A Christian Case for Trump

"As followers of Christ, we are called to stand up for life..." Sister Dede Byrne, Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts

I have never advocated for a political candidate before in this blog. However, the stakes of this election are high. I have written about the modern-day holocaust of abortion happening in America today (Hidden Figures). The opportunity to confront this holocaust is on the presidential ticket in a big way this election, and Christians have a moral obligation to take notice. (https://youtu.be/WZrlXvNO9VQ)

Abortion: Does it Trump Everything Else?
Pro-lifers are sometimes accused of being single-issue voters. Ron Sider, an evangelical at Eastern Pennsylvania College, wrote an article entitled "Does Abortion Trump Everything Else", and argued that abortion does not trump everything else (1). He wrote: "...if one is truly pro-life, one must care about the sanctity of human life [not only from conception to birth, but also] from birth to natural death. There are many things that public policy shapes that kills persons created in the image of God. That includes poverty, lack of health insurance, racism, smoking, climate change and capital punishment." 

I agree those are important issues, but are they all on equal footing and equivalent to abortion? 

Frank Turek, a Christian apologist, responded that Sider fails to recognize a moral hierarchy in Christian ethics (2). For example, Turek wrote "If I fail to give a homeless person on the street $10, would that be just as bad as shooting him? Of course not, but that is what Sider seems to be saying here...that they are equal. There is no priority." Turek continues: "...when you think about this, the right to life is the right to all other rights. If you don't have life, you don't have anything."

Turek quoted his mentor Norman Geisler, Christian theologian and author, who wrote in Christian Ethics (3): "...not all moral laws are of equal weight. Jesus spoke of weightier matters of the law in Matthew 23:23. And the least of these, Matthew 5:19. And the greatest commandment, Matthew 22:36. He told Pilate that Judas had committed the greater sin, John 19:11." 

If you thought Jesus wasn't involved in politics, think again. In Matthew 23, which was one of Geisler's examples in the previous paragraph, we find Jesus confronting the religious and political leaders of his day: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."  Matthew 23:23-24.

Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees. James Tissot (1836-1902).

I had never heard about a moral hierarchy (graded absolutism) in Christianity, but understanding it is crucial when contemplating abortion and other significant ethical issues as a Christ follower. Turek gives another example: "[graded absolutism] is applied even during, what we might say, are moral dilemmas. You know, if you're in Nazi Germany in World War Two, and you're hiding Jews in your attic, and you get a knock on your door...schnell, schnell...schnell, schnell. You come to the door, there are Nazi guards. Hast du hier Juden? What do you say? Well, you're not supposed to lie, right? Yeah, we got some Jews up in the attic right now. In fact, there's four of them up there. If you only see three, make sure you keep looking. No. You lie to protect innocent life. Why? Because there's a hierarchy of absolutes. And when you run into a conflict, you are exempted from the lower absolute to always tell the truth so you can fulfill the greater absolute, which is to protect innocent life. You have a greater duty to protect innocent life than you do to tell the truth to a guilty murderer." (2)

Turek concludes that rather than asking the question "Does Abortion Trump Everything Else?", we should ask the question that better reflects reality: "Does Murder Trump Everything Else". The answer is obvious - of course it does. Are you willing to say that you are okay with nearly one million murdered babies per year because you don't like Donald Trump's tone? I should hope not. I realize Trump isn't perfect, but let's remember we are voting for president, and not pastor of the U.S. It is his policies, not his demeanor, that will have long-lasting implications for our country (4,5,6). 

Sister Byrne, quoted above, noted that "Donald Trump is the most pro-life president that this nation has ever had, defending life at all stages. His belief in the sanctity of life transcends politics. President Trump will stand up against Biden-Harris, who are the most anti-life presidential ticket ever, even supporting the horrors of late-term abortion and infanticide."

The Church and Politics
There are other issues Christians should be concerned about in this election. Eric Metaxas, bestselling author of books such as "Bonhoeffer" and "If You Can Keep It", has noted that Biden's promise to sign the Equality Act on day one of his administration would have chilling effects on religious liberty in America, including in areas of sexuality, marriage, and issues of life. (7) 

Metaxas also commented that the Democratic Party's "common cause" with openly Marxist organizations such as Black Lives Matter and Antifa, are deeply troubling (7). To be clear, I passionately believe that all black lives matter, including the staggering number of black babies aborted (~300,000 annually), which is the leading cause of death in African-Americans and disproportionately eliminates members of this precious minority community in the U.S. (8,9). But I don't support the Black Lives Matter organization, which has a disturbing agenda of which most American's are probably unaware (10,11,12; https://youtu.be/8J68p5l-gjQ).

