The Truth Process, Session VII, Post 1

Mea Culpa
In our North Park Church Christian Education Class this past week, we reviewed a 2008 Barna Survey regarding the worldview of Christians. For the purposes of the survey, a “biblical worldview” was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview. The findings are discouraging. Here is a sample of what the survey disclosed :
Overall, the current research revealed that only 9% of all American adults have a biblical worldview.
Even among born again Christians, less than one out of every five (19%) had such an outlook on life.
One-third of all adults (34%) believe that moral truth is absolute and unaffected by the circumstances. Slightly less than half of the born again adults (46%) believe in absolute moral truth.
Just one-quarter of adults (27%) are convinced that Satan is a real force. Even a minority of born again adults (40%) adopt that perspective.
Only one-quarter of adults (28%) believe that it is impossible for someone to earn their way into Heaven through good behavior. Not quite half of all born again Christians (47%) strongly reject the notion of earning salvation through their deeds. (If you would like to read more about the Barna study GO HERE)
Now I recognize that some of you are skeptical of statistics. Some may be familiar with Mark Twain’s comment in his autobiography that "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." Some of you are thinking that surely Barna’s identification of “born again Christians” was faulty. Whether you agree with Barna’s findings or not, my guess is that most would agree that the body of Christ has become anemic – infected by the false truth claims of a post modern culture. I can’t help but wonder –“What happened to the body of Christ?”
Our nation was founded by people who undertook the dangerous trip to the shores of North America as a mission (Mayflower Compact). The body of Christ had great influence on the culture, influencing government, education, and the overall operation of society. Many of our founding fathers expressed that the foundation of the nation was morality and religion, and at the time, there was no question that they meant the Christian religion. The more I think about this, the more upset I become. I feel frustrated, saddened, and at times – angry. Frankly, I am looking for someone to blame.
As a child, and still as an adult, I read the comics section of the daily newspaper. A number of years ago, a comic strip titled “Pogo” appeared in the daily Pittsburgh Press. Pogo was the title and central character of a long-running daily American comic strip, created by cartoonist Walt Kelly (1913–1973) and distributed by the Post-Hall Syndicate. Set in the Okefenokee Swamp of the southeastern United States, the strip often engaged in social and political satire through the adventures of its anthropomorphic funny animal characters.
Probably the most famous Pogo quotation is "We have met the enemy and he is us." Perhaps more than any other words written by Kelly, it perfectly sums up his attitude towards the foibles of mankind and the nature of the human condition. (Perhaps the second best-known Walt Kelly quotation is another one of Pogo's philosophical observations: "Don't take life so serious, son. It ain't nohow permanent." But that’s another conversation...)
As I have been looking for someone to blame, Pogo’s words come back to mind, with some modification. You see, I have found the person to blame for the anemic condition of the church. Yes, folks – after looking long and hard, I have found him. "I have met the enemy and he is ME." Yes – I am to blame. This is my “mea culpa”. In fact it is my "mea maxima culpa." (Mea culpa is a Latin phrase that translates into English as "my mistake" or "my own fault". To emphasize the message, the adjective "maxima" may be inserted, resulting in "mea maxima culpa," which would translate as "my most [grievous] fault.")
Now let me be clear. (A well known politician frequently uses these words. Oddly, what follows them is anything but. I will try not to make that mistake.) I am not accepting blame for what has happened to the Christian church in America over the last 400 years. While I fully admit to a unique ability to foul things up, I am not able to do so retroactively. But when it comes to the state of the Christian church here and now – in 2010 - "I have met the enemy and he is ME." Here is what I mean...
To the extent I fail to allow Christ to be lord of every area of my life, I weaken the body of Christ.
To the extent that I fail to read and study the divinely inspired word of God, I weaken the body of Christ.
To the extent that I fail to pray for myself, my family, my church, my government, I weaken the body of Christ.
To the extent that I fail to engage, in a Christ-like manner, with those whom God brings across my path, remembering that every person is an eternal being, I weaken the body of Christ.
The list goes on, but you get the picture, right?
Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.
Now, I know that I am just one person among many that constitute the body of believers. I realize that it is not entirely my fault that the church is in such anemic condition. Maybe you bear some responsibility as well. One of many things I have learned as I grow older is this: I cannot accept your responsibility. I can only accept my own. There is no “nostra culpa”. (“Nostra” is a Latin word meaning ''our'' or ''ours''.)
The condition of the body of Christ is dependent upon His work in the hearts of individuals, each of whom fulfills an important role in the community of believers. Perhaps it is time that each of us issues our own “mea culpa”. Then – with humble hearts, in submission to His lordship – Christ will go to work first in us, then through us.
May it be so…
In Christ –
John
Soli Deo Gloria

