Jesus is True Reality

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

As our country has become embroiled in the search for racial justice, reality has become extraordinarily elusive. As I watched the Ulysses S Grant’s statue pulled down by a mob out to destroy all symbols of racial injustice, I wondered what was the purpose behind pulling down this particular statue. Did pulling this statue down move our country closer to racial equality? Especially when you consider Grant’s involvement in emancipation and reconstruction efforts.

No individual during and after the Civil War did more for the cause of freedom for slaves than Grant, except Lincoln. A fierce advocator for the right to vote for all people and a demander of equal treatment for black soldiers. As our president, he staunchly remained committed to ensuring that former slaves be allowed to benefit from the rights we all enjoy through the constitution. His record on ending slavery and trying to create equal opportunity Post-Civil War was admirable.

However, Grant and his wife, both had slaves prior to the Civil War, only to release them from bondage just before the Civil War. His record for dealing with Native Americans was suspect. He forced many Native Americans to live on reservations and instigated an illegal war against the Lakota nation.

So as we look at Grant’s history, we find an extremely complicated situation of good and bad. Some will say, because of his efforts to free the slaves and provide an equal future, his statue should stand. While others can point to his treatment of native American’s and say it should be toppled. Raising the question, are we to judge other people based only on their mistakes? And are any of us completely free from poor life decisions?

Does honoring or dishonoring Grant help create a world of equal rights for all people? Does this debate around Grant move us forward in complying with Jesus’s command of love for all people?

Around dinner tables, bars, and gatherings; there are so many opinions about so many things from our historical past. Feelings get hurt and others seeking personal relevancy push their cause. And from where I sit, I see the good and bad in all these arguments.

History has always benefited from the point of view of the victor. They are the ones that write history. Making history always somewhat suspect. Human history itself is always inherently flawed. And so are all of our opinions. Finding and grasping the completeness of history is a daunting task, with none of us, are ever truly have all the facts.

It seems to me that the debate about what is real history is a distraction to helping us live up to our responsibilities to serve Jesus and love our neighbor. History is elusive and often bent to support a particular point of view, making it unreliable in dictating our conduct.

Debating history won’t always help the need to feed the poor. History will not always salve the wounds of modern-day injustices. History will not always help us do that which we ought to do. It is not that history isn’t important, rather history is elusive and if our desire is to be a good world citizen, than history is a somewhat unreliable compass.

I know for the great teachers and students of history, this is a difficult message. And my point isn’t to discredit their efforts, it is more to refocus how we let history affect our behavior. If we want to know the history and its lessons, it has to be studied without prejudice. And we have to be willing to discover the real truth. This in itself is a difficult task and can be distracting to our goals of helping make the world a place of equality.

What single mother of three, living just below the poverty line is helped because Grant’s statue was torn down? How does arguing about an obscure figure in history like Francis Scott Key protect youths from being accidentally shot walking home from school? How does a teen learn about and have access to the bounty of America through mobs burning buildings and toppling statues?

If we want to fix what is wrong and help those underserved, it is our uplifting actions that will provide a lasting solution, not toppling statues because of our view of history. By staying riveted to the lessons of Jesus we can make real change.

Through following Jesus, we can be certain of our path and what is a true reality. In the Gospel of John, we get a quote from Jesus that gives us this direction, where it says; Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” A clear and simple message of what should occupy our minds. Not that of pursing frail and fragile human truth, rather a life that focuses on a sacred truth by following Jesus.

This path is very hard to follow. And on many days we will fall short of truly living this way. We will all become desirous of giving our opinions or become overly bothered by the headlines of the day. Jesus asks us to follow him and through this activity, we become much more productive in helping out in an unequal world. Over time we will discover a more soothing path. A path that removes us from what falsely seems permanent to a sacred purpose.

The world is filled with glimmering nuggets that attract us, only to be disappointed when we grab a hold of them. History is filled with them, never satisfying, and always attracting our thoughts. Following Jesus is quite different, all that He said is true and beneficial.

Today, spend time with Jesus and ask for His insight, what seems illusive will become real.

 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Photo by Chris Karidis on Unsplash

Lifting the Veil and Gaining Freedom Through God

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of God is, there is freedom….”

