Thursday, August 22, 2013

TOLERANCE AND GOD




We are living in a very difficult time in our world. We live in a world where tolerance is often demanded by those in our society and our government. One definition of tolerance which I read said, that: "Tolerance is being forced to put up with something with which you disagree" .

Recently in California a law was passed saying that if a boy feels that he was really a girl or a girl feels that she is really a boy; that they must be allowed to use whatever dressing room or shower room they desire in the public schools. In other words a boy may join you daughter in the school showers and you daughter may join the boys in their school shower. Also, a law was passed that said that if your son or daughter had these inclinations that you are forbidden (by law) as a parent to seek counseling for them. This is some folk's idea of what tolerance should be like.

As I consider this I think their idea of tolerance is just plain crazy! It's not unlike the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon which was run not long ago.

Calvin and Hobbes are shown walking through the snow. Hobbes asks: "How are you doing on your New Year's resolutions?"

Calvin replies: "I didn't make any. See, in order to improve oneself, one must have some idea of what's 'good.' That implies certain values. But as we all know, values are relative. Every system of belief is equally valid and we need to tolerate diversity. Virtue isn't 'better' than vice. It's just different."

Hobbes replies: "I don't know if I can tolerate that much tolerance."

Calvin response was: "I refuse to be victimized by notions of virtuous behavior."

That in a nutshell is the problem. People demand tolerance of their ideas based upon the concept that there can be no right or wrong, no good or bad. This flies in the face of all of us who were raised with strong moral and ethical values. Yes, I will readily admit that my values are based upon God's Word, the bible, but then to begin with so were most of the laws of our land.

To declare that there is no true right or wrong, no definable good or bad is ludicrous. There have to be constant's by which we can guide our society or it will crumble around us, which is what I am afraid is beginning to happen. It is like declaring a three egg omelet is good, because it only had one bad egg in it. You can say it is good, but that does not make it so.

We see developing in our country a path, a way that is taking us away from everything that made us a great nation. "The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the godly will flourish. There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (Proverbs 14:11-12, NLT) Is there truly no right or wrong, no good or bad? God say that there is. Notice what he says in Revelation 21:8 "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars, their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death, (an eternal separation from God)."

Some today are saying, "Who is this God? He's not real! He is only the remnants of an old mystical teaching. Psalms 14:1, tells us: "Only fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!" You can be tolerant of evil or you can decide that there really is a right way to live. The choice is yours!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

MY CURRENT MOST HATED EXPRESSION




Have you ever heard someone say something really dumb? I mean something that indicates that they really haven't thought before they spoke. Here are a couple of examples:

l      "A fellow nurse at my hospital received a call from an anxious woman. 'I'm diabetic and I'm afraid I've had too much sugar today,' she said. 'Are you light-headed?' my colleague asked. 'No," the caller answered, "I'm a brunette.'

l      Here's another dumb statement: "Most cars on our roads have only one occupant, usually the driver." (Carol Malia, Anchorwoman).

OK, we can all read these statements and realize that they were not thought through before they came out of the peoples mouths. Granted these things are just dumb, they have no lasting consequence or importance in the grand scheme of things, but shouldn't we think before we speak?

My current most hated expression is "Oh My God." I am so sick of hearing this pop out of the mouth of almost everyone I meet. It seems that no one can express surprise anymore without misusing the name of God in what they say. You hear it a hundred times a day on television as well as on the radio. We as a people have lost our respect and reverence for the creator of our universe, our Heavenly Father, our God, when we use His name in such a frivolous way.

Have you heard someone casually use the name of our God as a curse, an exclamation of frustration or even surprise? Sure you have, maybe you've done it yourself. That is only a small example of one way we can speak out of habit rather than through thought. Let me encourage you however to start thinking before you speak. There are things that are of more consequence to us than we sometime think! Let me encourage you to say something to those who do this and remind them just who's name they are invoking.

 

Jesus speaking in Matthew 12:35-37 says, "The good man out of his good store gives good things; and the evil man out of his evil store gives evil things. And I say to you that in the day when they are judged, men will have to give an account of every foolish word they have said. For by your words will your righteousness be seen, and by your words you will be judged."

So how about it, how about stopping and thinking before you speak, especially when you are speaking about things that will effect your eternity. After all Jesus said the things that come out of our mouths, are a result of what has been stored up inside of us. Yes, you can say you are sorry for having said something, but wouldn't it have been easier not to have said it at all.