Fundamentals

He has shown you, O mortal, 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. Micah 6:8

When I need a self check on my faith life, I go back to this verse. It is as profound as it is simple, and easy to understand, yet difficult to practice. We can get caught up in the minefield of differing theological views, and some are held dear, but our mission statement has everything to do with our heart’s motives.

We are required to seek and practice justice, mercy and humility. If we are good and careful, we might get one out of the three, or if we are super faithful, we might get two out of three. What does it take to meet all three of these requirements. They are not optional, or nice to have on a good day. They are ‘required’. Important, necessary, essential to our God.

Micah wrote this verse some 700 years before the birth of Christ, and was preparing the way for Jesus’ birth and ministry. He is setting the scene for the church of his day, and the hearts of his people tomorrow. Without redemption through Christ, these three essentials would have seemed impossible, but we are living with the benefit of salvation. We know the rest of the story that Micah prophesied about, and although still a tough call, we can aim, and aim high to achieve justice, mercy and humility, but only with the help of the risen Christ, it can be more easily achieved. Of course first of all we must want to try. On a personal level, do I really want these characteristics in my heart and life? If so, then I must trust and believe it is possible, but only with the power of Jesus behind me. Is it that personal to you too?

Justice, Kindness and Humility

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Sometimes it’s good to get back to basics, especially when it comes to the Christian life of faith. The Bible says a lot about how we should live, but this verse distils it to a level we should all understand quite easily. In truth, our friends of other faiths, or none, even recognise these characteristics and expect to see them..

The justice of God is over all, but we are told that we should ‘do justice’ ourselves when it comes to all of our own dealings. I would suggest we know this, and for the most part, we do it. It can be very obvious if we are unjust in our dealings with others, and that is not a good reflection on us, so we try hard to be fair and just.

‘Loving kindness’ also comes quite easily, especially when we are talking about those folks we like and get along with. Since we choose our company carefully, we tend not to include those we don’t like, so for the most part there is no difficulty in loving and showing kindness to our circle of friends.

So far, so good, but what about ‘walking humbly’ with God? I don’t know about you, but this might be a difficult one. After all, we strive to find humility, and when we think we have it, we show some pride. Humility is a characteristic which is best achieved starting from the heart, and not by what we do on the outside. The best examples are those people I know who are humble by nature, but don’t know it. God shines through their faults and flaws, and His witness in their lives bears testimony to the work of salvation. The Apostle says it perfectly when he says in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”. Only as we allow God to become increasingly important in our life, will our pride decrease, and that is the key. We may not have much direct control over our humility, but we can do something about our pride. When we do that, we may be on our way to humility that others will see in us. With God’s help of course!

Hell

Some send their car there when it breaks down, some tell those they don’t like to go there, and I have even heard it used on the streets by a mother to her child. Yes, honestly! We use the word almost without thinking, but does the place really exist?

Have you been to any funerals? I guess in every case, the minister will say nothing but good things about the deceased, and suggest that Heaven is the goal. So, we are happy, and even encouraged to think that Heaven exists and that’s where we will go.

We feel very comfortable with the idea of Heaven, even those who are not very religious. Part of that may be because we don’t want to think of anything bad when our life ends. It is comforting to think that we will spend forever in a good and happy place of light, surrounded by angels and nice music. But is that a true picture?

Parents think nothing about correcting their children when they do something wrong, and if correction doesn’t work, then punishment. This could be the removal of a toy (that could be an iPhone!), being sent to your room, or in the past physical correction like a smack. Today, we frown on any kind of corporal punishment, and as a result we have softened the concept of our loving parents doing anything to hurt us, even when we do something wrong and deserve it. So, parents are encouraged to help, guide, and affirm their children, but never punish, after all they might get the idea they don’t love them. I well remember a loving mum smacking her child because they ran out into the roadway and into the path of an oncoming car. Fortunately, the car driver saw the child, and swerved to avoid her. Immediately after the smack, came a long, tearful hug and kiss. Did that mum love her child? Undeniably. Did that child know she was loved? Again, certainly.  

