STRAIGHT TALK

Let's be straight. No pretending, no “beating around the bush”.  I'll accept a few labels that others tend to hurl as derogatory stones:

I AM AN ABSOLUTIST

Truth is absolute. It is not determined by personal, subjective standards.  The individual is not the final one to determine right and wrong, truth and untruth.  God reveals standards of truth and morality, through His Bible & the moral order of the universe.  There are moral and ethical rights and wrongs.  The Christian faith is universally and exclusively true.  While other religions contain elements of truth, Jesus Christ alone is God incarnate.  This is incompatible with all other faiths.

I AM TOLERANT, BUT...

I respect the right of another to his/her viewpoint, and seek to give this person an honest hearing and treat with courtesy.  Never am I to equate his point of view with his value as a person.  But, I do not offer an unconditional acceptance of his opinions and lifestyle as being right and true.  I hold firm convictions about important matters of life and faith, and such I consider to be true and right.  I will listen, debate, and learn from you.  Perhaps I will change because of our interaction.  But truth is the objective, and I am never satisfied with just the search.

I SEEK THE CONVERSION OF OTHERS

I seek to persuade others to my point of view concerning Jesus Christ.  I try to offer good reasons for others to change their beliefs, and I will proclaim this message of what I believe to be true to anyone willing to listen.  But, there is an important difference between persuading and converting.  I present the message, and Christ does the changing of lives.  I seek to be careful in my manner of persuasion, to overflow with tact and grace and, hopefully, personal warmth.  Personally I forego marketing strategies and sales pitches, for I believe I am not a salesman, but a witness.  But make no mistake- I want you to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

“Those who are good at being civil often lack the strong convictions and the people who have strong convictions often lack civility.” - Martin Marty.  We Christians should be forthright and honest about who we are, what we believe, and be consistent in living what we profess. 

The city of Dover, PA, recently ousted 8 school board members who insisted upon interjecting Intelligent Design into their High School curriculum.  This is a rural school, probably in a safe “Republican” area, and no doubt with lots of churches and God-fearing citizens.  But apparently they tired of having a religious agenda forced into their schools.

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Here is what Pat Robertson had to say about the city of Dover, PA:

“I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover. If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city. And don’t wonder why He hasn’t helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I’m not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that’s the case, don’t ask for His help because he might not be there."

I like the response of Larry Gurreri, a newly elected school board member:

"This is a man of the cloth judging people and judging the whole town?" Gurreri said. "I would expect a whole lot better from someone in his position."

Robertson owes the Dover community an apology, he said.

"One person is going to judge me, and that's God," Gurreri said.

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Incoming board members say Intelligent Design will be taught in their school, just not in the Science classes, but in an elective Comparative Religions class.

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I just do not see that the theory of evolution necessarily excludes God, nor refutes the Bible.  Many are theistic evolutionists, who believe that God is the Prime Mover of Creation.  And some sincere Christians believe the Bible is a rich mixture of literary forms, never meant to be taken literally in all matters.

I also wonder why some consider it so essential to protect a High School student from a point of view which may challenge currently held convictions.  High School is a time to grow and expand as a person.  These young people have the right, and I think necessity, to consider evolution and see if it rightly fits into their view of the world.  I have three teenagers, and I pray daily they will develop into the healthy and productive persons that I strive for them to be.  Outside of my direct presence, they meet all kinds of people and confront all kinds of points of view.  My daughter told me, tonight, that her Jewish friend will be celebrating Christmas with us and she will be observing Hanukah with his family.  I’ve never done that, but I am excited for her.  She told me her College roommate will be moving out to live with her boyfriend.  It would break my heart if my daughter did likewise, and I guess I could send her to Falwell’s school to try to keep such from happening, but I choose to trust her within the arena of life.  We have trained her well, pray for her, and trust her. 

I do not believe God is overly concerned with whether Biology class begins with a mandatory disclaimer about evolution.  I say let ‘em teach it.  I’ll expose my children to the Biblical worldview at home and at church.  And I’ll keep an eye on the school to make sure it is playing fair.  Recently I went to parent’s/teacher’s conference at school.  First I was amazed that so many parents were not present.  But, I walked into the Social Studies classroom to meet the 10^th Grade teacher.  It was Black History month, and I looked around the room.  Portraits of all kinds of dignitaries were on the walls, including Bill Clinton, but absent were Conservatives.  I asked the teacher where were noted Black conservatives, like Clarence Thomas, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, and Thomas Sowell?  I’m not sure she knew who these were, but she promised to look into it.  My kids know who these people are.  And, that’s the key.