2 Corinthians [3:16]-17

As I read this verse today, I started thinking to myself about what the purpose of a veil is. In some cases it obscures the view; in others as in window curtains, it blocks light; or in the case of a bride or artwork, it hides a hidden beauty.

What Paul is trying to tell us as he spoke to the Corinthians, has to do more with us uncovering ourselves completely and thoroughly before God.  God already knows what is in our hearts, but when we unveil our very deepest thoughts and feelings, we no longer carry anything alone, for our Heavenly Father is always with us. And in turn, we become freed.

If something is weighing you down today, unveil it to our Creator in prayer and feel a lightness of being, that only comes from God’s Spirit.

Praying with you…
Pastor Lou Strugala

Pastor Lou has a wonderfully deep background in ministry and I have had the good fortune to call him my friend for almost ten years. Lou is more of a “Street preacher” and has dedicated his life to helping Jesus and those in need.

Photo by Helen Ngoc N. on Unsplash

Love Will Conquer All; Even The Reign of Terror

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John [13:34]

On July 28th, 1794 Maximilien Robespierre was beheaded in Paris. He was the final person to be executed during the French revolution. Prior to that, over sixteen thousand people were executed in a similar way and two hundred thousand were arrested. This all happened in less than twelve months. This period is called the Reign of Terror.

Angry at the state of their country, the French citizens had revolted and thrown out the noble ruling class in 1789. At that time, France was staggering financially and found itself unable to feed it citizens. The Seven Years War and helping the United States revolution militarily; left France deeply in debt. The previous year’s harvest had failed, and food was in short supply. France found itself weakened and very vulnerable. Its callous noble class failed to inspire the citizens and a revolution was on.

Into this vacuum a new leadership arose, Maximilien Robespierre, being one of the new leaders. Initially, Robespierre sought good and desired universal equality for all French people. Making Robespierre the principal ideologist for the French revolution.

As time wore on, Robespierre gained more power. And with this power, Robespierre grew more resistant to hearing other points of view. He began to suppress the voices of the right-wing, left-wing and the centrist. Anyone that didn’t exactly agree with him was considered an enemy.

In the summer of 1793, a new guiding force for the revolution arose called the Committee of Public Safety. The committee became responsible for protecting France from external invasion and to suppress the internal rebellion. Robespierre became its de facto chairperson. Any person who expressed dissent was vilified. As dissent grew, France sank into a time of terror and with it the elimination of responsible debate.

Robespierre’s audaciously anointed himself the Supreme Being. Anyone that found this unacceptable became an enemy. As Robespierre became more isolated, his insecurity grew. Leading to the Reign of Terror. A time in France where any individual that came close to a disagreement was arrested. Starting in September of 1793, terror took over. From September of 1793 to July 28th of 1794, over sixteen thousand people were arrested and executed with the Guillotine. A particularly gruesome death where the victim was beheaded by a sharp blade that was suspended above their heads and then released.

As the terror grew, people retreated to inner sanctums. Dissent was dangerous and likely would be met with death. Silently the people of France grew more disillusioned. Both at Robespierre assigning himself the title of Supreme Being and the constant fear of being identified as a dissident and killed.

During the summer of 1794, Robespierre became even more isolated and less in touch. Opening cracks that allowed the true feelings of the French people to emerge. Eventually, Robespierre himself was arrested. On July 28th, 1794 Robespierre became the last person executed with the Guillotine.

What happened to Robespierre is not all that uncommon. History is littered with stories of those who seeped into a power vacuum and became what they first opposed.

As individuals, on a much smaller and less vicious scale, we sometimes do something similar. We create our theories and ideas. When they are questioned, we sometimes retreat or get angry. We can become overly obsessed with our point of view. When we are questioned; we are faced with how to handle the challenge. We can do one of three things; retreat silently, attack aggressively or listen to learn. In Robespierre’s case, he chose to attack, silencing voices only temporarily, which would later emerge as far more hostile and menacing voice, costing Robespierre his life.

Jesus said in Matthew [26:52]; Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. If only Robespierre had heeded this advice; instead of being considered a villain, perhaps he would have been a hero.