It is also important to emphasize the role of the next president in the appointment of judges, which will also have profound ramifications on the issues discussed herein, both for the church and our society, for many years to come. (4,5,6)

Many Christians seem to think they shouldn't be involved in politics, whether because they think their focus should be on preaching the gospel (I agree that is important), or perhaps it is because they are not paying attention to the important issues, or some may even be apathetic. However, it is actually very important for Christians to be involved in politics, as discussed brilliantly in this video by Frank Turek (https://youtu.be/BgXa5uzqXRk):

Politics affect many aspects of not only our lives (including our ability to freely preach the Gospel), but also the lives of the nearly one million murdered babies in the U.S. each year, who have no voice.  

Sadly, except for a few pastors (e.g., Bonhoeffer), the church in Nazi Germany (circa 1933-45) refused to talk about politics because pastors thought that political parties shouldn't be mentioned — too messy and "earthy," while they were more "kingdom" minded. They praised Jesus while Jews were being slaughtered in the concentration camps (5). I think the church is dangerously close to the same place today. And I believe the hour is late, but not too late - yet. 

It is time to wake up. (13)

Footnotes:

(1) https://ronsiderblog.substack.com/p/does-abortion-trump-everything-else 

(2) https://crossexamined.org/does-abortion-trump-everything-else/

(3) Geisler, Norman L. 2010. Christian Ethics. Baker Academic.

(4) https://www.christianpost.com/news/can-you-be-christian-and-a-democrat.html

(5) https://www.christianpost.com/voices/5-reasons-why-christians-should-feel-comfortable-voting-for-trump-in-2020.html

(6) https://crossexamined.org/why-did-evangelicals-vote-for-trump/ 

(7) https://www.christianpost.com/news/eric-metaxas-on-why-pastors-need-to-address-politics-black-lives-matter-and-woke-christianity.html 

(8) https://thelifeinstitute.net/learning-centre/abortion-facts/issues/the-numbers

(9) https://abort73.com/abortion/abortion_and_race/

(10) https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/

(11)  https://m4bl.org/policy-platforms/

(12) https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/the-agenda-black-lives-matter-far-different-the-slogan

(13) Romans 13:9-12 (NIV):  The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Determined to Believe?

"...some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation."  John Calvin

Are people predestined for heaven or hell before they are born? Some Christians believe it, other Christians reject it, and some wrestle with whether it is true or not. It is the classic "free will vs. determinism" debate: Do we have a choice in whether we believe in God, or is it out of our hands?

John Lennox wades into these deep waters in his book "Determined to Believe: The Sovereignty of God, Faith and Human Responsibility".

This topic came up at a recent wedding reception, where I overheard a preacher discussing one difficult implication of determinism - specifically, if God is responsible for everything, as determinism teaches, then isn't God also responsible for evil? The pastor explained that since God is good, he can't be responsible for evil. Later, I asked him if he was Reformed (1) and he responded "Absolutely!" (2) When I asked him why, he said emphatically "Because the Scriptures clearly teach it!", and he proceeded to quote several verses from the New Testament. I took the opportunity to question him: "Would you say that God caused Adam and Eve to sin and thus, humanity to fall from grace? "Yes", he affirmed, "ultimately it will bring more glory to God". I continued my questions: "What about some of the most heinous actions people commit against others such as murder, rape, and torture, would you say God also caused that?" He affirmed that as well, although he seemed less comfortable with that assertion. He went on to explain that God in his Sovereignty can bring good from all things.

Wrestling with Determinism
Now, I believe that God can bring good from all things. (3) But I have trouble believing God ordains heinous acts of people against others, or even that some people are doomed to eternal damnation before they were born. But if the Bible really teaches that, then who am I to question it? Yet I've always been uncomfortable with this teaching. After all, If God predetermines the eternal destiny of people before they are born, what does it say about his character? Is he really loving and good? How can he be a God of love and justice if he preordains some to damnation but yet somehow holds them responsible for failing to see what they couldn't see or do what they couldn't do?

John Lennox, author of many
excellent Christian apologetic
books, including "Determined
to Believe?"

It was my conversation above with the Reformed preacher that finally motivated me to read Lennox's book, and I'm so glad I did. Lennox challenges theistic determination and its implications in a respectful tone. With logic and intellect, he examines the key Bible verses used to support determinism (4), including within their larger context, their interpretation from the original Greek, and some potentially alternate meanings of those verses.

After reading his book I have more peace about this topic because I know there is strong Biblical support for what my intellect and heart have sensed all along. Namely, while I totally believe in the Sovereignty of God, I also believe he gives us the free will to choose or reject him; to believe, or not to believe, in Him. 

Is God a Moral Monster?
Because the doctrine of determinism appears to many to call into question the love and goodness of God (as described above), it alienates some people who are beginning to think about Christianity. Some Christians also wrestle with and think deeply about the big topics of God's sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility. These are serious issues, and are the primary reasons why Lennox wrote his book.

A Couple of Brief Examples:
I thought about trying to summarize the book in this post, but that would be difficult because it is such a weighty book. However, at the risk of ignoring many parts of his book, a couple of examples may be helpful. Here are two verses from the Bible, with comments following each of them by Lennox:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.  John 3:36.

