The Most Important Lesson of the Charleston Shootings

9 Christians are dead. They welcomed a young stranger into their midst, treated him with kindness and grace, and he killed them. Ruthlessly and without remorse he shot them all because of the color of their skin. The killer has been appropriately described as a monster, a beast and a psychopath, but the family members of the slain called him something else and with their words taught us all what it means to be a Christian.

When the gunman was brought for a preliminary hearing the family members were allowed to address him in the court room. One by one they went to the podium and addressed the video screen on which the murderer’s image could be seen. Here are some of the things they said-

“I forgive you, my family forgives you. … We would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Do that and you'll be better off than you are right now.”

“You hurt me. You hurt a lot of people. But God forgive you. I forgive you.”

“For me, I'm a work in progress, and I acknowledge that I'm very angry. We have to forgive. I pray God on your soul”

“You took something very precious away from me. I will never talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again. But I forgive you. And have mercy on your soul.”

Their lack of vitriol, malice and a desire for vengeance was astonishing. Their loved ones had been brutally murdered, at church. Families were shattered, parents and children were gone. Instead of calling him a monster they called him forgiven. How could these suffering people forgive such a man?

The answer can be found on the official website for the AME Church. A part of their statement of faith is the Apostle’s Creed, which says-

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead; and buried. The third day he arose from the dead’ he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

They forgave, because they are forgiven.

They do not despair, because they believe that death is not the end.

They rest in the assurance that they will someday be reunited with those they have lost, that no evil deed done by a man on earth can alter their eternal destiny. Their loved ones that are gone are not gone forever, they are in the presence of God. They understand that as terrible a man as the shooter is, he is still loved by God and that God could save him and change him, and that would be a good and glorious thing.

In a letter written by the Apostle Peter to the church at large he spoke of the power of faith through trials such as these-

“Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, these have come so that your faith… may be proved genuine and may result in praise glory and honor.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

I thank God for the encouragement and testimony of the AME Church of Charleston. Their faith has been proved genuine indeed.

- Bart

A Selfish Leader Divides a Nation

A man in his 40’s with little leadership experience assumes the highest position in the land. The man who came before him had made a number of bad decisions that had damaged the nation. Once unified and strong as a people, feared and respected by other countries, the people were now disheartened and on the verge of becoming divided. The young leader faced immense challenges. How would he respond?

Immediately after being announced as the next leader he was faced with a challenge from the people. Would he continue the policies of his predecessor or would he take a softer approach? The fate of the nation depended on his response. He turned first for an answer to wise and experienced men, men who understood the workings of the system and had political experience. When they did not give him the counsel he wanted, he instead turned to his long term advisers, men about his age who had climbed the ladder with him and who understood his desires and goals. It was the advice of the young counselors he decided to follow.

And the nation split.

The man was Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the grandson of David, King of Israel. The story is over 3000 years old but it has not lost any of its relevance. When new leaders come into power their initial actions and responses can dramatically impact the future of the people they desire to lead. One mistake can lead to disaster.

In the case of Rehoboam, his father had been harsh and domineering. The people felt abused and uncared for. On the day he was to be made king they asked him a simple question and made a straight-forward promise. “Will you lessen the burden of your father? If you do, we will serve you.”

The counsel of the experienced men was that Rehoboam listen to the people and respond in kindness. These elders told the young king-to-be that if he handled the situation with grace and gentleness, if he assumed the role of a servant king, the people would serve him forever. Sadly, gentleness and grace did not align with Rehoboam’s ideas of kingship. He wanted power and authority.

Looking for validation of his ideas, he went to the friends he had grown up with. These young men, who had no concept of the responsibilities of leadership, shared Rehoboam’s desire for power and the belief that power and strength were the foundation of authority. Their counsel was that Rehoboam declare that he was going to be bigger, stronger and harsher than his father had been. Rehoboam listened to his friends.

When the people heard Rehoboam’s harsh response they rebelled. The kingdom was split and the nation was divided, beginning a downward spiral that ended with the divided nation being conquered and its people living in exile.

In this story are valuable lessons for leaders of today. Lessons that cannot be ignored by those who wish to succeed in leadership. If one is to lead, these principles are essential-

-          Good leaders listen to the people they lead. Predetermined plans carried out by edict will lead to division.

-          Good leaders seek and follow wise counsel. Yes-men are dangerous. Successful leaders look to experienced people who will speak truth, even when it is difficult.

-          Good leaders serve. Leaders are responsible to, and for, the people under their care. Self-serving leaders will inevitably fail.

-          Selfish leaders divide their people. A house divided against itself cannot stand, and divisiveness destroys a church or organization. Unity will require sacrifice.

If you are in a position of leadership and people are not following you as you wish they would, take the time to review the lessons of Rehoboam. The future of your people, your church or your business may depend on it.

-          bart

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Black or White? Male or Female? Dead or Alive? When Obvious Isn't Obvious Anymore

“Doctor Barrett, you know that patient Mr. Jones? He’s not breathing!” the nurse’s voice over the phone sounded only slightly concerned.

