So, who are you, really? And who am I?
Yes, that is a ridiculous question … or maybe not. The world that we live in depends on our answers, and modern society is changing, under our feet.
I went to a meeting, a few days ago, and I am still bothered by what happened. I will tell you the story, or parts of it, but I have a disclaimer. People are signing petitions, and lawyers are involved, and I don’t want to escalate the arguments.
I will try to avoid any specific references, and you probably won’t know where this happened. Sorry, but that is the best I can do with such a hot issue.
Some time ago, I was asked to become a registered member of an organization, or “society” that is Christian and focuses on educating children. They have several schools. I went to public schools, and I don’t share the enthusiasm, but friends wanted me to join and contribute.
I joined.
In my mind, I did what I could to make a useful contribution, and I believe we all should work to make good things work, in our home region.
If you belong to an organization like the one that I joined, every year there will be an AGM or “Annual General Meeting.” The responsible thing is to cancel other things for that evening and go to the meeting.
I attended.
Before the meeting, we were given a page with instructions on how to vote on a few issues, including appointing new members to the board. Voting before makes the meeting more efficient, and lets us all go home at a reasonable time. The instructions were simple, clear, and legal.
I voted.
Someone must have counted the early votes, and they were not happy with the results, so the meeting deteriorated into something like a Christian riot. People shouted and accused others of belonging to manipulating pressure groups.
The meeting room was full around six in the evening, and the meeting ended at about one am, the next morning. I left earlier because I needed my sleep for the next day of work, but friends told me what happened after I left.
Apparently, in that “Christian” meeting, someone came close to swearing, into the microphone, and it seemed like fights were about to break out. Along, with many other people, my vote was canceled, and one group was able to dominate the meeting and make the vote go their way.
Many of us could not stay late, and the votes were re-taken by the few angry people who stayed. I think that was the plan. As I said, lawyers are involved now.
If you haven’t seen anything like that meeting in your lifetime, brace yourself. I was surprised, and I’ve had a bad feeling since. Your turn is probably coming soon. We live in polarized times, with the potential for vicious power struggles.
If you are wondering, one group in my meeting is now identified as “progressive” and “woke” and they labeled the others as “right-wing” and “conservative.” The purpose of this society is to educate children, from a Christian point of view, and now the fight is on. In my judgment, modern label-and-sneer politics are seeping into Christian organizations. Watch for this in your neighborhood.
God’s Grandchildren: I believe I saw a symptom of something that is growing, in our times, and it will come down on us all. So, who are you? What do you really believe? Who do you follow?
Apparently, “God has no grandchildren” is a quote from Reinhard Bonnke, a Christian teacher in Germany. We need to relearn that truth.
I recently read some words from a religious Muslim, and he claimed that millions are dropping out of his religion of Islam. So, among Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and probably atheists, we have millions who follow from a distance and remember the older people who believed with great devotion. The new generation includes many of the grandchildren.
Our world is changing under our feet.
Christians (God’s children) are told: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
Those are great words, but it is painful to watch when we take the name, and then take a different route.
We are also told that at the “end of the age” people will change: “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
I think I saw that. The fight was among the grandchildren.
So, who are you, really? And who am I?
