It’s not done!

When’s the last time you heard that for an explanation? It’s been a long time for me. For a great many years of my life, it was an acceptable answer and you generally understood the premise.

I have a collection of fiction novels by Robert B. Parker about a private eye named Spenser. I  reread the entire collection every other year. I believe the characters in a fiction novel take on the author's character. Mr. Parker appears to have been an agnostic but with a strong sense of propriety and appropriateness that he held to but not based on religion. A teenager in the novel was making disparaging remarks about his parents which happened to be true.  Spenser told the kid that the remarks were in bad form. When the young man asked why Spenser told him “It’s not done!” When further questioned, Spenser claimed it was not appropriate.

That answer in our society at one time was good enough. It’s no longer a sufficient answer for most people. For the most part, we have come to believe that if we are not harming anyone then go with what you feel comfortable with. Other than that we have very few standards. A recent article on the internet declares the reason most people don’t believe in formal religion or church is that they don’t want rules forced on them. There are two problems with that. Whether you call them rules, standards, or principles God does not expect us to force them on anyone. His desire is for us to build a relationship with the Godhead and then the “rules” become a way of life through understanding His Word. God does have principles to live by and He wants us to accept them freely.

Dudley Rutherford is a minister in California who I sometimes watch on Saturday mornings. He believes “God is looking for people who are unashamed of the Gospel and are willing to take a stand.” He is strong in calling for a revival of the Gospel. To me, that means a return to “It’s not done!” is an acceptable answer.

Thanks!

Your thoughts?

Mike  

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.