only One deserving of our loyalty. Political parties, celebrities, professors, bosses, mass movements . . . they all seek our loyalty (our souls). For whatever reason, they want us separated from the One King to Whom we should be loyal.

The Darkness itself is a sign that the King is near.

Stay dependable. Stay consistent. Stay ready. Stay watchful. Stay wise. Stay loyal.

Because He is eternally loyal to us.

Merry Christmas.


Friday, January 4, 2019

Loyalty IV - THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 . . . and they knelt down and paid him homage . . . 

 - From Matthew 2

It is not easy to kneel. It's hard on the knees. It's probably bad for the back. It's not the best position from which to spring and get moving. It puts people around you, that are standing, at a distinct advantage. They can do you great hard with a fist, or a kick. It's no wonder terrorists use that powerful image - of prisoners positioned on their knees, sometimes blindfolded. They are there. They are present. They are identifiable. You can easily discern their emotions, even through a handkerchief. They are at the mercy of the captors. 

Kneeling isn't good. At all. 

"Taking a knee" is much better. NFL football players have adopted the one-knee down as a way to protest. But it's a very lame way to protest. One knee down is more relaxing. It is what we can do when we need a break, from running, working, or standing in the sun. One knee down doesn't take the same pounding that two knees down takes. And you can switch if one leg gets uncomfortable. We don't let captives take the one-knee position. It has different symbolism and a different effect. 

Kneeling is hard, emotionally, too. When we kneel before another person, voluntarily, we are putting ourselves at their mercy. We're telling them that they can have their way with us. When you willingly kneel before someone else, it is a message of profound trust.

You will not harm me. I trust you.

It is hard for us to kneel, physically. It's hard for us to kneel, emotionally. We resist putting others ahead of ourselves, the same way we resist the discomfort of going down on both knees for a prolonged time. 

We seem hard-wired to resist . . . RESIST . . . kneeling before someone else. This is why we get so tangled up in politics. If the other candidate wins, our acceptance is akin to kneeling before them. We have conditioned ourselves not to trust the other candidate, and now you expect us to be a good sport and accept the outcome?

No wonder some people would rather not get involved in politics, or voting, at all! It's much less painful!

Consider the emotional act of kneeling - - - not the physical. Think for a moment what it means to pay your allegiance to another person; to express your loyalty to him or her. Even toddlers push back at the idea of loyalty to someone else. 

How dare you tell me what to do?

It is not natural to follow another person, to express complete loyalty to him or her. 

This is why loyalty is so highly prized, albeit by half the population. There are those that were taught to respect authority, and to be loyal to family and friends. People that value loyalty stay married. They protect their children at all costs. They visit their widowed grandparents, more times than necessary. Loyal people do not have to be urged to make it to family events. They understand the importance of funerals, weddings, greeting cards, thank you notes. 

It's not easy!! This is why so many people choose to undervalue the idea of loyalty!

You might as well ask some people to go down on their knees, on gravel, for an hour, as to ask them to call their elderly grandmother on her birthday. 

Loyalty is a delicate, hard, demanding, and rare commodity. 

And it's highly valued by the Lord. 

Were the Three Men Wise because they were so learned? Or were they Wise because they knew that kneeling before the Baby King was the right thing to do? Who puts themselves to such discomfort for a baby?

It must also be that . . . loyalty is, above all other things . . . wise