Just tell me the truth!

In our present secular society, there is an on-going debate about real news, fake-news and the value of people’s opinions on many topics. There are many people who are crying out for the truth to be told in all situations. So, we must ask the age-old question from the times of Plato, what is truth?

It is all part of the familiar science and religion debate.

I suppose it can be reasonable to think that truth must be factually demonstrable and proven. But consider this simple picture, a roundabout. 

We all know which way to drive round a roundabout. In the UK one turns left to go around. A worm looking up at the roundabout would say, correctly, that the traffic is going anti-clockwise. However, a bird looking down on the same traffic would say, also correctly, it is going clockwise. They are both telling the truth and are factually correct. Then again, if you are not in the UK but in a country where they drive on the right, exactly the opposite is correct. So, the truth depends not only on your viewpoint, but also on your culture.

Another example is measuring a straight line drawn on paper. You would have thought that the line has a very precise length. Then one must consider the danger of parallax error. Looking at a rule, which has a finite thickness from slightly different angle will mean that the viewers all read different lengths. 

One can only state that the middle one in the accompanying image is the most accurate, not that they are actually right. Then again, particularly if your rule is metal it will expand and contract with temperature changes at a much greater rate than the line on the paper. So, how long is the line? What is the true factual length? The truth depends on your viewpoint again and on the conditions and the environment in which you currently find yourself.

Some ascertain that only science will reveal the truth about the universe and that faith is conjured up from spurious fables. As far as religion is concerned, Jesus is not alone in claiming to be “The Truth”; adherents to many faiths claim to have found enlightenment and truth.

Science is based on theories proved by observable, objective and replicable evidence published in papers. Faith relies on evidence based on immersive, subjective, personal experience and millennia of testimonies. But both have a good track record of intelligent, academic, discriminating followers.

I feel we must be very careful if we are casually dismissive of statements from science, any religion or any person’s viewpoints. We must surely not dismiss anyone’s opinion of the truth about life, its origins and meaning, whether based on scientific theory or religious faith. While no one wants to be misled by fake-news or deliberate falsehoods, and we should be discerning of the obvious scam or satirical publication, a tolerant and inclusive view of scientific facts and personal religious experience must surely be the path to human wholeness. It is neither one nor the other which holds all the answers to our present predicament.

Einstein said, "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind”. In my view, only the two together can lead us to an understanding of the real truth about life.

The Big "C"

I’ve heard it said a remarkable number of times even in the last few days that you don’t have to go to church to be Christian; that to be “spiritual” is not to be “religious” or aligned with a religion. People tell me they believe in God and explain that they have some notion of a higher power, but they don’t feel the need to worship. I’m told by them that they pray, especially when times get tough and maybe sometimes to thank God, but not often. There is a general belief in an afterlife (I always ask this in funeral meetings to know where I stand), though the pressing materialism of this temporal world gets in the way of thinking too much about it. While I know what is being said in all these cases, I cannot agree with it anymore. Faith is personal, yes, but faith in a gracious, unconditionally loving God requires a big response, not a mediocre take-it-or-leave it attitude. It demands a commitment. Now I’ve said it, the big “C”, commitment, so lacking in the disposable, easy-come easy-go world today.

The question is what is that commitment? Initially coming to faith or growing further in faith is an individual choice, but it is not a path one can walk alone. Rarely do people realise their faith without the guidance of another person or other people empowered by the Holy Spirit. Nurturing and fostering the sparks of faith is much easier if one enjoys regular fellowship, prayer and Bible reading with other believers – not necessarily more mature Christians, as we all know “out of the mouths of babes…” Isolated the tiny embers can so easily grow cold, unless they are drawn together and fanned into life. This is the big “C”, commitment to each other, a promise to love and support each other in faith.

Moreover, we all have our God-given skills, gifts and talents, but none of us is really an expert of all, nor can we or should we do all. We need each other like a body has many parts, which work to make up the whole organism. Christians together form the complete Body of Christ here on earth now. We are his eyes, hands and his feet, every cell of his body. Of course, this image is not original. St Paul wrote eloquently in 1 Corinthians 12 about it. Being part of a body requires us all to pull our weight; we need each other and God needs all of us.

For us today I feel we need especially to share in the Body of Christ in Communion for two good reasons. Firstly, as a Eucharist or Thanksgiving in response to all he gives us, not the least his gracious love shown in Jesus’ sacrifice remembered in the service, but also in sheer awe at this wonderful creation (ah, yes, I crave silence in worship). Secondly, because by receiving the consecrated bread we sacramentally become the Body of Christ full of his Holy Spirit, empowered to live and work to his glory, genuinely inspired. All this requires the big “C”, commitment to worship – regular, weekly worship focussing on Holy Communion with other Christians as part of the church, the Body of Christ. Corporate religion is the only way by definition; it is Christ incarnate in the world.

Accepting that mainstream religious organisations have not always got it right (and for that we must repent), without them our spiritual platitudes about belief in God and saying our occasional prayers are hollow. You cannot be a Christian and not go to church as often as you can. 

Raffles and draws - a personal reflection

There are many ethical issues about which Christians should hold a considered opinion. One I believe is the topic of raffles and draws. Of course opinions will vary and may be supported by scripture and experience. My own stance in not partaking in raffles is a current, but long-time held, personal view from my own faith perspective and life experience. This reflection is how I see it. 

