ONE HEART AT A TIME

Last week Kathleen and I watched with varying degrees of interest a documentary presented on the History channel. There were six ‘experts’ on the show which was entitled “Prophets of Doom.” We listened to each of these men as they tried to convince each other whether the world as we now know it would come to a dramatic end because we have failed to solve the problems of water, economy, atomic bombs, artificial intelligence, energy, population growth or a combination of any or all of the above.

In 1962 Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote these words in the Reader’s Digest: “Never in all history has mankind faced such monstrous danger…It appears unlikely that the world will avoid a nuclear holocaust if another fifteen years pass without arms control agreements.” Since that time volumes have been written condemning man’s uncontrolled race toward self-destruction. Nevertheless, 50 years later we are still here talking about how we are hurling ourselves into one or several world-ending chasms. Interestingly, during this same half century more people are living longer, more nations are moving away from being in the third world category in an upward march of progression, and the population increases on the planet faster than the collective destructive forces of the world’s governments can exterminate.

If we drop back in history a couple of thousand years to the days of the Savior’s earthly ministry in the lands of Palestine and examine the cultural arena he was born into, we find his mother country was in subjection to a foreign power and many of His peers had chosen to align themselves with rebellious groups. I am sure the Zealots looked condemningly at His seeming indifference to the political, climatic and social problems of His nation which was suffering in a virtual state of slavery. I am sure they wondered why He didn’t or couldn’t take time to petition, to march or in some way add His arm to those who were resisting the Roman injustices.

Acknowledging His seeming indifference of being otherwise concerned with things of greater worth, which I’m sure, seemed to be an insufficient explanation when it reached the ears of His neighbors who were suffering under the heavy hand of persecution and tyranny. To them His popularity seemingly gave Him every opportunity to step forward and become a force to bring relief. After all, had He not declared himself to be the prophesied Savior of the descendants of Judah? People flocked to Him both because of His unusual powers and the strength of His words. He meekly rejected their offers of an earthly kingship and quietly went to the hills to pray.

As we ponder upon the example the Savior set for us during His mortal mission we do not have to wonder whether He would be well pleased with that disciple who dedicates his life to clothing the naked, feeding the hungry or quenching the thirsty. Likewise, we need not doubt about the pleasure He would have in those who spend their lives striving to increase the freedoms of their fellows. Discipleship doesn’t seem to be so much a matter of purpose, but more a matter of method. It is interesting to note that the more the public cried for Him to become publicly involved the more he retreated to small intimate groups of disciples to deliver His teachings or the interpretations of them. Our Lord seemed to well understand that emotional vows made in mobs seldom have duration or longevity. He well knew that the changing of mankind must be done by converting one heart at a time. He knew that a sudden transformation of entire societies is an impossible task, but the conversion of one man’s will to truth is both possible and probable.

We can only dream of what could happen if every parent who really believes in the commission to be Publishers of Peace and the universality of the principle of loving one’s neighbor, would sincerely spend the same zealous efforts demonstrating and teaching loving concepts to their children that they now spend murmuring about the inadequacies and ineffectiveness of institutions and administrations which don’t seem to be doing anything about bringing peace among neighbors let alone among nations.

Imagine the progress which could be made in overcoming impoverishing practices if governmental officials were really converted to the principles of equality, justice and mercy and their actions reflected these noble standards rather than agendas of political expediency, regional allegiance or party affiliation. We have all witnessed the little progress which results when more effort is spent on aligning the stars for the next election than on the resolution of critical problems. One can only envision the accumulative effect if each elected official brought relief to but one needy citizen each week.

So it is that the Master Teacher has once again given the master lesson. What if we came to understand that the most powerful entity on the earth is not the bomb? The most permanently persuasive speaker is not the champion of debate. When will we understand that lasting changes of thoughts and wills are accomplished quietly one heart at a time by the consistent disciple who humbly declares the degree of truth as it is currently understood?