The New Normal--Part 1

What does “the new normal” look like? The Justice Department used that phrase again recently. On the TV, in the News and even in sermons I have heard it used. Some people would say it is now politically correct to use this phrase today to describe the changes or the new conduct to which we must adhere in interactive relationships due to COVID-19. You would think that such a popularly used phase—which is more like a term now—that there must be a common definition. But is there one at all—somewhere out there? And more than that, if such a definition exists, is it the same for everyone? Or is the meaning the same for a large majority of people? Additionally, this phrase, “the new normal,” suggests that there is a normal that is universally or more generally agreed to. This phrase exists as an enigma—and it is following the same path of the phrase “political correctness.”

Worldwide News media keep reporting about the many businesses—large and small--that have closed down. I have worked mostly in bankruptcy, commercial, and estate courts for more than 17 years in Canada. So I am aware of what is happening and the impact on investors. We hear on the news that many churches have also stopped services. Though to an extent some restarted, this was all due to the global effort to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus and to save lives. Oddly enough, “saving lives” that’s the stated business of the church (1 Timothy 2:4). Anyway, to date [2 July 2020], Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Center report shows “Global confirmed cases: 10,704,228; total deaths: 516,434; total recovered: 5,489,399.” For Canada, total cases are now more than 106,288; and total deaths over 8,361. By the time you are reading this, the numbers would have gone up.

From the busy streets in the hearts of many metropolitan cities to even small towns and villages, for a time seemed like ghost towns. Many of us were in isolation, quarantines and just staying at home to be safe. I remember seeing videos of some cities, even in Toronto where the places reminded me of the 2008 adaptation of the 1951 classic science movie, “The Day The Earth Stood Still.” Now many countries and cities are trying to revive their economies in stages with rules as social distancing, washing hands regularly and other health measures to be taken by citizens. These practices are inclusive in what constitute the “new normal.” Successes are up and down. There are even increases in COVID-19 cases as some cities open their economies. Some have contained and pulled back their releases or stages.

The new normal phrase is common here too. Will things, businesses, business activities and relationships return to normal? What is this old normal anyway? The new generations and new COVID-19 babies will enter the world and live comfortably, for this is what they will know—this current state or so-called normality as their normal—which we are calling “the new normal.” We, the older generation who are living today, will be struggling to properly adapt and be comfortable with this new normal—which is the normal to the coming generation. Struggling because we are still hoping things return the way they were.

Churches too, in congregating, which is crucial to their existence, have suffered and are suffering to exist with this new normal. Though suffering is not new to the church as a body, institution {or égrégoré}, nor will it every be (1 Peter 4:1), the governments and experts have instructed or strongly advised us not to congregate as before. This hurt is more strongly felt particularly in the smaller churches—and in the poorer communities. In the more developed countries too, Provincial or State and the Health Ministries of the countries of the world have been empowered by government to call every citizen to avoid and not to risk overcrowding or gathering in groups (in greater than 10 or so). This is the new reality today to save lives, stop the spread of the pandemic—COVID-19, and to move forward.

War of Ideas

Public relations companies battle for the correct and best image in the minds of potential customers or clients. I think that believers should seek to correct the wrong views the public has of Christianity’s system of beliefs; and when needed, strongly defend Christianity’s truth claims. This is the job of the discipline called apologetics. Not meaning to apologize, but refers to respectful and honest defense as well as providing reasonable and intelligible answers (1 Peter 3:15). I know some pastors and believers may disagree with me; but the apostle Paul says believers ought to “demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, NIV). In this sense we become lawyers of the Christian Faith.

It’s not important if one doesn’t like the analogy. My point here is that both the public relations specialist and the Christian believer seek the same thing in principle from their particular audience. Both want the people to know the truth about themselves and their views and what they stand for. Both end-goals are the same, in principle. For the companies, loyalty to their services and products; for the Christian Church, loyalty to the lordship of Jesus Christ over their being and lives.

Now believers do not like to associate the goals of Christianity with the goals of financial, profiteering institutions. Yet we all need money. We need finances to run our churches and do effective evangelism with humanitarian services. Nothing is wrong with money nor the association with it. The problem is the purpose for which it is used and the extent to which we choose to go after it. The Bible says, “the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil,” (1 Timothy 6:10, AMP). It never says that “money is the root of evil” as it’s popularly misquoted through ignorance and or deliberate bad-mouthing by those who don’t know the true and pure value of the Christian truth claims.

To effectively deal with the war of ideas when we try to do what Jesus tells us to in evangelism—that is, in making disciples in the world, as we preach and teach the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20), here are some questions we should get some answers to in readiness. Do we have any real intellectual grasp of Christian teaching? Are we trying to be informed in a variety of disciplines? Not to be experts, but just to keep up with what has become common knowledge? Are we aware of the popular objections to our faith with readiness of reasonable answers, first to ourselves and then to recent converts? Pushing further, do we know about the competing views with our truth claims so we can properly inform the people we meet why and how Christianity is different? Before sending out the disciples to do evangelism effectively, Jesus “opened their minds to [help them] understand the Scriptures,” (Luke 24:45). He also promised to send them the holy spirit to empower them (Acts 1:8).