ON TURNING 60

Last weekend, Fran and I drove down to South Park to attend the “60th Birthday Party for the Baldwin High School Class of 1968”. Most of us who made up the graduating class of about 680 students have turned, or will turn 60 sometime in 2010. In addition to sharing the common experience of graduating together, we also seemed to share a sense of amazement at how quickly we have reached this point in our lives.
We had a lot of fun that day as we reminisced about our high school days. The memories filed away in my mind are fairly general in nature, but some of my classmates have an incredible recall of specific details of events that took place over four decades ago. We laughed often and loud as we listened to some of the more animated and extroverted (or slightly inebriated) tell their stories. I had a great time watching my classmates interact through the course of the day.

Mark, a friend who goes back to elementary school days, is probably the funniest person I have ever met. His wife, Lorie – a perfect match for him – was equally entertaining. Trent, one of the most optimistic and outgoing people I know, provided music from our era, and in doing so, demonstrated his love for the tunes of the day. My friend from our days in the choir at Baldwin, Edd, moved through the crowd, engaging in quiet conversation with former classmates. Knowing him, I am sure that the conversations were not only quiet but caring, because that’s the kind of man he is. Bob, one of my football teammates, joined me in cooking hot dogs and hamburgers. When not serving in that fashion, he was always looking for other ways to help when not engaging others with his genuine “nice guy” personality and wonderful sense of humor. Mike, although feeling under the weather that day, transported an entire pickup truck load of supplies and equipment to make the event a success. He always was a great team player. Linda, a person I hadn’t even known while in high school, was in constant motion. Diminutive in stature, but large in personality, she became more and more of a friend as they day went on. The person I enjoyed watching the most was my wife of 39 years – Fran. Although not part of our graduating class, she could have been. God has blessed Fran with a wonderful, outgoing personality, and it was great to see her having such a good time, engaging in conversation, and sometimes entertaining my classmates.
One of many things I have learned on the way to 60 is that everyone has challenges in life. One cannot live life in this world without having to deal with some event, or perhaps multiple events that caused anxiety, pain, and heartache. It has been no different for the Class of 1968. A couple of my classmates had coronary by-pass surgery. Another with children in their twenties had recently been divorced. One of the people who has been instrumental in keeping the class somewhat connected over the last forty years received the hard news that she had breast cancer – less than two weeks ago. Strong woman that she is – she attended the picnic. Then there are those who could not make it to the picnic – because they did not make it to age 60…
As I think back on that day – the “60th Birthday Party for the Baldwin High School Class of 1968”, I am reminded of the abundance of God’s blessing in my life. Frankly, I take much of his blessing for granted. One of my favorite Psalms is the 103rd. Verse 2 says “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- “. My paraphrase is “try not to forget everything he has done for you.” This past Saturday, I was reminded that I must try not to forget the blessing of knowing so many fine people from a time so long ago. But I have been reminded of something even more important…
Later on in Psalm 103, David wrote:
14 for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass,

he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting

the LORD's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children-

David said that our “days are like grass.” When we were 18, we flourished “like a flower in the field.” Life, like the wind David refers to, blows hard and fast, and much, much faster than we ever imagined, we are 60. Life, my good friends, is fleeting. In light of that reality, how then shall we live? Each of us must find our answer to that question.
As for me, my desire is to live the remainder of the days that God gives me with these priorities: God first, Family second, and ALWAYS FRIENDS.
May it be so…

In Christ -

John

The Truth Process, Session VI, Post 4

Don’t rewrite history. You must be kidding…
I opened the Pittsburgh Tribune Review this morning (May 21, 2010) and read the following:

Don't rewrite history, former Education secretary Paige urges Texas board

Former Education Secretary Rod Paige on Wednesday expressed opposition to revised social studies curriculum standards being prepared for the state’s 4.7 million public school students, urging members of the State Board of Education not to let personal ideology shape "what is taught to our children."

REALLY?
Does former Secretary Paige believe that someone’s personal ideology has not been shaping what has been taught to our children? Does he really believe that a personal, secular ideology has not been shaping content of public school social studies and history curricula for more than 30 years? Why else would social studies text books be lacking any reference to religious activities as part of family life in America? Why else would our history text books be devoid of content regarding the Christian principles upon which this nation was founded?

