Update From the President
Thirty-seven students are at the home office attending the Ambassador Bible College Continuing Education seminar that is being held this week. While a good percentage of the class returns every year for this event, many are new. We are happy to provide this service to our brethren who come from all over the country. Here's a smattering of this week's classes: Studies in I Corinthians; Genesis: Jacob's Journey; Babylon and the Beast; Doing the Work of God; Seventy Weeks Prophecy; Relationships with Other Churches/India; and several more.
In this week's Inside United podcast, Frank Dunkle and I encourage students to apply for the 2019-2020 class of Ambassador Bible College. The nature of ABC is such that the decision to come here is often made very close to the start of the academic year in late August. Some choose to come here after graduation from high school. Some come in between earning their bachelor's and master's degrees. Others take a sabbatical from their career. They come together at ABC to study the Bible for an academic year.
But, as Frank and I point out, it is not for an entire year. The year runs from September through May, with a few breaks in that time. And, it's not all classes and study. It is learning about yourself, about service, music and trying out things you hadn't tried before. For the vast majority, it is a positive experience and one that they would highly recommend for others.
A year at ABC is probably more affordable than you think. We point out how students find housing and work, and how all of us at the home office help out. Maybe ABC is for you and you didn't know it. Your church has no doubt played the ABC promotional video by now. You may want to play this podcast to potential ABC applicants in your area, as well: https://www.ucg.org/members/united-news/inside-united/inside-united-podcast-124-frank-dunkle-ambassador-bible-college.
"You can't hire enough police"
Before the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, people were forced under oppressive Communism to obey the law. And, there was compliance. I have traveled numerous times to Russia when it was part of the USSR and then afterwards when it became a "democracy." When visiting during Soviet times, we always felt safe. Even late in the night, with very little street lighting, we were not concerned about being mugged. We rode subways and walked down darkened avenues without fear. However, when democracy came in 1991, many people felt that this meant they had the freedom to do whatever they felt like doing. Abiding by civil laws quickly deteriorated when it came to be treated a voluntary choice and not something rigorously and sternly enforced. We would not venture out alone at night, even if there were street lights.
I would like to share a short one-and-a-half-minute video that I have viewed a number of times from Harvard Business School Professor Dr. Clay Christenson, who pioneered the now-widespread disruptive innovation theory. He had an interesting interview with a Marxist economist from China. He summarized the interview in a video that has now had more than 1.6 million views at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjntXYDPw44. It illustrates the inner core of respect for law and its fruits.
What was the content that made this video so attractive and popular, and why should we in the United Church of God care? The Chinese economist told Christensen that after a visit to the United States, he now understood why religions like Christianity and Judaism were so critical to the functioning of a democracy. He told Christensen: "democracy works because most people most of the time voluntarily choose to obey the law." Seems simple—but it's actually profound!
Why is it profound? The economist attributed this remarkable choice to be an outcome of people acting on their belief in God. As he told Christensen, "Americans followed these rules because they had come to believe that they weren't just accountable to society, they were accountable to God" (emphasis added throughout).
I would like to add another personal illustration. We often travel to Africa, where we have built churches, homes and have acquired other properties. We would not dream of owning property there without constructing a brick or concrete wall around the church, topped with electrified or razor wire. Our vehicles are securely locked up for the night, even inside our walled properties. Why? Because it is just a matter of time before they will be burglarized, vandalized and ransacked. More than half of our financial commitment to any project helping people in this stressed economy is for security, security, security.
When our African ministers come to stay with us in the United States, they marvel that our homes are without the ugly walls that they must live within. Why the great difference? One is the manifestation of a society that respects law where everyone benefits and prospers as a result. The other is a beaten down and directly impoverished society being looted by its lawless own. We are blessed by the benefits of voluntary obedience for the good of all.
A law-abiding society with its roots in the Ten Commandments—the bedrock of God's supreme and powerful law—historically has been a powerful society, a society that largely enjoys peace. To this, Christensen made an insightful observation: "If you take away religion [like Christianity and Judaism], you can't hire enough police." As has been said, one cannot legislate morality. Without respect for law—driven by biblical belief—a society is doomed.
As the Chinese economist saw firsthand, peaceable and law-abiding citizens stand out in an increasingly lawless, "me first" society. That positively ramps up the pressure on us to uphold the standards of being accountable to God and Jesus Christ when others don't. As Peter noted, our conduct in society and in the church holds critical present and future implications. As he writes to us from across the ages: "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world" (1 Peter 2:12, New Living Translation).
Our personal conduct—in the church and in the world—represents a deeply important part of preaching the gospel. We are to be an example to the world (Matthew 5:14-16).
Consider this important point: as the legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden once said, "the true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching." Disciples cannot be spiritual "posers." The result of this lifelong commitment? People marvel that we are focused on doing the next right thing in our lives, particularly in a society that increasingly practices situation ethics and moral relativity.
However, we are definitely not perfect, and sometimes we fail to uphold the high standard that God has called us to. But when we find out, and admit that we've fallen short, our merciful God brings us back to repentance, to changing our mind, to changing our approach, and becoming a little more like God as we move forward. Our faith is tested, and through spiritual heavy-lifting we build righteous character, becoming set apart—even holy to God—in the process. The good news? That divinely-refined character will be with us throughout all eternity!
After the time represented by the Eighth Day/Last Great Day Feast, when God the Father comes and makes His home with a divinely-transformed humanity—now sons of glory (Hebrews 2:10)—there certainly won't be any need to hire any police!
But until that glorious day comes, we must be vigilant. From ancient times we are encouraged to "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 4;23, NLT). The "heart," as figuratively described in the Bible, is where our commitment, our resolve, and our character dwell. We obey and love God according to what's in our hearts.
This society is on the way to extinction because of lawlessness—with humanity thinking they can live above or outside the law. The disastrous consequences are automatic. Entire nations are reduced to subsistence poverty because they have been plundered by dictators and oligarchs.
As I write, there is rioting in Haiti as downtrodden people cannot take it any more and are rising up against the one percent elite who obscenely loot the nation for gain, to be stored in willing banks around the world. This violence is directly affecting our work in Haiti and jeopardizes our Youth Corps project which was intended to help our people. Today's travel advisory to Haiti is: Do not travel to Haiti due to crime, civil unrest and kidnappings. There is an ongoing risk of widespread, violent, and unpredictable demonstrations in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in Haiti. Violent crime, such as armed robbery, is common and incidents of kidnappings have occurred.
Even in many American cities the cry is loud: hire more police so we can live peaceful lives. Ultimately, that will solve little. The real solution, of course, lies within—with a changed heart (Jeremiah 31:31-34) that is yielded to God and in harmony with divine principles, being truly accountable to a presently invisible God (1 Peter 1:8).
We in the church are incredibly fortunate to both know these things, and to act on this critical belief. Let us humbly hold fast to what God has entrusted to us, for as Paul says: "Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of [so-called] new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth" (Ephesians 4:14, NLT).
Hold fast to the revealed precious truth of God, wrapping our arms around the spiritual trunk of the tree, that we may positively act on our beliefs, shining out a light of God's love and truth in a darkened world!