Risk Thinking Objectively

Everyone should risk thinking objectively. The beliefs and views we live by should be supported by reason. After all, when we are convinced of acting in a specific way or we simply disagree with the opinions of others, we should ground our views on rationalism and evidence. While we have every right to say what we think because we feel strongly about a subject, we should not expect to win respect from others or even influence them with such a position. Sometimes their understanding and agreement are due to their own interaction with the Holy Spirit.

Being a Christian for years, we may be able to give personal testimonies as to why we are convinced that Christianity is true. But we may feel that our testimonies are insufficient in today’s world to influence others to want to become a disciple of Christ. So many of us are afraid to do witnessing in this skeptical, modern, scientific and technological world. For the people we witness to may ask us ‘why would a good God let COVID-19 happen?’ We may not have proper responses. Perhaps an honest first response might be “I don’t know.” From there we can certainly go, research and hopefully return to them with an informed response after having given the questions some prayerful thought.

But our ignorance and theirs of the mere existence of a pandemic does not mean that God doesn’t exist. Nor does it mean, that even if he does exist, he doesn’t have the power to stop the coronavirus? If he is a God of love, why would he just sit back and let his creation suffer? Not even imperfect human beings do that. Notice globally how all countries with the World Health Organization are united in the desire to end COVID-19.

Jesus argued once: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him,” (Matthew 7:11). If humans can be kind, imagine how kind God the Creator of kindness, can be. The principle here is that God definitely wants, more than our global community, to get rid of COVID-19. Now it makes no sense then that he would send such a virus.

We cannot speak to every possible kind of evil—be it moral or natural evil. However, there are basic thought processes the believer can follow when responding to non-believers in life and while witnessing. Let’s not forget one key injunction in Scripture: “Examine everything carefully and holdfast to the truth,” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). So Christians are called to be critical thinkers backed by faith and evidence. Another Scripture says, “Faith without works is dead,” (James 2:26).

One Christian writer, J.P. Moreland, in his book titled Love Your God With All Your Mind ( Navpress, ©1997) says, “a flabby mind is …the result of .. thinking that is unyoked from the true knowledge that comes from above, from God.” The bible tells us if we want wisdom to ask God and he would give it freely (James 1:5). Christians must think. God has also given human beings free will which we use to do good or evil. Most times we discover by science and logic that humanity’s free choices cause innumerable problems: political, diseases, epidemics, pandemics and more. We damage forestry, we pollute air and water. We throw chemical wastes and keep destroying sea life, vegetation and erode protective mountains. We cause many natural disasters because of our choices.

We form bad relationships too, in our personal, public and business lives. Problems are the outcomes and we then pray “where is God when it hurts, why does a good God let bad things happen? Even one believer asked me, “Pastor did God send the coronavirus?” We all remember too well the nine plagues he sent in Egypt hundreds of years ago. So is God doing that now? Along with our shallow memories that we have a good God, let’s remember that he is impartial too.

When as believers we self-examine, study and understand why we believe Christian truth claims and see its relevance in history, the present and future times, this is the start of our beginning to risk thinking objectively. Surely experience shows we can and do learn from pain and suffering. We all suffer—theists, agnostics and atheists alike. Rather than disprove the existence of a loving, graceful and impartial God, suffering often helps us to prove God’s existence, grace and love. In suffering we are forced to help each other, to seek comfort and peace, we go to our knees in prayer, and so suffering helps to show up our imperfection, human pride and that we don’t have many answers at all. We need to call upon God. Look at the evidence of how the world is reacting now in this pandemic.

The Gene Code of Disobedience--I

In just under a year, from 2019, thousands of lives have been lost through disobedience. The loss of lives continues today because of this ugly human trait—disobedience. This has been and still is responsible for the rapid spread of the coronavirus—now a pandemic. This spirit of disobedience is like a gene code in all human beings. It is in the human DNA or RNA that is located usually on a chromosome, which is the functional unit of our inheritance. The Bible says, “through one man [Adam] sin entered the world,” (Romans 5:12). This was the sin of disobedience.

Daily on the news, we notice how the Governments of many countries have been pleading with the citizens in their provinces, states, cities, and communities to practice social distancing. As the novel coronavirus continues spreading rapidly, people everywhere are not listening to their medical authorities, political leaders, nor authorities in general. Many are taking with a grain of salt the news about the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are gathering on the beaches, seaside, in some churches, recreation parks and elsewhere in direct violation of the rule of keeping 6 feet or 2 meters apart.

The Bible says disobedience is sin. The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition defines sin “as an offense against religious [divine] or moral law.” The apostle John says, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness,” (1 John 3:4). The governments of countries make the laws and publicly spell out the ways in which citizens should behave for the well-being of all. The heads of all the countries are advising, instructing and some made it law—ultimately enforced by the local police services and armies--that people must practice social distancing to save lives of their fellow citizens. Yet many people are openly disobeying.