Lennox:  "It is hard to imagine how this statement could have been made if men and women did not possess the capacity to believe.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16.

Lennox:  "It doesn't say "whoever has eternal life believes in him". (5)

Of course, there are other verses that indicate determinism and Lennox addresses each of them, as I mentioned above. (4)

Conclusion
Lennox is careful to avoid labels and acknowledges his respect for those Christians who espouse determinism. And to be sure, there are varying degrees of determinism, and not all "determinists" would say that God preordains some people to eternal damnation or to commit heinous acts (6). Nevertheless, when such influential Christians like John MacArthur, John Piper, R.C. Sproul, and Jonathan Edwards emphatically teach (or have taught) it, the topic of determinism must be reckoned with. Lennox also notes a number of well-known Christians who have rejected, or at least questioned, determinism or portions of it such as C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, C.H. Spurgeon, John Wesley, A.W. Tozer, Alvin Planinga, William Lane Craig, N.T. Wright. (7) 

If you are a Christian, or a person considering Christianity, who is troubled by the implications of determinism, this book could be extremely helpful to you. I highly recommend it.

Note: Lennox also discusses (and believes in) assurance of salvation, a huge and important topic. But in the interests of space and brevity, I haven't summarized it herein.


Footnotes:
(1) Reformed Theology teaches determinism.
(2)  In my experience, those who believe in determinism are very adamant in their views.
(3)  Romans 8:28.
(4) E.g., Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:11-12.
(5) In Chapter 10 of "Determined to Believe?", The Irreversibility of Regeneration.
(6) For example, the Lutheran Church teaches unconditional election to salvation but rejects predestination to damnation.
(7) Lennox also quotes Martin Luther quite a lot, but Luther's position, at the risk of oversimplifying, seemed to fall somewhere in the middle.

China

Like most Americans, I have heard about China since I was a child. I have read the sayings of Confucius and seen pictures of China's (then) antiquated agriculture. Like many other children, I fully intended to dig a hole deep enough to get to China, and my parents told me to clean up all the food on my plate at meals because children were starving in China (that was a common cultural saying then; don't try to figure out the logic!).

Since then I've been blessed to know several wonderful people from China, including some who are my peers now or were my peers while I was in graduate school. Also, I've served as major adviser to two Chinese graduate students (one currently) and have served on the advisory committees of a number of other Chinese graduate students. Some of my peers and graduate students (former and current) are pictured below. What a privilege it has been to work with them!

In 2013, I was fortunate to visit China to attend the 12th International Turfgrass Society Conference (this post is long overdue)! Really I only visited Beijing and surroundings, and I'm aware there is much more to China. But what I saw was impressive.

China is a beautiful gem in God's creation, including its people, culture, and landscape. I hope you enjoy a few pictures of my visit there. (1)

The Great Wall was breathtaking (in more ways than one!). Built around 221-210 BC, it traverses
thousands of miles of China. We visited a restored portion less than 40 miles from Beijing. It was
crowded near the entrance (we took a cable car to get up to the wall). But I walked far enough to
where the crowd thinned out. The haze in the sky was smog from nearby Beijing; the sky had been
crystal clear the day before, but when the winds are calm the smog rapidly accumulated again.

I visited the Temple of Heaven, considered by some to be
Beijing's most recognizable icon. Here, successive emperors would make
sacrifices and pray to heaven and their ancestors at the winter solstice,
to intercede for their people and pray for a good harvest. The emperor was
considered the "Son of Heaven".

Entrance to Forbidden City, so called because at one time only members of the imperial court were
allowed inside. It is one of the largest palace complexes ever built. We spent several hours there
on a Sunday afternoon!

Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square, is right across the street from the Forbidden
City. Dr. Kemin Su (right) was my first graduate student, and an excellent one at that. Kemin,
who is from China, went to considerable efforts and expense to help my colleagues and I feel
welcome (more below on that). Also pictured are Dr. Paul Johnson from Utah State Univ.
(2nd from left), me (left), and a Chinese friend we met in the subway, who spent most of the day
with us. I found the Chinese to be very friendly and fun to be around.

The Summer Palace and Kunming Lake, which in ancient days was the semi-rural summer retreat
area for the imperial court. On the day we visited it was the only clear day during the 7 days I was
there (the remainder were smoggy), and it was beautiful! Beijing city is in the background.

The entrance to Ming Tombs, 30 miles NW of Beijing. It is a vast burial site of 13 of the 16
Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) emperors. The tombs are spread over 15 square miles.

Drs. Jack Fry, Kemin Su, and me (right to left) on the Great Wall. Dr. Su, my first graduate student
as mentioned above, generously arranged a ride for Dr. Fry and his wife Nathalie and me, served as
our tour guide for a day to the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, the 2008 Summer Olympics site, and
treated us to a wonderful Chinese dinner in Beijing, all at his expense. He is a very generous and
hospitable man, and made our stay so much richer!

