LIFE’S TEST

In a world that can be both wondrous and horrible, how can one explain why God would set it up this way? This first chapter suggests that, rather than being punishment or reward, effortless or impossible, random or scripted, life is a sort of test. While I can’t prove it, I arrive at this conclusion through a process of elimination and advance it as a reasonable operating theory.

I argue that you won’t pass the test by discrediting me, ignoring the liberal message, or holding it in contempt. At the end of the chapter, I describe the test as I see it.

1.1 By whose authority?

How dare I suggest that conservatives desecrate the Holy Scriptures? By whose authority do I make such a claim? This section sets out to answer that question. While the Bible has a tradition of conformity and agreement, it also has a history of dissent and change. I plan to clarify and build upon a foundation that is already there.

I like to keep things organized. This book is divided into chapters, which are divided into sections, which are in turn divided into subsections I call blocks. The format for the headings consists of up to three numbers, with decimal points in between. The first number is the chapter, the second is the section, and the third is the block. Up next is the first block…

1.1.1 Twisting God’s word

It’s no secret. Conservative Christians want to influence the way we live, and they look to the Bible as their main guide. Conservative minister Jerry Falwell based his July 20, 2003 sermon on the following text:

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. (II Tim 3:16)

“Americans used to think biblically, but we've lost it,” Falwell preached. “A businessman thought biblical principles, our school teachers taught biblical principles, our parents used biblical thoughts of raising children, and the average layman on the street was well-aware of the Bible. But we've lost our biblical mind, and we have not put something better in its place.”¹

I agree with Reverend Falwell that we’ve lost our biblical mind, but not for the same reasons. Falwell’s Faith and Values Coalition is concerned with abortion and gay marriage,² while I think our main problems are greed, intolerance, and the destruction of nature. These problems have been around for a long time. Not only have we lost our biblical mind; in some ways we never had it to begin with. We’re operating under a faulty interpretation of the Bible, and we need to put something better in its place.

If you’re hearing alarm bells in your head right now, I can understand why. I could be one of those false teachers you were warned about!

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God and even turn against their Master who bought them. Theirs will be a swift and terrible end. (II Pet 2:1)

Falwell is very popular. His Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.³ A televangelist (TV evangelist), he hosts The Old Time Gospel Hour. He has been televising his religious services since 1968, and by the mid-1970s, he was reaching millions.⁴ His Faith and Values Coalition wishes to build on the results of the 2004 Presidential Election, where about 21% of voters specified “moral values” as their main reason for choosing Republican George W. Bush.⁵

With that kind of popularity, how can Falwell be wrong? How can anyone contradict him? Indeed, I thought twice. Then I decided to go ahead anyway. If that means that I face “a swift and terrible end,” I pray that I am not “clever,” as the scripture states. I’m not worried, though. While I may try to be clever, I don’t plan to push any “destructive heresies.”

…Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life. Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions. (I Tim 6:2-4)

So, we should strive to preserve and not dilute the word of God, and I believe the Apostles did this as best they could. We also can begin to agree by not bickering over the common sense definitions of words. I’ll grant that the meaning of “is” is what it is. However, we must be careful not to equate the intent of God with our own when we denounce “anyone who teaches anything different.” It’s too easy to slip into a “What I say goes” mindset.

That may have been the mindset of Pat Robertson, another popular televangelist, on January 14, 1991, when he said, “You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist. I can love the people who hold false opinions but I don't have to be nice to them.”⁶

And remember, the Lord is waiting so that people have time to be saved. This is just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him-- speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters around to mean something quite different from what he meant, just as they do the other parts of Scripture--and the result is disaster for them. (II Pet 3:15-16)

If Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Methodists hold false opinions, how much worse am I, a self-styled Nonsectarianist? Am I “twisting” the words of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and beyond that, the word of God? I don’t know about you, but I’m comforted to know that at least Pat loves me while he is not being nice to me.

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons. These teachers are hypocrites and liars. They pretend to be religious, but their consciences are dead. (I Tim 4:1-2)

Robertson’s TV show, The 700 Club, airs on ABC Family and is the flagship program of the Christian Broadcasting Network,⁷ which is broadcast in over 70 languages.⁸ Like Falwell, he belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention,⁹ and is the founder of the Christian Coalition of America, which claims 1.2 million members.¹⁰

He has a lot of people behind him, but as any logic expert will tell you, being popular does not make you right. It’s called “Argumentum ad populum,” which is Latin for “Appealing to the masses.”¹¹

Another point is that these verses can cut in more than one way. As you go, I hope you’ll keep this in mind. Am I twisting God’s word, or are the televangelists? (Other possible answers are “both” and “neither.” Don’t let me create a “false dilemma” for you.)¹²

“He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time. But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.” (Dan 7:25-26)

This certainly raises the stakes. Things could quickly degenerate into a scene where both sides are calling the other the Antichrist. Rest assured; I plan to stop short of that.

I would like to change our festivals and laws, however, and the scripture states that the defiant and powerful brutal animal, responsible for devouring the world, is one who breaks with tradition. Fortunately, this does not mean that all who break with tradition are brutal. In logical terms, we can’t “affirm the consequent.”¹³ In addition, I am confident that if we remain true to the heart of that which is “sacred,” we can’t go wrong.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. (Heb 13:8-9)

To be sure, I plan to share some ideas which may sound pretty darn “new” and even some that may sound pretty darn “strange.” Does that mean you should “not be attracted” to them? Not at all. I will show that these ideas are grounded in old ideas; based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you from the LORD your God. Just obey them. (Deut 4:2)

Now a word about fundamentalism. It can mean a return to the founding principles or “fundamentals” of a religion, or the belief that sacred scripture is the authentic word of God and no one has the right to change it or disagree with it. Some even believe that the Bible is historically accurate and without error. As a result, fundamentalists might take that to mean no drinking, smoking, popular music, dancing, and no men and women swimming together.¹⁴

Since fundamentalists tend to be very conservative, it may surprise you that this book seeks to take a fundamentalist approach. I try to interpret the Bible as literally as I can. One important difference, however, is how I handle cases where the Bible seems to tell us two separate, contradictory things. That is covered in block 2.2.1, “Reconciling biblical discrepancies.” If we find two things and both can’t possibly be true, I want to get to the bottom of it.

You may also be surprised that this book strives to support “moral absolutism,” the position that there are ultimate truths and absolute standards of right and wrong.¹⁵ When we don’t have the answer, it’s not because there are two truths; it’s because we don’t have perfect information. When that happens, we might be able to fall back on the views of “universalism,” “consequentialism,” or “situational ethics” in an effort to avoid “moral relativism,” the idea that there is no single standard of right and wrong.¹⁶

And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words of this prophetic book, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (Rev 22:18-19)

This book is not intended as a replacement for the Bible, so I am not adding or removing anything. I do re-sequence a lot of it, however. As you may have guessed, the format of this book is alternating quotations from the Bible, which appear in italic text, and my comments, which appear in plain text. This book contains over 1,000 biblical quotations, which I feel are a good collection of highlights and a representative sample of the good book’s content, from both the Old and New Testaments. If you’ve never taken the time to read the actual Bible, this book could be a good overview, though as stated not a replacement. Souls in Peril may also serve as an aid in understanding the Bible, in addition to its main purpose of political conversion.

The general pattern I follow is to quote verses that tend to support opposing viewpoints, trying to be fair about it, then verses that tend to support my own viewpoint and explain why the latter is more accurate. If I’m not fair about the opposing viewpoints, I realize I could be guilty of using the “straw man” fallacy,¹⁷ where you verbally beat up an imaginary opponent as if he is a scarecrow.

While many fundamentalists accept only the King James Version of the Bible, I needed something easier to read. I don’t know about you, but I need all the help I can get. The “thee” and “thou” words were too much for me. Most of the quotes in this book are from the New Living Translation, and where I feel the NLT is too stuffy, I use the Living Bible instead. The Living Bible may sometimes come under criticism for being a “paraphrase” rather than a literal translation, but I’ll take that chance. I don’t know Hebrew or Greek, but I get the feeling that the people working on the NLT were slightly more conservative.

1.1.2 The body of Christ

While the Bible warns against tampering, the following verses suggest that there is room for religious change in the form of growth, provided that it is based on the central teachings of Jesus:

Because of God’s special favor to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have--Jesus Christ. (I Cor 3:10-11)

In some ways, this reminds me of the U.S. Constitution. The founding fathers intentionally left it vague in certain aspects, so it could adapt to changing times. It is certainly not perfect, but it has been flexible enough to withstand two centuries of rigorous use. No matter how many laws are passed or cases judged, the Constitution is still at the center.

This next text acquaints us with the concept of “the body of Christ.” The Christian religion is thought to be like a human body, and the Christian people are like parts of that body, heart, lungs, fingers, toes, and so on, each contributing in their own way.

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. (Rom 12:4-5)

So far, so good. We are all part of the body of Christ. Most people arrive with an easy-going attitude, and are glad to pitch in. The next question is, how do we know who gets which job? How do we build on the foundation?

To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. (I Cor 12:8-11)

So the answer is, the Holy Spirit decides. However, the Holy Spirit is not a physical presence, at least not in any provable way, in today’s world, in my experience and I expect most of yours. How, then, does the Holy Spirit talk to us? On this question, reasonable people may disagree. Anyone can say the Holy Spirit guides them. Religious ministers are expected to have a sense of calling, and while most turn out to be good, others are not.

In the absence of an observable Holy Spirit, then, I posit that each of us has the right to participate in the body of Christ as best we see fit, if we keep its best interests in mind. That is what I feel gives me the authority to offer up ideas and opinions about Christianity. Me and anyone else who feels so moved. Not the authority to take over the church, mind you, but the authority to speak freely.

Others may not approve of the way I would like to build upon the foundation. In his book God’s Politics, Jim Wallis writes, “When either party tries to politicize God, or co-opt religious communities for their political agendas, they make a terrible mistake.”¹⁸ He takes a more conciliatory approach, which may ultimately be more effective, but I do not see that as my role. I see a specific liberal political agenda, and I plan to make the best case possible to advance that agenda.

This gets back to the question of moral absolutism with its ultimate truths and absolute standards. There are good compromises and bad compromises. To get my point across, allow me to use an extreme and unpleasant example. Let’s say that you want to drink a glass of water and your political opponent wants you to drink a glass of urine. If you end up drinking a 50/50 mix, that would be a bad compromise. What’s worse, if you compromise again, you get a 25/75 mix, and so on. On any number of issues—the minimum wage, health care costs, environmental standards, defense spending—our elected officials have compromised so many times that we can barely see where we started. There’s a time and a place for compromise, but only on certain issues and only when you have run out of alternatives. In any negotiation, it’s better to ask for all of what you want than it is to ask for part of what you want. Then, if you don’t get everything, you at least get more than if you had asked for less.

An added benefit of an uncompromising approach may be that it jars people out of their state of comfortable inattention. Wallis laments, “The media play their part in the political wars by preferring stories with conflict—as almost any reporter will admit.”¹⁹ In the long run, his voice of reason may be what is needed to bring about real solutions. In the short run, however, I believe more drastic action is needed. That’s not to say I don’t believe in what I’m saying—I do.

We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. How could they? For, “Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?” But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. (I Cor 2:15-16)

This scripture hints that Christ’s thoughts may live on through us. Perhaps the body of Christ includes the mind, and the shared “mind of Christ” is a two-way street. If so, one must keep an open mind as to how that mind is shared, and how its thoughts might surface.

The spirit of teamwork reflected in the body of Christ can be likened to the American work ethic and its spirit of cooperation. This spirit was evident in the aftermath of the 9/11/2001 attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington District of Columbia. Firefighters worked day and night to recover bodies and clean up the wreckage. Many citizens throughout the country wanted to know what they could do to help defend the homeland, as was done during World War II, when U.S. civilians conserved gasoline, rubber, foodstuffs, and nylon. When it comes to worldly human cooperation, people naturally look to their leaders to provide guidance and delegate duties. The conservation of gasoline would have been an excellent way to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, saving money and fostering good will with other countries post-9/11. Instead, U.S. President George W. Bush recommended mostly the opposite in a speech to airline employees in late September, 2001: “And one of the great goals of this nation's war is to restore public confidence in the airline industry. It's to tell the traveling public: Get on board. Do your business around the country. Fly and enjoy America's great destination spots. Get down to Disney World in Florida. Take your families and enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed.”²⁰

Later, the Department of Homeland Security established the Citizen Corps, and took over the operations of FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In response to the New Orleans flood, many Americans showed a great willingness to help those in need. This time, the Bush administration reacted in slow motion, after showing a complete lack of foresight in the face of repeated warnings.

1.1.3 We are not God

Of course, just because “we have the mind of Christ,” that doesn’t mean we are Christ. A central Christian belief is that God came to earth in the form of Jesus, so Jesus Christ is at once the Son of God, and God Himself. Another belief is that God is omniscient, or all-knowing, so, as you might guess, to equate oneself with God is asking for trouble. No matter how smart or successful you are, sooner or later, you will make a mistake, as we all do. To even claim the stature of a demigod, or “half-god” is way out of line.