The Bible talks a lot about correction and punishment, but we have chosen to concentrate on, and only emphasise the God of love. However, we must take the Bible as a whole, and when we do, we will see that God’s love and justice are inextricably linked. He does not give one without the other. I read that some theologians think that hell is a metaphor, or imaginary, to give the ‘idea’ of punishment which is meant to keep us on the narrow way. On a human level, what would happen if you said to your child, ‘you are being punished for doing wrong, but don’t worry, it’s only an imaginary punishment, it’s not real’? I don’t want to burst your bubble, but God says that not everyone will go to Heaven. Some will go to hell. That, my friend is an uncomfortable thought, but true nonetheless. I suppose we comfort ourselves by thinking that hell is filled with the Hitlers of this world, and no one like us, right? So what do we do with these verses? If there is no justice, we would never have to worry about how we lived, would we? Just asking.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NIV

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:14 NIV

Father of Lies

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24

I am one of those who lived his teen life through the 1960s and that age when the devil was active in convincing the general population that love was free, and liberating. That can only be described as one of the biggest lies of the devil, and from the pit of hell. The trouble is, that there is a generation now who are older, and maybe a bit wiser, and who now know that how we love, and live our lives is important.

The UK has been rocked recently by the arrests of well known, household name celebrities whose past has finally caught up with them. Abuses of young girls and boys, at the hands of famous people, who had also bought into the idea of ‘free love’, and thought they were committing no crime by their abuses. If you lived through the 1960/70s you will know that Britain was branded as a prudish nation, and we were told we needed to be liberated. Satan was at work in the hearts of our nation, and his work was easy. It was easy because TV programs and movies reflected the happy side of flower power, and ‘no guilt’ love. For the purposes of clarity, read ‘sex’ for ‘love’ because we had been convinced they were the same thing, and a generation of young folks in the 1960s fell into the trap. That same generation are now seeing the results of that lie unfold before their eyes in the recent arrests of 70 and 80 year olds. Their ‘hidden’ and previously ‘acceptable’ behaviour has now crept up behind them and exposed the shameful truth as their victims find the courage to speak out.

What should we do with these ‘dirty old men’ who are now a frail shell of their former celebrity selves? God is certainly forgiving, but first we have to recognise our need, repent and ask for forgiveness. However, what do we as society do on a human level? We cannot sweep this disgusting behaviour under the carpet and ignore it, so they pay a human penalty determined by the courts. In the meantime their victims, who have lived with the abuses for decades have justice. What would you think if I suggested that in order to make their own progress, those abused, now older victims also need to forgive their abusers? Now that is a tough call. Could you do that? I wonder, could I??

Walk Humbly

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 NKJV

It has been impossible to notice that the United States of America is voting for the man who would be president for the next four years. Obama or Romney, they both think they are the man to bring prosperity to this great nation, and both are happy to tell it at every opportunity. By the time you read this, the elections will be over and I/we won’t have to listen to it any more.

My Mum had a saying she used to describe selfish, proud and egotistical people, and it went like this, “..me, myself, and nobody else..”. Wise words, and this is something I am fed up hearing from both presidential candidates. Oh, it’s not just these two, it applies to politicians in the UK, and can be seen in many high level lifestyles here.

We used to joke about men needing to be ‘tall, dark, and handsome’ and then saying, ‘well two out of three isn’t bad’ and it would usually raise a smile. The prophet Micah doesn’t give us the option that two out of three is good enough. Justice, mercy and humility are all needed. I will be glad when the US election is over, and I don’t see and hear the ‘me, myself, and nobody else’ mantra again, or at least not until we have an election in the UK soon. It is worth remembering that there is a very large army of workers behind all political figureheads, from those who will clean up after the mess, to the security man who will be prepared to ‘take a bullet’ for the proud leader. Our nations do not revolve around one man or woman.

Talking about pride, I will leave you with another thought from Solomon, who was a very wise man: Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 NKJV. We like humility in our friends, and we would like our friends to think the same of us, but apparently politicians and humility don’t go together at all. I can’t help but wonder if man’s pride is the root of the failing spiritual condition of both great nations? Just a thought.

Poor v Rich

It is probably one of the oldest battles in the book. It's the story of injustice, and how the balance gets tipped if you are either rich or poor. In this case it is one of the richest and most influential men in the world versus a lowly, immigrant, hotel maid. The poor maid claims that the rich man raped her, and the rich man spent some time in custody, before getting put on house arrest. Well, for him house arrest was being held in a mansion, but able to go about freely while tagged during the day. In the meantime, the maid is in hiding, very understandably afraid. She knows that money talks, and in this case shouts!

