Charles Darwin's Deathbed Repentant Conversion

HEADLINE: Charles Darwin regrets publishing his theory of evolution and accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour on his deathbed!

Have you heard the story of Charles Darwin's death bed renunciation of his theory of evolution and his conversion to Christianity?

If you have, you should know that it is completely unsubstantiated and was thoroughly and consistently denied by his family. That is, it has no basis of truth whatsoever. See https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/arguments-to-avoid/darwins-deathbed-conversion-a-legend/

I note this example, because it is so easy for people of faith to embrace any story, carte blanche, that either puts those they perceive as enemies of the faith in a bad light or that substantiates their own beliefs and practices. Unsubstantiated rumours, false stories, etc., are not just a 21st century, social media, phenomenon. Just because a story has been around for centuries, has been repeated by leaders within our own faith communities and may even be found in older written works does not mean that it is true.

If we say we are interested in truth, then we are self-obligated to check out our sources, no matter from whom we've heard or read such tantalizing, faith confirming stories. Remember: a lie repeated consistently is often accepted as truth.

Understanding the Judaism(s) of Jesus' Day

Most Christians I know are sadly unaware of the literature of the Second Temple period and thus are ignorant of the Judaism(s) of the 1st century CE. I highly recommend Matthias Henze's book, Mind the Gap: How the Jewish Writings between the Old and New Testament Help Us Understand Jesus. 

It is highly readable, concise (just over 200 pages) yet highly effective in communicating the author's message. Henze is a renowned scholar in his own right and thus this book has received recommendations from other world class scholars of ancient Judaism such as John J. Collins, George W. E. Nickelsburg and Loren Stuckenbruck.

Here is an explanatory quote:

"Jesus was deeply immersed in the Jewish world of his time. Most Christian readers of the New Testament today cannot understand that world, because what is described in the Old Testament is not the Judaism of Jesus...By the time of Jesus Judaism had evolved in many significant ways...Old ideas had progressed, new ideas had been introduced, other religious movements and Jewish sects had formed, different kinds of religious institutions had been set up, new literary expressions that we do not find in the [Protestant] Old Testament flourished and many new books had been written. The Jewish world of Jesus was not the religion of the Old Testament, it was the Judaism of first-century Israel." (p. 3–4)

What is "the Bible?"

The Bible is an anthology of texts that were authored, copied, and edited over a period of hundreds of years. Much later these texts were brought together as an authoritative collection—a process called ‘canonization.’ In fact, there is no “the Bible.” The Jewish Bible, which is known by most as the Tanakh, is a collection of 24 texts in three sections: Torah (Instruction or Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). In content it is basically equivalent to the 39 books of the Protestant Old Testament. However, the order of the books are different, which is quite purposeful when it comes to the Protestant Bible. 

The Protestant Bible is comprised of 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. The Catholic Bible and the various Orthodox Bibles have the same 27 New Testament books, and the same 39 Old Testament books, plus the addition of various texts known either as the Apocryphal or Deuterocanonical books. 

Many Jews and Christians consider the books of their Bible to be the word of God as they hold to some view of inspiration. However, for many, “inspiration” does not mean that these texts are inerrant (that is, without error). So, the basic answer to “What is the Bible?” depends entirely upon whom you ask. For a chart that clearly shows the variety of Bibles that exist, see: https://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Heb-Xn-Bibles.htm

Decency & Dignity toward All

 Well, it’s done; a new administration is working out of the White House now! I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I have no party affiliation whether in the U.S. or Canada (i.e., Conservative, NDP or Liberal). I care about politics and politicians because what is done in our nations’ capitals impacts me, my family, and my country and has a direct impact on the world I will leave behind for my children and grandchildren (their children to come). 

I don’t know how it will all work out with President Biden as leader of the still most influential democratic nation in the world. But one thing I hope he and his administration will hold to unswervingly is to treat all people, regardless of differences and disagreement, with "decency and dignity!" We all need to feel and to give respect. We need to believe we are heard, even if what we present is not implemented. And we need to hear disagreement that is communicated without judging our motives. We all want a “more perfect union” but we have varying and even opposing ideas as to what that means and what is involved in working toward that goal. 