“So, he’s dead?” I asked.

“I don’t know!” she replied.

“Trust me. You can make this diagnosis!” The patient was not breathing, had no pulse and was unresponsive. It did not require advanced medical training to recognize that the patient had died. I thought it was a pretty straightforward diagnosis.

As my career is progressing I am realizing that things that were once simple and universally recognized are not anymore. Delivering babies was a part of my medical practice for 18 years. One of my favorite things in medicine was that special moment after delivery when I checked the genitalia and announced, “It’s a ______.” It wasn’t too difficult. The boys had penises and the girls had a vagina.

I was pretty sure that I could diagnose skin color as well. Country of origin could be a challenge but based on melanin content and other features I was pretty sure, mixed race excepted, that I could tell the difference between a Caucasian and a person of African-American descent.

Recent events have called into question my diagnostic competency with regards to both situations. I am now hearing that gender has nothing to do with the genitalia with which you are born nor your genetic makeup. Gender, it seems, cannot be determined by any physician or external observer as it is totally dependent on the perception of the individual in question. What you are depends on how you feel.

The definition of race may be similarly evolving. This last week, before the ink was even dry on the Vanity Fair cover on Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner, came a story of a 37-year-old white woman, Rachel Dolezal, who claims that she is in reality African-American. This news is disputed by her white parents who have made public photos of a fair-skinned, straight-haired, freckle-faced and obviously Caucasian young Rachel. Rachel has immersed herself in black culture for years and had been identifying herself as an African-American for nearly a decade. Contrary to all visible, observable and measurable criteria, she calls herself a woman of color. Who she is depends entirely on how she feels.

A man feels he is a woman and a white woman feels she is black. How should we respond? Why should anyone care? We care because both of these stories remind us of the truth that it is dangerous to allow feelings to reign supreme. Feelings can defy reason and logic and are inherently self-centered. When feelings are emphasized the desires of the individual become paramount, personal fulfillment and happiness trump duty, obligation and love for others. Moral codes and values are thrown out. Science, reason and the opinions of others are of no value if they do not agree with one’s emotionally defined reality.

Our post-modern culture is embracing these new artificial realities in the deceptive belief that right and wrong are individual things, that no one person has the right to question the feelings and desires of another. The problem with this is approach is that it denies reality. Feelings lie.

When we allow feelings to define us we will lose the truth of who we are and we defy the God who created us as we are. God created us according to His plan and for His purposes. He created us male and female, He created the family, He created marriage and He encoded the DNA that makes us what we are, tall or short, brown or white. As the creator He alone defines what that means whether we choose to accept it or not.

- Bart

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What We Remember on Memorial Day

Some things too important to forget are still sometimes forgotten. Remembering can require intentional effort and focus, which is why we celebrate Memorial Day.

Thomas Baker, and Thomas Wigle never met one another. Baker was born in Troy, New York in 1916. Wigle was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1909. They shared a name but little else until they died. Their lives had different beginnings and back stories but similar endings. Both gave their lives for their country and were awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. Here are their stories.

Thomas Baker was a private when his company sailed from Pearl Harbor on June 5, 1944, the day before fellow soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. His company’s destination was the Mariana Islands, one of the island chains still under Japanese control. He was an active participant in the battle for Saipan, a battle that lasted for 24 days. From his Medal of Honor Citation-

On June 19, 1944, when his entire company was held up by fire from automatic weapons and small-arms fire from strongly fortified enemy positions that commanded the view of the company, Private Baker voluntarily took a bazooka and dashed alone to within 100 yards of the enemy. Through heavy rifle and machinegun fire that was directed at him by the enemy, he knocked out the strong point, enabling his company to assault the ridge. Some days later while his company advanced across the open field flanked with obstructions and places of concealment for the enemy, Sgt. Baker again voluntarily took up a position in the rear to protect the company against surprise attack and came upon 2 heavily fortified enemy pockets manned by 2 officers and 10 enlisted men which had been bypassed. Without regard for such superior numbers, he unhesitatingly attacked and killed all of them. Five hundred yards farther, he discovered 6 men of the enemy who had concealed themselves behind our lines and destroyed all of them.

On 7 July 1944, the perimeter of which Sgt. Baker was a part was attacked from 3 sides by from 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese. During the early stages of this attack, Sgt. Baker was seriously wounded but he insisted on remaining in the line and fired at the enemy at ranges sometimes as close as 5 yards until his ammunition ran out. Without ammunition and with his own weapon battered to uselessness from hand-to-hand combat, he was carried about 50 yards to the rear by a comrade, who was then himself wounded. At this point Sgt. Baker refused to be moved any farther stating that he preferred to be left to die rather than risk the lives of any more of his friends. A short time later, at his request, he was placed in a sitting position against a small tree. Another comrade, withdrawing, offered assistance. Sgt. Baker refused, insisting that he be left alone and be given a soldier's pistol with its remaining 8 rounds of ammunition. When last seen alive, Sgt. Baker was propped against a tree, pistol in hand, calmly facing the foe. Later Sgt. Baker's body was found in the same position, gun empty, with 8 Japanese lying dead before him. His deeds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army

Thomas W. Wigle moved with his family to Detroit when he was a boy. He was a violinist and a music teacher who also worked as an airplane mechanic. When World War II broke out he joined the army, completing basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia. In September 1944 he found himself in Monte Frassino, Italy. It was there that he displayed the incredible bravery that earned the Medal of Honor. From his Medal of Honor Citation-

His 3d Platoon, in attempting to seize a strongly fortified hill position protected by 3 parallel high terraced stone walls, was twice thrown back by the withering crossfire. 2d Lt. Wigle, acting company executive, observing that the platoon was without an officer, volunteered to command it on the next attack. Leading his men up the bare, rocky slopes through intense and concentrated fire, he succeeded in reaching the first of the stone walls. Having himself boosted to the top and perching there in full view of the enemy, he drew and returned their fire while his men helped each other up and over. Following the same method, he successfully negotiated the second. Upon reaching the top of the third wall, he faced 3 houses which were the key point of the enemy defense. Ordering his men to cover him, he made a dash through a hail of machine-pistol fire to reach the nearest house. Firing his carbine as he entered, he drove the enemy before him out of the back door and into the second house. Following closely on the heels of the foe, he drove them from this house into the third where they took refuge in the cellar. When his men rejoined him, they found him mortally wounded on the cellar stairs which he had started to descend to force the surrender of the enemy. His heroic action resulted in the capture of 36 German soldiers and the seizure of the strongpoint.

I live free today because of the deaths of men like Thomas Baker and Thomas Wigle. Reading of their sacrifices brings me a greater appreciation of the gift of being born an American. As part of your Memorial Day celebration, why not take a moment to read the stories of other Americans who have died on your behalf? The stories of the over 3400 recipients of the Medal of Honor can be found online by clicking- http://www.history.army.mil/moh/ you will be glad you did. 

- Bart

A Pastor's Shocking Behavior

In my 21 years of medical practice and 40 years of church attendance I have seen a lot of unexpected behavior from men in ministry. From adultery and arrests to dishonesty and gossip, I have seen almost all there is to see, or so I thought. In the last week I encountered a pastor who treated me in a way that caught me totally off guard.

Two weeks ago I visited a local church for the very first time. The people seemed friendly and the sermon was excellent so I thought I might return for a prayer service later in the week. The next day I discovered that the prayer meeting conflicted with a medical staff meeting I was required to attend.  I sent the pastor an email asking how long the prayer meeting would last as I was wondering if I would  be able to make it for the latter half. Although we had never met he answered me within a few hours, saying he hoped I could make it to the meeting and that he would love to meet me, perhaps over lunch.

I was impressed by his timely and courteous response. Two days later my medical meeting was cancelled so I was able to make it to the prayer meeting on time. That is when things took an unexpected turn. Before the meeting of about 80 people began he walked up to me and shook my hand saying, “So glad you could make it!” My email to him had included my website in my signature line. I realized he had taken the time to look at the site and thus recognized me from my photo. He had gone out of his way to identify me and make me feel welcome!

Things got weirder after the meeting concluded. I went up to him and thanked him for replying to my message and he repeated his lunch invitation! His initial invite was not the shallow and empty courtesy invite that so many others make in our society. He actually meant it! He even suggested a day to meet. We exchanged emails again the next day and agreed to meet this last Tuesday.

He surprised me again the morning of the meeting with an email confirmation, then continued his ridiculous behavior by showing up on time for lunch. His unanticipated niceness continued for the next 75 minutes as he openly and graciously shared about the church and his heart for the community. I asked direct questions about doctrine, church government and his philosophy for ministry and he answered all of them without a trace of defensiveness. I am a man who is hard to impress but I walked away truly impressed with his kindness and professionalism.

As I reflect back on our interactions and conversations I am reminded how important simple things can be. Kindness, promptness, courtesy and respect are all too often lacking in our culture. These attributes are seemingly small and insignificant but their presence or absence reveal much about a person’s heart and character. When we are kind, prompt, courteous and respectful, we tell others that we value them in a powerful way, a way that may be shocking!

When I consider the manner in which Jesus dealt with others I am reminded that He was the perfect role model for interpersonal interaction. The gospel writers describe His encounters with shamed prostitutes, tax collectors, social outcasts, soldiers, religious zealots, rich nobles, blind beggars, grieving mourners, adulterous women and little children. In every circumstance He loved and served. If we are to truly bear His name we can do no less.

-          Bart

I purposely did not name the church or the pastor. Based on our brief interaction I do not believe he would want to be identified or praised. If you live in the Huntington Beach area and are looking for a church, send me a private message through the site and I will tell you more about the church he pastors. Remember I can be followed on twitter @bartbarrettmd and that you can subscribe to the blog to have posts delivered directly to your inbox.