The rich man's lawyers have been busy, and now the case, and therefore the trial is on the verge of collapsing. The reason is that they have found a difference in the maid's statements taken after the 'alleged' (I have to say that) rape. In one statement, she said she reported the incident straight away, and in the other, she said she cleaned a room before she reported the rape. Who knows what was going through the mind of a young immigrant worker who has a job to keep, and has just been (allegedly) raped? One thing is for sure, she wouldn't have been thinking straight, and it is worth noting that she didn't know who the rich man was, or how influential, at the time.

I see this as a typical 'legal technicality' which taints and corrupts our sophisticated legal systems, and renders it useless and even corrupt. There is no doubt that this case will fold, and both these characters in the drama will return to their lives in some way. The rich man to his politics, safe in the knowledge that he has not been found guilty of anything, but the maid... where does she go? She has no job now, and is now looked on as a liar and a cheat. What chance does she now have? And all based on what? Evidence that the rape didn't happen? No. Disproof of the forensic evidence already found on his clothes? No. A change of the facts as to how the incident happened? No. It is all based on the words of a scared, terrified, poor maid who said two things, neither of which disproves the rich man's guilt. And you ask me to believe that he is innocent? Well, do you? Once again, in the ongoing battle of rich against poor, rich wins. Every time!

I had thought it a bit like a modern day 'David and Goliath' story, except that in today's society, David would have been convicted and found guilty, and beheaded, for being underage and in possession of an offensive weapon, a slingshot. Meanwhile Goliath would be the hero, and given a knighthood. Ok, ok, I am just being cynical, but tell me I'm wrong!

Compassion and Justice

It was a year ago that the Scottish government released the Lockerbie Bomber, Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, on compassionate grounds to die in his home country, Libya. He had three months or so to live we were told. A passionate debate erupted on the streets and in the media, of the rights and wrongs of the decision, and that debate has never really gone away.


He has outlived his original estimate by a factor of four, and although in ill health, he is with his family, in his home country, and treated as a hero in the fight against 'the western culture and religion'. Kenny McAskill saw fit to release him, because he felt 'compassion' for him. Compassion is good and right, but I am not sure we have struck the right balance of justice and compassion here.


Given that this terrorist was released on compassionate grounds, I can only assume that there will be other prisoners who merit that same compassion. Maybe they are terminally ill. Maybe they are gravely ill. Maybe it is a young mother who desperately needs to be with her children. Where do we draw the line of who should benefit from our compassion, and who should not. Strangely, I have not heard of any other prisoners who have been released for the same reason. That alone makes me question the kind of compassion Kenny McAskill used in his decision.


We do not want to drop to the level of vengeance which Cardinal Keith O'Brien accuses the USA of adopting in its justice system, but neither should we free mass murderers because they are very ill. Also, since we don't like it when the USA meddles in our justice system, we should not meddle in theirs. I think the Cardinal stepped outside his bounds with his comments. Since our lifespan is not determined by a doctor, but by that higher power which Mr McAskill talked about, we cannot afford to use compassion as a reason for freedom. If that was truly the case, there would have been many others who would benefit from freedom from prison.


If a terrorist is given compassion, what then do we give to the families of the 270 people who died at his hands? It must be more than compassion, but what is it? A pat on the back, and a 'there there, you will feel better soon' platitude? Because that is what it is, just words, and that same compassion is missing. So what do I think? I reckon Al Megrahi should have lived out the rest of his natural life in prison, or in a prison hospital, no matter the cost. That's not because I do not have compassion, but that justice means I also have compassion for the other innocents who are still living with this terrorists actions, and I have more of it for them. 

Revenge and Justice

  

Revenge and Justice.. what's the difference? That's the question. I reckon there is a very fine line between the reasoned justice we naturally want, and the angry revenge we settle for in our minds.


The case in point is the war in Afghanistan, and previously in Iraq, and the part our military played in them. Somehow we have fudged the lines of reason and faith a little in our thinking.


When our soldiers are sent there, they take it as part of the job they signed up to do, to defend our free nations from tyranny, and at whatever cost it takes. Even death, and yes possibly torture. When interviewed before deployment, their bravery already shows through in their words, because they are not driven by feelings or emotion, but by the deep belief in their mission, and the part they will play in the overthrow of terrorism.


We, on the other hand, seem to react differently, and very differently when (not if!) deaths occur in the ranks of these enlisted men and women. Our emotions seem to be taken to yet another level if we think torture has taken place, or it has been reported. There is something terrible about the torture of those who take our freedom and liberty so seriously, that they will endure it bravely, even though they know it is a distinct possibility if they are captured. We already have instances of reported torture on both sides. It seems to be a case of, if you can't beat them, join them! Does that make it right?


