Dear Kids:
You haven’t had a letter from your old (I can remember when parents worried about bad boys smoking corn-silk cigarettes instead of the marijuana kind) grandfather in a long time. Now that you are back in school, I will use this letter to talk to you about your all-the-time need to be alert to your calling to make judgments about people, their (and your) words and actions. We are ever sitting in judgments – to put on trial – to ‘try’. So, come with me and let’s eavesdrop on some conversations:
Mother: “Children, I have called you all indoors to talk to you about something that happened in our family. While cleaning in your bedrooms I uncovered a hidden paper-back book which your father and I believe should have no place in a Christian home such as ours. I will open this book at random and read the first paragraph I find on that page, (whereupon she reads that paragraph and they heard her say three swear-words and one obscene one.) I ask you now, does this book belong in our home? If you judge that it does not, I will expect the owner to destroy it before morning.”
This was a very easy trial for her children. The book was destroyed. Now for another.
Father: “Tonight the whole family will gather about the television set in the living room and watch what the world has to offer us for our enjoyment. It is seven o’clock, turn it on Jim. While the commercials are on we will all write down our judgments upon the program. You must write whether it was good, bad or neutral. You be the jury. The rules are very simple. All things in this house are to be judged by a standard. Just as when we want to know the length and width of a room we measure with a yardstick, a ruler or a measuring tape; each one of these are calibrated into inches and fractions thereof, standard over the whole country; so, the rule(r) which we use in this house is the Word of God. Simple, isn’t it? We shall ‘try’ the TV programs with that rule(r). From 7 to 7:30 we shall watch, ‘Bewitched’…. Now then, the next one is, ‘Family Affair’ …. What shall we watch now? Billy Graham? O.K. But that will be a little difficult for the younger one to ‘try’ to see if He measures up to our Biblical yardstick…9:30, time for one more. Well, it looks like we have no choice. All the networks are carrying the movie, ‘Three For The Road’…. There, bedtime for you youngsters, and the rest of us will compare our test, I mean, ‘try’ papers.”
Teacher: “Class, come to order. I want your undivided attention. As you walked past me into the room I detected an odor of marijuana wafting past my nose. One or more of you have been smoking pot at noon. Do you agree that the Board and the faculty of our school have the right to make and enforce rules? And do you agree that these rules meet the standard of the laws of the land and the Holy Scriptures? The law has ruled that the use of marijuana is taboo. Scripture rules that the abuse of our body is sin. Now I ask you to ‘try’ that offence this afternoon. Was it good, bad or neutral? How do you judge?”
Judge: “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: You see before you this morning a man accused of breaking and entering, robbery, rape and murder. The Prosecuting Attorney will attempt to prove that he is guilty of these crimes performed in one incident in a home on the southeast side of this city. You will hear witnesses who will support this accusation, and also witnesses for the defense which will purport his innocence on any or all of the charges. The law is clear covering such crimes. It is your solemn duty to listen carefully to the testimony of the witnesses as well as to the arguments of the attorneys; you are the judges in this ‘trial by law’. Mr. Prosecutor, proceed with your case. …Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: You have seen the exhibits, you have heard the arguments and have heard the testimony of the witnesses. I have cited the various laws and statutes covering the crimes of which the defendant stands accused. You must now determine the guilt or innocence of the defendant in each of these crimes. You have all you need to ‘try’ this man. If he is innocent you must set him free; if you find him guilty on one, two, three or all of the offences you must so rule that the Court may impose sentence upon him according to the degree of his guilt. You may now retire to the jury room to deliberate and to reach a verdict.”
Pastor: “I am very pleased that most of you have come to this catechism class so well prepared. Because you have learned the answers to the questions in this lesson you will be able to test the instruction I am to give you to see if it meets the standard of the Holy Scriptures…Now then let us look at today’s lesson on ‘God’s Work in Eternity’ and further study His Decrees of Election and Reprobation, and answer the questions, ‘What can you say as to God’s Counsel and man’s responsibility,’ and, ‘How about God’s Decree and a General Well-Meaning Gracious Offer of Salvation on the part of God?’ Finally we should learn how we can heed the injunction of Holy Writ to ‘make your calling and election sure’. We shall use our open Bibles as the final word on all these questions. Let’s ‘try’ them before the Bar of God’s Justice.”
Radio Evangelist: “God loves you!” Every one of you! I plead with you to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour before it is too late! The mouth of Hell is wide open waiting to swallow you up if you do not make this all-important decision. Make that choice right now! Accept Him right this minute! Do it wherever you are, in your car, in your home or right there on the beach! He died for you, the least you can do is accept His gracious offer of eternal life. Say it right now: ‘I accept you offer dear Jesus, save me from Hell! Hallelujah, Amen!’”
O.K. grandchildren all, remember you are the jury hearing, determining, ‘trying’ all your thoughts, words and deeds and testing all that comes to your eyes and ears from the outside. Especially that which comes to you in the name of religion. The First Epistle of the Apostle John give us an earnest warning on that score. Yours is the task to ‘try’ the so-called evangelists and radio ministers who say, “Thus saith the Lord.” You must use the rule(r) of the Holy Scriptures to determine their claim whether it is true or false. I find a title to my letter in the Epistle’s fourth chapter, in its first verse. What! a title at the bottom instead of the top! Your grandma used to make a pineapple- upside-down-cake: your grandfather has just now made a fine-sample-upside-down letter. The title? Oh yes:
“Try the Spirits”
Love, Gramps