Some Harsh Concepts Evaluated

A gang of thugs break open a locked gate and march onto private property, shouting and gesturing to some surprised landowners who are enjoying the piece of land that they have bought and paid taxes for. The landowners produce legally-owned firearms from their bought-and-paid- for home, and warn the arrogant, vicious, mouthy intruders (the opposite of “peaceful demonstrators”) to leave. In return, not only are they threatened with injury and murder, but the officials elected to protect the legal landowners throw the full weight of the law at the aggrieved couple.

Have all of the Ten Commandments been cancelled? Has “Thou shalt not steal” or “Thou shalt not covet” been set aside? Apparently, the invaders and the elected officials think so. Furthermore, it is apparent that, according to this “woke” generation, the couple must abrogate their adherence to the principles of the Bible (Exodus 20) and the Constitution (2^nd Amendment).

Let us lay aside for the moment the concepts contained in the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) and the U.S. Constitution (the document that has supposedly turned certain people into “social justice warriors”). Let us turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus told many parables about the Kingdom of Heaven – many of which involved rights to property. In one particular parable recorded by St. Luke, Jesus told a story that is replete with startling details: “A man of noble birth” was declared king of a far distant country. He decided to test his servants while he was away claiming his inheritance. He gave high-value coins (a mina was equivalent to 100 days’ wages) to ten different servants, with the simple instruction to “conduct business” until the master returned.

** News flash: Calling someone a “master” or a “king” was not politically incorrect in those days. In fact, there has been a time in America where we were not badgered at every turn to “watch what we say.” As an example, please note that Don Lemon stated that Jesus Christ was “not perfect.” How amazing! Is Don Lemon “perfect” (and how does he know what perfection is)? I would venture to say that “not perfect” means that Jesus Christ the Savior of Mankind – Who died for our sins – is a WHOLE lot better than… well, you-know-who. But that topic is for a subsequent blog.**

Back to Jesus’ story. Now someone in the kingdom was really miffed that this rich “man of noble birth” was not only in charge of a large enough estate to have thousands in silver (the equivalent of the ten minas in the story), but soon he would indeed have vastly more influence, having two centers of power. These inhabitants of the land actually hated this man for his nobility, his wealth, his generosity, and his power. (Do these disgruntled “citizens” remind you of anyone today?) They thought that in the World of Power, their voices counted, and that they were entitled to change the political scene, without knowing anything except hatred for a man who had done nothing – except lead them to prosperity. I won’t spoil the ending, but  -- spoiler alert!! -- these “woke” individuals didn’t do so well.

Here’s where the story gets really interesting: it has two separate conclusions. The first one involves the master’s response to the profit/loss ledgers that the ten servants turned over once the newly-crowned king returned to his first estate. We know that at least two of the servants demonstrated good business sense, and the master rewarded them well – even though, please note, they did not all gain the same profits for their master. Apparently, he did not care one iota that they had differing sums in their ledgers. He saw that his chosen investors (all but one) were creative, helpful, diligent, and righteous. They did all their hard work for their master, not knowing how (or if) he intended to reward them. But he did – handsomely! (Read all about their rewards in Luke 19:16-19.) 

Of course, there is a down side; one servant was a lazy lout and could not even be bothered to make a trip to the Town Bank to at least get some interest for his master. And the master was angry – so angry that the servant was publicly shamed and deprived of whatever bonus the master was thinking of giving him. Remember that these servants, though their names are not given to us, were well-known to their master, who chose them in the first place to “show their mettle.”

OK, and then here’s the part that throws everyone scrambling to their safe spaces – if there is such a thing in the Kingdom of Heaven. The master is justifiably angry at the treason of his subjects (who not only tried to block his return, but attempted to stage a coupe at his new kingdom).

Now I would like to remind you of several things: These lawless subjects did not give any reason for their hatred of the “man of noble birth.” As I have related before, there is every reason to believe the master ruled fairly. When the unfruitful servant was chastised in front of the others, they fearlessly challenged their master’s judgment. If they really believed that he was “harsh” (as the lazy lout claimed), they would have feared speaking out. And yet the master did not lash out at them; he explained in very real terms that those who don’t use what they have been freely given will lose all.

In addition, hatred is not a reason for disorder. Who did the disloyal subjects suggest would reign instead of their master? Another servant? One of their own number? The master expected obedience to the rule he had set down; he refused to reward incompetence.

And there is more. At the end of this parable, Jesus quotes the master as saying, “And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me” (verse 27). More than one person has sought to explain away this apparently “insensitive” detail that Jesus uttered.

But He uttered the complete truth. Those who fight God and try to pursue hatred and lawlessness and chaos are doomed. They will not be able to hide from their maker. And just as the master had complete control over his two centers of power, God has the last word both in this life and in the next. You will not be able to storm the gates of Heaven and proclaim your “right” to be there. You cannot threaten or intimidate His servants in Heaven, for they are beyond your power to control. You cannot insist that you can occupy the perfect home of God while sin stains your soul.

At the final judgment, God will be the only Power there is.

Information for you from the Berean Study Bible:

The Parable of the Ten Minas – Luke 19: 11-26
(Matthew 25:14-30)

11While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently. 12So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return. 13Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said.

14But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

15When he returned from procuring his kingship, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned.

16The first servant came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has produced ten more minas.’

17His master replied, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

18The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

19And to this one he said, ‘You shall have authority over five cities.’