Bringing Kansas State University (KSU) to China! Dr. Jack Fry, his wife Nathalie, and me (right
to left). This was at the Summer Palace.

Turfgrass and China
From a historical context, China is a case study on the detrimental effects of removing all turfgrass from urban centers. The following is an excerpt from a textbook of the late Dr. James Beard, considered to be the father of modern turfgrass science:

"During the Cultural Revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s in China, the grassed lawns, trees, and shrubs were removed in major urban areas because they were viewed negatively by the government officials as symbols of a capitalistic society. As a consequence, the dust problem became so severe that at times car traffic on roads had to be closed because of a lack of visibility for safe travel. Eventually, the rate of human diseases associated with the aerial dust pollution in these Chinese cities was much greater than for comparable cities in other parts of the world. Initially, government officials attempted to solve the problem by employing large groups of workers to regularly sweep up the dust from barren ground. The program was unsuccessful. This author was then contacted by the Chinese Botanical Society about revegetation strategies. The officials decided to reintroduce trees, but the problem was not significantly lessened until after an official policy of reintroducing turfgrasses onto the bare areas was implemented. It should be noted that windborne dust from rural areas remains a problem." (2)

So it was significant that China hosted the 12th International Turfgrass Society Conference, of which I had the privilege of attending. Below are a few pics of the conference and some turfgrass around Beijing.

Opening session of the 12th International Turfgrass Society Conference, 2013. The conference
lasted 6 days, from July 14-19.

Presenting my scientific research at the conference.

Natural turfgrass at the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Here near the Bird's Nest Stadium.

A Chinese appeal to your conscience to keep off the turfgrass. I wonder if this sign would
work in America! This was at the 2008 Summer Olympics Grounds.

Turfgrass inside the Forbidden City. Unfortunately it was artificial, not natural turfgrass!

Other Highlights from around the City:

Panoramic view of Forbidden City from the Wancheng Pavilion at Jing Shan Park. The Pavilion sits
atop a large hill to the north of the Forbidden City; the hill was created from the earth that was
excavated while building the moat around the palace complex during the reign of the Ming Yongle
emperor.

This rickshaw driver at Qian Hai Lake in the Hou Hai neighborhood, north of the Forbidden City,
was giving Dr. Yaling Qian (turfgrass scientist from Colorado State Univ.) a hard sell for a ride
around the area. Hou Hai consists of 3 lakes surrounded by an expansive and labyrinthine sprawl of
age-old alleys; it was most interesting. Yaling generously gave Dr. Jack Fry, Nathalie his wife, and
me a tour around the Hou Hai neighborhood and the Summer Palace. Yaling and I were graduate
students at the same time back in the 1990s at Kansas State University; Jack Fry served as her
major adviser.

The sky was clear on only one of the 7 days I was in Beijing. I was surprised to see
mountains around the city! This was the view from the window of my room in the Beijing
Yulong Hotel.

An interesting shirt for sale at a street vendor near the Forbidden City. Looks suspiciously like
our (then) President Obama in a Chinese Communist Military Uniform.

China and Cuisine:

Dr. Jinman Fu (right) very graciously treated us to a great dinner in a private room in the
restaurant. Dr. Fu was a graduate student at Kansas State University, advised by Dr. Fry. I had the
privilege of serving on his committee. Also pictured (right to left) are Dr Yiewui Jiang (Purdue
Univ.), who was formerly a graduate student at Kansas State Univ., Dr. Bingru Huang (Rutgers
Univ.), my predecessor (of my current position at Kansas State Univ.), Nathalie and Jack Fry, me,
and Dr. Yaling Qian (Colorado State Univ.).

The squirrel fish was most interesting, and very tasty!

Dr. Kemin Su graciously treated Dr. Fry, Nathalie, and I to an amazing
Chinese dinner in a private room in a nice restaurant. Here the chef was
serving Peking Duck.

 

Scorpions for dinner anyone? This was at a street vendor in Beijing on a bustling Friday evening. (YouTube:  https://youtu.be/P-KXB8-yht4)

Street vendors were everywhere in Beijing! Most things looked tasty. I wasn't sure what to
think about the stinky tofu though...mostly because of the bad smell.

McDonald's is everywhere, here somewhere in Beijing!

Graduate students from China who have been or are in the turfgrass program at K-State:

Kemin Su, my first graduate student, at the
Birdsnest Stadium in Beijing. He is from
Shanxian (County), Shandong Province. He
now resides in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Mu Hong is currently my graduate
(doctoral) student; I serve as his
major adviser. He is from Shantou,
in the Guangdong province.

Mingying Xiang is from Weihai, in the Shandong
province. I served on her graduate committee.
She is now at Univ. of California, Riverside.

Qi (Chee) Zhang, Associate Professor
North Dakota State University
I served on Qi's graduate committee.

