Tergiversate

 I am not perfect by any means. I am a devout Christian, but I am made of flesh and bone, so I am limited. One of my assets, and flaws, is that I believe in doing what is right, no matter what. My husband and I feel the same about this. What I do is not always by the book, but my decisions are based on what is right, or best, in each situation. I would like to think that I err on the side of others, making sure that I am thoughtful about who is affected.

Phil 2:3: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

I think that I am subject to some straightforward guidelines and morals because I do believe in the bible. I mean, the truth is always the truth… but are there times when the truth isn’t the best way? In my work world, we must always keep other’s feelings and brokenness in mind. Truth and love are crucial here. We need to lovingly guide them to Christ and a future of critical thinking skills. Being an example of love, morality and truth is important for them to see. How can we tell them that we believe in the principles in the bible and we do what is right in the eyes of the Lord and yet live like hypocrites?

James 3:1-18: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ...”

I try to take the high moral ground while upholding God’s laws. I am forever looking inside myself and finding less than perfect behavior that needs to change. For example, I find that I worry more about how someone will react to the truth in love, and how it will affect my standing with everyone, instead of bringing it out in the open so that we can emulate Christ. I chastise myself about not speaking up and I must find creative ways to speak the truth in love so that others can see it for what it is. After all, we all fall short of the glory of God.

2 Tim 2: 23-26: “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

In this time of Covid, knowledge is power. If we keep people in the dark, how are we helping them meet the challenges of this virus filled world? How do we keep them safe and help them keep others safe if we withhold information? In this situation, we need to inform them with how to be safe and prevent the spread to others and to each other. We must uphold the standards and health practices to keep everyone else safe.

1 Cor 10:24: “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”

The world is going crazy because we are in a pandemic. People hoarding toilet paper and household supplies in massive numbers, they can’t possibly use, because they want to make sure that they ‘get theirs.’ Businesses gouging customers because there is a high demand item and they want to profit from it by tripling the price. People, churches, families, businesses gathering in large numbers; disregarding the safety of others and the safeguards put in place, for their own selfish reasons, with no regard for the safety of their elderly or immune challenged members. People who think that “it won’t happen to us.” There are those that make rules for ‘other people’ but don’t follow them or make random exceptions.  The ‘do as I say, not as I do.’ Ignorance and arrogance rule in times of turmoil.

People tend to lose their morals when it costs them, don’t they? If we truly follow the principles of living and loving from the bible, then we know that we cannot sacrifice our beliefs to benefit ourselves at the expense of another’s safety. We just can’t. I learned a great word for abandoning our beliefs or being intentionally unclear, withholding truth and misleading others for our own benefit. Tergiversate. Prevaricate means the same thing but is easier to pronounce.

Rom 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

I would like to think that, as Christians, we believe in the importance of keeping others safe regardless of the cost. The true test is how we respond if, and when, it affects us, right? What if it affects our church or our centers… our bottom line? What if we share the truth with our students and they want to leave because they are afraid of being subjected to the virus in the center because we still take people in? What if our students need to go to work to help support the center? What if the truth would cut into our ability to survive and continue our work projects, our production… our livelihood?

Mat 6: 31-33: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Can we justify tergiversating for our own good? Would we hide the fact that some of our members are sick? Would we disclose it to the authorities and those who were affected or would we hide it? And if we are less than Christian in times of trouble, what message does that send to those lost souls who are watching what we do? Do we want to send a message that the rules apply to everyone else but not to me? Do we want to reinforce the idea that Christians really are hypocrites? Do we want to cause others to stumble because of our ignorance or arrogance? Do we want to potentially cost them their eternal life because we proved to be just like the others who have no regard for what is just and right in the eyes of the Lord?

Matthew 23:23: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

People, don’t do the easy thing, the selfish thing because it suits you. Do the difficult thing, follow the hard path, trust in the truth. If  you believe nothing else, believe that God provides to those who do what is right.