SERIOUSLY

From My Perspective - - -

If one indicates that we are living in “serious times”, what exactly does that mean and convey? What is meant by “serious”? Serious is a word that has a multiple meaning, such as: (1) “badly; in great need of; dangerous; harmful; problematic; and (2) truly; in a true or literal way; without exaggeration of deceit; in a sincere manner; earnestly.” The Urban Dictionary contributes another possibility – “disbelief in a sarcastic form.” In an increasingly diverse culture, what does one conclude is serious and actual?

One of the problems can be illustrated with a response by James Clapper in the following summary of the testimony before a Congressional Committee:  “James Clapper's self-assessment, that he answered in the least untruthful manner when the senator asked whether the National Security Agency was collecting data about millions of Americans, speaks for itself. No, sir…not wittingly, Clapper said, when the answer was clearly -- and is now demonstrably -- yes.” The broader question pertains to - how seriously one takes an oath and swears to tell the truth…and nothing but the trust…and then commits a nuanced perjury? Is there a consequence for one who has purposefully lied or spoken in “the least untruthful manner”? Who has the obligation and urgency when it comes to seriously speak the truth in a non-nuanced manner? 

One of the serious issues of our day is in regard to the unfolding events in the Middle East. Just two of the more serious factors are: (1) Iran and its continuing commitment to develop nuclear weaponry, and (2) Syria and the ongoing civil war – a civil war in which there has been the death of more than 93,000 Syrians and the introduction of the use of chemical weapons. These are serious issues for the world although some treat it as events far removed from where we live and the lifestyle we seek to maintain. The American Enterprise Group raised the serious concern in 2012 when discussing the topic: “Getting Serious On Syria: Can We Close The Assad Era Without Opening A Can Of Worms?” One statement worthy of note is: “Ammar Abdulhamid of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies stressed that time is not on America’s side.  The U.S. could have had a better chance at stopping Syria's genocide if the…administration had acted earlier, but now, the stability of the region is at stake.” A serious statement regarding serious events and the need for a serious response. How does our nation respond? It seems as though everything comes under the banner of: “its under investigation at this time.”

Two years ago, I authored the book: “Taking A Serious God Seriously.” One of the purposes of the book was to redirect one’s thinking back to the Eternal God and His involvement and control in the events of the world. On the Back Cover of the Book, I wrote the following: “In Daniel 5:24-28, Daniel has been summoned before the king to interpret the writing on the wall of the palace. A hand has suddenly appeared and a finger wrote Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin. The writing is giving warning to the king that his kingdom is going to end. The word “Tekel’ is interpreted: ‘you have been weighed in the balances (God’s balances) and found wanting.’ The king had failed to understand the need to Take A Serious God Seriously. Because of that, the judgment of God will come upon him and the nation (the nation divided between the Medes and Persians). God is very serious about sin and the ways in which it becomes so easily condoned by those who are identified as His people. The day is coming when all of one’s professions, deeds and actions will be weighed in God’s eternal scale. When you are weighed in God’s balances, will you be found wanting?” Worthy of note is that modern day Persia is the Islamic nation of Iran. The broad question is in terms of whether or not we, our nation and the world in which we live will begin anew to Take A Serious God Seriously. Events continue to unfold rapidly that seem to indicate a finger writing on the wall of our world – you are weighed in the balances (God’s Balances) and found wanting.

In your personal relationship to Christ, are you Taking A Serious God Seriously? Are you endeavoring to know Him and to make Him known? If not, why not? The urgency of the day and time in which we live should demand a more immediate response to the things of God. We should give heed to II Corinthians 6:2, "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Consider these things with me.