Here is what Robespierre missed, when people retreat, they simmer angrily. Turning themselves into silent bitter enemies, waiting for a chance to strike back. Tired of being dismissed and not heard, they lay in wait. And In some future period, they emerge as an open adversary.

The act of listening to learn is much harder but far more productive. It requires three things that are sometimes hard to muster up; kindness, patience, and love. With an attitude of love as the most important aspect. An important note is that this doesn’t mean we have to agree to get along, rather it means being willing to openly hear another point of view and find a common ground. This part is not easy, especially in the wake of an attack against our beliefs.

Most significant social issues follow the pattern of the French Revolution, maybe not as violent. Social issues are always extraordinarily complicated. Nearly impossible for any single person to have all the facts. And many sides will have legitimate points of view. And we all must

remember that for the individual, their opinions are very important. Knowing they are being heard and considered is important to the individual. And listening is important in successfully implementing any form of change. Because of this cross-cultural or cross-functional dialogue has to happen to unwind the complexity of most issues. For any societal change to occur successfully, all voices must be heard.

When ideas are not fully developed, or facts fully gathered; ironically many revolutions of social change resort to the same behavior they are trying to replace.

I see this today in our national debates, with people getting fired from jobs, not because of hate speech, but because they have a different point of view. They have had different life experiences that have created their different points of view. But their life views didn’t fit the agenda and they lose their jobs or friends. This is the problem with management by terror, even ideas spoken respectfully will still cost people their jobs.

I also see good people being insulted because their ideas didn’t fit the Mobs theories. These emerging leaders don’t understand that firing or insulting people will not make the ideas of disagreement go away. They will stay in the hearts of these people and reemerge at a more inconvenient time.

The solution however is remarkably simple, if we are all committed to love. And as Christians that is what we are commanded by Jesus to do. Jesus said in John [13:34]; A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Jesus is giving us a command, a new one, to love one another. And Jesus isn’t giving us the option of choosing who to love.

Any revolution or societal change will have its shortcomings and complexity. And societal change is doomed without a universal attitude of love for all people. Any other course will lead to failure. Just ask Robespierre and Historians.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Photo by Chris Karidis on Unsplash

Being Born from Above

“Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

—John 3:3

S. Lewis, the great English writer of the twentieth century, had spent his late teens and early twenties angry at God. As he stated, “I was angry with God for not existing.” An atheist for an extended period of time, he continually wrestled with God. He found the church boring and religion a chore. His belief was that if God existed, he would not have designed a world “so frail and faulty as we see.” 

Lewis was a member of the Oxford University community, surrounded by people like Yeats and Tolkien. He wrote his own conversion story, where it states: “You must picture me alone in Magdelen [College, Oxford], night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him who I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted God was God and knelt and prayed; perhaps that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” The searching had ended. Encouraged by his friends, like Tolkien, he was changed and reborn. 

“The acceptance of God comes from something done within us through the compelling force of God.” 

Nicodemus, a leader of the ruling class, came to Jesus late at night to talk about faith. As a member of the ruling class, Nicodemus went at night so that his associates wouldn’t know about the visit. Jesus changed the paradigm for Nicodemus, by talking about being born from above. What Jesus was talking about was starting over, being different, desiring to be different, and accepting God. The acceptance of God comes from something done within us through the compelling force of God. This new birth is from God, unmerited but generously given. Jesus asks us to accept it, without benefit, this new way, this committed heart. 

“Many nights during World War Two, C.S Lewis spoke to the people of London on the radio to soothe their hearts, while bombs rained down.” 

Both Nicodemus and C. S. Lewis went on to become strong Christians. Lewis wrote Mere Christianity and was instrumental in helping the English people during the bombing of London in World War II. Many nights during World War Two, C.S Lewis spoke to the people of London on the radio to soothe their hearts, while bombs rained down. Nicodemus came out of the closet and acknowledged Jesus publically. He was at the Crucifixion and worked with Joseph of Arimathea to provide the burial tomb and spices.

“God pursues us. We fall and fail, but God’s chase is never-ending.”

 Life gets in the way of God, as it did with Lewis and Nicodemus.  God pursues us. We fall and fail, but God’s chase is never-ending. Once we give in to our gift, we are quickly whisked to life as another being. We are still “frail and faulty,” but our lives have changed. 

