Is the Test You, or Is It for You?

"This is your moment of test of your faith. You're not a victim of circumstance but a winner of predicaments. Don't lose hope. Hold onto your faith and trust in God."

-- Ritu Ghatourey, writer

Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19), has always been appalling to me.  That an all-knowing, omnipotent being would contrive such a test for which, being all-knowing, the outcome would only prove what both of them already know, seems to me as cruel and pointless.  God even admits that the test proves Abraham's fear of God, which is seen as appropriate by this God of his.  Why are we meant to fear a loving God, especially one who already knows what is in our hearts?  Sometimes I wonder if God isn't doing a "taste test" to ensure the recipe turned out as planned.  The thought doesn't make sense, though, if God is perfect, right?   

Is God testing you, or are you the test for someone else?  Or, is being the test for someone else also a test for you?  God's 'twofer special' is to see if you realize you are the test and if you're up to the challenge.  We are all on a path of discovery and, with every experience, we learn more which we can pass on to others.  Each of us is a mentor, a minister, a shepherd, a pastor to each other.  One of the first tests is to realize this truth, the next test is how you put it into practice.

“Those who are determined to be ‘offended’ will discover a provocation somewhere. We cannot possibly adjust enough to please the fanatics, and it is degrading to make the attempt.”

-- Christopher Hitchens, author, columnist, social critic

Someone's judgment of your righteousness is, also, a judgment of their own.  Where you see judgment, you might be better served to find the lesson in the predicament and show others the error in judging.  You can try to explain it to them, but words rarely sway the ego, especially in the perpetually offended.  It is very easy to judge others, but there is a fine line one must walk in order to have an opinion and not judge others for theirs.

Our varied opinions on morality are an obvious test for each of us.  Our view of morality can be the impetus for disagreement and can, very often, create negative judgment about us.  I find this happens most often with "hot button" topics, like abortion.  Can both sides of this debate, pro-life and pro-choice, equally offend each other?  I've had problems understanding how.  Pro-life stands to defend the right of women to choose what happens with their body, while pro-life stands to defend unborn children from being murdered in the womb.  Two totally different arguments, right?  I see one is an obvious choice, while the other is a moral imperative. 

“I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.”

-- Ronald Reagan  (1911-2004), 40th President of the U.S.

I try not to judge.  I am a hypocrite in that I am perpetually offended by the League of the Perpetually Offended.  I am especially offended by those members offended that I take exception to any excuse they can drum up for the murder of innocent life.  Yet, we are all a party to this when we allow the government to define, with questionable science, when life begins and when it is deemed appropriate under the law to approve the slaughter of innocent life which doesn't meet their poor definition of when life begins, or whether it should be allowed to continue.  This very definition, of when life begins, is a test of our civilization.  Even science can't agree on the definition as it seems to change constantly.  What do we say to those innocent we allowed to be slaughtered under a previous ruling?  Sorry about that?

Health and welfare of the woman is one thing, but unwanted pregnancy can now be terminated at the onset.  We no longer have an excuse to wait until just before our definition of when life exists before we opt for murder in lieu of termination.  It seems just as easy for a doctor to do harm one way as the other, providing a doctor is even involved.  Why don't we just elect an executioner to snap it's little neck as it emerges?

“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”

-- Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), Catholic missionary

I see no reason why people who abhor abortion of the innocent should be forced to pay their tax dollars to support the lunacy behind it.  This amounts to forced immorality.  Fyodor Dostoevsky once wrote, "The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons."  I offer that the true degree of civilization can be judged by how we treat the least of us, our at-risk populations.  For the most part, we don't even acknowledge them unless we have to and, even then, we'd rather not.  We would sell our soul for faux peace and serenity rather than waste any effort to protect those unable to protect themselves.  Our very lack of humanity seems to evidence the waste of "humanity" which we have become.  I don't see this as judgment as much as it seems to be a sad fact. 

I try not to argue with the perpetually offended about any issue, much less moral ones, because, well, they are going to be offended regardless, and perpetually, after all.  These are people who might firmly believe the Holocaust never happened; the historical evidence, firsthand accounts, and photos are all a fraud perpetrated by... it really doesn't matter who, because it offends them, which is all that does matter.  If they could change history, they would.  If they could kill God, they would.  If they could kill everyone who doesn't agree with them, they would.  And then, having offended themselves by killing everyone else and having nobody left to feel offended by, they would start killing themselves. 

“I cannot understand anti-abortion arguments that centre on the sanctity of life. As a species we've fairly comprehensively demonstrated that we don't believe in the sanctity of life. The shrugging acceptance of war, famine, epidemic, pain and life-long poverty shows us that, whatever we tell ourselves, we've made only the most feeble of efforts to really treat human life as sacred.”

-- Caitlin Moran, journalist, author

In the case of abortion, they seem to be offended by anyone who would dare to limit a woman's ability to make decisions where her own body is concerned.  Oh, I totally agree with them, as long as her decision isn't about murdering another life, one within her, for no sound reason other than, "Oops!  I made another mistake, again."  One question stands out for me if the sex was consensual:  Is this going to be her first test or a perpetual one?  Only she can judge, right?  If she even cares.  Her ability to make a sound judgment would seem to be already in question. 

The only sound reasons I can envision for abortion is rape, the health of the mother, or the health of the child.  Again, rape can be dealt with immediately.  Termination of innocent life due to health concerns for the mother is no fault of either of them and an understandable decision only the mother can make.  As to the health of the child, I will leave that to be answered by the numerous handicapped children who might have been aborted but are so very happy to be alive and bringing joy to the very parents who considered the procedure and opted for the life of innocence.  Was this their test?  Maybe.  God bless them for making the right call.  We all wait to see what monumental changes their children can offer the universe.

“If a mother can kill her own child - what is left is for me to kill you and you to kill me - there is nothing between.”

-- Mother Teresa of Calcutta

As well as being a test, our moral beliefs are, most importantly, personal judgment of ourselves.  How other people judge us for our views on personal morality is of little consequence since we don't answer to those who feel they have the right to judge us.  This concept offends the perpetually offended (no shit) who think they have the right to judge and that we should answer to them for even daring to take the moral high ground.  I see no problem making good use of this ground, and the test, both of which they seem to have rejected.

Having said all this, the definition of when life begins is our test.  It should be the purview of civilized science and not those who have the most money or the most to gain, or the most political influence.  It certainly shouldn't be left in the hands of those immoral intellectual titans who can't keep their manhood in their pants or wear a condom.  Those who can't keep their legs together, can't say no, or can't learn to take a pill.

“More than a decade ago, a Supreme Court decision literally wiped off the books of fifty states statutes protecting the rights of unborn children. Abortion on demand now takes the lives of up to 1.5 million unborn children a year. Human life legislation ending this tragedy will some day pass the Congress, and you and I must never rest until it does. Unless and until it can be proven that the unborn child is not a living entity, then its right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness must be protected.”

-- Ronald Reagan 

People have berated me for my stand on this.  I absolutely own it, without hesitation, so berate away!  I have been called many things, none of them nice, and I can live with that much easier than I could live with the murder of unborn children.  I've seen it, watched it, pushed the bile back down my throat until I could watch it anymore.  I have broad shoulders when it comes to standing up against the immoral murdering of the innocent and, in doing so, I'm beyond certain I will perpetually offend those who find any excuse to allow it.  I'm as certain this is my test as I am that it is also theirs.  Good luck!

"God is testing people so they will know what is in their own hearts."

-- Matt Slick, "Christian Apologetics"

God knows what is in your heart; knows what you will do and, therefore, knows the outcome of every test. The test is for you, not for God. God wants you to learn what is already known, understand that which is already understood, conclude what is already foregone, and have faith that what is, is.

“Tough times don't define you, they refine you. ‪”

-- Carlos A. Rodriguez, author

There will always be times of trial; times that stress us to the breaking point, and beyond.  Yet, things seem to work out because, in the end, you are still here to complain about it or be offended over it.  The complaint or offense is evidence we have missed the point.  Wouldn't it feel better to work through it with faith and a positive attitude?  Wouldn't it feel better to admit that, once again, at the end of the day, you will still be here to witness your faith in God and God's faith in you?  This will trump all the complaining or doubting one can muster.  Things will always work out.  Well, things will always work out except for the perpetually offended.  For things to work out, you simply have to understand the outcome may not be what you expected, yet.  You need to have faith.

I have faith that those who do evil to others will have evil done unto them.  Everyone will be graded according to their work.  The test of good or evil is a simple one:  Good benefits everyone while evil only benefits those who support and perpetuate it.  It is an unfortunate universal rule that we must have both good and evil.  There must be balance in the universe, and for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction in order to maintain this balance.

Each day is a test allowing you to move forward, or backward, on your path through your infinite existence.  Evil, at times, might seem to move you forward faster, but to where, and at what cost to the immortal soul?  We are not intended to travel in circles.  Always do good, and trust in the ultimate power of the universe to guide you on a righteous path.  We know the difference between right and wrong; lying to ourselves just compounds the damage we do to our soul.

"Sometimes God pushes us to our limits...He tests us beyond our endurance, because He has greater FAITH in us than we have in ourselves."

-- Nishan Panwar, author

While traveling your path, never give up, never surrender, never lose faith, and never feel like you are alone in your trials.  Everything is being watched.  In times of strength, give some of that strength to others.  In times of weakness, watch for those who will come to mentor and minister to your needs.  These ministers might be friends, family, and even total strangers who might say the one thing you need to hear.  Good and evil take many forms and are not, usually, easy to see.  We need to start seeing good and evil for what it is, and the angels and demons for what they are.

They may be us.

"When you are going through something hard and wonder where God is...remember, the teacher is always quiet during a test."

-- Anonymous 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.