“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you think you are as wise as a god, I will bring against you an enemy army, the terror of the nations. They will suddenly draw their swords against your marvelous wisdom and defile your splendor!” (Ezek 28:6-7)

Christians believe that God became human only in the form of Jesus Christ. Even John the Baptist, forerunner and relative of Jesus, showed exemplary humility in describing him:

You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him--that is all. (John 3:28)

Most Christians also believe that after he was crucified, Jesus came back to life two days later, appeared at various times for about six weeks, and then ascended into heaven.²¹ After Christ’s time on earth, his disciples (students), including his apostles (ambassadors) carried on his work. The Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the second half of the New Testament, was careful to credit Jesus, and not himself, as the true leader of the church.

Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul”; and others say that they are for Apollos or for Peter; and some that they alone are the true followers of Christ. And so, in effect, you have broken Christ into many pieces. But did I, Paul, die for your sins? Were any of you baptized in my name? I am so thankful now that I didn’t baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius. For now no one can think that I have been trying to start something new, beginning a “Church of Paul.” (I Cor 1:12-15)

Paul was also careful to let us know when he felt he was speaking as a person, rather than as an authority inspired directly by God. Here, he includes a disclaimer:

Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. (I Cor 7:12)

In this verse, Paul was so honest about his faults that he humbled himself in the extreme:

For I am the least of all the apostles, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted the church of God. (I Cor 15:9)

Paul felt terrible about the things he had done before he became a Christian. He arrested Christians, and was an official witness at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. However, he was honest about what he had done. He admitted his mistakes, and came clean.

If these eminent religious leaders can show modesty before God, then I, a defiant layman, would be an absolute fool if I didn’t do the same. God knows I’ve made my share of errors in judgement. I’ve been selfish with time and money, made a fool of myself over women, and acted insensitively to friend and foe alike. While I’m a big believer in full disclosure, transparency, and leadership by example, I admit there may be times when I don’t live up to my own ideals. In an effort to preempt any personal attacks, let me just say that I hope this book is judged on its own merits, even when I fall short as a role model.

Personal matters are one thing, but even on policy matters, politicians don’t like to admit it when they make a mistake. Unfortunately, many of today’s political advisors caution against it, because then their opponents can use their words against them. The important thing ought to be getting at the truth, finding solutions, and working in a spirit of cooperation. Often times, owning up to mistakes is the first step in untangling the most complicated of problems. Voters shouldn’t let candidates get away with blasting other candidates who admit they’re wrong.

We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. (II Cor 10:3-4)

Paul puts it plainly. If you are not Jesus, you are only human, himself included. Christians may draw great strength from God, but we are still human. Here, Paul even uses self-deprecation and perhaps a touch of humor:

I hope you will be patient with me as I keep on talking like a fool. Please bear with me. (II Cor 11:1)

Paul became a great leader of the church, carrying the teachings of Jesus to many nations. He continually pushed himself to follow the example of Jesus, without trying to be Jesus.

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. (Phil 3:12)

We will revisit Paul’s honorable deference to Christ in block 2.2.1, “Reconciling biblical discrepancies.” As stated in the following verse, Jesus’s is the most important message.

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. (Heb 2:1)

To be fair, George W. Bush has also expressed reverence in discussing God. “We serve one greater than ourselves,” he wrote in a memo to staff early in his first term as governor of Texas.

However, one year after 9/11, at the Statue of Liberty, Bush raised eyebrows when he announced, “This idea of America is the hope of all mankind. That hope drew millions to this harbor. That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.”²²

Jim Wallis points out that the relevant biblical text is referring to God and Christ, not the United States:

In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:1-5)

By inserting the United States in place of God and Christ, Bush has, wittingly or not, appeared to elevate a nation to the status of a Supreme Being. And as the president of that nation, himself. If people actually believe this on any level, we need to set them straight. For, as the scripture states, “we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.”

I sensed another kind of drift when I heard former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani speak at the 2004 Republican National Convention. In describing his experiences on 9/11, he said, “At the time, we believed that we would be attacked many more times that day and in the days that followed. Without really thinking, based on just emotion, spontaneous, I grabbed the arm of then-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, and I said to him, ‘Bernie, thank God George Bush is our president.’ I say it again tonight. I say it again tonight: Thank God that George Bush is our president, and thank God that Dick Cheney, a man with his experience and his knowledge and his strength and his background, is our vice president.”²³

I suppose if we took Giuliani at his literal word, we would then pray: “Thank you, God, for making George Bush our president.” It’s as if God appointed Bush and Cheney. What’s more, according to Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, Bush himself once said, “I believe that God wants me to be President.”²⁴

Well, guess what? I believe that God did not want George W. Bush to be President!

The problem with claiming to know the precise will of God is that, if you don’t acknowledge that you could be wrong, you’re putting yourself on God’s level. And if you do acknowledge that you could be wrong, you can’t be certain you know the precise will of God. I may try to politicize God, but I don’t want to speak for God.

1.1.4 Jesus’ reasoning

I am not a biblical scholar. Instead, I have worked as a nursing assistant, a programmer, and a mail carrier. In my spare time I have written music and run for local political office. I never attended the seminary, like ministers and priests do. I haven’t studied everything they’ve studied, and I could come under criticism for it. If that happens, however, as least I can say I’m in good company…

Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The Jewish leaders were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t studied everything we’ve studied?” they asked. So Jesus told them, “I’m not teaching my own ideas, but those of God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. (John 7:14-17)

Ok, ok, perhaps you know Jesus, Jesus is a friend of yours, and I’m no Jesus! All I’m saying is that we have that in common—you can have knowledge about a subject without being officially recognized. There’s more than one way to learn about a religion. The Bible is there for everybody to read. During his time on earth, Jesus read the Old Testament and had a mastery of it. I can only aspire to that kind of understanding, but I have read parts of the Bible throughout my life, and I have read it once through in researching this book.

I should also mention that I rarely attend church, though I was a Presbyterian and a Lutheran attendee in earlier years. I did not go through the official confirmation process as a teenager, though I did take a class, and another one as an adult, after which I took my first communion.

When Jesus was young, long before IQ tests and AMBER Alerts, he was both a gifted child and a missing child. Once while traveling to Jerusalem with friends and relatives for the Passover Festival, his parents lost track of him.

Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, discussing deep questions with them. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46-47)

Jesus had a lot of important things he needed to communicate to the people of earth. He grounded his message in something the people were familiar with: the Holy Scriptures. After his death, Jesus was still referring to the Old Testament, as he spoke with a couple followers about seven miles outside of Jerusalem.

Then Jesus quoted them passage after passage from the writings of the prophets, beginning with the book of Genesis and going right on through the Scriptures, explaining what the passages meant and what they said about himself. (Luke 24:27)

Jesus had the authority to build upon the foundation that was there, strengthen it, and even form a new foundation. He demonstrated his authority not only by explaining the Old Testament, but by fulfilling its predictions.

Then he said, “When I was with you before, don’t you remember my telling you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true?” Then he opened their minds to understand at last these many Scriptures! (Luke 24:44-45)

One of His favorite teaching tools was the parable. A parable is a short story that illustrates a religious, moral, or philosophical idea.

He used many such stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they were able to understand. In fact, in his public teaching he taught only with parables, but afterward when he was alone with his disciples, he explained the meaning to them. (Mark 4:33-34)

Some of the parables this book refers to are “The Wise and the Foolish Builders” (Matt 7:24-27), “The Sower” (Matt 13:7-9), and “The Tares” (Matt 13:24-30). This book also uses stories, but they are of a political nature, and rather than illustrating a biblical idea, they’re the application of a biblical idea. Unless you count the “Parable of the Glass of Urine.”

Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple area, he asked them this question: “Why do your religious teachers claim that the Messiah must be a descendant of King David? For David himself said – and the Holy Spirit was speaking through him when he said it – ‘God said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Since David called him his Lord, how can he be his son?” (This sort of reasoning delighted the crowd and they listened to him with great interest.) (Mark 12:35-37)

This passage excites me as a writer, because it shows how Jesus could effect positive change through logic and reasoning, without resorting to coercion or violence. The religious leaders of the time were insistent that the new savior be from the family of the famous King David of Israel, who had lived about 1,000 years earlier. To Jesus, defending his lineage was beside the point, because David himself called the Messiah his “Lord,” as follows:

Jehovah said to my Lord the Messiah, “Rule as my regent—I will subdue your enemies and make them bow low before you.” (Psalms 110:1)

While Jesus used the spoken, rather than the written word, his ability to persuade people peacefully is reminiscent of the saying, “The pen is mightier than sword.” Though the exact wording of the saying is attributed to Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the same idea was also expressed earlier by Euripides, Shakespeare, Robert Burton, and Thomas Jefferson, who wrote to Thomas Paine in 1796, “Go on doing with your pen what in other times was done with the sword.”²⁵

Paine’s 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense, sold about half a million copies and helped foment the American Revolutionary War. Similarly, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, despite its racial stereotypes, helped to turn public opinion against slavery before the American Civil War. It should be noted that those who could not be persuaded peacefully were ultimately battled violently. That being said, the freedoms gained from those wars might not have been realized if it weren’t for the writings. A third example is Charles Dickens’ 1838 novel, Oliver Twist, which changed attitudes about child labor in the United Kingdom.

While I sure wouldn’t want to start a war, I do hope to emulate the logic, reasoning, and storytelling of these great authors and of Jesus, to the extent that I can.

1.1.5 Who to believe

So, you have conservative leaders quoting scripture on the Right, and liberals like me quoting scripture on the Left. Who are you going to believe?

I know full well that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some of you will distort the truth in order to draw a following. (Acts 20:29-30)

With the Bible as large and complex as it is, you might be tempted to throw up your hands and give up, but how can that be the answer? You might also be tempted to stick with what is comfortable and familiar, but that’s no guarantee either.

How can you say, “We are wise because we have the law of the LORD,” when your teachers have twisted it so badly? These wise teachers will be shamed by exile for their sin, for they have rejected the word of the LORD. Are they so wise after all? (Jer 8:8-9)

You might even be ready to check out something radically new and different, but you fear that too could be the wrong choice.

My child, fear the LORD and the king, and don’t associate with rebels. For you will go down with them to sudden disaster. Who knows where the punishment from the LORD and the king will end? (Proverbs 24:21-22)

Who are the “rebels” and what is the true “law of the Lord” as it pertains to today’s world? As much as you might like to be told the answers, no one can decide for you. Ultimately, you must decide for yourself. Fortunately, Jesus provides you with this rule of thumb:

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don’t pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. (Matt 7:15-20)

If we apply this rule of thumb to politics, we can judge a policy by its outcome, just as we can judge a tree by its fruit. I challenge you to do just that, and see if the policies in this book don’t lead to a safer, happier, more harmonious society. But make sure you give the policies a fair chance—don’t just accept the politicians’ version. Both establishment parties have had their chance to control government, with the presidency and both houses of Congress: The Democrats in 1993 and 1994, and the Republicans from 2003 through 2006 as of this writing. Neither party, but especially the Republicans, has been able to reduce global poverty, environmental destruction, fuel consumption, or health care costs in any significant way, in commanding this, the most powerful country on earth.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. (I Thess 5:19-21)

There are a number of ways to test out various ideas. The first thing you can do is to ask yourself if the idea makes sense. Try to keep an open mind. Another thing you can do is to see if something similar has been tried in the past—see if there are case studies. Next, if possible, try it on a small scale and see if it works. If that isn’t possible, see if you can try it for a limited time. Support candidates who use these methods, and candidates who shine a light on hidden obstacles. Look at their record. Most of all, keep the big picture in mind. Everything is interconnected. Something good in one place might be causing something bad somewhere else, and vice-versa.

One piece of the puzzle may be in the UN Millennium Project model villages of Sauri, Kenya and Koraro, Ethiopia. The project’s plan is to end poverty through practical and affordable interventions such as mosquito nets, vaccinations, and improved planting techniques. After just a few months, Sauri quadrupled its crop yields, and Koraro now has fruit trees growing alongside cornfields.²⁶

If an idea tests out ok, then perhaps it is in line with what Jesus would do:

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t one of our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs miracles in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:38-40)

Conversely, If an idea does not test out ok, then perhaps it is not in line with what Jesus would do:

“Anyone who isn’t helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Luke 11:23)

These last two quotes would seem to leave no room for neutrality. Indeed, there’s something to be said for the saying, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” In all fairness, however, there may be times when we don’t have perfect information, as Jesus did. In those cases, I would think it’s alright to keep our options open to cope with the ambiguity, in keeping with the spirit of testing.

A variation of that last quote was in the news in November, 2001, when Bush said, “You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror.”²⁷ The danger here is that nations are expected to go along with what Bush says, even if he is wrong. A variation of the quote also appeared in the 2005 movie Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith when Darth Vader tells Obi-Wan Kenobi, “If you're not with me, then you're my enemy!” The director, George Lucas, pointed out that the story outline was written during the Vietnam War and was part of a common historical pattern.²⁸

How about the nation of Turkey? Is it “with us or against us in the fight against terror”? In March, 2003, the Turkish parliament rejected a plan to host 60,000 U.S. troops as part of a northern front in the war against Iraq, portrayed by the Bush administration as part of the ongoing “war on terror.” Even though the U.S. offered six billion dollars in incentives, it wasn’t enough. Why not? Perhaps because Turkey lost an estimated 40 billion dollars in trade during the 1991 Gulf War. Opinion polls showed 80% of Turks opposed to the 2003 war.²⁹ More recently, in seeking membership in the European Union, Turkey has been trying to mend fences with neighbors like Syria and Iran, U.S. adversaries.³⁰ Turkey also has its own issues with its Kurdish population, but the point remains that it’s not always clear who is “with us or against us in the fight against terror.”