What is true politically is also true religiously. I hold to certain beliefs and convictions about God, Jesus, the Bible and the church. Also, as a Religious Studies graduate (M.A. from UBC), I have certain understandings even of those religions that I do not personally embrace. However, I don’t know everything and I know almost nothing with absolute certainty about my own faith or that of other Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc.  Therefore, it is my responsibility to communicate my beliefs with humility and listen to the beliefs of others respectfully and with genuine curiosity and without any hint of judgement or condemnation. I may disagree, even strongly, but I can, and I must, treat all others, regardless of differences and disagreement, with the decency and dignity I would want to feel from them. 

We call that the golden rule: Do to others what you want them to do to you (see Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31). Almost every religion has some version of that “rule.” And to take it one step further, as President Bush said yesterday in regard to achieving greater unity that it comes down to “loving our neighbour as we love ourselves.” And it’s not a unity of sameness that we are striving to achieve, but unity in the midst of diversity. 

Christians, are we listening at all to what the Spirit is saying? Will we rise to the challenge of treating all other human beings with the decency and dignity, with which we all want to be treated? Are we willing to truly strive to love all other human beings (our neighbours in the globalized community), especially those in our immediate sphere of interaction and influence? For most of us it is relatively easy to love those with whom we share more in common. The real test of our commitment to the golden rule is whether we can treat those with whom we share less (and maybe very little) in common, whether politically, culturally, philosophically, or religiously. 

Am I willing to embrace my fellow human beings––figuratively and literally (post COVID)–– and inject large measures of decency and dignity into all of my relationships and even casual interactions? If we can do that, we will go a long way to ending (or at least keeping at bay) the “uncivil war” that is going on, not just in the U.S.A., but in every country around the world. However, my fellow Christians, if we can’t do that with each other, regardless of different denominational and/or personal beliefs and practices, then we are part of the problem and not part of the solution. If we can only love those with whom we agree, and we discount the rest as unworthy, then we are perpetrating the “uncivil war.” We are each either part of the solution or we are part of the problem. Which am I? Which are you?

“From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, O God of truth, deliver me.” (Mishkan T’Filah)

“Now with the wisdom of years I try to reason things out, and the only people I fear are those who never have doubts. Save us all from arrogant men, and all the causes they're for. I’m must not that sure anymore.” (Billy Joel)

It's true: Love is Verb!

 "Love" isn't a feeling you're feeling when you're feeling a feeling like you've never felt before. As one of my earliest mentors (but I can't remember who) said, "That's probably just indigestion." 

Instead, love is an action; purposeful, intentional, often self-denying or even sacrificial, directed toward meeting the needs of another human being. Love is giving of oneself without the expectation, and certainly without the demand, of anything in return. If there is a "quid pro quo" whatever is done for the other is not love, no matter what needs it meets.

Love comes with and produces emotions within us. We do "feel" good when we act in loving ways toward others. However, the positive feelings associated with love are not the goal, but rather are serendipity––something positive you experience without looking for it. 

"This is how we know what love is--he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. But how does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Dear children, let us love not in word or in tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John 3:16–18).

To "lay down one's life" for another does not necessarily (and probably for most of us, won't) mean actually dying for another. But "laying down one's life" for another does involve acts of self-denial, where we consciously put the needs of another ahead of our own. 

None of us loves perfectly every day, but we can always intentionally work toward being more loving, by being less selfish. That's what the most loving people, whom I have had to privilege to know, do. That's what I appreciate so much about Paul's encouragement to the church of the Thessalonians: 

"Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more." (1 Thessalonians 4:9–10). 

What do you think success is?

 “What do you think success is? asked the boy. “To love,” said the mole.”*

Wow! What a simple, yet profoundly different way to evaluate my life than the standard criteria I have been conditioned/trained to use! These all have something to do with what I am accomplishing or have accomplished. Am I successful because I completed a graduate degree at a well-respected institution? Am I successful because I worked as a pastor in my faith community for more than 35 years? Am I successful because I earned enough money to own a house and invested enough money to support me in my later years? Am I successful because I have been married for 43 years, have two grown sons and six grandchildren? Etc. 