Raffles and draws in various forms are usually used to raise money for charities including churches. Raising funds is a creditable and very necessary activity to support the church and its activities. It is important I feel to look for guidance on how we do this in the Bible, but, as is often the case, we may not find definitive answers relevant to the 21^st century. We do read, in scripture, about appeals to raise money for the poor (Acts 11:29-30) and other occasions when churches give money to support each other’s work (e.g. 1 Cor 15; 2 Cor 8) or when congregations supported Paul personally (e.g. Philippians) and of course Jesus’ disciples needed funds to live, for which Judas Iscariot was the accountant it seems (John 13:29), but I don’t recall them ever worrying about money. Scripture does not seem clear on these occasions what methods were used to raise funds; it does suggest the funds are from generous, sacrificial and faithful giving by the community with no strings attached. In my own experience there are many churches for which this is true.

One of the most famous sayings from the Bible, often misquoted, is that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim 6:10) and Jesus reminded us that money should not be a priority in our lives as it can cloud our judgements when he said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matt 6:24).  Gambling is defined as taking a chance on something in the hope of gain. It is my view that raffles are a form of gambling, albeit low level. This I feel is a “thin-end-of the-wedge” situation which could be applied to a number of other things, many of which unarguably can lead to society’s downfall. 

It is my personal view that the National Lottery, a random draw, is an insidious evil in society. It effectively taxes those who cannot afford to spare cash by giving them false hope in a materialistic dream in return for doing nothing – no wonder the moral values in our society are declining. Looking at the sociological background here, this contradicts the traditional protestant work ethic of working hard for your needs.

Even the millions of pounds donated by the National Lottery funds to charity similarly cannot reasonably justify this deceptively bad activity – if these are really worthy causes then either we should pay for them as a society together in our tax system or we should surely be prepared to give generously and altruistically, as the early churches did, without any strings or incentives. I am also saddened that as shops in our high streets close they are replaced by charity shops and bookmakers, the juxtaposition of which must indicate interesting sociological trends. In my view the hopelessness of many people in our community is a reflection on the changing values in our moral codes. Hope for those who have little or nothing is no longer expressed in a faith, but in material wealth and envy. The Gospel message has a much better hope to offer.

People may say that this is far too serious and I over-state the case; a small raffle is “only a bit of fun” or “what folks want or enjoy”. These arguments I fear are a subtle ploy used by Satan to con people. Hallowe’en activities (as I have written elsewhere) have been described as fun, but then turn frightening when, as Trick or Treat has escalated, some older people are now too scared to open their doors or young people take an unhealthy interest in the occult and get sucked in. Similarly giving people exactly what they want or enjoy is often not what they most need nor is it necessarily a good witness to our Lord; for example there is a difficult decision in giving money or not to a genuine beggar, of whom there are an increasing number in our so-called civilised country; he/she may then be tempted to spend it on drink rather than food or clothes. The enculturation (doing what the locals do) of church activities to “get alongside local people” is a difficult one. Imagine working as witness in a red-light district. There is no need for the Christian to compromise and behave in the same way or act as pimps to gain credibility. Perhaps we should always ask, “What impression or image are we giving of the church? Is it right?” Christian events, put on by people who claim to be “The Redeemed”, do need to be distinctive, i.e. in some way different and attractive in a positive way, so that people ask the question, “What is it that they have got that I crave?” 

Now raffles are not mentioned in the Bible, but drawing lots after prayer is indeed a method used on a number of occasions to make decisions. Joshua cast lots to share the land fairly (Josh 18:10) and the disciples selected Matthias, the replacement for Judas Iscariot, by drawing lots (Acts 1:23-26). Sadly the most obvious and saddest time when lots are drawn is by the soldiers wanting a souvenir of Jesus’ crucifixion as they selfishly drew lots for his seamless garment (John 19:24); a tragic example of people seeking personal gain and losing focus on what really matters – God on the cross. We must ensure we keep our priorities right and use our energy accordingly.

My personal conclusions therefore are that it is not possible to justify any specific means of fund-raising on the grounds that it makes a lot of money, as this premise could lead to justification of other activities that are clearly immoral in most people’s eyes, and the most important source of church funds should be personal stewardship. Secondly, the trends of a secular society need always to be reflected on carefully and if we really live by faith, we should not be ruled by concerns about money and let that cloud our deliberations; it may cause us perhaps to take our eyes off our Lord.

Finally I turn to Paul’s letters again. In 1 Cor 6:12 we are told that, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial”. A similar quote appears in 1 Cor 10:23, ““Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive”. The questions I ask myself in making a decision are “Is this activity beneficial to me or will it become my master and indispensable?” and “Will doing this be constructive to my ministry and life as a Christian witness?” For me the considered answers about raffles are negative. Personally I cannot support them.

I cannot make decisions for other people on moral matters such as whether or not to organise or to take part in a raffle and how to raise funds. As a professional teacher and educator I will not give right answers to ethical questions, for that is indoctrination. There are no generic right answers to these issues, but I can draw attention to the guidance in scripture. My greatest desire is that the church (that is all the people who love our Lord) will make their own mature, prayerful decisions individually and then as groups and then be content with what is decided collectively, seeking the very best way forward for the good of all in God’s Kingdom.