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New School for Public Figures Who Say the Wrong Thing
I have an idea. It is not often that I have ideas, especially good ones, but here is one that might work, given the tremendous need demonstrated recently by those who reside on the public landscape. Lately, a flurry of public figures joined the ranks of those who seem to suffer from the proverbial “foot in mouth” disease, which is speaking without giving much thought to what is said, or the timing thereof.
Interestingly, this list includes people from different designations; politically, professionally and perhaps spiritually. This roster includes evangelist Pat Robertson, ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, former President Bill Clinton, current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, as well as radio and media personalities Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
For this group, I thought I might offer a few tips concerning what not to say. Each of these persons has recently made news with comments that leave many wondering if they are members of the Forrest Gump Club, crazy or just plain stupid?
Since Mother Gump reminded us that “stupid is as stupid does” I am willing to offer my services to each of these persons, and for that matter, a few of our local leaders regarding the nuances of putting the brain in action before engaging the mouth. In fact, regarding the response some have to my musings, I just might need to add myself to the list.
My plan is to teach a class called “What Not to Say and When Not to Say It 101”. Here is my lesson plan:
Lesson One: Remember, as a public figure you never speak off the record. So when you scream at your wife and kids about the absence of toilet paper at the most inopportune time, you might end up being quoted in the tell all book that one of them could write after receiving therapy for living with you. Sen. Harry Reid and, allegedly, former President Clinton should pay careful attention to this point. Can’t you see the former president wagging his finger saying “I did not get coffee from that man, President Obama?”
Lesson Two: Get Your Facts Straight. It is difficult for anybody to take you seriously when you extrapolate personal conclusions and speak of them as factual. The good Rev. Pat Robertson spoke of the people of Haiti as “making a deal with the devil”. Unless he was present, this would be an assumption. Though his ministry gives much across the world, simple statements like this that may not have factual basis or call for theological conclusions all are not prepared to make, cast shadows over the good works previously and currently performed. As extra credit, please consider the timing of what you say. During a crisis, is this the best time to allude to judgment?
Lesson Three: Look in the Mirror. To the former governor of Illinois – you are not black. You are blacker than no one, not that your color matters one iota. We cannot get beyond the issue of racial divide in this country as long as we attach attitude to ethnicity. The manner you behave is more important than how you look.
For remedial help, we will offer Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck training on why some issues are not partisan issues.
School’s open, and after this, I will be my first student.
Overcoming the Deficit
My friends, if you do not desire to view yourself in the light of day, then stay away from Paul and his teaching. His blatant honest about himself and Christians is the foundation of much of what we know about Christian living to this day.
In Romans 7:15, regarding his treatise on sin and the law Paul writes, "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." How many times have you, I or those you know reflected internally and arrived at this same conclusion. Why do I do the things I despise? Why does it seem that I am predispose to that of which I disapprove?
These are legitimate questions facing many that we never utter out loud. Perhaps because we do not wish other to consider us less than "spiritual" by their definition. Like it or not, even, and perhaps especially, within the faith community we seek the approval of others. Yes, we want to others to speak well of us and this sometimes drives us to the worse kind of dishonesty; being untrue with ourselves.
Paul never seemed to worry about this type of pressure to please others. He remained single in his focus, only desiring a life that fulfilled God's purpose. We would do well to emulate the type of critical self-analysis that results in the words Paul writes in Romans 7:22-24, "For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"
This clarity of analysis motivates Paul toward the recognition of God's place in his life and should do the same for each of us seeking to be like Christ. If we challenge ourselves to see ourselves as God sees us, then we could arrive at the same conclusion as Paul-we have a deficit.
This deficit of character and integrity is germane to the human condition as the result of sin originating with our fore-parent Adam in the Garden of Eden. Because of Adam's failure, all humanity grapples with this condition, whether we admit it or not. Your failures and my failure result from being born with a nature predisposed to elevating wrong over right. Even when we do the right thing, we must recognize that without Christ we are innately driven by sin.