Nothing I’ve accomplished or will accomplish will amount to the proverbial “hill of beans” if I do not strive to live a life with as much love for others as I am capable of demonstrating. The only “success” criterion that matters is love. 

Even if you’ve read these passages a thousand times, I want to encourage every person who claims the name “Christian” to read them “again, for the first time.”

• One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28–31)

• I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35)

• But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 12:31–13:3)

• Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:8–10)

• Little children let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. (1 John 3:18–24)

Can I be so bold as to call upon all church leaders (evangelists, pastors, teachers, ministers, etc.) to accept and embrace wholeheartedly that “love” is the only criterion that is indispensable when evaluating the success of your ministry? 

Please give up your tallying of ministry numbers (attendance, contribution, members, conversions, etc.) as your criteria of success. Your church can have all these in increasing measure and yet if your community is not known, internally and externally, for its genuine love for one another and its fellow humans, it is only a “noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.” Don’t let your ministry training or your denomination’s hierarchy pressure you to focus on increasing your numbers, but let the Spirit lead you and strengthen you to increase your love (Philippians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9–10; etc.). Then, and only then, will your ministry numbers mean anything at all. 

* Mackesy, Charlie. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. London: Ebury Press, 2019.

Let Our Words Shine on Social Media

For those of us who call ourselves Christians, social media does not exempt us from acting, speaking and writing in ways that are consistent with the teaching and example of the One we claim to follow. Almost every book of our Bibles warns us to be very careful about what we say, how we say it, and to whom. How much more relevant are these warnings given that our words on social media are out there for all to read, over and over again! Thus words that are unkind, unwholesome, slanderous, judgmental, spoken in anger and/or self-righteousness, etc., can do even more damage to more people and bring shame on the Gospel.

As Christians, we are called by the One we confess as "Lord" to "Thus, let your light shine shine in the presence of people so they might see your good works and honour your Father who is in heaven."

Also, in the letter to the Ephesians, "Do not let any rotten word come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up according to the need, so that it might give benefit to those who hear."

When those of us who call ourselves Christians attack each other, we bring disgrace on the One we claim to follow. For those of us who are accused, slandered or in otherwise are verbally attacked, may we choose to imitate Jesus, as we are called to do in the letter of 1 Peter, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly."

Let us refresh our memory and restore our convictions to keep our tongues in check by reading and reflecting on the very direct challenge in James' letter, chapter 3. Please read all of it.

"1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh."

OK, I'll stop preaching now and do my best to put this into practice in my own life today.

Life is Difficult But...

I was watching one of those new breakfast programs late in November 2020 and I saw a brief interview with Charlie Mackesy, the author of a book, "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse." He came across as a very humble, unassuming and authentic person. I immediately thought, "This would be a really good, and unexpected Christmas gift for my wife." So, I ordered it right away.

It was supposed to arrive sometime between Dec. 15 – 30. When it hadn't arrived on time, I emailed the distributor who offered a full refund. Sara found a local copy and we picked it up. She finally had one of her Christmas presents. Then, a few days later, the copy I ordered arrived. So I contacted the distributor to find out what they wanted me to do. They wrote back immediately and told me to keep it as a complementary copy. So I have my own copy now. It is truly a delightful and thought provoking book, a skillful combination of deep thoughts, humour and creative art. 

Today, as certain physical symptoms intensify, challenging my emotional state, one page in Mackesy's book captured my attention. So I took some time to reflect and consider my day in light of the following:

Yes, for me today, life is quite difficult, but I am loved! My wife, my family (sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren) and my friends do love me. I can't imagine how I would not completely crash on the most difficult days if it were not for the persevering love I feel and see in my closest relationships.

The other day, as I struggled to stand up straight, with a heart full of empathy, Sara said something like, "I wish love could ease your pain." We looked at each other and agreed, "But it does!" 

Many years ago (1984), Foreigner recorded the song, "I Want to Know What Love Is" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3Pr1_v7hsw). Part of the lyrics read: 

Now this mountain I must climb,

Feels like the world upon my shoulders.

But through the clouds, I see love shine.

It keeps me warm as life grows colder.