People still are disregarding and disobeying the warnings, in the face of the thousands of lives taken by COVID-19. These people are not moved by the tears and displayed pain of others about the loss of lives of their families to the pandemic. The world news media are constantly showing the ugly statistics of the number of people of all ages contracting the virus daily: how many were tested, hospitalized, died, and how many recovered. We also see and hear heartbreaking and horrible stories of people’s death on the frontlines in hospital ICU and emergency wards. We hear how hospitals are filled to capacity; and that beds, medicines, ventilators and other equipment are greatly needed as they are in short supply. Death has come to all such as nurses, doctors, professionals, young and old persons--even a few heads of states contracted this virus. Yet persistent disobedience thrives in the hearts and actions of many.

The Fear of Death

Last week on my job, a co-worker wore the mask of the fear of death on her face. She said, “Chris do you know why I didn’t come to work last Monday?” I said “No.” She said, “I was scared. I don’t want to get the coronavirus. I don’t want to die.” I said, “I wasn’t here either. I had a doctor’s appointment.” She continued to talk about social distancing and that none of us should be at work. Others joined in agreement. Then she added how many firms stopped their employees from coming out to work, so why should we be out. She talked about how the virus was affecting the world and that many died. “I’m afraid I get it. I don’t want to die now,” she said.

Her eyes darted quickly to everyone in front and at the side of her. She didn’t hide her fear. She was worried and troubled by the fact that our management still has us out to work though we had so little to do as they suspended most of the operations because of the novel coronavirus. She talked of all the preventative actions she has been taking and continued to remind us who were around her, to do as she has been doing.

The fear of death is normal for many people. Particularly at this time as our world faces the pandemic—the Covid-19, which has taken many lives. There’s no vaccine yet developed so COVID-19 will claim even more lives. As citizens of the world, especially believers, we’re to obey our government and authorities in practicing social distancing with the list of hygienic suggestions (Romans 13:11). As Christians, we’re to help those in need (Luke 10:9). We’re to apply wisdom in showing compassion (Proverbs 13:20).

Paul tells us how the Christian should view death, which comes once to us all, then we face judgment before Christ who sits on the Seat of Judgement (Hebrews 9:27). Paul says, “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart [die] and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.,” (Philippians 1:23-26).

Paul had an eternal perspective on life. In death, he will see Christ face to face and would be removed from worldly troubles. So he was ready as he lived his life prepared for destiny. He had no fear of death as he devoted his life to what really counts. We all have to find a purpose of living that goes beyond our physical needs. We must ask ourselves, ‘who can we serve or help?’ ‘What is our purpose in life?’ and work at it in preparation for our destiny.

Having Your Own Mind—Part IV

To develop or awaken ourselves to maximize our productivity in any area of our lives, we need to know the proper lens through which to see the world. If the lens we are using is broken, we have a corrupted, imperfect view. Thus, we would never see the real truth. We would continue to see the world as mere humans. To embrace the truth, we need to be fully humans as Jesus was. That is our reason to seek to be like Christ, to walk in the light, or to let his Spirit empower us. Through Him, which is the lens we seek, we will see the real truth.

According to Scripture, Jesus was fully human. He was subjected to pain, suffering, thirst, natural disasters, and hunger, as is any human. He also had authority over storms and the grave. Only He was called sinless, unblemished and who always pleased God the Father. Seeing and thinking like Him means our thoughts and actions would be grounded upon a clear and unbroken, uncorrupted lens. No wonder the mature Christians and those seeking maturity refer and base their values upon the character of Christ—his views, his thinking, and his truth.

The Bible says He’s unblemished (Hebrews 9:14). He’s “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). So seeing the world through his eyes, even imitating him as Paul advises (1 Corinthians 11:1), we’ll indeed, as the Christian apologist Francis A. Schaeffer says, have the “true truth.”[1] It is then we’ll in reality be on the path of becoming fully human.

As mere humans, we should hope and put as a goal to see and act like Jesus Christ does. Paul further tells us, “be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example],” (Ephesians 5:1, AMP). And Jesus who is without sin says he came to do the Father’s will (Mark 14:36). He was obedient to God the Father from a child (Luke 2:48-51) and continued his obedience to death (Philippians 2:8). Throughout his life, he was totally obedient (Romans 5:18, 19) and he sought only to please God (John 8:29). We cannot be wrong when we have our own mind ever in sync with the mind of God.

Ref: (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083PRN9DP/ How To Achieve True Self-enrichment, © 2019, pp. 123).

{1] Francis A. Schaeffer, Escape from Reason, InterVarsity  Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426, © 1968, chap. 2.

Having Your Own Mind—Part III

Each person needs to awaken her own uniqueness. That is her own personality that will bloom and give out its unique fragrance. The Bible says that when any believer is filled with the Spirit of Christ, we each are blessed with at least one spiritual gift. And when we draw nearer to Christ, our characters are positively affected. We improve in the areas of patience, joy, faith, kindness and more (Gal 5:22-23). This is the wonderful effect of walking in the light. We have Christ in our lives. The Holy Spirit guides and influences us. This greatly impacts our thinking, logic and our view of the world.