Paige, a former Houston school superintendent who directed the nation's education policies in President George W. Bush's administration, was one of more than 200 witnesses scheduled to testify at a hearing yesterday as the 15-member board opened a three-day meeting on the revised standards.
The revisions have drawn nationwide attention amid charges that conservative Republicans on the board are attempting to alter history and inject their political beliefs into the curriculum. Minority groups contend that the standards have diminished the historical role of black and Hispanic people. Supporters defend the changes as balanced and accurate, contending that the controversy has been distorted in the media.

REALLY?
Are “conservative Republicans” trying to “alter” history, or for the first time in decades, attempting to be sure that textbooks reflect what actually happened? After all, isn’t that what history is – what really did happen in the past?

Paige, the first black person to serve as Education secretary, called on the board to "take another look" at how minorities and the civil rights movement are portrayed in the standards.
As an example, Paige cited Hendrick Arnold, an African-American who participated in Texas' revolution from Mexico. "An important personality like that is stealth to our students," Paige said. "Don't redact key personalities."

INCREDIBLE!
If Paige is so concerned about the redaction of key personalities who are “stealth to our students”, how about these personalities, who have been redacted for years:

United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Rush, who said - "In contemplating the political institutions of the United States, I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes, and take so little pains to prevent them. We profess to be Republicans and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible."
Noah Webster, who said - "[T]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. ... and I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence."
United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock, who said - "Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement. ... [T]he very existence of the republics ... depend much upon the public institutions of religion." –
John Adams, who said - “Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty."
George Washington, who said – “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

Somehow, people like Rod Paige do not seem to think that the near total redaction of key personalities such as these is not a result of the shaping of curricula by personal ideology! I believe that it is more likely that they are completely comfortable with personal ideology shaping education – as long as it is secular ideology. Indeed, “they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” (Romans 1:25)

The Cosmic Battle rages…
In Christ –
John
Soli Deo Gloria

The Truth Process, Session VI, Post 3

IGNORANCE


In the post dated April 14, 2010, I mentioned the team mascot of my high school alma mater - the "Highlander". Tongue in cheek, I wrote the following: "I still have no idea why a school would choose a guy in a kilt carrying a bag pipe as its representative image. Our opponents were tigers, cougars, bobcats, bears, blue devils, red raiders, and Indians. We were the "guy in a skirt." But I digress…"


It wasn't long before I heard from Edd, one of my classmates. In an e mail, Edd stated the following: "Just for the record, the Highlanders were among the most feared and fierce warriors. Watch :"Braveheart" (even though it is part of "revisionist history!") to see how the enemy feared this foe. The British army eventually had to develop new fighting tactics to defend against the dreaded Highlander Charge." Today "Arch" posted a similar comment. I'll save you the trouble of clicking on the comment. Arch wrote: "Have you ever seen Braveheart - those are the highlanders. Pretty mean dudes, even compared to bears and tigers and maybe devils. My question is why would a team be named after the army of hell? ...but I digress." Arch may be a few weeks behind in his reading, but he has a great sense of humor...


As I think about this, I wonder why no one ever told me this before! Why wasn't I taught the real history of the Highlanders? Had I the proper respect for the background and history of these fierce wariors, I probably would have played harder! My ignorance of true history had a negative impact. Likewise, ignorance of the true history of the United States has a negative impact on its citizens, saved and unsaved alike.


Last week, we began looking at quotes of the founding fathers and other historical figures. As we explored some of the written words of these people, we began to understand the answer to the question: "What were they thinking?"


What was the design of the government of the American Experiment?
What was the vision of the “founding fathers?”
What, in their opinion, was the role of religion in government?
What was the key element that would lead to the “success” of the “American Experiment”?


An examination of both oral and written statements helps us to understand the wisdom and biblical perspective of the nation's founders. We should not, and need not be ignorant of the true history of the United States.


May it be so.


