May 11th, 2023

I am taking a class online from Bob Jones University called, "Ethics For The Professional."  So far, it is pretty much what I anticipated it would be - much discussion on various theories / opinions / definitions of ethics.  Taking this class brought back memories of a class I took around 1999 at Bob Jones University.

That class was called, "Philosophy of Education" and it was taught by a man who is now deceased, Dr. Salter.  I remember going to that class (in person) and thinking that it was going to be miserable based on the boring sounding title.  I was very pleasantly surprised.  I learned much in that class about education, but the most important thing I learned is what stuck with me all these years - the actual definition of a philosophy: "A system of beliefs that guides your actions."

If you think about it, this applies to pretty much everything in life:  marriage, parenting, careers, relationships, etc.

So in this current class I had to look up various definitions of "ethics" - "the way of life" or "about doing the right things" or "what is moral in one place is immoral in another place" etc., etc.    Because BJU is a Christian university, it is obviously stressed that our ethics, way of life, philosophy, and morals should be biblically based and we should set that example for non-believers.  I could not agree more. 

There is just one MAJOR problem here...  I see WAY too many Christians ignore much of what the Bible teaches about the way we should live.  For example, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  Ephesians 4:32.  I think this is one of the most ignored verses in all of Scripture.  All around me (near and far) there are Christians literally shouting at one another (in church) in an attempt to get their way on something.  Is this what we have come to?  Is this the example a non-believer needs? 

God knows (and a whole bunch of us regular folks) that I am FAR from what I ought to be as a Christian, not even close.  So please do not think I am being "high and mighty" and condescending, I am not.  But what I am saying is that people watch, they notice, and they have good memories.  I have stated publicly from the pulpit that I am done with arguing, done with debating, done with having to have my way, done with getting even, etc.  Life is short - this is a concept that it is more real to me than ever before.  I have 2 grandchildren and one due in the next couple of weeks, I have thought a lot about what type of grandfather I want to be.  Many have said, "I bet you can't wait to teach that boy how shoot a basketball."  Yep, no question about it (I bought him a pair of Converse hi-tops before he was born) - but there is much, much more I want to teach him.  And do it by example.  

Ponder Ephesians 4:32 for a while, you will be glad you did.

God Bless,
Brother Barry
II Corinthians 5:21