However, we need not despair over this condition. The God who judged Adam and subsequently all humanity for transgressions of his law, provides remedy for the deficit sin created in the human condition. This remedy is available to each person who believes the truth of the gospel, that God sent His only Son Jesus to die as payment for our sin, and God subsequently raised Jesus from the dead to provide victory over death, the penalty of sin. Paul alludes to this remedy in Romans 10:9-10 where he writes, "9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." We should not understate the profound importance of this remedy. As simple as it sounds, it is even more critical regarding the deficit of the human condition. We must believe the gospel and receive Jesus as savior to fill the gaping hole in us left by the treachery of sin. This saving grace, or as it were our undeserved merit from God, will not apply to our individual circumstance until we do so.
However, there is still the question of application. Once we become Christians through the power of Christ's work, how do we live daily within the purpose and plan of God for our lives? It is in this contextual dilemma, the backdrop of Paul's aforementioned quandary exists. He recognizes his deficit, received the gospel, but now must deal with the daily challenge of a sin nature that desires to "hang around" his life.
Wonderfully, nothing catches God by surprise. God knew we would not only require a remedy for salvation, but also a manner by which to live as righteous examples within a world filled with various temptations designed to destroy our testimony and stunt our spiritual growth. God did not leave this remedy to anyone but Himself. He decided to live with each one of those who desire His presence through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul says this in regard to God's Holy Spirit in Romans 8:1-2, "1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." How great to live free from condemnation and free from the law of sin and death! Our deficit is made whole by the presence of God within our very being, allowing us to move and operate within His guidance and understanding. Therefore, the next time you say "I do not know what to do", remember that you are stating the obvious, you do not know, but if you are a Christian, the God within you knows and wants desperately to provide you with the answer.
God does not only provide us with the answer, but with the internal residency of the His Spirit comes the power to perform His purpose for us. The Apostle Paul, as we established, knew his condition and his deficit. He honestly reveals his own, and also our own, lack of power to accomplish God's purpose without the presence of Christ when he writes in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." For Paul, and for all who will receive, the presence of Christ provides all needed for victorious living.
Based on the love and nature of God, you can watch the defeat of your deficit and walk in victory. Take advantage, no better deal forthcoming. Blessings.
(All Scripture Quotations from the English Standard Version) (Emphasis mine)
We Need a Daily Dose of Holiday Love
However, for some, myself included, there is a question floating through the mental atmosphere like a snowflake driven by a cold winter wind. The question is, “why do we only seem to express love and goodwill during the holiday season?”
For those of us who as Christians, promote and maintain a faith that calls for a daily dose of love for others, it seems somewhat hypocritical to drive ourselves toward that end only during this time of year.
I make this statement in full knowledge that we Christians can be a bit testy toward criticism of any kind. Often, to our detriment, we do not take kindly to challenges regarding our actions or behaviors. In fact, faith for many religious people is so innately personal that we become defensive if someone reveals any deficiency concerning the relationship between what we say we believe and how we perform.
The great Indian revolutionary leader Mohandas K. Gandhi once remarked regarding Christianity, “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Was Gandhi on to something? Are Christians actually unlike Christ? Gandhi certainly fits the bill as an outside observer, but his view should strike a chord nonetheless.
As Christians, our calling is to be “salt of the earth and light of the world”, yet we seem reluctant to do either with any degree of consistency or regularity. A persistent effort by Christians to market the love of God through the life of Christ means that we check ourselves first. For me, this means a constant state of self-evaluation, repentance and effort toward improvement.
In addition, spreading the love of Christ on a daily basis and not just when we hear the singing of Silent Night means a dedication to viewing life beyond the boundaries of ourselves. I realize that all are not Christians in their faith profession, and that some follow no religious distinction at all, however, loving others as oneself is simply good advice, applicable to all.
Christians, as all others, are imperfect creatures. The work of transformation that encompasses a desire to be like Christ is a daily, lifelong process. It means that we must love enough to care, and care enough to confront. The world in which we live desperately needs the active involvement of people who base their activity upon solid, time-tested values of love, truth and justice. The failure to promote these beliefs in every human institution has catastrophic consequences.
Some will charge that faith and certain things do not mix. They say to all persons of faith, “stay out of the world’s business and just go back to your churches, mosques or temples and pray.” For them the problem is that they seem to believe in nothing, resulting in nothing of substance.
Faith and love, unlike certain bad holiday recipes, are the perfect elixirs to mix with the struggles of this life, but we should enjoy them on a daily basis and not only during the holidays.
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