Daily Archives: April 21, 2012

Silence Can Murder

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No Corruption

No Corruption (Photo credit: Ann Douglas)

Socrates was charged and put to death for corruption of the youth.  Apparently he incited them to contempt of leadership by his words against unjust laws and rulers.  With amazement I have to say, “What did he do but point out the obvious?”

If a leader is worthy of contempt what is the harm in pointing it out?  It is not a charge that should be laid against the one who speaks.  It is a charge against the corrupt leader.  The one who speaks is only pointing out what is well known and true.  It is the

Portrait of Socrates. Marble, Roman artwork (1...

Portrait of Socrates. Marble, Roman artwork (1st century), perhaps a copy of a lost bronze statue made by Lysippos. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

obligation of the corrupt leader to change his ways.

Yet corruption often leads to power and influence.  So to point out the faults of those who attain power by means of corruption are likely to wield that power against truth sayers.  My reply is, “What is that to me?  I’m going to die anyway.  Let them come and assail me for telling the truth.  At least I will have done my duty.  That cannot be said of those who took oaths of truth and shed them as soon as they put the robe of office on their shoulders.”

I confess that I am so very frustrated at the lack of leadership from those who know better.  But hasn’t that been the case since the time of Adam?  The frustration is a shared cloak which all men of truth wear.  One thing comes to mind that bears saying.  If I were as I am and placed in a populous advantage I would not be alive today.  Here I am to speak out and I find a twinge of shame in that statement.

You who hold a place of leadership should be speaking out strongly against the corruption in leadership.  But you often resort to simply maintaining peace among the people under your charge.  You turn inward in hopes of establishing stability for those who will listen to you.  All the while the corruption grows to near riot right outside the walls of your sanctuary.  You teach them righteousness and peace while you make no attempt to shine a light on the corruption of this world.

You know who you are.  I know who I am.  Neither of us is the other.  And I do not judge you for what you are doing.  But will you judge me for pointing this out?

Compare and Decide

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The Seal of the President of the United States...

The Seal of the President of the United States, as was in use in 1894. This seal continued in use until 1945. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The entire world will love you if you settle into your life quietly and without complaint.  While in that mode you’re allowed to steal a little.  After all a man has to survive, doesn’t he?

The entire world will glorify you if you lie just enough to gain advantage over others.  And if you’re a really good liar, they might even make you President of the United States of America.

But most of us are just plain folks.  We settle into a job, raise a family, and die in some obscure condition.  For the most part we will have lived out our lives in obscurity.  Now this is a general truth.  But there is a specific truth that walks right along side the general truth.

The world will hate you with a passion if you take a stand against lies.  The world will confront you if you speak up.  And if you make a case against their ways, they will look for a way to silence you.

It is wise to consider these things.  For we all die having lived the life we did.  Right after that comes the judgment.  Look at this:  We live for what, 50 – 90 years?  What is that compared to eternity?  When you have lived for 9 billion years, will you remember that short 90?  Why not take a stand?  You’re gonna die anyway.  Why not speak up?  What are you afraid of?

Fair is Fair

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Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Science

Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Science (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The headline reads, “Vanderbilt Says Christian Club Can’t Require Leaders to be Devout Christians.”  Ok.  Shall we tell Vanderbilt that they have no right to retain only competent teachers?  Shall we tell them that they must retain a few useless drunks in teaching positions?  After all fair is fair.

A Word from a Writing Candle

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We have all seen a new candle.  The wick is clean and white.  The long white column of wax is perfectly formed.  And every candle bought is intended for a use.  We unwrap the plastic.  We place it in a holder.  And we place it in a certain place for a distinct reason.

A child is born like a candle purchased.  The baby is placed in the house of its mother and father.  unwrapped from the

womb, the child is lit and placed among us.  Time has begun for the little one.  And soon its candle will burn down by degrees.

My candle is nearing the end.  And I look back at what I have become.  I look back to see what I have done, and am mostly ashamed.  But someone came and moved me to a place where I can light a writing desk.  In this I take heart.  For when I burned in the sinful places I lit the way of sinners.  And now that I am burning closer to the base I am more fit for he who writes.  A long candle sheds less light on the desk and more for the room at large.  But a light which is near the base sheds a better light for pen and ink.

I have done what I have done.  And it cannot be erased.    Yet it is not my past which amazes me.  What can be expected from a life of sin.  It is that The Lord has given me a testimony among His people.  This amazes me.  And for this I give thanks to Him.