In my life, there's been heartache and pain.

I don't know if I can face it again.

Can't stop now, I've traveled so far 

To change this lonely life.

I wanna know what love is

I want you to show me.

I wanna feel what love is.

I know you can show me.

Almost two millennia before Foreigner, these words were written; not as song lyrics, but as guidance for a community of Jesus followers: 

"In this we know the love, because that one [Jesus] for us his life he laid down. And we must for the brothers [and sisters] lay down [our] lives. But whoever has the goods of the world and sees his brother [or sister] having need and who shuts down his compassion from him, how does the love of God abide in him? Children, let us not love in word nor in tongue but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:16–18, my translation).

Yes, life is often difficult, especially now in our present circumstances. But if we love and are loved, together it is possible to persevere and to endure and contribute to a world that so needs to know what love is. 

It's Christmas till Valentine's

“Pain, pain, go away. Come again another day.” First, this is not a misprint, even though it has been pouring rain here in Richmond, BC, for days on end and I wish the rain would go away.  Second, I truly mean the first part, but I really don’t mean the second part, of this request. I really don't want the pain to come again another day, even though, I know it will.  

The last few days have been quite painful with significant (moderate to severe) back spasms related, no doubt, to (1) a herniated L2-3 disc, (2) moderate/severe lumbar spinal stenosis, and (3) to degenerative disc disease, especially L4-5. While I have experienced the effects of the herniated disc daily for the last two years, they don’t always include back spasms, except with something gets tweaked back there! And, trust me, it can be something as innocuous as putting on my socks or drying off after my shower. When I go through these back spasm incidents—that usually last from several days to a few weeks—the most common emotions I feel are discouragement, frustration, anxiety and fear. Occasionally, I also feel anger and hopelessness. 

Yes, I do know—and I remind myself—that so many people have it so much worse than I do. So, I am grateful for the many advantages I have, not the least of which is a compassionate, supportive and patient life partner. These are some of the “worse” times that we both signed up for when we made our wedding vows. I also live in one of the most comfortable cities in one of the safest countries in the world. On top of that are the many material comforts I have—a decently sized, functionally furnished house. And so much more! 

But my gratitude for all my blessings does not take away the nagging deep ache and sharp stabbing pain that significantly limits my mobility, my clarity of mind and my ability to contribute to my family and my community. So, it is another opportunity to simultaneously experience sadness and gratitude, discouragement and hope, fear and faith, etc. 

In the midst of an expanding pandemic, another dark and rainy West Coast January and the annual let down from the ending of "the holiday season," one of my strategies is to live the Christmas decorations up inside the house, the Christmas lights on outside, and the Christmas music playing with the holiday fireplace crackling away on my TV. Yes, all that will have to change at some point...but maybe not until we switch over to Valentine's red and white decorations, after which maybe we'll switch over to the traditional pastels of Easter.

My other—and more important—strategies are to be open and honest with God, with my family and friends, and to continue to seek wisdom from whom I have chosen to believe is eternal wisdom personified. 

“In beginning was the Logos. And the Logos was with God and the Logos was deity…And the Logos became flesh and pitched his tent among us and we have beheld his glory; glory as of the One and Only from the Father, full of grace and truth…No one has ever seen God; the One and Only God, the One who is in the bosom of the Father, that One has made known.” (John 1:1, 14, 18, my translation and emphasis)

[Note: I have chosen to transliterate ὁ λόγος as "the Logos" rather than translate it as "the Word." Also, the One and Only is my translation of the Greek word μονογενὴς 'monogenes'.]

2021 -- The Choices are Mine

I read a brief but well written article by Bruce Epperly.*  He reminded me that what I make of my life is up today, this year or the rest of my time on earth is up to me. I have choices to make that will determine my path and even as I encounter people, events, circumstances, etc., along the way over which I have no control, I can determine within myself how I react/respond. I love the reference to Victor Frankl, concentration camp survivor, who shows us that uncontrollable life circumstances can take everything else away from us except our ability to choose our attitude and how we will respond. “We could choose moment by moment our attitude toward what we could not change and be part of a larger holy adventure in which small choices could lead to great adventures, and then bring changes to what appeared intractable.”