1.1.6 How to proceed

To review: (1) Christians look to the Bible for guidance. Its warnings about modification can be directed at conservatives as well as liberals. (2) As members of the body of Christ, we all have the authority to speak out and have a chance to shape the religion. (3) It’s good to be like God, but not be God. We have to admit that we could be wrong. (4) Logic, reasoning, and example stories are blessed tools. (5) Outcomes are clues as to whether a policy, party, candidate, or advocate can be entrusted to carry on in the realms of religion and politics. This is consistent with the scientific method, and its elements of observation, explanation, prediction, and experiment.

As we keep all this in mind, the Bible also says that people, even sinful ones, ought to trust their instincts, “for the truth about God is known to them instinctively.” Not the lower instincts, of course. In survival mode, people revert to a primal “kill or be killed” mentality. Also, if greed or hatred takes over, the drives for food, sex, or material comforts can be destructive. Humans are social creatures, however, and with any luck, a child learns the basics of right and wrong at an early age. Beyond that, no matter how you think the world was created, on an instinctive level you’ve got to be impressed with the beauty and complexity of it, and hopefully you want to live in harmony with it.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. (Rom 1:18-20)

Instinctively and intuitively, then, here’s how I would like to proceed on our journey toward liberal Christianity. I would like to set out first as a faithful, humble servant and follower of the Lord. I want to interpret the scripture as best I can, and when I’m not sure how today’s world fits with it, I want to take my best guess at what God would want, based on everything I know. Once those requirements are met, then wherever possible, I want to pursue happiness, for myself and for everyone else.

And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. (I John 5:14)

I pray for divine guidance. In the absence of a definite sign from God, or logic from people, to the contrary, I will assume I’m on the right track. After all, our religion is based on faith. Therefore, I plan to speak with authority. Falwell, Robertson, Giuliani, Bush and the rest of the conservative noise machine speaks with such authority that I feel compelled to respond in kind, and with no small amount of zeal, I might add. If I get carried away, however, let me qualify things here by saying that I’m only stating my best guess at God’s will, not claiming to know the precise will of God. If I’m wrong, I pray for forgiveness.

We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. We pray this, not to show that our ministry to you has been successful, but because we want you to do right even if we ourselves seem to have failed. (II Cor 13:7)

If my interpretations are rejected, I pray that the Spirit of the Father will be present and give me the right words in my defense.

When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say in your defense, because you will be given the right words at the right time. For it won’t be you doing the talking--it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matt 10:19-20)

If my interpretations are accepted, on the other hand, I wish to give credit to God directly, and indirectly through the people who have inspired me and laid the groundwork.

As the Scriptures say, “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.” When people boast about themselves, it doesn’t count for much. But when the Lord commends someone, that’s different! (II Cor 10:17-18)

By the authority of the body of Christ, then, I hereby claim that conservatives desecrate the Holy Scriptures. At the same time, however, I remain open to the possibility that I could be wrong. Verily, I agreed with 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry when he said, “I don't want to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want to pray humbly that we are on God's side.”³¹

1.2 Why should I even care?

I was feeling kind of apathetic when I wrote this. You’ve probably heard the old joke about the difference between ignorance and apathy: “I don’t know and I don’t care.” Now that I’ve introduced myself and my project, my highest priority is to try to reach out to those who don’t know or don’t care, conservative or not. Seemingly impossible, I know, but I still want to try. In any orchestra, the music is better if everyone is on the same page. If we could all play even the simplest of songs, I would be most delighted indeed!

Sadly, lots of people either don’t know or don’t care. To begin with, 16% worldwide and 5% in the U.S. can’t read.³² Most Americans read less than a half-hour a day,³³ and that’s including comics, romance novels, and soft-core porn. 70% of Americans cannot name their senators or their congressional representative.³⁴ Although U.S. voter turnout was up in 2004, still, 1 out of 3 adult citizens did not vote.³⁵ On the religious front, even among those professing faith in Christ, most people have never read the whole bible.³⁶

As for my book, if you have read this far, I want to thank you, and if you could pass some of this information on to your friends who don’t read, that would be much appreciated. Of course, just because you’re reading this doesn’t mean that you agree or care. If you’re one of the ones who don’t care, this section is for you.

1.2.1 Suspecting the unknown

Ever notice how a bird flies away before you can get close? It seems natural that animals and people have a certain fear and suspicion of the unknown. If we read certain bible texts with that mindset, we might get the idea that knowledge is a bad thing:

Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ. (Col 2:8)

Certainly, there are times when “ignorance is bliss,” and sometimes we can be harmed by bad knowledge. We can be sure however, that there is also good knowledge, because we know that Christ’s teachings were all about sharing knowledge. In addition, he encouraged “human thinking” when he suggested we “detect” and “identify” a tree by its fruit (Matt 7:15-20). For whatever reason however, God took issue with human thinking in Genesis as people were building the Tower of Babel…

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and give them different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.” (Gen 11:5-7)

This could be one explanation why we have different languages today. Then again, perhaps the tower symbolizes human migration (though that interpretation might not be seen as a fundamentalist). Perhaps God thought humanity needed more of a challenge. At any rate, the confusion surrounding the Tower of Babel is something that happened in the past. There is no observable reason why we should avoid the quest for knowledge in today’s world.

Then Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.” (Luke 10:21)

If not for the truth revealed to the “childlike,” you might get the wrong impression about this verse. You might even start to think that the Bible is anti-intellectual. You wouldn’t be alarmed if the President of the United States said, “I’m also not very analytical. You know I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things.”³⁷

1.2.2 Closed-mindedness not the answer

Now I’d like you to fast-forward to Judgement Day. You and your passengers died from thirst after you drove them into the desert with a broken gas gauge. Your defense? “I didn’t know any better.” God may forgive you, but think of the disappointment your friends, family, and neighbors would feel, and the disappointment you would have in yourself. Your teacher warned you about the desert heat, but you didn’t keep an open mind. Your mother told you to take more water, but you didn’t keep an open mind. The mechanic warned you about the gauge, but you didn’t keep an open mind.

That would never happen to you, you say? OK, I agree. But what about things that happen on a larger scale, where we all share a little bit of the blame, and we could all do something about it if only we acted in concert? Economists warned you about the national debt, but you didn’t keep an open mind. Meteorologists warned you about global warming, but you didn’t keep an open mind. Geologists warned you about declining oil supplies, but you didn’t keep an open mind.

“Your ancestors would not listen to this message. They turned stubbornly away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the law or the messages that the LORD Almighty had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the LORD Almighty was so angry with them.” (Zech 7:11-12)

Some problems are so complex that they require the full participation of all of humanity. It’s easier to destroy than to build, and even one person can do a lot of damage, as the bane of terrorism has demonstrated all too tragically. The damage doesn’t even need to be intentional, or any one person’s fault, as shown by the New Orleans flood. One false move can lead to catastrophe. If the highway to hell is broad, so is the highway to hell on earth.

To succeed, everyone needs to learn their part and do it. In the U.S., we operate under the concept of “presumed knowledge of the law.” The Romans expressed it as “ignorantia legis non excusat,” or “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” For this to be workable, the laws need to be made known to all, and they need to be simple enough to be understood by even the most intellectually challenged. As Thomas Jefferson said, “Information is the currency of democracy.” If these conditions are met, I feel this concept extends to the big picture as well as the law. In other words, “ignorance of the big picture is no excuse.”

Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls out to the crowds along the main street, and to those in front of city hall. “You simpletons!” she cries. “How long will you go on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools fight the facts? Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise. (Proverbs 1:20-23)

Most Americans seem to think they’re doing the right things and minding their own business. They go to their jobs, pay the bills, take the kids to practice, mow the lawn, and maybe even go to church. What they may not realize is how much pollution they’re generating, how many resources they’re using up, and how much money their government is borrowing. This can’t go on indefinitely—it’s not sustainable.

Catholics and other Christians have variations of a “penitential rite” that says, “...I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do….” It’s the “what I have failed to do” that I want to focus on most here. The first step is to recognize when you’re part of the problem, but that’s not enough. It’s not enough to get comfy in your suburban lifestyle. Sometimes you have to change your habits. Sometimes you need to be an activist. There are times when you need to spread the word through grassroots organizing, as Jesus did so many years ago…

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plant sprang up quickly, but it soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain. Still other seed fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” Then he said, “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!” (Mark 4:3-9)

“Listen and understand.” Jesus was reasoning with the people. As I would describe it, He expected them to have intellectual curiosity. If the average person is expected to have it, then how much more so is the leader of the free world? As you may know, George W. Bush has never been known for his intellectual curiosity. Even before Bush was elected president, Rob Reiner, actor, writer and director, said, “…And I don't see in Governor Bush that kind of intellectual curiosity. He almost disdains the interest in details, in wanting to read about certain situations. And I think that is...that can ultimately be deadly.”³⁸

1.2.3 Seek truth, knowledge, wisdom

Intelligence is not something to be spurned. In fact, it makes sense that we should embrace it. All the while, though, it’s important to recognize that we each have our own pace when it comes to learning. Certainly, there are times to provide criticism, and times to give praise. I’ve been bashing ignorance and apathy because I want to spur people into action. At the same time, I don’t want to discourage anybody, either, especially when it comes to reading this book! As I see it, the writer’s job to keep things as simple and interesting as possible, and the reader’s job is to absorb as much as possible, whether or not he or she agrees. Though I’m no brain surgeon, sometimes I can’t resist using big words. If that happens, you can either look it up in the dictionary, or skip it and come back to it later. If you’re struggling to understand what the heck I’m talking about, I just want to say, hang in there, you’re doing great!

As we continue on our journey toward truth, knowledge, and wisdom, we need to be discerning students. Although an eagerness for learning is good, that doesn’t mean you should believe everything you hear. Gullibility is when a person is easily duped or cheated.

You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. (II Cor 11:4)

Gullibility can be spiritual, as in the preceding verse, or it can be worldly, as in the marketplace. Sellers may take advantage of a buyer’s lack of knowledge. In addition, even if a buyer has knowledge, a seller may exploit other weaknesses! Sometimes I can’t believe the ads I see, and that they actually sell products. SUV’s climbing mountains and crossing streams, although only about five percent of owners ever take their vehicles off the road.

On the CBS show “60 Minutes” they interviewed Dr. Clotaire Rapaille, a psychologist who advises automakers on marketing matters. “Why do you buy a car that doesn't even make 10 miles per gallon, doesn't fit into your garage? Do you really need that? And you don't need that intellectually,” said Rapaille. “But at the reptilian level, what I call the reptilian level, the reptilian brain, the deepest part of you, the gut level if you want, you feel like you need that.”

He went on to say: “Why? Taller. Stronger. I mean, the elephant, the bigger you are, the more chance you have to survive. Now, we know that the higher you are, more chance you have to roll over. And we know that SUVs have a higher rate of accident for rollover than other cars. I mean a Porsche is a lot less chance to roll over than an SUV. That's at the cortex, which means people know it but they don't refer to it because there's something stronger which is the reptilian—the bigger, the tallest, and more chance to survive.”³⁹

Only simpletons believe everything they are told! The prudent carefully consider their steps. The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with great confidence. (Proverbs 14:15-16)

Solomon carefully considered his steps. When he inherited his father David’s kingdom, he had a decision many of us wish we could make. God asked him what he wanted.

That night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied, “You were wonderfully kind to my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued this great kindness to him today by giving him a son to succeed him. O LORD my God, now you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am among your own chosen people, a nation so great they are too numerous to count! Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great nation of yours?” The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s reply and was glad that he had asked for wisdom. (I Kgs 3:5-10)

Solomon wisely asked for wisdom, and so became even wiser. Even if you don’t believe in God, this makes sense. A person who wants to learn is much more likely to learn. Another thing to note from this passage is that “the Lord was pleased.” Learning is important.

This message has not been lost on humankind. Schools have been established around the world, and virtually all politicians agree that education is a good thing. President Bush is no exception, and showed it during the 2000 campaign when he queried, “Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”⁴⁰

Within a year after his election, Congress passed Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” program, which tests students in reading, math, and science, identifies “schools in need of improvement,” and tries to get them to improve their scores. For the 2004-05 school year, 11,000 schools were “in need of improvement,” up from 6,000 two years before. If scores aren’t high enough, after two years, outside consultants may be brought in and parents may send their kids to another school. After four years, the coursework and teachers may be changed, and the principal’s authority may be restricted. After six years, the school may be turned over to the state or to private management.

The federal government is supposed to help struggling schools “get off the list,” but funding is inconsistent because it depends on factors such as the number of poor children in a state, baseline guarantees for all districts, and discretionary state distribution options. And though states are given the power to allocate money to schools, they don’t always have enough for statewide support plans. Funding is discouraged for permanent personnel, building improvements, vehicles, and often even computers. Schools with students who can’t read or don’t speak English are at a severe disadvantage, because they are expected to understand the language before (or as) they learn (or are tested) on the material. Little if any provisions are in place to concentrate on a school’s weak areas.⁴¹ (Conservative groups like English First oppose bilingual education, and prefer an approach called English immersion.⁴² English immersion is where la instruistoj parolas sole la En la angla, kaj la studentoj lernas la lingvon ĉar estas la sola metodo por lern la materialo.⁴³ It’s great if you have enough time to learn the language before you’re tested in it!)

