Visions and Values

We all metaphorically wear masks that make us socially acceptable at the expense of our personal identities, and we "prepare" different masks for different people. This happens to be my people-meeting face.

T.S. Elliot

My town house is up on the levy, just above the mighty Cape Fear River, with its angry-swift current. Not that many miles from the ocean, to fall into this river is almost certain death because of the power of the current.

Would not anyone be foolish to jump into this river and swim against the current, when every one else who falls in the river are going with the current?

There have been many unanswered mysteries in my life, but the greatest, the one that will only be answered in heaven, why so few are willing to swim-battle against the current. Perhaps this is the reason our blessed Lord told us that very few will go through the narrow way, while so many seek the broad way. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew, 7:13 & 14).

The Saints of old, those of today and even those of tomorrow will be forever showcased in heaven because they were willing to fight the current... unwilling to put on masks of acceptability for unbelievers. Our citizenship is heaven, we are just "strangers and pilgrims" on this earth (1 Peter, 2:11), foreigners, our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians, 3:20). This writer, world traveler, knows what it is like to be a foreigner in any country. We are easily distinguishable because we look different, act different, speak different. The Christian Church in America and elsewhere does not grow because church members do not want to be different. From the pastor to the pew warmers, it is a matter of pretending... as if God, Sovereign, Creator of the universe can be fooled.

I want to hear a honest pastor-preacher-evangelist say one time, "WHY ARE YOU HERE?" We know that the divorce rate is as great for Christians as for non-Christians, that 87% of all young people raised in the church leave the church forever after college. That most main line churches have decreased membership. The only churches maintaining their membership, Catholics and Blacks, they never had much going for them in the first place, except traditions. We know that most church memberships grow only because of card signers. There is no obedience without repentance, no discipleship without discipline. The mega-churches, have drums and drama, bells and smells, perfumed and comfortable members, in the habit of conforming for a few hours on Sunday. Transformed members (Romans, 12) show the reality of the Christ centered life everyday, actions-language-dress. Truth is truth whether anyone believes it or not. The truth, and it has always been so, we do not read or live God's word because we had rather be popular with the world. There is no pleasure in swimming against the current. Dale Carnegie does not advise Christians, nor does Madison Avenue advise real Christian principles "by the how to of winning friends and influencing people." The art of compromise is essential for the politician, modern pastor, modern parent.

At one time in my life, the large den in my house, my walls were covered with masks which I had brought back from all over the world. The oldest civilization know to man, the Dogons of Mali in Africa wear masks at their festivals. I owned a Dogon mask. I possessed masks from the highlands of New Guinea and the valleys of Sri Lanka. Every culture-civilization in one way or another, paintings, piercings, tattoos, masks, always wanting to pretend to be something which they are not. It is the very foundation of the Broadway stage. Even in the 1600's Shakespeare said "the whole world is a stage." I feel sure that Judas, one of His disciples, who witnessed His miracles, was a superb actor. God perfected change with the Chameleon.

Since this Korean War era Veteran is sightless, totally blind for nearly 50 years, it has been essential to hire people to assist me. Over and over, almost without exception, applicants for employment have assured me their honesty, their desire to give good work for good pay. It does not take long for the mask to come off, their true identity to come forth.

I am recovering now from the stress of one such employee. I have been so exasperated-stress-discouraged that I can barely walk across the room. This woman who professed to be a Christian, who told me she had met the Lord on her knees, just before Christmas had put $950 on a credit card she had stolen from me. Actually transferred hundreds of dollars for my PayPal account to her private account. It would be impossible to know just how much money, things she had removed from my house, my refrigerator and closets. Of course she was arrested, but in this world of welfare protection-assistance, law enforcement is much more interested in helping her than helping me.

The fact that I am a totally blind, 100% disabled, Medical Officer Veteran who has given, and then given again for his country means nothing whatsoever to law enforcement or the companies which enable this deceit. The greatest disappointment to me is the fact without exception, everyone I have talked with about my latest robbery (and there have been many other robberies) just begin to laugh and say "they always find you." Just once, please God, let one supposed friend say to me, "I hope the thief will get what is coming to her/him, that God will send an honest, responsible person to help you."

Have we as a nation, even the Christian Church, lost all "visions and values?" For a long time, this 85 year old veteran has "walked by faith, not sight" (2 Corinthians, 5:7). For 1400 years there has been a battle between Islam and Christianity, it worsens every day. Perhaps not in my lifetime, but the time is rapidly approaching that Christian heads will be chopped off in this country. Many, who have compromised everything and become indifferent to life's basics will not care... just continue to go through the motions of living. It is essential, it is God's will that real men and woman of faith fight the sweeping current of neutrality and tolerance.