20Then another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’

22His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’

24Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25‘Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

26He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”

The Definition of "Safe"

Have you noticed that our ordinary farewell statements, like “Go in peace” or “Vaya con Dios” (“go with God”) have now been replaced by the utterly senseless line “Be safe”? I understand (and use) the first two departure messages I mentioned, but I refuse to use the “be safe” motto. Why? Because I refuse to speak nonsense in the name of political correctness.

As an English professor, I believe that words have meaning. When I say, “Go in peace” to my students in the classroom, I am truly praying that their path will have elements of peace and joy. However, their path is their own; I am merely praying for something that is quite easy for them to grasp (in other words, God’s peace, which is available to everyone). I cannot influence their choices, beyond voicing that peace is possible.

My Spanish phrases are limited, but one I learned 45 years ago, and which means a great deal to me, is “vaya con Dios.” I think it reflects my primary goal in life: to share the love of God through Christ, which God Himself showered on me almost 50 years ago. When people leave my presence, I want to remind them of the reality of God in every aspect of our lives. Some people know this and respond; some do not. Whether or not a person knows Christ, I pray that they do – or will.

The Spanish phrase is also aligned with Scripture, especially the Psalms, which constantly appeal to God to provide forgiveness, compassion, strength, and hope to each individual who approaches him. That, in great and comprehensive terms, is the richest aspect of prayer and reliance on a Sovereign God.

Both of these sayings are in total agreement with Scripture. Christ Himself said, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19) to allay all of His disciples’ fears concerning the majesty and glory of the His risen appearance. He never once said, “Be cautious” or “Be safe”—in fact, He predicted the exact opposite during the Last Supper. “In this world you will have many troubles [in fact, they will hate you, especially because of Me] but cheer up! I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33). Since when has “cheer up [have no fear]” become associated with “be safe [because we are all fearful]”?

           

I have constantly cringed every time I have read or heard the injunction, “Be safe.” How, exactly, does one “be safe”?

·         *  It starts with this assumption: There is danger outside one’s home, and this danger is uncontrollable. Of course, one will admit that there is danger within one’s house, but people have been conditioned to think that this danger is minimal and can be totally controlled – recent flooding, tornadoes, and power outages in my immediate geographical location notwithstanding.

·        *   Another assumption is this: The only way to combat this danger is to flee it or hide from it. The only Being that this works with is the devil (2 Timothy 2:22). Any enemy (other than the devil) that you flee automatically becomes the victor. Any enemy that you hide from automatically is shown to be stronger than you are.
   *  Things progress to this next assumption: This virus is an invisible and lethal enemy “out there, everywhere.” Of course, no one except Superman can see microscopic microbes or viruses, so assuming it is everywhere is the “safe” thing to do. Except it isn’t true. In fact, the opposite is true. Only God is ubiquitous, and evil viruses are not. If the virus were everywhere, all of America would have been infected by Christmas – which, clearly, has not happened.

The truly undemocratic (and unconstitutional) aspect of this whole scenario is that – in the guise of “public safety” – people have been denied their “right[s] to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This should never be allowed, or even suggested! Numerous despicable practices have been sanctioned – even promulgated – in the name of this mythical “public safety.” Babies continue to be murdered in their mothers’ wombs (deemed “necessary” by immoral politicians); medical care has been selectively administered (rationing of ventilators comes to mind, as well as dictatorial denial of access to certain proven life-saving medicines); worshipers of the Living God have been harassed and fined (in the name of “public order”). Why do unelected “experts” say that we cannot work to support our families, because “the bug is still out there”? People used to scrub their front stoops with bleach to clean filth off the sidewalk – whatever happened to that effective type of hygiene?   

Even “true believers” in the all-powerful C-19 Bug have begun to suspect that the worldwide scare has played into some very sinister hands. Why is the “quarantine” continuing when people want some sunshine and ocean air (both proven anti-viral agents)? Why are grass and trees considered dangerous to humans, even when scientists maintain that the virus cannot live outside of a human host for very long? (I think of the father arrested in an empty park, and my poor neighbors cutting their grass with suffocating masks while mowing 100 yards apart from each other.)

If YOU want to wear a mask around me, that is fine. But I am NOT sick, and I refuse to wear a mask to freely go about my business. Jesus lived in a far more germ-filled and disease-ridden time, and He actually touched and healed grotesque lepers and restored very sick people to perfect health. Did HE ever wear a mask? Did HE instruct His followers to wear PPE? Did HE say to make sure not to spread some germ they caught in Macedonia? If you try to say, “Those times were different,” you expose your lack of common sense and logical deduction. Before you blow this essay away, what did the Lord mean by the verses in Mark 16, when He said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

Did you notice the “laying their hands on the sick, and they will be made well” part? Wasn't Jesus speaking about TRUE safety? Has anyone reading this essay claimed this promise in this day and age? Maybe it’s about time that all true believers did.

Welcome to Flight 2020

We are prepared for take-off into this New Year. Please make sure that your standards are secure and locked in an upright position. All self-destruction devices should be turned off. If we lose altitude under pressure during our flight, reach up and pull down Prayer; prayer will be automatically activated by Faith. Once your faith is fully activated, you may assist other passengers. There will be no baggage allowed on this flight. The Captain of our Souls has cleared us for take-off. Our destination in 2020: GREATNESS… in Jesus’ name. Enjoy your flight!