Ensurance Fraud

Figuring heavily into the “You Just Can’t Make This Stuff Up” category, Stevenson University has issued a letter apologizing to students for serving a Mexican buffet on an “Intergalactic” theme night. Apparently the university received several complaints from students who felt the choices was (gads!) racist due to the association between aliens and undocumented Mexican immigrants. Apparently, it’s not only taboo to say “illegal alien” on California campuses, but now the system is taking down the words one at a time. I can almost feel the thought police right now, reaching out for my Sigourney Weaver DVD set…

I was torn at first which action was more ridiculous (and I mean that in the most literal way possible), the fact that some (presumably) adult college students contacted the administration with the complaint, or that the administration was so complete in their apology and desire to “improve.” The situation resolved itself quickly as I waded through a few details. By promising that she is “committed to ensuring that student life staff receive the training necessary to make sure that this type of incident does not happen again at Stevenson,” Dr. Golz of the college administration wins, hands down (don’t shoot?).

Along with a sufficient amount of bowing and scraping, the doctor promises more training on “cultural competency,” presumably a close relative of “diversity,” or perhaps “sensitivity.” At a time when college costs continue to rise, and valuable faculty and classes are being eliminated, it is notable that the university system of California has a seemingly endless supply of cash to throw forward any time a ruckus involving race or gender issues are mentioned. I suppose that it’s understandable that USC students tend to identify with illegal aliens (yes, I wrote it!) Considering the debt they are likely to be graduating with, and their chances of making a decent living with their degree of choice, the students and the immigrants will most likely have similar lifestyles. 

Of all of the sad and regrettable things mentioned, both in the complaints and the response, the one I found most lamentable was the use of the word “ensuring.” I find it lamentable, and ridiculous, because the doctor can “ensure” nothing. She cannot because she is not facing a complaint based in logic or reason, or even a modicum of common sense. 

The issue here is not offense given. The issue is offense taken. It does not spring from any form of thought or maturity, but from a well of self-indulgent outrage. And one thing that is becoming increasingly clear as time passes is that well has no bottom, that source will never run dry. Those feeling entitled will vent this rage at their leisure, in any situation, in impossible quantities, and they will continue to do this as long as their demands continue to be me. And since there is little evidence that any college administration is willing to take on these post-adolescent despots, the outrage will continue for the foreseeable future. But there is still hope, at least for California.

The “big one” could still hit at any time…

The "Form of Godliness"

As I listened to the radio yesterday, I caught part of an interview with Haaz Sleiman. For those unfamiliar with the man (and you can count me among them), he is an actor of some note. The subject of the interview was his part in the National Geographic movie “Killing Jesus,” based on the book co-authored by Bill O’Reilly. He plays the title role.

While I have read several of Mr. O’Reilly’s historical works, I will state plainly now that I have not read “Killing Jesus.” I may get to it sometime in the future, or not. As such, I have no opinion about the book one way or the other. I mention it only to provide context for Mr. Sleiman, whom I also have no opinion about as an actor or a person. My interest here is about a single exchange in the interview.

While discussing the movie, Mr. Sleiman mentioned his great affection for Jesus. He was very definite about how his knowledge of Jesus has changed his life, particularly over the last decade. He praised Jesus’ teachings about love for one another, peace, generosity, and acceptance. I was with him right up to that point. Then he made a statement that took me right out his camp. While I don’t recall the exact wording, the message was clear enough: “God and Allah are one and the same.”

There was more discussion afterward. He went on to mention how he wasn’t really religious, though he was “spiritual” (whatever that means). He emphasized inclusiveness. There was more. It didn’t matter to me. I had lost interest.

I do understand what the man was saying, or at least I believe I do. “Allah” is the word for “God” in the Muslim faith. So be it. But having the same name doesn’t make things the same. Calling a dog a cat doesn’t make it cat. Calling a boy a girl doesn’t make him a girl. Calling a ceremony between two of the same sex a wedding doesn’t make it a wedding. And whatever you call the Muslim deity, that doesn’t make it God.

There are lots of differences you could point out between the two, but most of those are just indicators, consequences of the same fundamental difference: God has a Son. Allah does not. Paying lip service to Christ, putting him as a prophet second only to Muhammed, still boils down to one thing: You are placing faith in men, not God. Obeying men, idolizing men, pursuing the petty, violent goals of men, not God. 

Tomorrow, Christians around the world will celebrate Easter. It is a time of rejoicing in the salvation provided by God through His Son. It should also be a time to remember the words of Paul to Timothy, that while there are many in the world who claim “a form of godliness,” we worship THE form of Godliness. God in the flesh, given for our pardon, sacrificed for us. Let us always remember the value of this great gift, provided by the Father: His one and only Son, and the only name by which people are saved.

The Price of Borrowed Charity

Most of us who spent any time in church have heard the story of David and Bathsheba. It was not a stellar incident in the life of God’s favorite king. Having fallen for the wife of one of his loyal soldiers, David began an adulterous affair, and eventually resorted to treachery and murder to take the woman for himself. It was a well-constructed plan. Only David, Bathsheba, and Joab, his leading general, would know the truth. Or so David thought. Soon afterward, David received a visitor, as told in 2 Sam 12: 1-4.

So Yahweh sent Nathan to David, and he came to him and said, "Two men were in a certain city; one was rich and the other was poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except for one small ewe lamb which he had bought. He had nurtured her, and she grew up with him and with his children together. She used to eat from his morsel and drink from his cup, and she used to lie in his lap and became like a daughter for him. And a visitor came to the rich man, but he was reluctant to take from his flocks or from his herds to prepare a meal for the traveler when he came to him. So he took the ewe lamb of the poor man and prepared it for the man who had come to him."

And so it is even today…

There was a time early in our nation’s history when there was a concern about literacy, that children would not even be able to read a Bible, and Christians began forming schools. There was concern for the sick, and Christians volunteered their time and money and resources, and built charitable hospitals. There was concern over the lack of manly virtue in our nation’s youth, and Christian men formed the Boy Scouts. 

Much later in our nation’s history, liberals became concerned about all of these things. And so they forced children to stay in failing schools even as they sent their own children to private schools. They forced others to pay for the health care of those able to care for themselves, all the time striving to pass regulations that would shut down or destroy the character of the same Christian hospitals that had served the poor for so long. They were concerned about their youth, and demanded that the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and every other group bend to their will to accommodate them, taking some to court, trying to imprison and bankrupt others. And what was once a matter of joyful, heart-filled giving is now regarded as rightful benefits, taken by a sullen people, grateful for nothing and always demanding more.

2 Sam 12: 5-7: Then the anger of David was kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this deserves to die! He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this thing, and because he had no pity." Then Nathan said to him, "You are the man!”

David acknowledged his guilt, and repented. A flawed and imperfect man, David learned and relearned the lessons of faith throughout his life. He was also the one who declared before Israel (2 Sam 24:24) “I don't want to offer to Yahweh my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." It’s a lesson that is still true today.

There are those who take from others for their own purposes, their own causes, and call it charity. They force others to their will, compelling service to those they favor at the moment, calling such laws “anti-discrimination”, and call themselves liberators. There are those who silence all who disagree, and claim it is so that none will be afraid to speak. These are lies. But the biggest lie of all is that they can do all of these things while following the path of Christ or honoring God. This is a lesson that our nation must learn again. I pray the learning shall be soon.