Parting Thoughts:

How does God pursue us?

 What has been our journey in faith?

 Why does God love us?

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Photo by Jasper Boer on Unsplash

What Is The Truth

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John [8:32]

The climax of the First Crusade occurred in 1099AD, with the Western Christian Crusaders capturing Jerusalem. I remember studying this event while in Theological school. Our Church History professor assigned us a paper to write on this subject and insisted that all of our research use the closest source documents that could be found regarding this event. At first, this was an overwhelming task, because doing close source research took you away from very accessible history books and towards scraps of paper on microfilm or documents that were copied and found in obscure places.

The study of this event was further complicated because there was actually a lot of material in the archives but from four very different points of view. The four points of view were from different reports from the four groups who witnessed or participated in the battle for Jerusalem; the Western Christians, the Eastern Christians, the Muslims, and the Jewish perspective.

As I read all these different reports, I started to wonder if I was reading about the same battle. Events like the capture of an important relic during this battle had four different points of view of who actually ended up with the relic. Each group reported what was important to them.

The Western Christians were the victors and much of what we read about the Crusades in the North Atlantic countries is from this perspective. In these writings, the Muslims are portrayed as marauding thugs. The Jewish population was viewed as co-conspirators with the Muslims. The Eastern Christians portrayed as ambivalent as to what happened to Jerusalem.

As you would guess, when you read the accounts of the other groups, they portray themselves in a more favorable light. And no matter how hard I researched, the murkier the truth became. As time ran out to complete the paper; I concluded that unless I had actually been in the battle I wouldn’t find the truth. The real truth was undeniably elusive.

And that was the conclusion the professor was looking for in her assignment. Truth is very elusive and very hard to pin down. She gave us this exercise to demonstrate that most of what we read and hear has an agenda. Sometimes the agenda is noble and other times not. Truth is discovered by getting as close to the issue as you can, and history blurs the truth.

The crusades were one thousand years ago, and we can smirk at the inconsistencies of the reporting of events. In the 21^st century, I don’t think we can say we have improved much on telling the real historical truth.

In these times of very varied opinions; I recently felt compelled to explore what is meant by Christian Truth. And as is typical, I got a very different definition of what the truth is Biblical versus secular truth. In today’s verse, Jesus says; Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. And here is the difference, when Jesus makes this statement he wasn’t talking about the truth of current worldly events, rather he was talking about giving up the ways of the world and becoming committed to following a heavenly path.

When Jesus was questioned about this statement, Jesus replied that, if you practice sin, you are a slave to sin. What Jesus means here is that if we become obsessed with something other than God or heavenly ways, we become obsessed with only the facts that support our obsession. For instance, if we become obsessed with money than our truth becomes anything we hear that is related to money. We will seek only the truth or facts that support our obsession.

Likewise, if we sign up to fight for a cause, our truth only becomes what we are fighting for. Anything or fact that appears in disagreement, whether it is right or not, we will seek to dismiss those facts.

This is one of the reasons I love reading about Saint Augustine. In his lifetime, he was constantly in pursuit of the truth about life. And he followed many paths to find the truth. Inevitably, Augustine always found a dead end. And this is what is important about Augustine; when he found the dead-end he didn’t argue bad facts, he changed his course. His goal was always the truth and he went down many dead-end streets.  It wasn’t until Bishop Ambrose began talking to him about Jesus, that he found a home in the truth. And when he did he became obsessed with serving God.

Jesus wants us to separate from worldly truth that ensnares, and instead focus on heavenly truth. Heavenly truth is centered on loving God and loving our neighbor. When we turn that way, we find ourselves listening more and arguing less.

Worldly truth will always be elusive because it will always have an agenda. Heavenly truth is far simpler and has no agenda.

One thousand years from today, citizens of the world will look back on our times and smirk at how the truth was so elusive in what they read about us. Likewise in another thousand years after them, another group with a smirk as well.

But in each of these millenniums, the truth that Jesus talks about will not be elusive. It is the same today as it was the two previous millenniums and will be tomorrow.

Biblical truth is focused on Jesus and worldly truth is focused on the agenda.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Photo by Billy Huynh on Unsplash