Do I believe that evolution has the absolute answers to man’s origin?  No.  Do I believe Intelligent Design should be taught in public school?  Let me teach my understanding of God and creation in my church and home.  I believe a good teacher will be wise enough not to force any theory upon a student.  Simply present the ideas, and let the learners decide.  And I guarantee you I can teach the Bible better than my public school system. 

The dentist’s office is truly a torture center.  No matter how punctual I am for the appointment, I am forced to wait and worry as I listen to the sounds of drilling and consider indescribable pains being experienced on the other side of the wall.  Soon my eye begins to twitch.  Then I am seated into an uncomfortable bucket seat, and the agony truly begins.  The hygienist appears to be sweet, or at least she has kind eyes, for her face is covered with a mask and her eyes are behind goggles.  She is quite capable with her instruments of pain.  Methodically and slowly she lances the gums with large needles, scrapes the teeth with razors and sands them with drill bits.  She runs piano cords between my teeth, and asks me to gargle with gasoline. 

The dentist comes in to probe the surfaces with pointed screwdrivers, and deliver the bad news.  “Gross debridement.”  Just another term for torture, and I am sure it is a procedure utilized at Guantanamo.  One time they convinced me to endure this procedure, and believe me when I tell you that such is not a pleasant experience.  Imagine razor wire being gouged between your teeth and far into your gums. So, this time I refused.  The dentist and assistant collaborated to try to convince me, to no avail.  She said something to the fact that the little boy in the next room was much more amenable to their procedures, and I responded, “Ignorance is bliss.  Leave my mouth alone.”  She thought a professional, like myself, should show more deportment.  By now my eyes were wild with fear, mouth clenched, and it was pretty clear they were not going to pry my mouth open to insert their mini-chainsaw. The dentist sighed, scribbled what were probably some nasty comments in my file, and walked away. I was thinking, again, of that time as a child when a country dentist proceeded to extract a molar with a pair of pliers.  I’m praying, “God, just please get me out of here.  I promise to floss twice a day, rinse with fluoride, and never again chew ice.”

I paid the bill.  I would have written a check for any amount to leave that place.  The office staff all stopped to observe, or so it seemed to me.  I did not care. As I opened the door to the outside, I felt like a bird freed from a cage, or a man set free from prison.  At home I described the ordeal to my wife.  She just rolled her eyes.  So did my secretary.  I guess if you can give birth, then having a hole drilled into your tooth is no big deal.

And so, similar is my experience twice a year.  Why can’t they invent a pill for dental health?  A new advertisement in my area touts the advantages of a “sedation dentist” who will put you to sleep before any procedures.  I am afraid he will just paralyze me, and so I will endure all the pain without the ability to cry out in anguish, except for tears in my eyes.

Me paranoid?  Irrational fear? No way!  I know taking care of my teeth and going to the dentist is a necessary discipline in my life.  I know dentists and their assistants are just doing their jobs.  I am glad I do not have wooden teeth, like Washington, or false teeth like so many of my elderly friends.  So I go to the dentist twice a year and endure such challenge to my well-being. 

Now, how do you feel about church? And preachers?  God?

It was just a comfortable evening at home.  My teenage daughter was sitting in the middle of the living room floor, separating clothes from the laundry.  Several piles of my clothing were included with the assortment.  As I remember, I was reading the newspaper or watching television, just relaxing and minding my own business. 

Succinctly, Katie spoke up, her diatribe along the lines of the following: “Daddy, you know the majority of these clothes are yours.  Why don’t you help with the laundry?  You know mommy works hard, and she is not your slave.  As it seems to me, you ought to wash, separate, and fold these clothes as much as she.”

I looked at her, speechless.  She has been a rather quiet little girl.  We’ve had an unspoken understanding about roles in this family.  I cut the grass, take care of the cars, and try to do household repairs.  Seldom have I cleaned house and never have I done laundry.  And now this kid wanted to know why.  I stammered and wanted to tell her to mind her own business.  After all, I have a pretty good thing going around here, and she wants to mess with it.  I looked at this young lady who is growing up fast.  I smiled, and meekly replied, “I guess you are right.”

My wife found out about the conversation.  She said she will have to give Katie a pat on the back.  And now they are watching me to see when I will actually do something about this newest challenge of life. 

I asked the Lord about it.  Would Jesus wash clothes?  And, this time he looked a lot like my daughter as he replied, “Wash clothes?  I washed feet.  So, Dave, find the laundry detergent and get to work.”