A Senseless Death, and More

A Senseless Death, Thoughts on Charlton Hesston, and None of Your Business

It has been awhile since I have written on current events. There have been a number of things that I would like to comment on. So, here it goes.

Stephanie Kuleba

The death of Stephanie Kuleba made the news early in April. It almost escaped my attention and would have except for a “blog” (which means an article on the internet). A good friend of mine, Carl McMurray, wrote about this young lady’s death. She was a high school student at West Boca, in Florida . Her goal was to become a doctor. However, she died while having plastic surgery. To quote McMurray:

Some won’t be surprised that a pretty, vivacious young lady that everyone loved could not love herself the way she was, but I still am. This cries out to me to be another sad consequence of our “slouch toward Gomorrah ,” if I might quote Robert Bork. I must not be the only one that sees a connection between more and more pornography, even to the point of “soft porn” TV commercials by our friends at Victoria ’s Secret. More and more schools are having trouble at their school dances with young people doing the “grind.” Young “men” can’t keep their pants up and young girls have quit wearing panties. Posted sexual predators are in EVERY town and almost weekly reports of coeds and children being abducted. Even male and female teachers are monthly arrested and charged with preying on young children. And one more young girl is unhappy with her appearance. At age 18 Stephanie’s culture now thinks that their sexuality must be enhanced even to the point of surgery. This is the consequence of a culture sliding away from morality and toward sensuality.

Mac hit the nail on the head. We often hear of young girls in particular with eating disorders and wanting plastic surgery in order to become the “perfect woman.” I remember hearing of a lady that reshaped her face and body in order to look like Barbie. I am talking about the girls doll “Barbie.”

Just the other day, Fox News had a story on "botched" Botox injections. Priscilla Presley allowed an unlicensed person, I won't call him a doctor, to inject her face with Botox, resulting in a disfigured face. Why would a mature woman allow someone to inject her face with Botox? First, our society values outward beauty above inward charm and beauty. You can be the scum of the earth, but if you are pretty or handsome, all is forgiven. Let us remember Proverbs 31.30, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Second, we do not value age. Growing old is a sign of being out of touch with reality or being old fashion. Another Proverb that comes to mind is Proverbs 20.29, “The glory of young men is their strength and the splendor of old men is their gray head.”

The Death of Charlton Hesston

This man died April 7, 2008 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Former actors and actresses have talked about his ability and intellect. This man acted in some of the biggest movies to come out of Hollywood . The roles he chose were not filled with vulgar language and situation ethics, but of moral characters. Here’s a man that remained married to the same woman for 64 years. He served as President of the National Rifle Association, and was a true intellect. In a speech at Harvard, February 1999 he spoke of a cultural war being waged in our country. He was called everything from a Timothy McVeigh, to a homophobe, to a Nazi.

So it was surprising to me when people in the media and Hollywood spoke of this kind and gentle man that was a true intellect. You see I thought only people that do not believe in the Bible or absolute moral values are the real intellects. Only those that believe in granting homosexuals special rights and privileges are kind and gentle.

We live in a day when people want to call good, bad; and bad, good. We live in a time when the only absolute moral value is there are no absolute moral values. Therefore, those in the media that are praising this man’s life today are either being hypocrites for they do not truly mean what they are saying or they are cowards for not praising him while he was still alive.

Here’s the spiritual lesson for us today. Do not be surprised when you stand up for the truth and the world makes fun of or maligns you. However, you are not alone and God knows those who are His, 2 Timothy 2.19. There are absolute values in the Bible. “20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5). Intellectual dishonesty is in great supply today. As Christians we do not have the luxury of being closed minded or prejudiced. We are to seek the truth and sell it not, Proverbs 23.23.

It Is None Of Your Business

Chelsea Clinton has been campaigning for her mother in the Presidential race. Recently she was asked a question dealing with her mother and Monica Lewinsky. She replied by pointing out that she had been to about 70 different college campuses and no one had asked her about that topic. Chelsea then replied, “It is none of your business.”

Here are my thoughts on Chelsea Clinton’s response. First, it was a national disgrace and scandal. President Bill Clinton was the first and only President to be impeached by the House of Representatives and later acquitted by the Senate. However, she is the daughter and not the person involved in the lurid activities. “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteousness shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18.20). If anyone should be asked it should be Hillary, Bill, and Monica.

Second, there are some things we have no business asking about. Private matters between a person and God should remain such. The Bible tells us when a person sins against us to go to that person and settle the matter, Matthew 18.15. Only after that attempts fails should other people be involved. In our day of 24 hour news cycles and tabloid television, people think they have a right to know everything. Such leads to gossip, tale bearing, and lying.

Third, everything is God’s business. We are here to serve and please God. He is our creator and our judge, Ecc. 12.13. All sin, no matter how private or hidden, is against God. Joseph understood this when Potiphar’s wife offered herself to him. “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39.9b). It did not matter that Potiphar and all the servants were out of the house, nor did it matter that his wife was enticing him. What mattered was that God was watching Joseph, and he would stand before the great I AM in judgment.

There are some questions we might ask that is really none of our business. But we need to take care of our business and be ready to face God. Chelsea had the luxury of telling the inquirer that it was none of his business, but we will not be able to say that to God. --Dennis Tucker

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