Torch, Spring 1990

---------------------------- year, there are 4,300 abortions per day , or three every minute! Life-taking is a serious problem. It is a capital offense. That is why God exacted a capital punishment for it. Humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and to attack the image of God is to attack the God in whose image they are made. Our contemporary society has cheapened life. The average young person sees nearly 20,000 murders on TV before he graduates from high school. No wonder someone referred to the magic box in our living rooms as "Tel-a-Violence." What could be more relevant for a violent society than the ancient voice of God: "Thou shalt not kill." God is truth (Hebrews 6:18; John 1:14; 14:6). Thus, the obligation to be truthful is as relevant today as it was 3,500 years ago when Moses wrote, "You shall not bear false witness..." (Exodus 20:16 NKN). Paul added, "Do not lie one to another..." (Colossians 3:9 NKJV). Lying is cheap and, therefore, is one of the most common sins. But truth is the moral glue that holds society together. Without truth, all contracts, covenants, and promises mean nothing. Truthfulness and integrity are the very fiber of our democracy. The lack of integrity in public officials always has been a matter of great concern. Mark Twain called attention to it nearly a century ago in his book, Christian Science: This is an honest nation--in private life. The American Christian is a straight and clean and honest man, and, in his private commerce with his fellows , can be trusted to stand faithfully by the principles of honor and honesty imposed upon him by his religion. But the moment he comes forward to exercise public trust, he can be confidently counted upon to betray that trust in nine cases out of ten, if "party loyalty" shall require it.... His Christianity is of no use to him and has no influence on him when he is acting in a public capacity. Twain concludes with this indict– ment: "There are Christian Private Morals, but there are no Christian Public Morals at the polls, or in the Congress, or anywhere else--except here and there and scattered around like lost comets in the solar system." Sadly, his indictment is as true today as it was nearly a century ago--no doubt, more so. There is nothing more relevant for our day than a man of integrity--one who, as the psalmist said, "keeps his oath even when it hurts" (Psalm 15:4 NIV). We Christians are called upon to be salt and light (Matthew 5: 14-16). Paul urged us to shine as lights "in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation" (Philippians 2: 15 NIV). What an opportunity we have to be a sanctifying influence in our sinful society today. Here again , there is timeless relevance in living according to the character of the timeless God. Paul said to Timothy, "If we are faithless , He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself' (2 Timothy 2:13 NKJV). Thankfully, it is "impossible for God to lie" (Hebrews 6: 18 NKJV). Integrity is of His very nature. How refreshing and relevant it is when we see this age-old biblical truth manifest in people we know, especially public figures. Abraham Lincoln is known as a man of integrity. When he was only 24 years old, he served as the postmaster of New Salem, Illinois. His remuneration was a mere $55.70 per year. Even then, nearly a quarter of a century before entering the White House, the old rail– splitter had earned the title of "Honest Abe." The New Salem post office was closed in 1836, but several years passed before an agent arrived from Washington to settle the accounts. The agent informed Lincoln that he owed the government $17. Lincoln walked across the room, opened the old trunk, and untied an old cloth which contained $17. He had been holding it in trust all those years. "I never use any man's money but my own," Lincoln replied. That's piblical integrity! ., •. " ' " ' . '· .,,,_ Can the Bible Really Meet Our Needs Today? Lincoln said of the Bible, "In regard to this great book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to men.... But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it." The poet was surely right when he said: When I search the world for the best, I come back laden from my quest, To find what all the sages said Is in the book our fathers read. And we, their children, likewise can find answers to our modem problems from this ancient book. But first we have to read it. Recently it was reported that Communists are seriously studying the Ten Commandments as a possible basis for their now defunct system. At the recent National Prayer Breakfast, Secretary of State James Baker told of gifts he and Soviet Foreign Secretary Shevardnadze had exchanged. Baker gave the Russian a pair of cowboy boots by which to remember America. Secretary Baker received a picture of Jesus teaching the multitudes. With a twinkle, Shevardnadze said, "You see, even we Communists are changing." The teachings of Christ in the Bible will change anyone who will believe them--anytime, anywhere. "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword... " (Hebrews 4:12). Dr. Norman L. Geisler is Dean of Liberty Center for Research and Scholarship at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virg inia. He is author of more than 30 books , including General Introduction to the Bible (Moody), and his most recent, The Battle for the Resurrection (Thomas Nelson). 'I ' ' '· ·, ' . '· ; '· ,