In this country, we are supposed to be different, more moral, and with our laws based on Biblical/Christian values, not on extremist Koran/Islamic beliefs. So, that begs the question, 'are we right to behave in the same way when faced with extremism and terrorism'? Why is it that some get very 'involved' and angry, to the point of seeking revenge, when the atrocity is conducted a long way away, and against those who have already dealt with the risk when they signed up? I can't help but think we place ourselves in the gladiator arena and cheer and shout when one of the enemy 'gets it' because they deserve it anyway!


This takes me back to my initial question. What's the difference between justice and revenge? Maybe the answer is that justice is clean, clear and rational, and we have courts and a legal system to deal with it, but revenge is not ours to take. This is one area where the Koran and the Bible are very different. The Koran can be used by terrorists to justify their atrocities, but the Bible teaches that 'we should not return evil for evil', and that we must 'do good to those who persecute us'. Why is turning the other cheek so hard to do? Because it runs counter to the basic human instinct of getting our own back, and that's why it is wrong. To finish with another word from the Bible, 'Vengeance (revenge) is mine says the Lord'. Apparently, God trusts us with justice, but not revenge.... I wonder why?         

The Acceptable Face of Evil.

As a father and granda, I watched and listened with some unease and disbelief at the reports on the 10 and 11 year old boys who unleashed a vile and vicious 90 minute attack on two similarly aged boys! The actions of these young offenders beggars belief as it contains violence on a major scale, sustained for a long hour and a half on two unsuspecting victims who were lured to their place of intended execution on the pretext of being shown a dead fox. The young boys were very fortunate to escape with their lives. When asked why they did this, the attackers said, they were bored! When they were asked why they stopped after 90 minutes, they said, because their arms ached. It is significant that they didn't say they felt sorry for their actions, and regretted it. What would have been the outcome if their arms hadn't been sore? This is hard to take in, considering the young age of the boys involved.


Remember the 'Bulger' case a few years ago? A young boy died in circumstances not unlike this one. There are common threads, like, a very broken home where parents constantly fought and argued, and violence was normal between the adults, and to the children. Violent 18 rated horror videos were watched by parents and children alike. The neighbourhood was well aware of the family, and their anti social behaviour. (The parents in this case put a sign on their gate which read, 'beware of the children', and the neighbours lived in a fear of their lives and property). The attacks were premeditated, even at such early ages, and their victims were taken to a secluded spot to be attacked mercilessly and ruthlessly.


Politicians at the time of the Jamie Bulger case, made all sorts of statements and promises, and said things like, 'we have to ensure this kind of thing doesn't happen again'. Well it has. In this case, I sympathise with any person or agency who has to deal with anyone who has this kind of unacceptable behaviour, and I think we would do well to remember that there is something else we should take note of, which in our advanced and progressive society, we tend to ignore. Evil! We shy away from it because we think we are above that, and anyway how can we label two young mistreated children as evil. Why are we afraid to recognise this word anymore? It goes straight to the heart, yes the heart, of the problem. 


These children were never shown, or taught, right from wrong. We are sometimes frowned on for speaking about morality, but it does play a part in our everyday lives. I am reminded of my own obligations to my family to show a good life, lived with high morals, and maybe help to instill such a sense of good, that they will know what evil is, and how to avoid it. I don't think it is a difficult thing to do, and after all its what most of us want for our children, but as demonstrated in this case, most is not good enough! It didn't help our two young victims. 


We have wrongly labelled our social services as 'do gooders'. They are more like 'allow harmers' and then we might step in. After all, these bad people have rights too! I link this story in my mind to another smaller story today, where the Glasgow Education department (who probably sit very close to the Social Work Department) will issue a letter to all teachers with instructions NOT to step in and stop a playground fight, or argument. Presumably, the teachers will then go in when and if there is a casualty, but NOT to prevent it. The link? We are afraid of stepping on too many toes by encroaching into other people's lives. After all aren't children just little adults?


There will always be bad behaviour, there will always be evil, and we have to accept that as fact. We try to deal with bad behaviour, but it will only be when we start to deal with the other side of the problem, evil, that we will get somewhere as individuals, and as a society. Are we going to be grown up enough to admit the present 'acceptable face of evil', and try to do something about it at our level?