Though we are ‘in the same light,’ this doesn’t mean that we can’t think for ourselves. In fact, our natural talents and abilities will be empowered. Further, being in the light means that we are under the same divine influence of Christ’s Spirit who Peter called God (Acts 5:3-4). The Spirit is the all-knowing and all-wise God of the universe or Cosmic Intelligence. Being influenced by the same universal intelligence means that our view of the ‘true truth’ must be the same, but each of us will reflect it differently. Like the same electricity passing through various sizes and voltages of light bulbs—each reflecting a different colour and brightness as the spiritual fruit qualities of each individual is at different levels.

When people declare that everything or a variety is ok these days, we know that’s not a new idea at all. We must not be too quick to agree with popular opinions. Context is important. We read in the Old Testament around 1000 B.C where Samuel writes, “Everyone did what was right in [her] own eyes,” (Judges 17:6, NKJV). Even earlier, Moses made the same observation (Deuteronomy 12:8). There was no focus on God and God’s will—that would have assured people the same context.

But today the general view is “everything is ok.” Relativism is king. In trying to be fair and tolerant, we conclude saying “the truth-claim of every religion is the truth.” But that is plainly false. The mature-minded person, the one knowing ‘real truth,’ focuses on the context of God’s will and purpose for her life and the lives of her neighbours. In practice, even secular organizations like the United Nations, the World Health Organization act similarly in principle. Their purpose is generally humanitarian. Their aim is for the welfare, however defined, of the world and for all beings. Of course, the importance here will be in the understanding and definition of “welfare.” Nevertheless, humanity’s welfare is good and godly.

The challenge is the phrase “doing what is right in one’s own eyes.” This is not only an issue of compassion; but one of basic logic and morality. Right and wrong we understand have to do with morals. So my right and my wrong will naturally be based on my matured understanding of the ‘true truth.’ No matter how respectful I may be in not judging others and not in any way declaring or implying that their view of right and wrong is untrue, my acceptance of labeling all views as true isn’t sensible. For if the views on a common issue, in the same context, differ and all persons do not uphold the same yardstick, then at least one of the views on the issue must necessarily be right and all others wrong.

[see ‘Toward the Mind of Christ,’ in Riley, Christopher. How to Achieve True-self-enrichment, CREM Publishing House, Toronto, Canada, © 2019, pp. 30. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083PRN9DP/ ]

Having Your Own Mind--Part II

When we mature to the full measure of Christ as we are called to do (Ephesians 4:14), we walk in the light. For we have been urged to seek wisdom when we need it from Christ himself who would give it freely (James 1:5). With this wisdom, our minds and hearts are in line with the ‘true truths’ and our fruits will be from the best of who we can be in this life. “After all, it is the righteous or those seeking to be righteous who walk in the light. They show this through their characters and values.”[i] They continually think, decide and choose against a perfect measuring rod that’s biblically based—now part of their personalities—of whom they have become.

It may not surprise you when I say that my favorite Scriptures in the Bible besides John (3:16) about Jesus’ sacrificing so I can be saved are (1 Thessalonians 5:21, NASB) and (Acts 17:11). If we truly are to prevent ourselves from being ‘tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming,’ then to love these two Scriptures and practice them is where we all must start. The first says, “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good,” (1 Thess 5:21, NASB). The second encourages us to be unbiased listeners as it says, “[receive] the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so,” (Acts 17:11). These two Scriptures apply equally to conversations and sermons.

This means, when we have our own minds, we must not accept anything, information or ideas for granted or at face value. We must use our minds to reexamine and analyze any claim or doctrine and their basses. The mature minds do just this. Our reference points will be included in our philosophy of life or philosophical cosmos. We will no longer be agreeing because some authority says it is right or because it is the view of a majority or one that’s popular. No. When we agree or disagree, we do so respectfully based on the real truth we know in our spirits. We have our own minds and live by its assessments and judgements which are Christ-based. So please question the above views before agreeing or disagreeing.

[i] Riley, Christopher. How to Achieve True-self-enrichment, CREM Publishing House, Toronto, Canada, © 2019, pp. 190. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083PRN9DP/ 

Having Your Own Mind--Part I

Do you think for yourself? Are your thoughts truly your own? Or do you unconsciously usually express the views of others? Have you ever stopped and thought of the pros and cons of your personal opinions? Can you look at yourself in a mirror and say my views are based on the following logical and sensible reasons? For instance, did you vote an electoral candidate in an election after you listened to her views and examined them, or have you been persuaded by news reports or the opinions of those you respect? Was this then as you assumed that the persons you respect would have thought through things?

Having our own minds isn’t just important—it’s necessary. It’s critical that we think for ourselves; no matter how challenging and lonely it is to be known as an independent thinker. With so much competitive thoughts and views in the world of ideas, each of us needs a specific map of our own thinking and thought processes. We need to know where we are in the world of conscious thought. If we don’t, we’ll be blown by the winds of every direction. We all need to be thinkers.