Open and Relational Theology (ORT) has helped me to stop waiting for God to do something that only I can do, because God does not control me. God seeks to influence, encourage, guide and support me as I strive to cooperate with God does in this world through actions that are motivated by his uncontrolling love. 

I may be limited by the pandemic—as we all are to one degree or another—and/or by my very real and ongoing life altering health challenges.** Yet, I still have much choice from various paths I can choose for my life today, this week, this year and beyond. I am convinced there is no one true path that has been determined by God that I must seek and find in order to do God’s will in this world. I know what God’s will is for me as a free will human being, created in his image. What Micah wrote, over 2000 years ago is still true today: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded with clarity, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).

The paths for the rest of my life—today, this week, this year and beyond—are not predetermined. Under the umbrella of what I know is God’s will for my life (to do justice, love kindness, walk humbly, love God and my neighbour) there are virtually unlimited choices I can make. As a person of faith, there are times I have spent far too much time waiting for God to show me what God wants me to do, when all the while God is saying, “I have told you. You know what I want for you to be and to do. Choose whatever paths you want that are consistent with my overall will and I will be there to encourage, support, guide and empower you.” Nike may have popularized the phrase “Just Do It” in the modern era, but God has been saying it all along. So often, according to Israelite tradition, God had to tell the leaders of his people, “Get up and move on.” 

I can sit around in 2021 waiting for God to make my path clear to me, when in reality he already has. “You know, O Brian, what is good. Do justice, love kindness, live in humility. Love me and love your neighbour. So, Brian, just do it! Get up off your rear end and move along whatever path(s) you choose and I will be with you always to the very end of the age.” Happy New Year!   

********

*Bruce Epperly, "Possibilities for a New Year."

**These include, but are not limited to, autonomic and peripheral neuropathies, severe lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, L2-3 disc herniation, ongoing sinus issues, etc. *

New Year: More Love

 I am going to begin this year of posts by registering my rejection of, and concerns about,  a New Year's meme that seems to be more popular this year than I've seen in the past –– "New Year: New Me."

It may seem arrogant, but I'm convinced I don't need to become a new me. Now, I'd love to have certain aspects of my physical self to be made new: my lumbar vertebrae and discs, my autonomic and peripheral nerves, and my sinuses, would all be on the top of my list in that order. 

However, I'm really quite content with the rest of me, though far from perfect and with lots of room for improvement, I am, nonetheless, the authentic me. That is: Brian George Felushko, age 64; a Jesus follower; a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend; a biblical student and would-be biblical scholar; and a mostly compassionate member of my neighbourhood, city, country and world. 

I get that there are things that I can change and that I want to see change in my life. Still, I am who I am right now, and I am comfortable with that. I know that I'm not always happy with what I think, say or do, and thus I have regrets. So, yes, I want to grow and change as a human being. However, I believe that such growth and change is only possible when I truly believe that I have intrinsic worth as a child of God (Acts 17:28b–29a), because I have been created in God's image (Genesis 1:26–27).

I don't need to become a new me. I am enough and I have enough. Yep, I'm pretty quirky (as my loving wife reminded me recently), and, worse than that, I tend to rub some people the wrong way and I'm certainly not everyone's favourite human being. But I have Jesus as my focus: he is my teacher, my example and my Lord. He loves me "just as I am," even as he calls me to be more like God. Given the immediate context of Matthew 5:48, what Jesus calls his disciples to do is best explained by Ephesians 5:1–2. Therefore, my daily goal for several years now has been to become an ever more loving person (Philippians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9–10; etc.). 

So, if I were to create a meme for 2021, it would not be "New Year: New Me" but rather "New Year: More Love." And I can do that with who I am right now, even with all the flaws, faults, weaknesses, shortcomings, sins, etc., that are part of my life in the world. 

That is my appeal to each of you. You are enough. You have enough. You are valued. You have worth. Just as you are! So, start with who you are and where you're at and try to focus every day in every relationship and every encounter with your fellow human beings and strive to be more loving (1 Corinthians 13:4–8a). In doing so, we will each be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. Not a new me, but a more loving me. Happy New Year!