The Pulpit Speaks: January 19, 1957

An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.

Someone approached a governor a few days ago and asked him the $64,000 question: “How are you going to adequately adjust your concept of religion with your recent statement made on the statewide broadcast?”

Not only is that a pertinent question with this governor but it is also a very disturbing question in the minds of many of us. We go to church on Sunday, we attend the best colleges, we read our Bibles constantly, we lay claim to this or that achievement, but when it comes down to the final analysis, we end up in the same boat with the person or persons who have been denied these things. Therein lies the trouble with many of our conditions today. Too many people who know better allow themselves to behave inconsistent with their basic convictions in order to appease a few radicals.

Time and time again I see people who are in positions where great wonders could be worked who lack the moral courage to speak out for that which they know is right. I have every reason to believe that this man knew much better that he did but he lacked the moral integrity to speak out. As I have listened to him, I felt good – at the beginning. He did not go very far before he saw dangling before him a higher office or a big reward, and moral integrity or no moral integrity, right or no right, he allowed his thinking to turn on the welfare he would sustain for himself and his family in later years and he began to speak inconsistent with his basic convictions, weighing every word.

He could hear people saying “I won’t vote for him again!” Immediately he set out to say that which would satisfy them. But we must be ever mindful that those of us who hold out day in and day out for that which is right will one day convince everyone on the virtue of doing what is right.

Many times, in the hour of great opportunity, many of us fumble the ball. Fumbling the ball is not only bad now but it has the tendency to be bad for months and years to come.

Johnny Majors of the Tennessee “Vols” had the misfortune to fumble the ball before the eyes of millions of people. I don’t doubt for one moment that it broke his heart to see that ball slip out of his hands and a Baylor player fall upon it. But at this point, regardless what Johnny Majors thought about it, the ball had been fumbled and Baylor went on to win. This was unfortunate because no one could make me believe it was an intentional act.

But there are those of us who concern ourselves with selfish aims and goals such that our fumbling is intentional! Many times, when some of the people I now know get to a place where they will have nothing but long days and nights to look over their lives, the same question will present itself to them: “Why did I do so and so?” What was the underlying factor controlling my behavior at that point? What justification do I have for treating him as I did or speaking to him as I did? At this late moment in life, one naturally looks back and tries to justify his actions in light of his convictions of right and wrong. We need not fool ourselves – most of us do far less than we know. Very few people live up to what they know is right. Many of us prefer to take the easier way out. We would like to do what is right but by doing those things that will allow us to keep our popularity, we are going to be brought into question later on.

I often wonder about Cain, a man only one generation removed from the image of God, allowing himself to stoop to the level of killing his brother. I wonder about David, who allowed himself to place anther man in a position that he might be killed, so that he could get his wife. I wonder about Elijah, who went against the wishes of God and found himself in a cave, hiding. I wonder about Judas, who allowed himself to betray innocent blood and then went out and hanged himself from a tree. I wonder about the outstanding newspaper editors, who have thousands of people at their bidding every day, and I wonder about some of our ministers who have been blessed by God to have large congregations, only to use these things for self aggrandizement.

It appears to me that, in light of the question put to this governor, we should all ask ourselves, “By what standard of judgement can I do this to my brother?” Somewhere down the line we must stop and ask ourselves, “What is behind my behavior?” If it does not appeal to the best within us, we should drop it immediately.

Some months ago a man wrote a column centered around popular preaching. He ended up by saying, “This is no time for popular preaching. People have been appeased too much. We must now turn to a profound searching message that will bring everyone before the mirror of justice and let him see himself as God will see him.” In a like manner, this is not the time for popular living. This is a time when men must make up their minds to do what is right and then, come rain, hail or blow, stick to that.