In my early twenties, one of my friends said, “Chris do you have a personal philosophy of life?” I answered, “What do you mean?” He said, “It’s a foundation against which you view all of life and relationships.” I said, “no.” I never sat down and develop something like that. I never realized through what kind of moral or philosophical lens I view life, people, choices, and so. This meant that many, if not all, of my so-called views were not grounded on what I thought or worked out. That was disappointing. So I began, soon after, a process of reflection and analyzing to find answers from the ground up. I still do it today. This includes re-examining the views of others which I adopted. I asked myself such questions as: What is a thought? What is an idea? What is an opinion? Why do I think the way I do? What is truth? What is soul and spirit? What is conscience and more? Eventually, I formulated something I called my personal philosophical cosmos. That is my worldview.

I’m not suggesting that everyone does this. Some people, it seems, operate with a personal philosophy of life; but probably also didn’t formulate it themselves. They unconsciously adopted it from family, religion, and life experiences. I noticed that most persons I know or whom I met did exactly that. Following the start of my in-depth search, I noticed also that the poems and books I wrote, included the views and thought processes that arose from my journey to form my personal philosophical cosmos. I found that all my views are not original too. But at least I questioned the opinions I held and argued for. I began to arrive at a better understanding of myself—of who I am and why I think and feel the way I do.

The Bible encourages us to grow from infants to adulthood knowing right from wrong (Hebrews 5:12, 14, NLT). As adults, our maturity will not allow us to be “tossed back and forth like waves or blown here and there by every wind of teaching or by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming,” (Ephesians 4:14). As adults, our spiritual athlete is unlocked. We become truly enriched. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083PRN9DP/ (How to Achieve True Self-enrichment, pg 175).

True Self-enrichment

Why should we talk about true self-enrichment? Aren’t all discussions on “that which is true” from the point of view of the speaker? After all, it is popularly said, “what’s true for you may not be true for me.” So each of us have a right to our own opinion, our own way of seeing things. And so our own truth. No one person, therefore, has the monopoly on ‘what is true anything.’ This way of thinking is presently popular. But does this mean that our personal truth is the true truth?

We will re-visit that thought process shortly. Now we must quickly understand what self-enrichment means here. “Self-enrichment is the result of the evolution of our soul personality to a point that we will only produce the best we are capable of to the pleasure of Christ.” This means that since He is perfect, our aim is to measure up our abilities and performances to His standards and to His pleasure. Paul says, that “God has equipped us with everything good for doing His will and will work in us what is pleasing to His will through Christ,” (Heb 13:21). No human being can push himself beyond this point where God can push him. This is indeed the true self-enrichment. There can be no other.

For ‘if any and everything is true, then what is false?’ says Dr Ravi Zacharias (The Kingdom of the Cults, 10). I am sure that even the critic or skeptic will agree with Dr Zacharias’ view. If the truth from every individual is the “true truth,” and they all differ, that kind of thinking makes no sense. To further make this point clear, the judges in courts would have a hard time—perhaps impossible time to decide on who wins and who loses in cases—for the opposing sides would be equally right. Parents would have an impossible task of disciplining their children when both are fighting or arguing. Both children, each with opposing views, can’t be right.

How can anyone resolve or solve anything? So there must be “true things”— like true self-enrichment. One of the foundation laws of logic says that “A cannot be non-A.” Therefore, anything and its exact opposite cannot both be right. One must be right and the other must be false. In the book How To Achieve True Self-enrichment, my focus is on how a person can get there. How we all can achieve it in the fullest. Many authors and coaches properly teach aspects of it but not the full and comprehensive way to attain true self enrichment. I have this discussion in my book which you can buy from Amazon right now. Here is the link https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1989098061/.

Justice and Truth

When we seek justice, is the results truthful? Does the truth always win? This is the assumption of the average person. Such a person representing herself in court often does not know the proper legal procedures. She often does not know how to conduct herself in court. Her focus is that she went for justice and she expects that the system will give it to her. It will bring out the truth. Her faith is in the integrity of the system. This is very much like most of us who pray. Our faith is that our prayers will be answered. We know that God is faithful and able to deliver. We are confident that He will give us what we ask for. Just as we are sure that in our legal system, the truth will come out.

But what is this truth? The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy [2nd ed] says that truth corresponds to the facts (Robert Audi [editor], 929). This definition doesn’t sit well with the losing party in a court matter. Does it mean that she was wrong? She doesn’t think so and thus she begins to lose faith in the justice system. Similarly, when the average person’s prayer isn’t answered the way she expected, she begins to lose faith and sometimes even quit praying. That’s extreme. But where is God when it hurts and when injustice strikes?

Neither the justice system nor God was there for her, as we saw above. Society teaches that we have rights and we are all entitled to be treated fairly under the law. The Bible says that too. For God is fair (Romans 2:11). One prophet says, “as for me, I will look to the Lord [and] …my God will hear me,” (Micah 7:7). But life experience has shown us that often the outcomes from court cases and prayer do not always go in the claimant’s favour. Many persons took their matters to courts and lost; just as many knelt in prayer and didn’t get the answers they hoped for.