Footnotes

(1) Some information about tourist sites was obtained from: Top 10 Beijing, DK Eyewitness Travel, 2011.

(2) Beard, J.B. 2008. Integrated multiple factor considerations in low-precipitation landscape approaches. p. 33-40 In J.B. Beard and M.P. Kenna (editors) Water quality and quantity issues for turfgrasses and urban landscapes. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, special publication 27.

The Secret of Life

"Do you know what the secret of life is?"  Curly (City Slickers)

If there was a true secret of life, would we be willing to believe it? In our post-modern world where many don't believe there are absolute truths, this is a relevant question.

Post-Modern Answer
In the movie "City Slickers" there is an intriguing scene in which Billy Crystal portrays a man going through a middle age crisis. He is beginning to see that his time in this life is limited, and is struggling to find meaning in it all. He is chatting with an old cowboy (Curly) about life when Curly asks him if he knows what the secret of life is (see YouTube video clip below or at this link: (https://youtu.be/X1cmvzRKCCg).

For me, the intriguing aspect of the scene, as characterized by Billy Crystal's character, is the display of yearning we all feel for something beyond ourselves that gives us true meaning, purpose and happiness. Curly's answer (which is basically, you have to figure it out for yourself) seems to carry some weight, but in the end is disappointing and leaves me unsatisfied. Why? Because no matter how much we try to assuage the ache of our mortality with our own anecdotes (money, sex, power, fame, even kindness or love) it doesn't change the fact that life is all too brief and in the end, in the secular worldview, none of it will really matter. Theologian Tim Keller summarizes the implications of the secular, post-modern worldview:

"What if human civilization lasted a billion years? In comparison to the oceans of dead time before life, and the oceans of dead time after the sun burns out, human civilization is just a blip. No one will be around to remember anything that’s been done. Nothing you do has any significance at all. Everything you do is insignificant whether you live a good life or a bad life." (1)

Astonishingly, in contrast to this bleak picture, there is a much better answer to the "secret of life" question, one that is filled with hope, joy, and peace. (2)

Jesus giving his famous "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5-7).
Painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch (Danish painter, 1834-1890).

"Whoever has ears, let them hear", said Jesus Christ to a crowd after one of his public teachings. (3) Later, when his close followers asked him about the meaning of his teaching, he said “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you....Don't you understand...? (emphasis mine) (4) Despite their slowness, he patiently and graciously went on to explain the meaning of that teaching to them. 

The same could be said of you and me. Do we want to "hear" about the secret of his kingdom? If you have an open mind and earnestly desire to know the "secret of life", I urge you to consider Jesus' message, which isn't really a secret at all. It is freely available and has brought hope, joy, meaning, and purpose to billions of people over the centuries.

Good News!
Jesus lived a remarkable life of "mighty works and wonders and signs." (5)
Here are a few of his teachings:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (6)

"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (7)

"...there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” “Behold, I make all things new." (8)

Of course, anyone could have said these things, although one would have to wonder about their sanity. However, Jesus backed up his claims by his mighty works and, especially, by his Resurrection from the dead after his brutal crucifixion. (9, 10)

Road to Emmaus, by Robert Zund (1826-1909).

"Seek, and you will find", taught Jesus. (11) He has the same patience and graciousness towards you and me that he had for his followers when they didn't immediately understand his teachings, as mentioned above.

I love the painting of Jesus on the Road to Emmaus, walking with his followers after his Resurrection from the dead. As they walked, Jesus explained the secrets of the kingdom to them. After the journey his two followers exclaimed “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”(12)

Do you want to know the secret of life? 
Will you follow him? It doesn't mean your journey will be easy, or that you will always understand everything that happens to you. But it will be a lifelong journey of learning his truths and being increasingly filled with the hope that one day he will make all things new, including you.

Beautiful!


Footnotes...
(1) Tim Keller, Notes from his sermon "Sickness Unto Death". https://paulvanderklay.me/2013/11/07/notes-on-tim-kellers-sermon-sickness-unto-death/
(2) Romans 15:13
(3) Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:9, 23.
(4) excerpts from Mark 4:11-13.
(5) Acts 2:22.
(6) John 11:25-26.
(7) John 16:33
(8) Revelation 21:4-5.
(9) Acts 2:23-24.
(10)  There is significant evidence of his Resurrection for those interested, but that is beyond the scope of this discussion and I have covered it in other posts:  Ressurection from the Dead; and Risen - The Movie
(11) Matthew 7:7
(12) Luke 24:32 

If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty

"We must always consider...that we shall be as a city upon a hill--the eyes of all people are upon us." John F. Kennedy (1)

The Statue of Liberty faces outward towards the nations, carrying a torch
and holding it high, as if to say "This is not just for us, it's meant for you
too..." (excerpt from City on a Hill, John Winthrop. Photo by Dale Bremer

Freedom and liberty. Our hearts yearn for it. American's are blessed with it. But what is it, and can we keep it?