Critics of No Child Left Behind say that it forces schools to narrow their focus to just the points covered in testing. Music, art, and after-school programs are neglected, as are programs for both gifted students and students with learning disabilities. The law gives schools motives to set their goals low, manipulate which students are tested, and push low-performing students out of school. Schools are required to give access and student contact information to military recruiters. If enough schools fail, it is feared that conservatives will eliminate all federal funding for education and push costs to the states, where the poorest will suffer, or to the private sector, with its risks of inequality, religious extremism, and commercialism.⁴⁴

Commercialism has already found its way into our public schools. ShopRite Supermarkets bought the naming rights for the gym at Alice Costello Public School in Brooklawn, New Jersey, dubbing it “ShopRite of Brooklawn Center.” Corporations are also sponsoring events, like the Toyota basketball championships and the Les Schwab Tires football championship in California, and the Nike Team Nationals for cross-country running.

In the classroom, nearly 1 out of 3 students nationwide watches Channel One, a news program that lasts 12 to 13 minutes with 2 to 3 minutes of commercials each day. It’s good for kids to get news, but more than half of the movies advertised on Channel One portray smoking, and it also has other ads for junk foods like Snickers, Twix, M&M's, Pepsi, Hostess Cakes, Milky Way, Doritos, Mountain Dew, Nestle's Crunch, and Skittles.

These same junk foods can often be found in vending machines on the school grounds. The USDA has a rule that prohibits public schools from selling “foods of minimal nutritional value” during mealtimes in school cafeterias, but it won’t enforce it. The director of the USDA’s Child Nutrition Division wrote to the Commercial Alert group that “At this time, we do not intend to undertake the activities or measures you recommended in your petition.” Don’t expect any help from President Bush. He has taken large contributions from executives and lobbyists for Kraft, Nestle, Coke, and Pepsi. If these big corporations are bankrolling our president and our schools, what happens if the kids need to learn about corporate wrongdoing? And what about their health? In Palm Beach County, Florida, elementary school students get a free Krispy Kreme doughnut for every “A” on their report card. Classes who meet goals also place “success sprinkles” on posters which can be turned in for a set of doughnuts.⁴⁵

Conservatives have also pushed to privatize schools using education vouchers. Vouchers are government certificates that parents can use to pay for a private school, rather than the public school to which they were assigned. One problem in this time of reduced government funding is that the voucher system could take money away from public schools while not providing enough money for low-income families to pay for private schools.⁴⁶ Vouchers have been voted down in 7 state referendums, but, according to Grover Norquist, president of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, “We win just by debating school choice, because the alternative is to discuss the need to spend more money...”⁴⁷

I believe that conservatives are not as concerned about finding efficiencies as they are about cutting funding. Children are getting left behind. King Solomon valued wisdom, and when anyone is intentionally deprived of the opportunity to gain wisdom, I see it as a desecration of the Holy Scriptures. Conservatives want a smaller role for government, saying that values and responsibility should be taught in the home. But when kids fall through the cracks, we all pay the price. As covered earlier, one person can do a lot of damage. It’s not good enough to shove the blame off. We need to assume that nothing good is being taught at home.

What’s more, there’s more to a person than just being a member of the work force. People have a right to be well-rounded human beings and informed citizens. Students benefit when they can practice democracy through civic experiences, connecting classroom learning to the outside world. We all benefit when people have information, “the currency of democracy.”

1.2.4 Wisdom’s pitfalls

As good as wisdom is, sometimes it can get us into trouble. For one thing, as we begin to learn about the world around us, we see its complexity and its problems, and we can easily become overwhelmed. The challenges appear to be never-ending.

I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.” So I worked hard to distinguish wisdom from foolishness. But now I realize that even this was like chasing the wind. For the greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. (Eccles 1:16-18)

Another thing is that as we learn about human suffering, it’s unpleasant and we sometimes get the urge to block it out. Sometimes when we learn something, we’re faced with the feeling of obligation to act on the information. We get to a point where there’s no turning back. Here, the Lord condemns those “who used to worship me but now no longer do.” They may be worse off than those who never worshipped Him in the first place:

For they go up to their roofs and bow to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the LORD, but then they worship Molech, too. So now I will destroy them! And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the LORD’s guidance or seek my blessings.” (Zeph 1:5-6)

We may be tempted to block out information so we don’t get to the point where there’s no turning back. But, as covered earlier, ignorance of the big picture is no excuse. So we press onward as best we can and ask forgiveness when we fall short. We are continually humbled as the more we know, the more we see what we don’t know.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “God catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness.” And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are worthless.” (I Cor 3:19-20)

Perhaps the biggest pitfall of wisdom is that we sometimes get in over our heads, wading into an ever deeper ocean. In fact, it is in the ocean where we find a clear example of this. For some 10,000 years, humans have caught and eaten fish from the earth’s waters. Early on, people used bone hooks, woven nets, willow baskets, and wooden harpoons. As time went by, our species gained experience and became more efficient at harvesting seafood—wiser, if you will. But now we’ve got a problem. Fishers have gotten too good at what they do. Drift nets 40 feet deep reach lengths of up to 40 miles. The United Nations resolved against the practice in 1993, ⁴⁸ but it’s believed to continue. Purse seines, nets in the shape of an upside-down purse, have a drawstring at the bottom so fish can’t escape.⁴⁹ Bottom trawlers, football field-sized nets, scrape the ocean floor, killing and leaving behind massive unwanted fish, coral, and plant life and destroying delicate environments that have developed over thousands of years.⁵⁰ Because of all these practices, there is precious little left. 90 percent of all tuna, swordfish, marlin, cod, halibut, skate, and flounder are gone.⁵¹ Our “wisdom” has come back to bite us. In a situation like this, I would say that the remedy is more wisdom. Unfortunately, our conservative government has not been very reassuring. Most scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who responded to a survey said they were aware of inappropriate reversal or withdrawal of scientific findings, influenced by “commercial interests.”⁵²

Another example of wisdom’s dangers is in the issue of nuclear proliferation. Scientists made tremendous breakthroughs in developing nuclear energy and weaponry—demonstrating remarkable intelligence. However, they didn’t come up with a way to deactivate the waste, which remains deadly for thousands of years, or a way to stop the raw materials from getting into the wrong hands. In their September 30, 2004 debate, both John Kerry and George W. Bush specified nuclear proliferation as the single most serious threat to national security. Kerry said, “There's some 600-plus tons of unsecured material still in the former Soviet Union and Russia…. The president actually cut the money for it.”

Bush said, “Actually, we've increased funding for dealing with nuclear proliferation about 35 percent since I've been the president. Secondly, we've set up what's called the—well, first of all, I agree with my opponent that the biggest threat facing this country is weapons of mass destruction in the hands of a terrorist network.”⁵³

According to factcheck.org, “But The Washington Post reported Oct. 1 that Bush proposed a 13 percent cut in his first budget as President—about $116 million. Much of the increases since then have been added by Congress, the Post reported.”⁵⁴

It’s good to be aware that truth, knowledge, and wisdom can sometimes get us into trouble. Still, that’s no reason to shy away from them. Sometimes things aren’t as difficult as they seem. An elegant solution presents itself, people work together, and a problem is solved. I hope you’ll keep the faith.

1.3 Do-gooders make me sick

Now that you care, my next goal is to convince you to be a “good guy,” if you aren’t already, or at least not a “bad guy.” You could be both bright and interested, but only interested in terms of getting what you want for yourself. Even if you’re law-abiding, you may be unwilling to go the extra mile, or even lift a finger to make the world a better place. You may even have contempt for those who do good, thinking to yourself, “Do-gooders make me sick.” You may even say it aloud!

We’re going to walk through why that’s unacceptable, starting with the advantages of immoral behavior, then reviewing what happens if everybody does it and how it can backfire. Then we’ll look at overcoming it, and moving to higher and happier states of being—not as do-gooders with naïve cure-alls, but as concerned, intelligent agents of positive action. We’ll finish the section by taking in some biblical advice.

1.3.1 Crime pays

Here we find ourselves in a physical world, where we all have certain powers. We don’t have magical powers, of course, but we do have the ability to see and hear things, make sounds, move around, and carry things from place to place. We also have limitations. We can’t live without air, food, water, and sometimes clothing and shelter. We have the ability to think, but we don’t have the ability to read the minds of others. We can’t be in all places at once. Eventually, we all die, without independent control over what happens next. Ultimately, it’s as if we have nothing to lose. If that’s the case, why not just satisfy our urges without regard to anyone or anything else?

And what value was there in fighting wild beasts--those men of Ephesus--if there will be no resurrection from the dead? If there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and get drunk, for tomorrow we die!” (I Cor 15:32)

You may figure that you can live it up now, wait until the last possible moment, and then get into heaven later with a “deathbed conversion.” Then again, if you party like there’s no tomorrow, God may see to it that you have no tomorrow!

But instead, you dance and play; you slaughter sacrificial animals, feast on meat, and drink wine. “Let’s eat, drink, and be merry,” you say. “What’s the difference, for tomorrow we die.” The LORD Almighty has revealed to me that this sin will never be forgiven you until the day you die. That is the judgment of the Lord, the LORD Almighty. (Isa 22:13-14)

Our physical world permits harm to occur. For all we know, God may carry us more than we realize, but given examples of suffering allowed—hurricanes, earthquakes, massacre—we have to assume that, for whatever reason, God has set the wheels in motion and He is letting nature run its course. (Our deist Founding Fathers sometimes thought of God as a divine watchmaker.) Either that, or seemingly innocent people are punished for things they did in past lives. However, since reincarnation is outside the scope of Christian focus, I’m going to assume that nature is simply running its course.

Ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish of the sea speak to you. (Job 12:7-8)

In the wild, though many creatures have social aspects, much of what they do satisfies their urges without regard to anyone or anything else. Herbivores eat what they can, carnivores eat herbivores, and sex can be violent. Humans, with the onset of tools and agriculture, have developed more complex social structures, divided labor into different jobs, established customs, and written laws to live by. Through cooperation and civilization, our species has made great strides. But that doesn’t keep an individual, whose thoughts are unknown to others, from trying to break the rules. The laws of nature might be impossible to break, but not the laws of humans. If a person can get away with it, this world can reward that person tremendously.

But even robbers are left in peace, and those who provoke God--and God has them in his power--live in safety! (Job 12:6)

To those who don’t break the rules, this type of misbehavior can spark profound resentment. One asks, “Where is God?”

Why doesn’t the Almighty open the court and bring judgment? Why must the godly wait for him in vain? Evil people steal land by moving the boundary markers. They steal flocks of sheep, and they even take donkeys from the poor and fatherless. A poor widow must surrender her valuable ox as collateral for a loan. The poor are kicked aside; the needy must hide together for safety. Like the wild donkeys in the desert, the poor must spend all their time just getting enough to keep body and soul together. They go into the desert to search for food for their children. They harvest a field they do not own, and they glean in the vineyards of the wicked. All night they lie naked in the cold, without clothing or covering. They are soaked by mountain showers, and they huddle against the rocks for want of a home. (Job 24:1-8)

Nevertheless, misdeeds and crimes occur, and many people are fascinated by it, as evidenced by all the police and lawyer shows on TV. Some crimes are worse than others, ranging from murder to parking tickets. Even Rachel, beloved wife of Jacob in the Book of Genesis, heisted a few goods…

At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household gods and took them with her. They set out secretly and never told Laban they were leaving. Jacob took all his possessions with him and crossed the Euphrates River, heading for the territory of Gilead. (Gen 31:19-21)

The seriousness of a crime can be measured by how much harm it causes to an individual. It can also be measured by how many people are affected. If you’re in a leadership position and venture over into the wrong side of the law, the damage may increase by orders of magnitude.

Criminals appointed to the Bush administration include Deputy National Security Advisor Elliot Abrams, former Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy Otto Reich, and Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte. In the 1980s, after Iran had held Americans as hostages, the administration of Republican U.S. President Ronald Reagan illegally sold arms to Iran, then used the money illegally to fund the Contra fighters, who destabilized the legitimately elected leftist government of Nicaragua. In 1991, Abrams pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress about his role in the Iran-Contra scandal, and in 1982, told a Senate committee that reports of a massacre in El Mozote, El Salvador “were not credible,” when in fact an estimated 900 civilians were slaughtered. Reich’s Office of Public Diplomacy was declared illegal because of its “prohibited, covert propaganda activities” such as charging that Nicaraguan reporters were paid off with the services of prostitutes. Negroponte covered up the crimes of a CIA-trained Honduran battalion—kidnapping, assassination, and torture, including the use of shock and suffocation devices.⁵⁵

Shady financial dealings are pervasive throughout the Bush family, including unsupported loans to companies of the president’s brothers Jeb and Neil.⁵⁶ George W. Bush’s grandfather, Prescott Bush, and his great-grandfather, George Herbert Walker, did business with Nazi Germany before and during World War II, until the U.S. government seized their interests in 1942 under the “Trading with the Enemy Act.” Prescott Bush sat on the board of Union Bank, an “interlocking concern” with German Steel Trust, which produced about a quarter of Nazi Germany’s wire, a third of its explosives, heavy plate, galvanized sheet, and universal plate, and half of its pipes, tubes, and pig iron. This pattern of dealing with the enemy appears to have continued with George Walker Bush’s father. Former president George Herbert Walker Bush supplied weapons to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and has done business with the family of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. George W. Bush himself also had dealings with the bin Laden family through James R. Bath, a flying buddy from his days with the Texas Air National Guard.⁵⁷

1.3.2 The price of selfishness

Crime and immoral behavior have no doubt been with us since the dawn of civilization. It couldn’t have been long before people figured out that it was easier to take someone else’s food than it was to grow and harvest their own, if they could get away with it. People surely learned quickly that they could get something for nothing, benefit unfairly from the labors of others, or get what they wanted by deceptive means. If the idea sounded good to one, it might to another, and so on, potentially reaching epidemic proportions.

Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts. (Psalms 12:1-2)

If everyone acted criminally selfish, I think it’s safe to say there would be no civilization. So many of the things we take for granted—stores, homes, restaurants, and movies—would not exist. When a government falls, sometimes there is a state of anarchy, with looting and such. The power void usually doesn’t last for long, however, and a new government steps in, be it good or bad.

Under any government, there is always the threat of crime, and it can take on increasingly complex forms, another thing people certainly learned early on. Just as civilization benefits from teamwork and cooperation, so does crime. Groups of criminals can accomplish more than they can when operating as individuals.

Its citizens are bands of robbers, lying in ambush for their victims. Gangs of priests murder travelers along the road to Shechem and practice every kind of sin. (Hos 6:9)

Today we call it organized crime, and typically it’s less blatant and more sophisticated. Al Capone’s Chicago Outfit spans about a century and is believed to have extended throughout the central U.S. and beyond to Las Vegas, Hollywood, and parts of Florida. Among its many illegal activities, it funded casinos from union pension funds with the help of Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa, who was investigated by Democrat Attorney General Robert Kennedy.⁵⁸ Hoffa was convicted of attempted bribery of a grand juror in 1967. Richard Nixon commuted his sentence.

Protect me from the plots of the wicked, from the scheming of those who do evil. (Psalms 64:2)

Here the Bible deplores plots and schemes. I would add the word “conspiracy.” Many people freak out when they hear the word “conspiracy,” but all it means is when two or more people agree in secret to an unlawful or wrongful act. This can happen at any level of our social structure. While the court system is civilization’s way of controlling uncivilized behavior, even the court system itself can become corrupted. Witnesses are supposed to be truthful and jurors impartial, but there is always the danger that they might be threatened, paid off, or just plain dishonest.

“Do not pass along false reports. Do not cooperate with evil people by telling lies on the witness stand.” (Exod 23:1)

Capone was convicted of tax evasion in 1931 after his associates were unable to bribe or tamper with the jury. This is particularly reprehensible. It’s bad enough to sin yourself. It’s even worse to tempt others to sin.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck than to face the punishment in store for harming one of these little ones.” (Luke 17:1-2)

I think it’s fair to apply this reasoning to the tobacco companies. Ultimately, you can say that the smokers have no one to blame but themselves. It was their decision to light up. But if an executive knows people get hooked on it, knows it can kill, and markets it anyway, I’d say that it’s insidious. It’s an indirect form of murder.

If tempting others to sin is bad, still worse is forcing others to sin. Some street gangs have been known to require new members to commit murder as an initiation rite. But what about the people who create the conditions where street gangs form? They’re virtually forcing others to sin as well. You may support policies that cut funding for childcare, transportation, education, career counseling, and small businesses. You’re not forcing people to join a gang or sell drugs, but you’ve closed off so many other options that you make it look appealing by comparison. Ultimately, each of us will have to answer to God for our own actions—including those who commit crimes and those who create the conditions.

Wrongdoers may face consequences in this world as well. There’s always the chance that you could get caught, and the more grand the offense, the more grand the potential consequences.

Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, had plotted to crush and destroy them on the day and month determined by casting lots (the lots were called purim). But when Esther came before the king, he issued a decree causing Haman’s evil plot to backfire, and Haman and his sons were hanged on the gallows. (Esther 9:24-25)

Also, knowing that people can be creatures of habit, it’s worth noting that the longer you live a life of crime, the greater your chances of getting caught. You’ve probably heard the expression, “The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.” This one may be more accurate:

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. (Proverbs 26:11)

The Bible warns against choosing a life of sin and crime, not only for the sake of the victims, but also for the would-be criminal. Running from the law, covering your tracks, and making up stories can be very draining. What looks good at the outset has a heavy price later, if not in this life, then the next.

Listen, my child, to what your father teaches you. Don’t neglect your mother’s teaching. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and clothe you with honor. My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Let’s ambush the innocent! Let’s swallow them alive as the grave swallows its victims. Though they are in the prime of life, they will go down into the pit of death. And the loot we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all kinds of things! Come on, throw in your lot with us; we’ll split our loot with you.” Don’t go along with them, my child! Stay far away from their paths. They rush to commit crimes. They hurry to commit murder. When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away. But not these people! They set an ambush for themselves; they booby-trap their own lives! Such is the fate of all who are greedy for gain. It ends up robbing them of life. (Proverbs 1:8-19)

1.3.3 Rising above the fray

When Jesus came on the scene, it was a time of great hardship for Jews living under Roman rule. They were distressed by the many injustices that surrounded them. A natural reaction would be to lash out in violence, but that would only lead to more violence. Jesus began his Sermon on the Mount with the beatitudes, praising people who endured suffering and worked for peace.

[1] God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.
[2] God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
[3] God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.
[4] God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.
[5] God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
[6] God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
[7] God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
[8] God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too. (Matt 5:3-12)

Just as wrongful behavior can spread, so can good behavior, but it needs to start somewhere. The idea here is that we each start with ourselves.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. (Rom 12:17-18)

If someone picks a fight with you and you resist the urge to fight back, the other person might decide to let up. It’s kind of like poison ivy. If you want it to heal, you must resist the urge to scratch.

Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good. (Rom 12:21)

Before he became king, David had a chance to kill his predecessor, Saul, but chose not to, even though Saul had tried to kill David. Saul was seriously flawed but respected David for his restraint.

The LORD will decide between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a flea? May the LORD judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!” Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. (I Sam 24:12-17)

There were even times when peaceful approaches were applied on a national scale. Appeasement is when you buy off an aggressor, and this time it worked:

About this time King Hazael of Aram went to war against Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. King Joash collected all the sacred objects that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the previous kings of Judah, had dedicated, along with what he himself had dedicated. He sent them all to Hazael, along with all the gold in the treasuries of the LORD’s Temple and the royal palace. So Hazael called off his attack on Jerusalem. (II Kgs 12:17-18)

It must be said that this strategy has not always been successful. The allies gave lands to Hitler before World War II, but he still wanted more. Peaceful means may or may not make a difference. An essential indicator is whether the oppressor has a conscience. Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent civil disobedience worked with the British, but it is doubtful it would have had the same effect on Hitler.

I’m not sure what Jesus would have done about Hitler, but he did give common criminals the benefit of the doubt. Along with “notorious sinners,” the next passage includes “tax collectors” who, though working legally for the Roman government, were generally despised by the burdened masses.

That night Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. The Pharisees were indignant. “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” they asked his disciples. When he heard this, Jesus replied, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor--sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to be merciful; I don’t want your sacrifices.’ For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.” (Matt 9:10-13)

Since Jesus came “to call sinners” it follows that He would want humane conditions for those serving time in prison. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t seem to care what happens in U.S. prisons, where violence, rape, and gangs are thought to be widespread. The creation of private prisons has not helped matters, as companies cut costs by hiring under-qualified guards and other staff. Lawsuits were filed against the Corrections Corporation of America for beatings of prisoners, lack of proper medical treatment, and corruption among staff. Private prison contributors and lobbyists have had a lot of influence in Congress, and their officials have served as directors of the Federal Bureau of Prisons under former presidents Reagan and G.H.W. Bush.⁵⁹ Corporate prisons were expanded under Clinton,⁶⁰ and today the Corrections Corporation of America remains the largest provider of jail, detention and corrections services to governmental agencies. It is the sixth largest corrections system in the nation, behind only the federal government and four states.⁶¹

You may think that criminals deserve to live in a hellhole after all they did to their innocent victims. You wouldn’t be alone. Here, the people rejoice at the destruction of a cruel leader.

O Assyrian king, your princes lie dead in the dust. Your people are scattered across the mountains. There is no longer a shepherd to gather them together. There is no healing for your wound; your injury is fatal. All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your cruelty? (Nahum 3:18-19)

The concept of selling one’s soul to the devil emerges in the following Old Testament verse. This may give comfort to those who don’t have the luxury of a functioning criminal justice system.

“So my enemy has found me!” Ahab exclaimed to Elijah. “Yes,” Elijah answered, “I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the LORD’s sight. “ (I Kgs 21:20)

If people cannot see that justice is served, then perhaps God will punish the guilty. In this passage, the dying Zechariah actively prays that God will penalize his killers:

Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and by order of King Joash himself, they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD’s Temple. That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his love and loyalty--by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the LORD see what they are doing and hold them accountable!” (II Chr 24:21-22)

How the guilty are penalized is an important question. Criminals must be stopped, and yes, you may want them to live in a hellhole. They may deserve it, but we all lose some of our own innocence when we embrace ferocity. Isolating those who menace society is one thing, abusing human beings is quite another.

But you are too obsessed with judgment on the godless. Don’t worry, justice will be upheld. (Job 36:17)

There comes a time when we need to let God sort out who is innocent and who is guilty. If we give in to the animalistic rage that is within all of us, we start to become that which we despise.

“Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Lev 19:18)

If we trust that God is all-knowing, then we can take solace in the thought that the Lord will somehow make sense of it all. I would like to think of it as a “complex algorithm” for passing final judgement. I can’t pretend to know what all that would consist of, but the type of clever reasoning used by Solomon in this story might be a piece of the puzzle…

Some time later, two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled. “Please, my lord,” one of them began, “this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was with me in the house. Three days later, she also had a baby. We were alone; there were only two of us in the house. But her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it. Then she got up in the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms and took mine to sleep beside her. And in the morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t my son at all.”
Then the other woman interrupted, “It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine.”
“No,” the first woman said, “the dead one is yours, and the living one is mine.” And so they argued back and forth before the king.
Then the king said, “Let’s get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead child belongs to the other. All right, bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought to the king. Then he said, “Cut the living child in two and give half to each of these women!”
Then the woman who really was the mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, my lord! Give her the child--please do not kill him!”
But the other woman said, “All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”
Then the king said, “Do not kill him, but give the baby to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!”
Word of the king’s decision spread quickly throughout all Israel, and the people were awed as they realized the great wisdom God had given him to render decisions with justice. (I Kgs 3:16-28)

Quite the risk, I must say, but perhaps it was foolproof on some level. For one thing, I don’t think he would have followed through with it. At any rate, while God’s task is complex, ours is much simpler.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Mic 6:8)

As humans we still have many challenges, but we can start by having a high regard for the truth. I’m not talking about questions of politeness or surprise birthday parties. If there are times we think it’s better to lie, it’s only because a higher truth is not currently recognized. You wouldn’t have had to lie to that enemy soldier if his cause was not based on a greater lie. Usually, honesty is the best policy.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

If we follow along this path, we can look forward to learning more truth:

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me. (John 16:13-15)

When we tie our good moods to the truth, you could say we have a “love of truth.” The truth makes us happy, and lies make us sad. This keeps the truth in high regard.

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Let your teaching be so correct that it can’t be criticized. Then those who want to argue will be ashamed because they won’t have anything bad to say about us. (Titus 2:7-8)

The flip side to the truth, of course is lying. I think we can blame it for most of the problems in this world.

Rescue me, O LORD, from liars and from all deceitful people. O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you? How will he increase your punishment? (Psalms 120:2-3)

A complete catalog of conservative lies is well beyond the scope of this book. For further reading, I suggest Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken.⁶² I also recommend his radio show and the other shows on Air America Radio, and the Ed Schultz Show.

The LORD hates people with twisted hearts, but he delights in those who have integrity. (Proverbs 11:20)

Talking about people behind their backs is common. One person observes something peculiar about some third person and the second person wants to relate, and doesn’t want to disagree. Feelings can be hurt if a criticism comes full circle back to the person criticized. It’s even worse if the criticisms are untrue.

Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. (Lev 19:16)

It’s very natural to want to boost one’s own image by cutting someone else’s, but it’s not nice, it can cause problems, and it only works with people who don’t know any better.

I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. (Psalms 101:5)

When we gently stick up for people who aren’t around, we begin to rise above the fray.

1.3.4 Advanced ethics

“Honesty is the best policy” is a good and simple rule of thumb, but sometimes there’s more to it. There’s the truth, and then there’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You may have heard the expression, “Finders keepers, losers weepers,” but this passage maintains that that’s not good enough.

Or suppose they find a lost item and lie about it, or they deny something while under oath, or they commit any other similar sin. If they have sinned in any of these ways and are guilty, they must give back whatever they have taken by theft or extortion, whether a security deposit, or property entrusted to them, or a lost object that they claimed as their own, or anything gained by swearing falsely. When they realize their guilt, they must restore the principal amount plus a penalty of 20 percent to the person they have harmed. (Lev 6:3-5)

In Japanese culture, people have been returning lost items for nearly 1,300 years. In 2002, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Lost and Found Center received $23 million in cash found by citizens. Its four-story warehouse contains hundreds of thousands of items such as umbrellas, keys, glasses, wallets, purses, crutches, skis, and golf bags.⁶³ Visitors are amazed, impressed, and above all relieved when an item is recovered!

