Daily, I check out the serious news, especially relative to events and themes that touch human lives for problem solving – for their families, health, education, government/politics, economics/work, and faith. I use the common media represented in respected newspapers, magazines, and electronics. I am appalled at the accompanying gossip and racy stories, even themes that should not appear in public. For reasons that escape me, some reporters stall in the puberty period of life, in the belief that the period is sniggering about matters that should be either private or avoided in the pernicious carnality of mankind, stimulated by inner prurient interests. Not only does this reporting help in some of the patterns of deplorable contexts, but they invigorate the dimensions of mind, soul and body that need to be better directed in the privacy of the nature and life of the person. This learning about the drives of our lives, with attending privacy, is best done in the context of the meaning of our creator, who functions in a context of righteousness. In the off-hand judgmental observations about carnality, our approach seems a waste of time, and usually carries some sense of guilt and shame with it. Little is accomplished. We can live above prurient levels.
Wide investigation, with best returns from serious writing using relevant evidence and evaluation, provides several benefits. It usually suggests ideas and themes the seeker needs to advance his or her beliefs, conduct, and advocacy. It also challenges factors that may need amendment, and opens doors to understanding and change, discovery, fresh approaches to problem solving meaning better solutions. In the context advanced by ancient Solomon, if carried through, this is wisdom making for humane persons.
One discovers that there is considerable disagreement in every discipline. The variety of beliefs among scientists, using the same evidence, is disquieting. One is likely to expect more from scholars who are adamant about their severe disciplines. In some of the contexts the differences are so forceful that advocates may detest one another. This differential can be carried to nearly any area of life. Literary people turn up their noses at some classics, or represent a negative factor to denigrate the arts. The matter extends to religion, so important to our purpose in these Pages. I have been asked to evaluate the evangelical movement, and some leaders in the recent surge of the movement, especially in the growth of the Pentecostal arm of the evangelical church. I have not yet seen all the information or received all the questions, but I can rather well guess what the supporters and detractors have to say about issues. Having met a number of persons I know to be cited, and known several fairly well, I can predict that much of the negative evaluation will likely include ad hominem arguments related to the points in question. I have a peculiar enjoyment in evaluating the evaluations of Christianity and the Bible. It is interesting how a critic may choose a text, not major to the theme of Scripture, and make it a contradiction, a falsehood, a superstition, an approval for slavery, for militarism, for carnality in culture, in morality, in meanings.
It is mature judgment that good money is not to be evaluated by counterfeits; good government is not to be evaluated by tyrants; good science is not to be evaluated by boxed-in scientists; good marriage/family is not to be judged by alternative advocates; and, Christian faith is not to be evaluated by even some eminent doctrinal theologians, professional or pedestrian. The Christian faith is to be understood and practiced in the context of the teaching of Scripture and Jesus Christ, noted in his call to Apostles. The summary of his truth is Christian faith. The serious and objective Christian presses on to live according to a highly respected teaching that reached its spiritual summary in Jesus Christ, respected in the western world as the most important person to have ever lived. The polls are rather consistent on that status, challenged only by the honor offered Mohammed in Muslim countries, where Jesus is included in close position in the polls. The respect of the millennia for Jesus causes us to give pause to the statement of Jesus: Who accuses me of sin? Jesus informs mankind how to meet the duty of persons to God. Presumably we owe something to the creator, if the creator remains to assist in human matters. Jesus made clear that God is interested, and that can become irresistible on his part because of his nature which is abiding love. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020