Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday August 11, 2006

A friend, Austin Bennett sent some questions that supposedly were sent to Dear Abby and Abby found she had no answers for the questions.

One of the question is laughable, yet tragically true in ways not often mentioned in our religious worlds, whatever name said religious world masquerades under.

"Dear Abby,

Our son writes that he is taking Judo. Why would a boy who was raised in a good Christian home turn against his own?"

If perchance you fail to see the humor in the question, be certain of my prayers.

The boy could have 'turned against his own' for a number of reasons. One possibility is that being a good Christian boy, he just ran of cheeks to turn and thus is preparing himself for the next good Christian bully. He could feel a call to the pastorate and thus having witnessed a few good Baptist business meetings he is also making proper preparation to maintain order. It would be good if more young men followed this route.

Or he could, as his mother assumes, think that studying Judo will prepare him for a rabbinical career. Rabbi's still perform at least one ritual that requires a clear mind, a steady hand and enough strength to keep a screaming child still.

Is the mother in this story into passivity and mistakenly supposes that Little Harry is becoming aggressive?

We can only imagine the heartache if any one of the above possibilities are true.

How about the heartache involved if Little Harry is not a 'good Christian' at all but has merely been raised in a Christian environment? The mother's question begs the point that while she may be a true Christian, she did not stop at the loading dock of knowledge and is thus more than a brick shy of a load. I am sure many 'good Christians' would be shocked were any in their number to go back to Judo, the warrior religion of Israel.

Many who were 'raised in a good Christian home' seem to turn from their own due to the fact that faith in Christ does not come with breakfast biscuits, but is a serious personal matter and the faith of dad and mom or even the saintly Aunt Lucie will not avail for your personal relationship with Christ.

The idea of personal relationship with Christ is of paramount importance.

As to Little Harry (name has been changed for obvious reasons) taking Judo, could it be that he is contemplating marriage? Many are the marriages a good knowledge of Judo would strengthen.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit

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