If you see your neighbor’s ox or sheep wandering away, don’t pretend not to see it. Take it back to its owner. If it does not belong to someone nearby or you don’t know who the owner is, keep it until the owner comes looking for it; then return it. Do the same if you find your neighbor’s donkey, clothing, or anything else your neighbor loses. Don’t pretend you did not see it. (Deut 22:1-3)

It follows that indifference is not good enough either, unless you’ve done all you could.

So I told them, “I won’t be your shepherd any longer. If you die, you die. If you are killed, you are killed. And those who remain will devour each other!” (Zech 11:9)

Fair-weather friends only stand by you when times are good. The Bible denounces them.

For you deserted your relatives in Israel during their time of greatest need. You stood aloof, refusing to lift a finger to help when foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem. You acted as though you were one of Israel’s enemies. (Obad 1:11)

The United States is often described as the most powerful nation on earth. In the movie Spider-Man, Ben, the Uncle of Peter Parker, tells him, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Something essentially similar is found in the Book of Luke:

But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given. (Luke 12:48)

Because the truth is so important, the Bible warns us that an oath is not something to take lightly. Situations can change, placing you at the mercy of God in the awkward position of having to break your oath.

But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned for it. (Jas 5:12)

When taken together with verses like the next one, you might start worrying about saying something unforgivable:

Every wrong is a sin, of course. I’m not talking about these ordinary sins; I am speaking of that one that ends in death. (I John 5:17)

This one is even more disturbing:

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God.”
As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. (Act 5:3-5)

Could a rash, impulsive exclamation leave the lips and condemn a person physically or spiritually? Perhaps, but some scholars believe instead that it would take a sustained, seething, determined resistance to the truth, leading to ever more intense gradations of rebellion.⁶⁴ I would tend to agree. The truth is important, but one broken oath won’t necessarily land you in hell.

Beyond politeness and surprise birthday parties, is it ever OK to lie? Well, first, you shouldn’t ever have to lie on behalf of God.

Are you defending God by means of lies and dishonest arguments? You should be impartial witnesses, but will you slant your testimony in his favor? Will you argue God’s case for him? Be careful that he doesn’t find out what you are doing! Or do you think you can fool him as easily as you fool people? No, you will be in serious trouble with him if even in your hearts you slant your testimony in his favor. (Job 13:7-10)

(I suppose if there were no God that would make a liar out of me, but then I wouldn’t have to worry about getting in trouble with God, either!) In this next passage, Ehud lies to kill King Eglon, who forced the people of Israel to pay crushing taxes.

He brought the tax money to Eglon, who was very fat. After delivering the payment, Ehud sent home those who had carried the tax money. But when Ehud reached the stone carvings near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message for you.” So the king commanded his servants to be silent and sent them all out of the room. Ehud walked over to Eglon as he was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room and said, “I have a message for you from God!” As King Eglon rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud left the dagger in, and the king’s bowels emptied. (Judg 3:17-22)

Similarly, Jael killed the oppressive army commander Sisera after giving him refuge in her tent.

“Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk to drink and covered him again. “Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.” But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died. (Judg 4:19-21)

Whether these assassinations were justified, or could have been avoided, is another question. Nonviolence is covered in Chapter 7. But they show the possibility that there may be times when it’s OK to lie. In fact, the prospect of salvation through Jesus Christ might not have been possible if it wasn’t for some deception on the part of the wise men. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, King Herod knew his birth had been predicted, knew He would be a threat, and wanted Him killed.

But when it was time to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod…Herod was furious when he learned that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, because the wise men had told him the star first appeared to them about two years earlier. (Matt 2:12,16)

There are also times when Christians have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, not because they did anything wrong, but because the law was wrong. The Apostle Paul spent a lot of time in jail.

For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ. (Phil 1:13-14)

The story of Nelson Mandela shows how the journey toward ethics can take some unusual twists and turns. He was born in 1918 when the word “apartheid” was first being used in South Africa. Under the racist apartheid system, blacks and whites were segregated. Non-whites could not vote for the national government or hold office in it, and could not run businesses in most of the best districts.⁶⁵

Mandela recounted, “Religion has had a tremendous influence on my own life. You must remember that during our time—right from Grade 1 up to university—our education was provided by religious institutions. I was in [Christian] missionary schools. The government [of the day] had no interest whatsoever in our education and, therefore, religion became a force which was responsible for our development.”

He was originally committed to nonviolence, but after the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, he and his allies coordinated a sabotage campaign and made plans for a possible guerilla war. He was arrested two years later and ended up spending 27 years in prison. During his time there, Mandela underwent a transformation, learning discipline, having time for reflection, learning from traveled and educated fellow inmates, and reading the biographies of the century’s great leaders. As Mandela put it, “It is possible that if I had not gone to jail and been able to read and to listen to the stories of many people…I might not have learned these things.” ⁶⁶

He was able to persuade his jailers and their political bosses to negotiate with him. Meanwhile, on the outside, strikes, protests, internal violence, and international condemnations began to take their toll on the white South African government. Mandela had a chance for release in 1985, if he had renounced the armed struggle, but he refused. He was released in 1990, and pursued a policy of reconciliation, where blacks and whites talked about past injustices in a spirit of forgiveness. This enabled a peaceful transition to democracy, and earned Mandela international respect. He served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

It should be noted that Reagan spoke out against apartheid but opposed economic sanctions against white South Africa. It took a congressional override of Reagan’s presidential veto to ban imports and investments with the racist government.⁶⁷ Nobel Peace Prize recipient Bishop Desmond Tutu called Reagan “immoral, evil, and totally un-Christian.”

1.3.5 A time to swear

Building on its lessons of right and wrong, the Bible gives various pieces of advice that a person might find helpful. The American “work ethic” might be rooted partly in this verse:

Lazy people are a pain to their employer. They are like smoke in the eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge. (Proverbs 10:26)

Do your best and take pride in your work, but don’t let the preceding verse erode your self-esteem. Depression is discussed in block 3.2.1, “The importance of counseling.” The Bible also warns against excessive drinking, the ritual of communion, which involves the consumption of small quantities of wine, notwithstanding. (No, I wasn’t drinking when I wrote that sentence, but I was when I wrote this one.)

Wine produces mockers; liquor leads to brawls. Whoever is led astray by drink cannot be wise. (Proverbs 20:1)

In the next passage, the land of Moab, because of its disgraceful conduct, is compared to a drunk.

“The strength of Moab has ended. Her horns have been cut off, and her arms have been broken,” says the LORD. “Let her stagger and fall like a drunkard, for she has rebelled against the LORD. Moab will wallow in her own vomit, ridiculed by all.” (Jer 48:25-26)

While we shouldn’t be too slackened, we shouldn’t be too tense, either. Sometimes it’s important not to get too stressed out about things that haven’t even happened yet. Jesus urges us to live one day at a time:

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matt 6:34)

I wouldn’t take this to mean that we can’t make long term plans. Coming up in block 1.4.1, “Preparing for the future,” we cover instances of heeding warnings and anticipating the future.

Don’t trust anyone--not your best friend or even your wife! For the son despises his father. The daughter defies her mother. The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household. (Mic 7:5-6)

Indeed, it’s possible you might someday feel you can’t trust anybody. Children could be forced to join The Hitler Youth against the will of their parents. During the Chinese Communist Cultural Revolution, students and workers were enlisted to purge intellectuals from the party, costing hundreds of thousands of jobs and lives. While conditions like these are not usually a problem, it doesn’t hurt to be a little suspicious, as long as you aren’t paranoid. If all else fails, however, depending on the situation, there might be cases where it’s appropriate to adjust. This apparently was the case when Jews were forced to move to Babylon. As the old expression goes, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, sends this message to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food you produce. Marry, and have children. Then find spouses for them, and have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Pray to the LORD for that city where you are held captive, for if Babylon has peace, so will you.” (Jer 29:4-7)

Not to go overboard with the cliches, but the following verse reminds me of the advice to “count your blessings,” or, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind. (Eccles 6:9)

Lessons from this next story might be to take proactive steps, don’t take chances, and don’t tick people off, even if they’re your own family.

Then, in the distance, Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men. Jacob now arranged his family into a column, with his two concubines and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed low seven times before him. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him affectionately and kissed him. Both of them were in tears.
Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with you?”
“These are the children God has graciously given to me,” Jacob replied. Then the concubines came forward with their children and bowed low before him. Next Leah came with her children, and they bowed down. Finally, Rachel and Joseph came and made their bows.

“And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked.
Jacob replied, “They are gifts, my lord, to ensure your goodwill.”
“Brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have.”
“No, please accept them,” Jacob said, “for what a relief it is to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the smile of God!” (Gen 33:1-10)

We end the section with a verse about cussing:

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Eph 4:29)

Since conservatives act so moralistic, I can’t help but be amused when they lose their cool. When Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) confronted Vice President Cheney about his ties to Haliburton Co. and Bush’s judicial nominees, Cheney told him, “Fuck yourself.”⁶⁸ And on CNN’s Inside Politics show, conservative columnist Robert Novak said, “Well, I think that’s bullshit…”⁶⁹

Actually, taboo words have a role to play in language, and have the most impact when they are used sparingly. Conversely, if they are used on a routine basis, they lose their ability to offend. In one culture, a word might be taboo, but in another, it might not be at all discouraging, as the Bible verse concerns us.

For example, in the book Black Talk by Geneva Smitherman, the word “Muthafucka” is defined as follows: “Used to refer to a person, place, or thing, either negatively or positively, depending on the context. It never refers to a person who has sex with his/her mother. ‘Now that’s a bad muthafucka,’ meaning, That’s a beautiful car; ‘Michael Jordan is a muthafucka on the court,’ meaning, Michael Jordan’s basketball-playing prowess is extraordinary; ‘That Joadie, now he is one sorry muthafucka,’ i.e., The man in question is a rather useless, good-for-nothing person. Also used for emphasis: ‘You muthafuckin right I wadn’t goin,’ that is, You are exactly correct in thinking that I wasn’t going.”⁷⁰

I guess I count myself among those who are not particularly offended by such language. However, so as not to upset the sensibilities of the very people I am trying to persuade, for the rest of the book I will refrain from using the words piss, shit, cunt, tit, cock, fuck, and prick.

1.4 Why are we here?

We now abruptly switch over to the deepest of philosophical questions: “Why are we here?” It might be impossible to answer, but if we don’t take a crack at it, it’ll be that much harder to answer all of life’s other questions. On our way, we’re going to survey many of the miracles described in the Bible. I feel that they give us a glimpse into some of our own most basic human wishes, and wishes that are in harmony with the will of God may give us purpose. You may believe in these miracles, or you may not. The determination of whether or not these miracles actually occurred is outside the scope of this book. If they occurred, they reinforce the Bible’s teachings. If inspired but fallible humans imagined the miracles, the teachings still stand. In today’s world, we may no longer have miracles to convince us, but we still have the teachings. It may take a leap of faith to follow the teachings, but that may be part of life’s test. After all, if we all had magical powers, we might not ever mature emotionally.

As we step through the miracles, we’ll touch on a few of the nearest human approximations, albeit feeble by comparison. Since many people seek meaning through their life’s work, their impressive efforts might provide other clues as to why we are here. Maslow categorized our human needs in priority order as survival, safety, love, respect, and actualization, which is to make the most of one’s unique abilities. If we could all do that, it wouldn’t be a miracle, but I bet it would seem like one.

1.4.1 Preparing for the future

We begin with the miracle of prophesy; the ability to tell the future. Here, prophesy is prophesied:

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites, and you must listen to that prophet. (Deut 18:15)

A prophet, or one who prophesies, could be a man or a woman.

Then after I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike. (Joel 2:28-29)

A prophet could be good or bad.

The false prophets or dreamers who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in the land of Egypt. Since they try to keep you from following the LORD your God, you must execute them to remove the evil from among you. (Deut 13:5)

In these verses, the Bible is calling on people to act in the days to follow. It says, “you must listen” and “remove the evil.” Warnings are to be heeded, and the future anticipated. As discussed in block 1.1.5, test what is said and hold what is good. Sometimes, as in the next verse, God takes care of the false prophets Himself:

And on that day, says the LORD Almighty, I will get rid of every trace of idol worship throughout the land, so that even the names of the idols will be forgotten. I will remove from the land all false prophets and the unclean spirits that inspire them. (Zech 13:2)

The Old Testament’s fifth book predicts that the people of Israel will be scattered. This scattering has continued throughout Jewish history into modern times.

For the LORD will scatter you among the nations, where only a few of you will survive. There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone, gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. (Deut 4:27-28)

This next verse speaks of “thorns and thistles,” the same type of plant life we might expect if various environmental predictions come true, as we shall see in Chapter 9, “Sustainability.”

And the pagan shrines of Aven, the place of Israel’s sin, will crumble. Thorns and thistles will grow up around them. They will beg the mountains to bury them and the hills to fall on them. (Hos 10:8)

The Book of Zechariah predicts a holocaust. The Romans killed two million Jews, and Nazi Germany killed six million.

Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die, says the LORD. But a third will be left in the land. (Zech 13:8)

This verse sounds like a volcano, earthquake, or, heaven forbid, a nuclear weapon:

On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west, for half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south. (Zech 14:4)

Prophesies can foretell good news as well as bad. The Old Testament has numerous predictions of a Messiah. As a descendant of David, Jesus is “a righteous Branch on King David’s throne.”

“For the time is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will place a righteous Branch on King David’s throne. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.” (Jer 23:5)

It was predicted that Jesus would be going up against the political and religious leaders of the day.

The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. (Psalms 2:2)

This prophesy of Christ’s coming contains a common liturgical exultation…

Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. (Psalms 118:26)

…and this one is immortalized in Handel’s 1741 oratorio Messiah, a holiday favorite…

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6)

The public often scorns visionaries, at least at first. The abolitionists, suffragists, and early union organizers are just a few examples. Jesus would be rejected by his own people in this eerily accurate prophesy:

Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected--a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. (Isa 53:1-3)

Even the birthplace of Christ was predicted. That’s why King Herod, who felt so threatened, tried to kill all the infant boys in Bethlehem.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. (Mic 5:2)

Here’s what Jesus Himself had to say about all these prophesies:

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain until its purpose is achieved.” (Matt 5:17-18)

The last verse of the Old Testament, though not about Jesus, suggests intergenerational cooperation, something that is needed if humanity is to survive. It’s believed that the Iroquois Confederacy planned seven generations into the future when making any decision. Sustainability means that you get to keep going, and it is covered in Chapter 9.

His preaching will turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse. (Mal 4:6)

While it’s generally accepted that people don’t have the ability to foretell the future, we can still make predictions, like a weather forecaster. The more information we have, the greater the probability that we can guess what happens next. We can and should do everything in our power to anticipate future problems and avert them.

1.4.2 Surviving the elements

We next review paranormal, larger-scale visual events. There tend to be more of these in the Old Testament, while the New Testament tends to have more examples of supernatural healing and resurrection, though there is some overlap. In this first passage, the Lord provides divine protection:

For see, today I have made you immune to their attacks. You are strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. None of the kings, officials, priests, or people of Judah will be able to stand against you. They will try, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken! (Jer 1:18-19)

Daniel’s friends were people of conviction. After they wouldn’t worship a statue, they were thrown into a furnace, but survived.

“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren’t even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!” Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the princes, prefects, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! (Dan 3:25-27)

Daniel himself was thrown to the lions, but he too survived.

Very early the next morning, the king hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him because he had trusted in his God. (Dan 6:19-23)

You may have heard the story of Jonah and the whale. Actually, the Bible describes it as a fish. If there was a fish that large at the time, then perhaps that was another miracle.

Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)

Amazingly, Jonah lived. Now it’s the whales we need to worry about. In addition to the threats of pollution, overfishing, and whaling, some believe that Navy sonar is what drives whales and dolphins to strand themselves on beaches. The excruciatingly loud sound can cover thousands of square miles, and the sea creatures can’t cover their ears like people do.⁷¹

The next three passages regard contact with God:

No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart; he has told us about him. (John 1:18)

Perhaps Moses came the closest to seeing God when he encountered the burning bush, and spoke with God.

One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn up. “Amazing!” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go over to see this.”

When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses’ attention, God called to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” God told him. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your ancestors--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God. (Exod 3:1-6)

The Apostle Peter was present when God spoke on another, much later occasion.

And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God’s glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, “This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him.” We ourselves heard the voice when we were there with him on the holy mountain. (II Pet 1:17-18)

Questions of modern-day apparitions such as Apparition Hill, Cross Mountain, Saint James Church, the oozing Christ statue, and the Kennedy Expressway underpass are outside the scope of this book.

If you have seen the movie The Ten Commandments, then you saw depictions of several miracles God performed through Moses. Perhaps the most famous is the parting of the Red Sea…

Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! (Exod 14:21-22)

If you could choose your proof of God’s existence, then perhaps you would want to see something come out of the sky…

When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. (II Chr 7:1)

…Perhaps this could be explained away as lightning, or maybe even something akin to a phaser cannon from Star Trek. The latter may seem far-fetched, but real-life lasers are becoming increasingly powerful, with reports of pranksters using them dangerously to interfere with the vision of pilots trying to land jet airliners. Ironically and ultimately, the flashy miracles may be less convincing than the altruistic ones. Jesus usually used his powers for healing purposes. Then again, He performed some that I would consider both grand and convincing, like walking on water.

During the night, the disciples were in their boat out in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning he came to them, walking on the water. He started to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” he said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. (Mark 6:47-51)

Also evocative of Star Trek is this next miracle, which might be best described to science fiction fans as similar to the function of a transporter.

As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the city of Azotus! He preached the Good News there and in every city along the way until he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:36-40)

If only we could all perform miracles like this, then the answer would be easy. We wouldn’t care why we’re here, and if we did, it would be too have as much fun as possible. Of course, we can’t, and together we face some hard realities, but I think it shows there’s a part of the human spirit that wants to break the laws of physics and be freed from the constraints of time and space. Scientists and engineers are probably doing the next best thing, striving to master the laws of physics.

1.4.3 Aiding the sick and hungry

Yet another invention from the Star Trek franchise is the food replicator, which takes raw materials and converts them into food, eliminating the need to carry plants and animals on the starship. A parallel miracle in the Bible might be called a “food multiplier,” where quantities of food and drink are reproduced or altered to satisfy large groups. This includes olive oil, an excellent source of cholesterol-free non-animal fat:

And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting the jars aside as they are filled.” So she did as she was told. Her sons brought many jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim! (II Kgs 4:3-6)

Jesus could not only walk on water. As you’ve probably heard, He could also turn water into wine. Like olive oil, red wine (in moderate amounts) is thought to lower the risk of heart disease.

Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled to the brim, he said, “Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So they followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “Usually a host serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone is full and doesn’t care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!” (John 2:7-10)

And of course, there is the story of how Jesus multiplied a few loaves and fishes to feed a large crowd.

Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food.”
But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!”
“How much food do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.” Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred.
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. Five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves! (Mark 6:35-44)

Obviously, food is important because it is essential to life. Before the industrial revolution, economies were largely agrarian. Food production and distribution still account for a number of important jobs, including farming, inspecting, transport, grocery, and restaurant work. Over the last century, family farming has largely been replaced by corporate farming, due to factors such as government economic intervention and regulation which favors unrestrained and under-informed market forces. Large agribusiness operations like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland “feed the world.” We now face increased risks posed by herbicides (weed killers), pesticides (bug killers), chemical fertilizers (plant food), genetically-modified (mutated) foods, resistance to antibiotics (germ killers), and concentrated (crowded) animal feeding operations. Blocks 3.1.2 and 9.2.1 will go into more detail on food consumption and production.

While food fuels the body, healing repairs the body. As the expression goes, “without your health, you've got nothing.” Jesus attracted huge crowds with his ability to cure ailments of all kinds. It’s significant that he used his powers to help people.

News about him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed--he healed them all. (Matt 4:24)

Jesus could cure blindness. In this instance, note how He restores a man’s eyesight in two stages:

When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch and heal the man. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?” The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands over the man’s eyes again. As the man stared intently, his sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. (Mark 8:22-25)

This book assumes that God is perfect, but there also exists the possibility that the Creator is a life force that emanates out of the microscopic realm into a less certain material expanse. One thing that all these healing miracles, and perhaps the food miracles, have in common is that they would seemingly have to operate at the level of DNA, the building blocks for life. This might explain why it took two steps to correct the blindness, rather than doing it all at once, as was usually the case.

So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God by telling the truth, because we know Jesus is a sinner.” “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” (John 9:24-25)

Faith healers are sometimes the object of ridicule, especially if they can’t make good on their claims. To those who would experience a truly miraculous recovery, however, the result is a different type of joy. The Apostles were empowered and continued to perform miracles after Jesus’ departure, changing lives and bringing about great happiness.

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. (Acts 3:7-8)

Of course, this provides no comfort to those who have not been healed. To make matters worse, people with disabilities, when you include mental as well as physical handicaps, are the most likely to be victims of serious crime, according to a 2000 report. Because our government has not provided adequate training for investigating these cases, there are relatively fewer arrests, prosecutions, and convictions. The report faults “the negative stereotypes and prejudices that continue to contribute to discrimination against these victims.”⁷²

People should not be written off. Before performing miracles of his own, the Apostle Paul, who wrote so much of the New Testament, was originally the beneficiary of a miracle, back when he was named Saul. He had lost his sight for three days, and then regained it. This was the turning point in his conversion to Christianity.

Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and was strengthened. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” (Acts 9:18-20)

People have a fundamental desire to be healthy. Fortunately, many people want to help others be healthy as well. Members of the health care profession—Doctors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Dentists, and many more—undergo rigorous training, ongoing education, and daily challenges. Whatever the meaning of life, we’re here; therefore, sustaining it has to be a part of it. Medical care is covered in block 3.2.3.

1.4.4 Thwarting death

Even more miraculous than healing is the act of resurrection, bringing dead people back to life. Aside from the occasional life-after-death experience, which is arguably not actually death, there is no modern-day equivalent. Stories of warmth, floating, a bright light at the end of a tunnel, and meeting deceased relatives boost our faith, but are few and far between. To the best of our knowledge, the most we can hope for is to extend life.

Medicine does that, but sometimes comes under criticism for having a “magic bullet” approach. Conditions are treated only after symptoms occur, often with pills or other medications that alleviate the symptoms but not always the underlying cause. Proponents of alternative medicine argue that a more holistic approach is needed, treating not only the entire body but also the mind. Some alternative systems of medical care include homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, reflexology, and yoga. Those who prefer these approaches may have difficulty getting their insurance providers to pay for them, and when they do, there’s always the risk that unscrupulous patients will abuse the system and spoil it for everybody. In general, the government should act to reduce fraud on the part of patients, but also care providers and insurance providers, thereby reducing costs.

As mentioned, however, the most humans can do is extend life, not resurrect it, as the prophet Elijah did:

The LORD heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he came back to life! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look, your son is alive!” he said. (I Kgs 17:22-23)

After Elijah came Elisha. Like Elijah, he also revived a child.

Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And the child’s body began to grow warm again! Elisha got up and walked back and forth in the room a few times. Then he stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! (II Kgs 4:34-35)

Elisha even brought a man back to life after he himself had died—a sort of posthumous resurrection.

Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the body they were burying into the tomb of Elisha. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet! (II Kgs 13:20-21)

Jesus revived a girl…

He went inside and spoke to the people. “Why all this weeping and commotion?” he asked. “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep.” The crowd laughed at him, but he told them all to go outside. Then he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, he said to her, “Get up, little girl!” And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! Her parents were absolutely overwhelmed. (Mark 5:39-42)

…And He revived Lazarus, who had been dead for four days…

And again Jesus was deeply troubled. Then they came to the grave. It was a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, said, “Lord, by now the smell will be terrible because he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you will see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus came out, bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” (John 11:38-44)

Here’s a rare instance of resurrection performed by an Apostle:

But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! (Acts 9:40)

And Paul, the one who had been blinded three days, brought back a man who had fallen three stories to his death below.

Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” Then they all went back upstairs and ate the Lord’s Supper together. And Paul continued talking to them until dawn; then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved. (Acts 20:10-12)

Of all the miracles listed, the main one in Christianity is the Resurrection; spelled with a capital “R” to emphasize that Jesus Himself came back to life.

The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb. On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone--a very large one--had already been rolled aside. So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, “Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.” (Mark 16:1-6)

Biblical scholars might say that the Resurrection is at the core of our faith. While it is my personal belief that the Resurrection is very near the core of our faith, I don’t believe it is at the very core. What is? We begin to answer that in the next block.

1.4.5 The meaning of life

If we can answer the question of why we are here, then perhaps we may also understand the meaning of life. Earlier in this section, in discussing human wishes in the context of the Bible’s miracles, I mentioned a few occupations that reflect human interests and passions. There are so many jobs that I didn’t mention, and each one is important in its own way. Let’s face it though, a lot of us work mostly because we need the money. But usually we try to choose jobs that we find as rewarding, or at least as bearable as possible. A lot of people seek meaning through their work.

To me, Pat Tillman is an extreme example of this. He gave up a $3.6 million contract extension as a defensive back with the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals so he could serve in the Army after 9/11. I’m not saying I agree with his decision, but this was obviously something he felt strongly about. It shows that money is not always the only thing that makes people tick.

He didn’t want any special treatment—he just wanted to serve. Unavoidably, it was big news when he was killed in Afghanistan two years later. The Army said he stormed a hill and “personally provided suppressive fire” to take out the enemy, when actually he was killed accidentally by his own side in what is referred to as “friendly fire” or “fratricide.”⁷³ His service and death were honorable enough without having to add embellishment for the sake of public relations. Similarly, the Pentagon also embellished the story of Private first class Jessica Lynch. They said she had bullet and stab wounds, and that she had been mistreated, when in fact her Iraqi doctors examined her broken bones, gave her blood, and had already tried to free her. The much-publicized dramatic rescue was not necessary.⁷⁴

Anyway, what I’m getting at is that I feel that work is part of the answer to why we are here. More accurately, though, I would say interests. Some people don’t like work. They work because they have to. Not everybody has enjoyable work, but virtually everybody has interests.

