Is the Test You, or Is It for You? (Updated post from 7/8/14)

"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

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 God already knows, 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 so is the recipe, right?   

Is God testing you, or are you the test for someone else?  Is being the test for someone else also a test for you?  God's 'twofer special' 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 about life that we can pass on to others.  Each of us is a mentor, a minister, a shepherd, and a pastor to each other.  One of the first tests is to realize this truth, the next test is how you put the truth 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

Someone's judgment of your righteousness is, also, a judgment of their own.  Where you see judgment for something, you might be better served to find the lesson in the something and show others the error in judging.  You can try to explain it to them, but words rarely sway the ego, especially for those 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 their opinion.

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 a 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 bodies, while pro-life stands to defend unborn children from being murdered in the womb.  Two totally different arguments, right?  I see one as a choice, while the other is a moral imperative.  Murder becomes easier with each life you take.

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

-- Ronald Reagan

I try not to judge.  I am a self-proclaimed hypocrite in that I am perpetually offended by the League of the Perpetually Offended.  I am especially offended by those who are 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 now a test for each state to decide, and a serious test of our civilization.  Even science can't agree on the definition of life, 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?  A sorry comment for mankind's "Holocaust" of our children.

The 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 immediate 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 its little innocent neck as it emerges, instead of laying the child on a cold, steel table until the option of murder is decided?  Yes, this happens.

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

-- Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I see no reason why people who abhor abortion of the innocent should be forced to pay their tax dollars to support the insanity behind it.  Forced payment 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.  It seems there is a faction of mankind who would sell their souls for faux peace and serenity rather than waste any effort to protect those unable to protect themselves.  This very lack of humanity seems to be evidence of the waste of "humanity" which we seem to 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.  These are people who might firmly believe Hitler's Holocaust never happened; the historical evidence, firsthand accounts, and photos are all a fraud perpetrated by... it really doesn't matter who, because it happened, and that offends them, which is all they care about.  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, so they could kill, they would start killing themselves.  Make any sense?

“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

In the case of abortion, the offended seem to be offended by anyone who would dare 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. Just can't keep these legs together."  

One question stands out for me if the sex was consensual:  Is this decision for abortion 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 are 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 abortion and opted for the innocent life.  Was this their test?  Maybe.  God bless them for making the right call.  We all wait to see what monumental changes their living 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, the 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 their version of "moral" high ground.  I see no problem making good use of this ground, and the test, both of which they will 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, 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, or 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 abortion, and they can kiss my lily-white ass.  I absolutely own my opinion, without hesitation, so berate away!  I have been called many names, none of them nice, and I can live with those much easier than I can live with the murder of unborn children.  I've seen it, watched it, pushed the bile back down my throat until I couldn't watch it anymore.  I have broad shoulders when it comes to standing up against the immoral murdering of the innocent and, in doing so, it is absolutely certain I will perpetually offend those immoral who find any excuse to allow the butchering of innocence.  I'm as certain this is my test as I am certain that it is also theirs.  Good luck!

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

-- Matt Slick

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... until it isn't.

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

-- Carlos A. Rodriguez

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 that we have missed the point.  Wouldn't it feel better to work through it with faith, hope, 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, except for the perpetually offended.  Things will always work out.  Well, again, 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 expect, yet.  You need to have faith and hope.

I have faith that those who do evil to others will have karma visit and have evil done unto them, as well.  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 of balance, that we must have both good and evil.  There must be balance in the universe. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, in order to maintain this balance.

Each day is a test allowing that allows us to move forward, or backward, on our path through our 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 is just not constructive for our path and compounds the damage we do to our souls.

"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

While traveling your path, never give up, never surrender, never lose faith, and never feel like you are alone in your trials, your lessons.  Everything is being watched and graded.  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, 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 the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com