Did you know America's founders saw our form of government as radical, risky, and fragile? Benjamin Franklin said as much when he responded to a citizen who had asked him, as he exited the Constitutional Convention in 1787 (2), what type of government they had forged. "A republic...if you can keep it.", he answered.

What exactly did Franklin mean? The idea of American liberty, or self-government was unprecedented in history. There was no guarantee it was going to work.

Most of us have forgotten this and other significant aspects of America's history, said Eric Metaxas in his book, If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty. Nevertheless, the burden of "keeping it" as Franklin said, is excruciatingly important. Ronald Reagan once said: "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction". In his book, Metaxas lamented he was "gravely afraid we are in serious danger of letting [the flame of freedom] go out in our generation."

His book serves as a warning, but he offers encouraging ideas to help us remember our history, keep our republic, and pass it on to the next generation.

The Golden Triangle of Freedom was understood to be crucial to the long-term success of America, and explains why the founders believed the populace was ready for self governance:

1. Freedom requires virtue (3, 10)
2. Virtue requires faith (4)
3. Faith requires Freedom (5)
Metaxas explains it here: https://youtu.be/Vjxo5wEjM7w  (6)

Venerating our Heroes has fallen out of favor in America, to our detriment. But we need stories of our heroes to inspire us. Consider Nathan Hale, who volunteered to go behind enemy lines for George Washington and was captured. His last words before being hanged were "My only regret is that I have but one life to give for my country". He was 21 years old. Let that sink in for a moment. His sacrifice should move us to tears. 

Loving America
If America is to survive, we must love the best of America while acknowledging her worst. We shouldn't pretend America can do no wrong, nor should we cynically view "America as the world's problem". The current ideological battle between these two camps in America is deeply destructive to our culture.

Abraham Lincoln saw the ugliness of slavery and led the nation into war to stop it. But he also loved America, believed she was God's gift to the world, and called her "the last great hope on earth".

"Washington Crossing the Delaware". An 1851 painting by Emanuel Leutze. Metaxas suggests that we study art such as this
with our children to teach them (and us) to appreciate and love America.

How do we love America? Metaxas suggests studying art from our early history (7) and using remembrance and ritual, including with our children (8), as a beginning.

The promise of America is for future generations and even the world. (9) You and I simply must pass it on!

Perhaps Ronald Reagan summarized it best: "If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth."


Footnotes:
(1)    Excerpted from City on a Hill, by John Winthrop, who based it on Jesus's words in Matthew 5:14: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
(2)    Independence Hall, Philadelphia, USA.
(3)    "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom" (Benjamin Franklin). Self government requires people to govern themselves.
(4)    "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." (President John Adams). The influence of Reverend George Whitefield, known as the spiritual founding father of America, had led to widespread faith in God throughout the American colonies.
(5)    The "wall of separation between the church and state", coined by President Thomas Jefferson, means religious liberty will be respected and encouraged, but the national government cannot favor one church over another. People are free to worship as they desire.

(6)    For a longer, entertaining, and fascinating discussion about his book, listen to this video (https://youtu.be/UmtOdNtCTxg):

 

(7)    For example, Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride", the painting Washington Crossing the Delaware, or the Iwo Jima statue in Washington D.C., and the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", which is critical of America but in a hopeful and inspiring way.
(8) Having children cite portions of Paul Revere's Ride on April 18, the Declaration of Independence on July 4, and do something to remember Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and George Washington on February 22. We should do this in our communities, in front of town halls, libraries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, and especially in our schools.
(9)    Metaxas explains this in depth in his book. Perhaps the Declaration of Independence summarizes it best:  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
(10) For more discussion and quotes on the emphasis on God during the founding of America, see my blog post about my visit to Washington DC:  Emphasis of America's Founding Fathers on God.

Peace on Earth?

"I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself."    George Frideric Handel, after writing "Hallelujah Chorus"

Have you noticed tension and tragedy in the national and world news?

George Friderick Handel (1685-1759), composed
Messiah in only 24 days. During that time he rarely
ate or left his room.

This Christmas and beyond we desperately need a compelling vision of something larger than us and our differences, that puts our problems into perspective. Handel caught a glimpse of such a vision as he wrote his musical masterpiece "Messiah". The vision was so overwhelming that, according to a friend who visited during that time, Handel sobbed with intense emotion as he composed it. Later, as Handel groped for words to describe his experience, he quoted St. Paul, saying, "Whether I was in the body or out of my body when I wrote it I know not. God knows". (1, 2)

Oh that we would be overcome by the beauty and power of that vision.

Grasping the Vision
The lengthy vision embodies a love story of powerful intervention into the sufferings of humanity, the eventual destruction of death and evil, and the renewal of all things.

Specifically, it is a journey through many prophesies about the Messiah (Jesus Christ), His birth, sufferings, death, and resurrection, and His promised return to wipe away sorrow, destroy death, and make all things new. (3)

It is a vision about love, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption, encompassing the incomprehensible sacrifice and sufferings of Christ to intervene for all who accept His payment on their behalf. (4) 'He came to pay a debt he didn't owe, because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.'  His work gives us great hope and joy even in the midst of pain. It reinstates our place in His Kingdom, now and forever.

The vision is also about justice, judgement and vengeance. ' king of kings and lord of lords', a prominent line in 'Hallelujah Chorus', is from Revelation amidst a description of Christ and his armies destroying the forces of evil. (5)

At first, that may not sound like peace. But think of it. All the murder, rape, theft, and injustice of history, and even death itself and the enemy behind it all will be judged, avenged and destroyed.

Jesus warned things will get worse before they get better. (6) This Lord of the Rings video gives a glimpse of what that day may look like.

We need this vision. It is much larger and more powerful than any troubling headline of our day. 

Peace on Earth?
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." So the angels declared as they announced the birth of Christ that first Christmas night many years ago. (7) Dare we believe it?

I believe we can. The book of Revelation in the New Testament proclaims that countless people from every nation will praise God, (8)  and that the "the leaves of the 'tree of life' will be for the healing of the nations." (9)

The nations at peace. No more death or mourning or crying or pain. All things made new. All injustices undone and made right. 

That's something to hope for.

Hallelujah Chorus!
Andres Rieu directed the choir in the video below, telling his audience "no matter what last year brought to you, I know of no music that brings more joy and more hope than this song". The optics of his choir are powerful too, an illustration of the nations praising God.

As you listen, ponder the vision Handel and others have experienced. 
 
May you experience the King of Kings this Christmas season and for all eternity!

HANDEL - Messiah (Johann Strauss Orchestra and Harlem Gospel Choir) from Joe Orgill plus joe.orgill.slcc on Vimeo.

From Andre Rieu's "Live From Radio City Music Hall" in New York City 2004.

Hallalujah Chorus Lyrics
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!

The kingdom of this world is become
The kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ!
And he shall reign for ever and ever!

King of kings and Lord of lords!
King of kings and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever!
Forever and ever!

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah!

Footnotes:

1. https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/messiah-and-george-frideric-handel-11630237.html

http://www.gfhandel.org/handel/anecdotes.html

2. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

3. For a list of verses in Messiah, see website: http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/messiah.htm

4. Without the intervention of Christ, no one could stand in the presence of God and live, for we are imperfect and sinful. Isaiah understood this when, in a vision similar to that in Revelation, he cried "“Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and...my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5) See also Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:13.

5. 'I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war...He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  king of kings and lord of lords.'  Revelation 19:11-16

6. Matthew 24:3-9

7. Luke 2:14

8. "...there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:"
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:9-10

9. Revelation 22:1-2

Scotland, Freedom, and Turfgrass

"Go back to England and tell them...Scotland is free."  William Wallace

My wife and I recently visited Scotland and England. Here are a few photos and thoughts from our journey... 

Edinburgh Castle, an imposing sight from the streets of the city.

Statue of William Wallace, flanking one side of the entrance gate to
Edinburgh Castle along with Robert the Bruce on the other (not shown here, but
can be seen at a distance in the picture immediately below).

Scotland and Freedom


It seemed impossible not to think about freedom and liberty during our visit to Scotland. At Edinburgh Castle there are statues of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce flanking the entrance to the castle. Both are national heroes of Scotland because of their leadership in the fight against English tyranny in the 1200's and 1300's AD. William Wallace, you may recall, was portrayed in the movie Braveheart, who paid the ultimate price by being brutally executed at the hands of the English. 

(more thoughts below)

My wife Jannis standing before the arched entrance of Edinburgh Castle. Statues of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce
can be seen on either side of the archway entrance to the castle.

View of the city of Edinburgh from Edinburgh Castle.

Freedom and Tyranny Have Many Dimensions
We also visited the Wallace Monument near Stirling, Scotland, where we had an interesting discussion with a man from San Francisco. We were visiting with him about travel, life, and work when he made a curious statement, mostly in regards to work. "As long as we are okay with it in here", he said pointing towards his heart. Somehow his words transcended the moment, notably because we were at a monument dedicated to freedom. His statement caused me to pause and reflect...

Am I at peace in my heart about how I spend my days? My work? None of us are getting any younger, and if we aren't passionate about what we do, if we are afraid to do the things we are called or made to do, which may require risk, then I believe we can live under a sort of self-imposed tyranny and not really free; not really living. Perhaps that is what led William Wallace to say:

"Every man dies, not every man really lives"     

And the Psalmist to write: 

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" Psalm 90:12

Are you passionate about your work and life? How do you handle fear and risk?

The view west from Abbey Craig, the site of the Wallace Monument, towards the city of Stirling, Stirling castle, and the
site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge (see below for details). Courage and risk in the face of fear was required by the Scots
who fought against the odds in this battle to gain freedom for their people.