Interests may be part of the answer, but just part. As mentioned at the beginning, this chapter suggests that life is a sort of test. But we can rule out ourselves as the ones doing the testing. If we were, it would be easier to decide whether to believe in God. As things stand, however, we are not awarded that luxury. The Bible has many examples of miracles, but they can’t be ordered on demand. Don’t think it hasn’t been tried, though. In this Old Testament passage, mockers challenge God to rescue a distressed believer.

Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!” (Psalms 22:7-8)

Crowds dared Jesus to save Himself as He was being crucified. That He didn’t is not particularly reassuring, at least not at first.

And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, can you? Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!” (Mark 15:29-30)

If He had the ability to save Himself, then why didn’t He? Much earlier, Satan had dared Jesus to use His powers, and Jesus did not oblige then, either.

Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’” (Matt 4:5-7)

Did He not have he ability to save Himself? John 10 suggests that He indeed did:

The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is what I do in the name of my Father…The Father and I are one.” Once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many things to help the people. For which one of these good deeds are you killing me?” …Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. (John 10:24-25,30-32,39)

One explanation is that Jesus did not save Himself from the cross because He needed to die for our sins. But isn’t there more to it? If He had saved Himself, our own decision-making process would be too easy. “Do not test the Lord.” We’re being presented with a puzzle of sorts.

If you believe in predestiny, you may not like the puzzle theory. Predestiny is the idea that everything has already been scripted, and there’s nothing we can do to change it. If God is all-powerful, why wouldn’t He be able to script everything? And why bother solving a puzzle if it isn’t going to make a difference regarding whether you’re going to heaven or hell? If this is your belief, you can find a number of verses to support your argument.

Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny. (Eccles 6:10)

The next verse refers to a book of those to be rescued…

At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. (Dan 12:1)

…And this verse refers to a scroll…

Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him. (Mal 3:16)

This next one is kind of scary. If you believe you’re already condemned to hell, you might start to doubt whether you have a free will.

“There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. (John 3:18)

You might even start to worry that no amount of personal transformation can save you!

On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.’ (Matt 7:22-23)

You could drive yourself crazy trying to second-guess God:

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory. (Rom 8:29-30)

One huge problem with predestiny is that it can be used to justify inequality. People are rich or poor because it is all part of God’s plan. Reincarnation can also be used similarly. People are rich or poor because of something they did in a previous life.

However, there’s something else to consider. Even if our before-life and our after-life are locked in, we have no way of knowing about that in this life. Just because God knows the outcome, that doesn’t mean He’s going to tell us. That doesn’t mean we can’t do everything in our power to affect the outcome. That doesn’t mean God won’t listen to us. We can pray that we gravitate in the right direction; that we learn to distinguish what is authorized from what is “unauthorized.” We can approach life with the same positive attitude, regardless of our destiny. (Prayer is covered in block 2.1.3.)

This, too, I carefully explored – that godly and wise men are in God’s will; no one knows whether he will favor them or not. All is chance! The same providence confronts everyone, whether good or bad, religious or irreligious, profane or godly. It seems so unfair, that one fate comes to all. That is why men are not more careful to be good, but instead choose their own mad course, for they have no hope – there is nothing but death ahead anyway. (Eccles 9:1-3)

If nothing is random, then we are all hapless pawns on God’s chessboard. If everything is random, there is no God and we are equally powerless. If you were God, would you want either of these two extremes? I want to try to make sense of this. Let’s look at what we know about who knows what. Jesus knows about the end of the world…

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will lead many astray…Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come. “ (Matt 24:4-5,12-14)

…But Jesus does not know exactly when the end of the world will happen…

However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. (Matt 24:36)

The Father knows when the end of the world will happen, but does not oversee the Last Judgement…

And the Father leaves all judgment to his Son, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. But if you refuse to honor the Son, then you are certainly not honoring the Father who sent him. (John 5:22-23)

…Jesus oversees the Last Judgement, but consults with the Father…

But I do nothing without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely just, because it is according to the will of God who sent me; it is not merely my own. (John 5:30)

…And the Father’s will is to act based on the people’s will:

For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life--that I should raise them at the last day. (John 6:40)

Just how random is the world we live in? In “The Matrix” movie trilogy, the world is a complex computer program, built from a massive web of functions and subroutines. Real world programmers who have worked on random number generators say that it’s difficult to generate truly random numbers. If you run the generator twice, you might end up with the same numbers. Sometimes a clock is used to “seed” the generator. Casinos protect video gambling machines against power disruptions so people don’t reset the games and play the same sequences repeatedly.

Let me throw forward a theory that might explain some of the above Biblical ideas. I’m not saying I believe this—just that it’s one way to reconcile what precedes it with what follows. Please bear with me because it’s a little far out:

In the innermost consciousness, God knows and controls the future. If this were the only consciousness, things would be too boring. In the next layer, the Father knows the future but doesn’t control it. The Son controls the future but doesn’t know it. In succeeding layers, He chooses to exercise control over certain aspects of our existence and not others.

Here’s another theory that’s even more far out. I doubt its soundness, but it might appeal to a scientific nonbeliever. God is gravity, and the “last day” is when the universe is completely pulled into a singularity at the center of a massive black hole. When every last particle and wave is gathered, a new “big bang” occurs. The “big bang” is a scientific theory about how the universe was created in an instant, out of nothing. Maybe it came out of a different dimension or antimatter or something. Anyway, in this theory, a new heaven and earth are created from a new “big bang.”

Thank you for indulging me. I really like the deep stuff. I may have strayed from a strict fundamentalist approach, but I’d say we still have a scriptural basis for these theoretical forays. Where were we? Oh yes, we were trying to get at the meaning of life. Also, I promised that we would use a process of elimination to arrive at a reasonable operating theory. Let’s look at what the meaning of life is not. It is not discounting differing viewpoints, playing stupid, or being mean.

Let’s rule out predestiny and reincarnation as they pertain to our actions here on earth. Our actions matter and our goals will be the same whether we want to be bound for heaven or increase good will through “karma.” While we’re at it, we can rule out the idea of life as punishment or reward. Let’s not get carried away with the Christian concept of “original sin”—the idea that people are born into a condition of sinfulness. Just because people are imperfect does not mean that they deserve misfortune. Besides, what good does it do to punish someone who has no recollection of what they did wrong? Let’s not set limits on how good the world can be, and what we can do to make it good.

Opposite from a “strict script,” let’s also rule out, for purposes of this book, anyway, the notions that the universe is random, that there is no God, or that we just “fade to black” when we die. (Atheists may disagree, but you’re not the problem right now. [Also see chapter 6 on religious harmony.]) I don’t know about you, but to me, obliteration is not an option. My spirit will not allow it. I’m not sure that I have much scientific proof—just a few thoughts:

There are the life-after-death experiences mentioned earlier. I also take comfort knowing that if I existed once, I can exist again. I’m impressed that humans are smart and yet still haven’t fully figured out how their own brains work. I am in awe of God’s creation. (I am not a creationist, though. I like the idea of intelligent design, but I don’t see it as scientific. More on that in section 5.4.) At any rate, I still think that if all else fails and my spirit is annihilated when I die, it won’t matter if I’m wrong. I’m going to operate on the assumption that God is all-powerful, or eminently powerful.

Next, given that life is not punishment, let’s rule out the possibility that the world is naturally just. We can plainly see that it isn’t. As the saying goes, what is fair to the lion is not fair to the antelope. In addition to the earthquakes, hurricanes, and massacres already mentioned, you’ll find plenty more examples of unfairness in this book. Some of the unfairness is due to natural disasters, much is due to the actions of people, and some, as we are now learning with global warming, could be a mixture of both. At the same time, the world is not entirely unjust, either. Millions if not billions of people are working each day to make it as fair as possible. We’re placed in a reality where we generally get some but not all of what we want. Achieving goals is not effortless, but it is not impossible, either.

When we rule out all the aforementioned possibilities, we are left with a Powerful God that presides over an unfair world. Why would that be? Let’s rule out explanations that God doesn’t care or that God is a sadist. These are not consistent with the bulk of the Bible’s teachings, particularly the New Testament. Why would a Loving God leave us here on our own without much clue, other than the Bible, as to how we got here or what happens next? The world might not be random, but to a lot of us it sure seems that way. To me, the best explanation is that we’re being tested. We may not all be given the same test—we may have varying degrees of good or bad luck along the way—but that’s all factored in and we’re being tested nonetheless. What God expects of us depends on the situation, but it’s up to us to try to keep our hearts in the right place as best we can.

Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means. (Dan 12:10)

The test may be difficult, but keeping an open mind will make it much easier. You may have heard the expression; “God helps those who help themselves.” Well, that’s not in the Bible, but what is in the Bible is that God does help those who are open to His teaching:

To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. (Matt 13:12)

In the book of Job, Satan challenges God to test one of His people. In this case, God accepts the challenge…

One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan the Accuser came with them. “Where have you come from?” the LORD asked Satan.
And Satan answered the LORD, “I have been going back and forth across the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth--a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil.”
Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” (Job 1:6-11)

If anyone in the Bible should know about the world’s unfairness, it should be Job. He lost his sons, daughters, farmhands, and animals, and became covered with boils over his entire body. Still, his faith endured:

In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. (Job 1:22)

The next passage states that God keeps track of “every thing we do” whether people witness it or not.

Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. (Eccles 12:13-14)

How is this possible? I have another far-out theory. Again, feel free to “take it with a grain of salt.” I’m not a scientist, but I’m inspired by some of the things I’ve read. The string theory model of physics suggests that the building blocks of the universe are tiny resonating string-like circles, and that there could be 11 dimensions, not just 4 for length, width, height, and time. In another dimension, distances could be infinitesimal. This could make it possible for a single point to keep track of all the other points. These additional dimensions might also interface with the inner workings of the mind. The brain may have 100 billion neurons, but I’m not sure that’s enough to keep track of a lifetime of memories. I could easily be wrong, though. Another scientific theory is redshift. It is similar to the Doppler effect, where you hear the pitch of a passing train’s whistle get lower as it passes by. While the Doppler effect is caused by compressed and decompressed sound waves, blueshift and redshift are caused by compressed and decompressed light waves. Anyway, redshift theory suggests that our universe is expanding at a rapid rate. This includes our bodies and everything around us—we just don’t realize it because everything is growing at the same pace. Could this expansion account for the dimension of time? If it did, it could provide a physical mechanism for recording everything that has ever been done by anyone throughout history. Jesus could instantly scan the records as he presides over the Last Judgement.

Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. It is there that the day of the LORD will soon arrive. (Joel 3:14)

I like to think of the world as a “soul processing center.” You’ve got all these spirits floating around, and maybe you don’t know which ones are good, and which are bad. So you set up a physical planet and place the spirits in human bodies. You watch what everybody does, in terms of both faith and deeds, and figure out where everybody goes. There is no genetic predictor for evil. Perhaps this is the only way.

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s servants came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!’
“ ‘An enemy has done it!’ the farmer exclaimed.
“ ‘Shall we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
“He replied, ‘No, you’ll hurt the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.’ “ (Matt 13:24-30)

I’m inclined to believe it’s something like this: God created heaven and earth and controls the gateway in between. God gave people free will, or gave them random will and hid it from His own view. God controls the earth but generally lets it run its course (the “watchmaker”). God can respond to prayer but generally prefers to sort things out on Judgement Day. God periodically adjusts His guidance based on the complex dynamics of earth and the free will of its people.

Then I realized that God allows people to continue in their sinful ways so he can test them. That way, they can see for themselves that they are no better than animals. (Eccles 3:18)

Keeping an open mind to Jesus’ teachings may make the test easier, but there is no guarantee that it will be a cakewalk. Remember that “The highway to hell is broad,” and so is the highway to hell on earth. The following passage maintains that it is easier to spoil than to make holy.

“This is what the LORD Almighty says! Ask the priests this question about the law: If one of you is carrying a holy sacrifice in his robes and happens to brush against some bread or stew, wine or oil, or any other kind of food, will it also become holy?”

The priests replied, “No.”

Then Haggai asked, “But if someone becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person and then brushes against any of the things mentioned, will it be defiled?”

And the priests answered, “Yes.” (Hag 2:11-13)

And this next passage shows that even your thoughts can be tested!

“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” (Matt 5:21-22)

I agree that it’s not nice to “call someone an idiot.” People ought to try their best, and when they do, then it’s even worse to pick on them. Like sexism, racism, classism, or ageism, it’s a form of discrimination. Maybe we should call it smartism. However, while we want to take the Bible seriously, we’re no good to anyone if we’re paralyzed with fear. I’ve already poked fun at conservatives in section 1.2. Depending on the mood and the situation, there might be a time and a place for name-calling:

Israel is destroyed; she lies among the nations as a broken pot. She is a lonely, wandering wild ass. The only friends she has are those she hires; Assyria is one of them. (Hos 8:8-9)

What then, is the test? As I see it, the test is why we are here. The test is the meaning of life. It can be summarized in a single sentence—a “mission statement,” if you will: “The meaning of life is to allow all people to pursue their interests without causing harm to anyone else.” The last part of the statement, “without causing harm to anyone else,” is the subject of Chapter 2, “The Golden Rule,” and the first part of the statement, “to allow all people to pursue their interests” is the subject of Chapter 3, “Pursuing Happiness.”

 

Endnotes: