Virtually all substantive matters in our lives, personal or corporate with others, are complex, or vexing. We are likely without all the information and facts needed to include, exclude, delay, amend, or incorporate factors into the context with which we are dealing. The wise person goes along in what is believed, given acceptable evidence, with what seems most positive and beneficial to healthy mind, body, and future solutions. This demands humility of the human being, which precludes a number of negatives, like anger, and introduces affirmatives like consideration, patience, and whatever is necessary for decision making in an imperfect world context. Humility is the Christian answer to doubt. This, and this, and this, I firmly believe, but not so sternly that I cannot admit that I may be wrong about this, or this, or that – in small or large matters. I believe in God, and I believe that God is revealed in Jesus Christ, in Judeo-Christian Scripture, and in the lives of persons surrendered to the guidance of God through the Holy Spirit of God. I humbly admit that for some factors I will be found in error. That human failure to the truth is an important factor leading to humility. I am incompetent to discover or learn all truth available to human benefit.
What is the answer to the question, What if, after you die, all those wonderful beliefs you hold are not really found to be consummated? That question has been asked many times, not only to me, but to persons far more qualified to defend their beliefs than I may be. The best answer has been, in my view, and always my answer, is: If I am wrong, what have I lost? What has my Christian faith given me in my present life context? When that question is asked first in the series of questions for analysis of faith, I am most comfortable, for in the answer there is persuasion for meaning related to after-death proposals. In my present life spanning about eight decades as a Christian, a decision made a few months before high school graduation, I have experienced the following related directly to the conviction that Jesus Christ offers a life and culture that is better than any other available to mankind. In that context I have found escape from poor habits that threaten health and life meaning. I have found a magnificent family life, wife and children and additional generations to boot, that included love, acceptance, responsibility, honor, care, and several dozen other gratifications, and sense of meanings. I made my career in education and church context that has been more satisfying than I can express. I have met and found friendships with persons of high ideals surpassing considerably what appears to be a more common pattern in the general society. I discovered values that would never have emerged in a wholly secular society. This story may well be extended, even in old age, and its meaning for life and hope. But, I must not leave out that it provided as practical means, even if humble, to correct any grievous detours along the way. Admitted sorrow for deviations, and the assumptions of forgiveness were effective for restoration to the mainline of life.
The question then rightly follows: What is the context of life for the questioner of my life experience: where is it taking me? Does that person feel he/she has gained all that is desired from life, and is willing to rest in that conclusion? If I am wrong, I have lost nothing, but gained considerable fulfillment in reaping large benefits from an earth sojourn. A vision of the meaning of life has well carried me. If my doubting friend is wrong, and my faith is found true, what does he lose? There is a major issue that we ought to address in life and it is referred to on several Pages, and that is intentionality. What are my intentions with God, or with human beings? I find it a major theme underlying nearly every biography I have read. Further, we need to sense that it is a major factor in God’s evaluation of every human being. It plays its part in the fairness of God’s judgments. It is a factor in evaluating hypocrisy and devotion. Many a Christian saint when evaluated on his or her intentions may not do well. We can be sure that we dilute whatever favor we might have with God if our intentions are wrong, and we enlarge our virtues, even if they fail, if our intentions are right. In a biography of Saint Francis of Assisi, the author found some confusion both in the saint and those who followed him. The ideals of this gifted man were partly lost when he made some odd accents. The lessons of his life were partly muted in the distortions of persons reporting him. Esther and Mordecai found God respectful of their intentions, even if God would have preferred a better scenario. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020