What then is the confusion here? Shouldn’t justice bring out the truth? Aren’t our prayers supposed to be answered? The Pocket Dictionary of Canadian Law [4th ed] says, “Justice is the principle of giving every person his or her due” (Daphne Dukelow, 264). This “due” The Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary [11th ed] says refers to “what we are owed.” And the Bible teaches that “whatever [we] ask in prayer, believe that [we] have it, and it will be [ours],” (Mark 11:24). Yet we lose cases and our prayers are sometimes unanswered.

Where is justice then? Who will ensure that the truth thrives? Many go to the courts with a whisper in their hearts that: “the truth will come out. I will have my justice.” They sit with the assumption and confidence that they are on the side of the truth. So when they lose, they don’t only feel ashamed; but disappointed. So too are the prayer warriors. But due to lack of understanding of court procedures, many lose. They may not speak, answer, or provide the relevant proofs needed to support their points as they were unaware of the importance of relevance to the issue at hand in a legal motion.

Though they may have the truth and speak the truth which is unchanging, the facts or information they present in court must always be related to the questions asked. So too with our praying. No matter how sincere and devoted we are when we pray, if our life is not in harmony with Christ and his will for us, our prayers wouldn’t be answered as we desire. We need to abide in Christ and live according to His words (John 15:7). Thus relevance is the key to justice, while ‘the correspondence with facts,’ to the truth.

Can Truth Be Twisted?

No. Truth is absolute. The “true truth,” as Francis Schaefer, calls it is unchanging. One might say that truth is narrow-minded and pigheaded. Any corruption to the truth, if that were possible, makes it false. In other words, that which is really the truth cannot be pliable, flexible or even be forced to alter its nature or state. Truth is unbreakable and more solid than any metal or material known to man. Truth cannot ever change. Truth corresponds to the facts. 

The so-called “relative truth” is unstable, unreliable, inconsistent, and plainly false. With respect to relative truth, in one moment it says one thing and then changes in another moment. In which state is it the truth? Whenever someone talks of bending and twisting the truth, they are in fact talking about changing or replacing the properties of that which they know as the truth. In other words, it is not the truth people are twisting but it is their perception, their understanding and or their rendering of the assumed perfect-reality-state they view as the truth.  

We know an object to be true by its specific properties. If it is the truth, such properties cannot and do not change; otherwise it is temporary, transient and consist of “untrustworthy qualities.” Truth stays the same; otherwise it is undependable. Once the properties have changed then the object as we first knew it is no longer what we claimed it to be nor said it was as a truth-claimed in the first place. 

What we do in twisting is to use synergy in creating or making a new object of new or different properties from the first. This we also do with ideas or information. Therefore, the first or prior object-state or fixed meaning where ideas or information is concerned, no longer exists.  

But more specifically or exactly, it is our current perception of it that differs from our previous. For if the object-state were really true, it will continue to be so—the same object-state—regardless of time change. An essential property of the truth is permanence. It is no wonder the Bible says that Jesus is “the truth,” (John 14:6). He will not, cannot, and never change. He, Jesus “Christ is the same yesterday, today and forevermore,” (Hebrews 13:8).

Not Only Your Heart

Dr Norman Geisler says, “while God does want to reach our hearts, He does not bypass our minds in the process.”[1] According to the Bible, God says, “My son, give me your heart,” (Proverbs 23:6). But God also says, “Come let us reason together,” (Isaiah 1:18). Therefore, the view that Christians must have blind faith is unbiblical and false. Both unbelievers and especially believers must know that God wants us to worship and love Him with our hearts and minds (Matthew 22:37).

In fact, the apostle Peter encourages us to, “always give reasons for[our] hope,” (1 Peter 3:15). So when we talk of salvation, everlasting life, heaven, and the work of Jesus Christ, we must be ready and able to “knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We [must] destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God,” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

So as we conduct our daily affairs, as we live in constant worship and overcome temptations of all kinds, we must reason, think, and be busy developing and responding critically in our understanding. These intellectual activities empower us all. They provide us with the foundations upon which we need to ground our beliefs.

Scripture tells us, to “examine everything carefully and holdfast to the good,” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). This good is pure, permanent and the truth. These truths are the claims of Christianity. John says, “the truth sets us free,” (John 8:32). When we know the truth, we are no longer captives of sin and deceit. We gain clarity with truth and embrace knowledge with a clean conscience and confidence. There is no longer any doubt in us. This is the kind of heart God wants. But He challenges us to test everything, even spirits (1 John 4:1).

It is important to remember that from Genesis 2:7, God created man from dust and breathed into that dust so that man became a living soul. Thus man is not a dual being but became a “living soul.” This is a complete entity comprising mind, body and heart. So when Moses said: “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,” (Deuteronomy 10:12), Moses meant to love God with our hearts as well as our minds.

[1] Norman L. Geisler, Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is True, NGIM, Indian Trail, North Carolina, © 2016, pp. 2.

Know How To Stop

This isn’t about bringing a vehicle to rest; but it’s about control. More specifically, self-control. The clear implication here is that with the absence of self-control, we end up doing wrong things—making wrong decisions and choices. Most of us think we have self-control. We even boldly make such a claim. Are you one of those persons? But when we look in the mirror with honesty and ask ourselves, “Is there anything we do in excess? Aren’t there things we do or actions we take that we know we shouldn’t, and we just wouldn’t stop?” Finally, “do we really have self-control?” “Why haven’t we stopped what we know we should and keep procrastinating to do?”

Self-control is so important that the apostle Paul writes, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh,” (Galatians 5:16, NKJV). Most of us in privacy and even when asked by another would say, “Yes. We do have self-control.” Surely now that can’t be true. Our relationships of all types in the world bear that out. It’s the absence of self-control why we have laws, the police, the justice system, counselling, arbitration, disputes, quarrels, and more. Due to the absence of self-control we are overweight, we attract diseases, lose money in gambling, become victims of all kinds of addictions, we are guilty of abusing ourselves and others.

The absence of self-control is evident of the works of the flesh. Paul mentions such evidence as: “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, reveries, and the like,” (Galatians 5:19-21).

How do we develop self-control? We simply need to “walk in the Spirit.” To do so, we must “live in the Spirit” (5:25). When we become believers in Christ, the Spirit indwells us immediately—we are reborn just by our believing in the lordship of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:3). God works miracles through us (5:5). Self-control, a Christlike behavior and quality, is one of the fruits and benefits of the very Spirit that indwells us (5:23). By this pure quality, Christlike self-control, we can stop all that is lawless that we need to stop.

Cultivate God-confidence

The Bible says, “Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence,” (1 Cor 10:12, MESS). Does this mean it is ok to be negative and walk about with a “can’t-do spirit?” Of course not. In the context of where this Paul is speaking, he is telling us to "trust God" rather than our "selves." This Scripture is telling us to ultimately remember that it is through God in Christ we can accomplish any task and overcome any challenge before us.

The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” (Phil 4:13). So this means we must first have self-confidence, we must first have the conviction and feel the assurance that God’s word is the truth (John 17:17). Next we must take stock of ourselves as believers and realize who we are--God’s sons and daughters (2 Cor 6:18). This means we have entitlements, inheritance. For he is our Father. Scripture says, “In him we have obtained an inheritance,” (Eph 1:11, ESV).

So once we depend on Christ and have him as our foundation; once we remember that his spirit inhabits us (Gal 3:3) and through that spirit we do miracles and more (Gal 3:5); once we remember that all we need do is to ask him in Jesus name for all that we need and he will give it to us (John 14:14), this is how we cultivate God-confidence. The Bible says, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ," (Phil 4:19). Further Jesus himself says, “For nothing will be impossible with God,” (Luke 1:37).

Sicknesses Rampant Worldwide

We have accepted human’s imperfection as a universal truth. Truth not in the sense that imperfection is supposed to be the natural and full state of the human being; but truth in the sense that it is true we all in reality are normally and merely imperfect. No one denies this.

The human being was not created to be imperfect. Contrary to our reality of existence, we were first created perfect. We ought to be perfect. After all, Scripture says we were created in “God’s image,” (Gen 1:27). After God’s review of His creations, He declared that “all were very good,” (Gen 1:31). Good by God’s standards is perfect, for He is perfect.

Then something bad happened. A wrong choice was made. We know that humans today are imperfect due to the inheritance of a corrupted version of our humanness. This was caused by the Adamic sin (Rom 5:12). The Bible says decidedly, “You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death,” (Rom 5:12, MESS).

This is how humanity, you and I, have ended up in a world where sicknesses are rampant worldwide. “Even those who didn’t sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God,” (Rom 5:14, MESS).

This same Scripture that identified the problem “why sicknesses are rampant worldwide,” that is through the ‘inherited sin syndrome;’ suggested the solution when it says, “Adam is the type of Him who was to come,” (Rom 5:14, NASB). More clearly another Scripture says, “as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive,” (1 Cor 15:22, NASB). So there is no need to worry about “Rampant Sicknesses Worldwide.”

Persecution Today Is Real

I saw a very disturbing video a moment ago of how they persecuted some Christians in one African country. I do not know the country nor the background of the persecutors. But they kicked four old Christians, put them in a hole they dug for the public to see, and threw burning bush on them. The persecutors (young men) jumped into the hole on the victims at the beginning of the fire and when one Christian tried to come out they kicked her in her face back in. The public looked on and did nothing. No police was present.

Paul says, “my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," (2 Timothy 3:11-12).

In our so-called modern world there are still all kinds of persecutions. Not only of those with a religious lifestyle, but of those with lifestyles different from the majority of the public. Can we not agree to be disagreeable? If we respect the view of another that differs from our own, we are exercising our right and freedom to have our own opinion while we allow the other to live out their rights freely.