In Christ -


John


Soli Deo Gloria

"[T]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. ... and I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence." – Noah Webster

The Truth Process, Session VI, Post 2

INCREMENTALISM
“Listen – You are going to look at yourself 20 or 30 years from now and say ‘How did this happen?’ It will NOT have happened overnight. It’s not like you went to bed the night before weighing 180 pounds and woke up the next morning weighing 230. Not at all! It will be the result of the choices you make over the years that will determine what you will be like decades from now, and the slow gradual piling on of the pounds will hardly be noticeable.”
These were my words (or something like it) to my 10th grade Health Education students in 1977. I was trying to help them understand that the choices they make about what they eat and how they exercise would have a gradual, cumulative effect on the quality of their lives years later. Trying to get 15 and 16 year olds to think this way was like trying to convince today’s Tea Party members that higher taxes and bigger government would be good for the country. I was selling – they weren’t buying.
Occasionally, I see some of these former students. In fact, some of them are my clients. These “kids” are now in their early 50’s, and unfortunately for some, my words were prophetic. Many of them recall my lectures and have said to me “You were right, Mr. Ryce.” What happened?
For many of them (and many of us), the world offered up a tasty variety of foods, some of which were simply lacking in nutritional value, and sometimes downright harmful. Often, even though aware of the potential harm, many would still choose to consume these foods, because so many others choose to consume them, and BECAUSE THEY TASTE GOOD! Combine this practice with a slowing metabolism (usually in the 30’s) and a lifestyle lacking regular physical activity, and we have a formula guaranteed to produce a bad result. It doesn’t take long for our choices to become habit, and the inevitable result is a slow, incremental increase in weight and a slow incremental decrease in physical capacity.

It occurs to me that the same process can be at work on a spiritual level.

The world is constantly offering a wide variety of messages that we “feed” on. These messages are delivered via multiple media – Television news and Entertainment programming; Movies; Music and music videos; Magazines; Internet; You Tube; Facebook; Twitter… Just as it is with the foods we eat, some of the messages (some would argue most) are simply lacking in spiritual value, and sometimes downright harmful. Unfortunately, we unwisely “consume” these messages because we fail to realize the harm they can cause, because so many others are consuming them, or because they “taste so good” to our fallen nature. Incrementally, over time, born again Christians can begin to think about life in much the same way the unsaved do. The Lord has warned us about this:
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
Not long ago, one of George Barna’s studies revealed that only 9% of born again Christians actually possess a biblical worldview. (To read more about the study, GO HERE.) How can this be? The Puritans came to this land “… for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.” Their worldview was such that every aspect of life was subject to God’s sovereign control.
So how did we get from there to here? From a country founded upon Christian principles to a nation that seems intent on removing God from every nook and cranny of life? How did we get to the point where the majority of those who are saved do not look at the world much differently than the unsaved? Did it happen overnight as a result of some dramatic, cataclysmic event? Of course not. It happened incrementally…
It is important to remember that, if the downward slide of this culture is to be reversed, this too is most likely going to happen incrementally, and God’s people are to be at the forefront. (See 2 Chronicles7:13-15)
For us to do our part, you and I must first be willing to examine our own lives. Have we been taken captive by the culture? Are our thoughts and attitudes pleasing to God? How do we examine our lives? With the inspired word of God:
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
For us to do our part, we must also “grow up”, and become mature in our faith, exercising greater wisdom and discernment so that we are not so easily taken captive.
“…you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14)
When we examine our lives and rid ourselves of the corrupting thoughts and attitudes that have incrementally taken us captive; and when we train ourselves to better distinguish good from evil, we will have greater influence on the world around us. Incrementally, our nation can return to God – one heart at a time.

May it be so.
In Christ –
John
Soli Deo Gloria

The Truth Process, Session VI, Post 1

History
I had lunch with an old friend a couple of weeks ago. Alan and I met in Junior High School in 1963, and we played football together through Junior High and High School. We co-captained the team in our senior year at Baldwin High School, home of the “Fighting Highlanders”. (I still have no idea why a school would choose a guy in a kilt carrying a bag pipe as its representative image. Our opponents were tigers, cougars, bobcats, bears, blue devils, red raiders, and Indians. We were the "guy in a skirt." But I digress…)
Alan and I had fun reminiscing about Junior High and High School, especially our experiences on the football field. I found it interesting how often I could remember things that Alan didn’t, but when I mentioned the event, it came back to his memory. He also remembered events that I had long ago forgotten until he reminded me.
Memory is an intriguing aspect of our existence, and I am amazed that I am able to recall plays that took place on the football field over 40 years ago, but somehow unable to remember the college graduation party my sister hosted for me after I graduated. Memory involves a recollection of the past, and these recollections can sometimes be very slippery things. That’s why it is so helpful that events of the past are often recorded in writing. But it is only helpful if what has been written is true. The Highlander football team won 5 and lost 4 in 1967. If I decide to write my life story (I’m taking advance orders) and I write that our team was 9 – 0, I become guilty of “historical revisionism”. As we discussed in class last week, quite a bit of revisionism has taken place when it comes to the history of the United States of America.
How is it that so few of American citizens ever learned anything about the religious and moral beliefs of the founders of this once great nation? An even better question is WHY!
In the weeks to come, we will examine historical documents such as the charters of the original states, statements made by some of the original founders, and the clear and unequivocal call to reliance upon God by leaders such as Washington, Adams, Franklin, Rush, Webster, and Lincoln. When we look at un-revised history, we will find evidence that this country was indeed built on a foundation of the Christian religion.
Revelation 2:5 says “Remember the height from which you have fallen!” If you are anything like me, our look at history may cause you to see that we have fallen even further than we thought.

In Christ -

John

Soli Deo Gloria

AN HOUR WITH WILLIE

About 20 years ago I met a black man who lives on the North Side of Pittsburgh – his name is Willie.

Willie is one of my clients, and he made his living running a small auto repair shop. We would see Willie about four times a year when he came into our office to pay his insurance premium, and he always was dressed in a blue work uniform and a ball cap, his clothes smelling of grease and oil. Willie always paid in cash, and even the money smelled like an auto repair shop. But we didn’t mind this at all, for he is one of those rare individuals from whom the love of Christ seems to shine like a beacon, and all of us here at the office looked forward to his visits.

Over the years, the story of Willie’s life was revealed to me in short installments delivered at each of his visits. It became apparent that his had not been an easy life. What was most obvious to me as I listened to him talk was that Willie loves the Lord, and that his appreciation for what God has done for him produced an attitude of thankfulness and an indomitable spirit. He was almost certain to say at each visit “The Lord is good. I don’t never forget that.” (Except when Willie said it, it sounded more like “ The Lode is good..”) Willie is now 80 years old.

Over the years, he raised his own children as well as some of his grandchildren. He even managed to pay for the college education of some of those grandchildren. He reads his Bible every night and once told me that if he goes to bed without reading the word, he can’t go to sleep until he gets out of bed and spends some time reading and meditating on the word of God.

In January of 2008, Willie was involved in a car accident when another car slid on ice into his vehicle. His right foot, in which he had suffered frost bite during the Korean war, was injured in the accident. Things did not go well from there. Willie was in a VA hospital for over a year, and when all else failed, his right leg was amputated below the knee. I talked with him a few times while he was in physical therapy, and I never once heard a word of complaint.

Earlier this week, he came to my office for help with some paperwork he had received by mail. A friend drove him to the office, and for the first time in 20 years I saw Willie dressed in “civilian” clothes. It was also the first time I saw him in a wheel chair.

I spent an hour with my friend that day - the paperwork took less than 15 minutes. The rest of the time was in conversation about life, faith, God’s goodness, and His call on Willie’s life. He shared with me how thankful he is that God had brought him through this most recent trial, and he felt that he knew what it was that God wanted him to do. When I asked him what that is, he said “John, I gots to get the young black men to stop killing each other!” I asked how he was going to do that, he explained that he was going out into the neighborhoods he has known all his life and “talk to these boys”. As you may guess, I was wondering how he would be able to get around, so I asked. That’s when he explained to me that he has a prosthetic leg which he puts on at 4 PM each day. When asked , “Why 4 PM?” Willie explained that that is when he plans to go out and walk his neighborhood each day.

I also learned that his adult children are against his intention to minister to the young men in his neighborhood. Willie explained that he told his children that “They could have wacked of both my legs and that wouldn’t stop me. Ain’t nothin’ gonna keep me down.”

Being in Willie’s presence for an hour that day made me feel very small. Here is what I mean:

I was sitting next to a one-legged man, 80 years of age, with at best a high school education, and very little of the world’s possessions. Yet he was determined to do God’s will, no matter what. As I thought of how easily I am dissuaded from doing God’s will, I felt like a very small man in the presence of a very great man of God.

Willie asked that I pray for him, and since he knows our son Jason is also a believer, he requested that I ask Jason to be in prayer for him too. I am sure he would appreciate your prayers as well.

I prayed with my friend before he left the office that day. Fran and I have been praying for him at night. I have also been praying that the Lord would change my heart so that I might grow up to be more like Willie.

May it be so -

In Christ,

John