Reflection of the Week - 25th July 2023

By Graham Warne

Posted Jul 25, 2023 in Faith

My students were going out of their way to make me feel at home. When I arrived for work, I found a lovely surprise on my office desk: a beautifully tempting Aussie lamington! ‘How lovely!’ I thought.

Knowing how much my children enjoy such treats, I decided to take it home where it could be shared.

It was just as well I did, for when the knife went into it, the tempting treat turned out to be sponge-rubber! I should have been awake to the old ‘iced rubber lamington’ trick!

We tried to return the treat the next day, neatly wrapped in its original cling wrap, but found that none of the students felt like a lamington. I wonder why? Nevertheless, it was worth it to see the pangs of guilt on a number of faces when the suspect exhibit was presented back to them.

Our little encounter provided us with a good laugh, but also served to remind us how easily we can be deceived. Unfortunately, some of the real-life deceptions are no laughing matter!

My very first car was a sad story of deception. Because of my isolation (I was teaching out in the bush), I allowed relatives to buy the car for me.

However, they were deceived by the car dealer and my shining new FJ Holden turned out to be an absolute ‘bomb.’ I paid dearly for that experience and was constantly out of pocket. Something was always breaking down with the car. I replaced the engine, had the car completely de-rusted and repainted, and virtually rebuilt it in the space of a few years. What hurt most was that we had been deceived.

Deception is at its worst when it involves religion. Sadly, many have used religion as a means of control over others, exploiting trusting people for their personal gain, or distorting ‘truth’ to suit their own particular interests. In a world of competing faiths and ideologies, the crucial question is whether they stand the test of integrity.

The question of integrity is one which Jesus passes without question.

His life and ministry has been examined from every point of view, and found true. Jesus accepted the ascription of ‘Son of God’ from both his followers and accusers (John 5:17, 18, 19:7; Matthew 26:63, 64; 27:42, 43). Was he mad? Was he a megalomanic? Was he suffering from ‘delusions of grandeur?’

Was he simply a religious ‘con man?’ As William Barclay noted, ‘Clearly the claim to be the Son of God was precisely the blasphemy with which Jesus was charged.’

Many have raised such questions in all seriousness, only to be confronted with an undeniably genuine Christ, whose life and teaching stand above the most severe scrutiny. His personal integrity and consistency are unquestionable. After all, what con-man would arrange for himself to be cruelly crucified?

In all the bewildering maze of religions and faiths in the contemporary world competing for the allegiance of human persons, Jesus Christ stands solitary and supreme.

He was genuine through and through. He was what he claimed to be.

He has been subjected to human scrutiny for 2,000 years and still stands unimpeachable!

His personal integrity remains unquestionable. He is worthy of our worship and trust.

We can only echo the words of the disciple Thomas, ‘My Lord and my God’ (John 20:28).

 

References

Barclay, W (1962), ‘Son of God, Jesus as they saw Him,’ SCM, London, p.44.

Warne, G (2023), ‘A Piece of Cake?,’ Nambour Uniting Church, https://nambouruniting.org.au/about-us/reflection/.

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