The Universal Yearning for Freedom
As an American, these topics of liberty and freedom in Scotland resonated with me. I love this excerpt from our Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"
                                                                                       
 Interestingly, I found the following quote in my passport, which seemed to parallel the themes discussed herein:

"It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win." John Paul Jones, naval commander, Revolutionary War.

Risk is scary, because we stand to lose something. There were Scots in Wallace's day who would not fight because they feared losing their land, possessions, or lives. Wallace risked it all and paid with his life, but he also inspired a nation and his legacy endures to this day. He was a man who "really lived".

Risk for you and I may not mean facing a physical battlefield, but perhaps stepping out of our comfort zone and into the unknown. It could be starting a new business or job, going back to college, pursuing your dreams, pursuing happiness.

Jannis by Hadrian's Wall at Birdoswald Roman Fort, UK. The wall was built by Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD,
who apparently decided it was better to try to keep the Scots out of the Roman Empire than fight them! The
Scots enjoyed their freedom, even 2000 years ago!

Spiritual Freedom and Tyranny
 How did Wallace develop his deep convictions about freedom? I believe they came at least in part from his Christian faith in the Creator who endows these Rights. Wallace was educated by his uncle, the priest of Dunipace. In his studies he undoubtedly was influenced by the Bible, in which freedom is a common theme. Does that surprise you? For example:

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  
                                                                                               Jesus Christ (John 8:32)

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" 
Apostle Paul (Galatians 5:1)

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there the heart is free"
Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 3:17)

[Christ] "stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets."  [Therefore], "because of [the] Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do...it is what God is doing...Apostle Paul (Colossians 2:15; Galatians 6:15, The MSG)

Why should I fear if God calls me into the unknown, to follow the dreams in my heart, dreams that were placed there by Him? Where failure seems possible and the price could be high? Why am I too often paralyzed by what others think about me? Clearly there is more to unpack here than there is space in this post, such as how to discern what God may truly be calling you and me to do in our lives. Though I still sometimes fear, I also know the Lord is near, and I'm both challenged and encouraged by my faith.

St. Margaret was an English Princess, a Scottish Queen, and a pious Christian
who undoubtedly knew about the freedom taught in the Bible. This stained glass
panel is in St. Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh's oldest existing building (it is located
in Edinburgh castle), probably built in the early 12th Century.

Turfgrass
So what does all of this have to do with turfgrass (as indicated in the title of this post)? Well, as my turfgrass colleagues know, golf originated in Scotland. And Jannis and I were fortunate enough to visit the Old Course at St. Andrews, which is the oldest golf course still in existence today.

Me at the Old Course!

Jannis and I at the Swilkan Bridge, between the 1st and 18th fairways at the Old Course.

Actually, the main reason we were in the UK was to attend the European Turfgrass Society Conference. There were many excellent presentations by turfgrass scientists from around Europe and also the US. Thanks to Drs. Stewart Brown, Claudia de Bertoldi, and Bernd Leinauer for organizing and coordinating this event! Thanks also to the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) for partially funding my research presented at, and my travel to the conference.

You can tell this is a bunch of turfgrass enthusiasts since they are down inspecting the turf, here at Manchester City Stadium!

Attendees of the European Turfgrass Society conference at Campey Turf Care Systems Headquarters, near Manchester.

Dr. Christian Spring, research operations manager at the STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) at Bingley, UK, explaining
their research plots.

Below is a video and a few other photos from our visit to Scotland. The video was taken outside the gates of Hollyrood Palace in Edinburgh, where we happened to stumble across the Royal Regiment of Scotland. They were entering the grounds to honor the Queen, who was in residence while we were there. It was amazing!

The sun sets late this far north; sunset after 10 pm and sunrise at 4:30 am. Twilight never stops. This is Portobello
Beach, near Portobello, a coastal suburb of Edinburgh.

Ruins of the 12th century St. Andrews Cathedral, once the largest cathedral in Scotland. St Rule's tower is the tall structure
to the right, which predates the cathedral. Visitors can climb the stairs for a great view of St. Andrews and surroundings.

West Sands Beach, beside St. Andrews Golf Course, stretches for almost 2 miles. This where a famous scene from the movie
"Chariots of Fire" was filmed, where Olympian Eric Liddell ran along the beach. Eric was a devout Christian who said
"when I run, I feel His (God's) pleasure". I could almost hear the theme song from the movie "run" through my mind as we
strolled the beach. It is beautiful!

The Scottish countryside is beautiful. This is in the lowlands, southwest of Edinburgh.

Broomhall Castle, at Menstrie, which is near Stirling, Scotland. We stayed for one night. It was a fun experience!

We flew via Icelandair, landing at Keflavik, Iceland, on our way to and from the UK. This was the view out the window as
we were descending to land in Iceland.

Finally, this is northeastern Canada, with ice floating offshore in the ocean (left). We also flew over Greenland, which
had many snow-covered peaks, too. I think it would be fun to visit some of these remote places someday!