This is a truth that should be instilled in the hearts and minds of all. A recent news showed where three young men, without provocation of the victim who was autistic, they bullied him and beat and kicked him. The behavior of the person challenged with autism is not what many are accustomed too, this is why this month of April many countries celebrates and have programs on Autism Awareness. The 2nd April was declared by the United Nations, The World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). Activities are planned in many countries every year “to further increase and develop world knowledge of children and adults who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD).”

But if the general and Christlike truth is known and taught and put into our hearts, minds and spirits that we must love all people regardless of differences in culture, creed, education background, and lifestyle, then we will be moving closer toward closing the gaps in reducing senseless and wicked persecutions. The Bible says, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” (Titus 2:11-12, NIV).

Luck or Prayer

Do you rely on luck or prayer? I was rushing to the hospital to get to my pre-screening surgery appointment on time. I sat in the traffic pondering and reviewing my anxiety. Why worry I thought? Why the rush? Why the anxiety?

Scriptures says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God,” (Philippians 4:6). The more I contemplate Scripture, the more I relaxed. Why? My faith is based on the fact that Jesus is alive and he is always advocating for me (1 John 2:1).

I am a Christian partly because I know that more than 500 persons had seen Jesus after his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6). Even unbelieving historians wrote of his crucifixion and death. The Bible, archaeologically proven to be a sound document, says Jesus’ Holy Spirit mediates for me in my prayer (Romans 8:26).

All I need to do is to ask for anything in his name (that is, in the name of Jesus) and he will answer me (John 14:14). A sinner like me can always go to him sincerely in repentance seeking forgiveness and he will grant it to me (1 John 1:9). Through him, in the grace of God, I have the gift of salvation and eternal life (John 3:16).

So in the traffic I had hope. I relaxed. The outcomes to my pre-screening and surgery will not be based on luck, which is prosperity through chance according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition. Whatever they may be, I have hope in Jesus Christ as he’s the healer (Psalms 103:3) and is in charge of all circumstances. He says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,” (Matthew 28:18).

Implication of the Power to Choose

Because we can think and reason, because we can be rational, this means we have free will. The ability to exercise our free will means we are capable of discernment and doing logical and critical analyses and decision making. This means we have the ability to ascend to greater heights. For our understanding can deepen, our view of the world can be broadened. We can contemplate and meditate.

In the Genesis story, God granted Adam and Eve the freedom to choose and they exploited it. He told them that they were free to eat of all the fruit trees except a specific one he identified (Genesis 2:16-17).

What a grand opportunity! The world, the garden was theirs for their complete enjoyment. But with free will, humanity is ever nagged by its curiosity instinct to exploit other options.

Adam and Eve had instructions from the all-powerful, all-wise, Sovereign of the Universe. Yet Eve listened to another perspective and interpretation to what she had heard, and thought it to be the truth—the better option from lesser authority.

She was convinced and chose to believe the other interpretation—which Satan gave. She shared her excitement about the new or fresh interpretation with her life partner so empoweringly and persuasively that the partner Adam agreed with her fresh view.

Here is the question we need to ask as we review what happened: "Was the new perspective that Satan presented to Eve wrong?" Satan says (1) God knows; (2) her eyes will be opened; (3) she will be like God; and (4) she will know both good and evil. That is what it says, isn't it? See Genesis 3:5.

Now why would a perfectly just, all-wise, and all-loving God curse humanity for freely following the new perspective when later we note a Scripture says, “God our Saviour ... wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” (1 Timothy 2:3-4)? The answer to this question we know it was disobedience that God punished. In summary, “Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed,” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).

Good Pain Bad Pain

No one likes pain unless she’s a masochist or mentally ill. But I am talking about normal people—I am assuming we still have some standards we can consider somewhat universal. So the average person does not like pain. The existence of painkillers which doctors prescribe is a sure indicator that most of us prefer not to have it and doctors who are scientists agree.

But these same doctors, while they practice their medicine to get us well or healed, would often, if not always ask us (the patients), “where do you feel pain or discomfort?”

And why would they do so? Common understanding is that pain indicates something is wrong. Since it was not there before, then it means that something went wrong. As a result, we have the view that pain can be seen as positive in this sense—it tells us when we are to fix something and at times, which specific thing needs fixing.

Sometimes we do not even know what health problem we have, or that one existed in us, until pain begins giving out signals. This is indeed good pain—we may not like it at all for the misery, not mere discomfort, we experience. But no one will argue that the existence of the pain is helpful when something goes wrong.

But without signals as with these types of pain, there can be no effective preparations to save lives; to stop or prevent disasters, to avoid property damages or at least minimize, the level or size of destructiveness.

Can you imagine, if we do not feel pain and we have a tact or piece of glass or sharp object stuck in our bodies? We would be bleeding continuously and not know it. It may even be detrimental and we would be unaware that our lives are at risk. So we do need to have this pain and to feel it. But there are other times, we violate laws of nature or of good relationships and we bring emotional and other pain in our lives. Bad pain. This kind of pain we must do our very best to avoid. No one wants it. But Jesus says, we will have tribulations or problems in our lives, as we cannot stop it. But when we do have it, seek him and we can find peace (John 16:33).