尋寶—美國遺產概要21
在歷史中可以找到一些在智慧、知識、理解和靈感方面的最大寶藏，研讀歷史就像在挖金礦。這是費力的工作，需要耐心，但之所以成為寶藏代表很稀有或很難取得。對於很普通或容易找到的東西，相對也比較沒有價值。歷史的寶藏也是如此─需要更艱辛的工作、更多的耐心，也會使我們所找到的東西更有價值。
有一種開採金子的方式稱為「淘金」，透過這種方式，在溪流裡面含著金片的沙子會用很好的濾器過篩，分開金子和沙子。我們必須以同樣方式過篩歷史，找出裡面蘊藏的寶藏。因為歷史是人寫的，而人傾向對政治、宗教或其他社會影響有其偏見，所以我們必須學會分辨，在其中過篩，只保留純金。
任何聲稱自己全然客觀的歷史學家，往往最有偏見的嫌疑。我們都有內心的過濾器，我們經由此來感受世界。這些過濾器是由一些因素而產生，諸如我們所在的國家或文化、我們的家庭、老師、宗教信仰等。這些未必是不好的，但卻為我們所看見的事物添加顏色。為此緣故，當我們研讀歷史時，瞭解歷史學家的觀點是很重要的。
眾所周知，大多數戰爭的描述都是由戰勝者撰寫的。因此其觀點幾乎總是他們開戰的原因何等正確或公義，敵方又是何等錯誤或邪惡。這有可能是對的，也有可能反過來才是對的，正如最公義的動機並不總是戰勝者。我們應當謹記在心：在一個衝突中，雙方都有一些對錯。歷史學家通常會嘗試透過歷史記錄，傳達其政治或其他議程，但這並不代表他們的陳述沒有價值，甚至不準確，但有時是有可能的。
每個故事背後可能還有比任何歷史記載所能提供更多的東西。我們在歷史中尋找真理的第二個主要因素正如哥林多前書十三章9-12節所說：「我們所看見的有限，所知道的也有限」，沒有人擁有完整圖畫。要擁有完整圖畫，我們需要別人的觀點。這會是一項挑戰，卻是必要的。這讓那些追求真理的人，向有不同觀點的人學習並敞開。
上面所有因素同樣應用在這些美國遺產概要上，這些內容的主要議程是為要遵守聖經尊榮/孝順父母的誡命。因為這是唯一帶著應許的誡命─使我們得福，在世長壽─撰寫這些遺產概要是盼望它們將為我們國家得福做出貢獻並增加我們的壽命。這可能是好的動機，但就算是出於好的動機，也可能以某種方式渲染這些遺產概要，使其過於正面而忽略缺點和錯誤。
我也被修正主義的歷史學家所激怒，他們企圖以善為惡，有時是以惡為善，扭曲我們國家的基本價值。雖然這樣的激怒可能是「義怒」，但是反動思維可能會引致過度反應，因此影響了對事情的敘述。最純的金子是最有價值的金子，為此緣故，我們感謝任何對這些概要的反饋或挑戰。
我們要成為成功尋寶者來找尋最有價值的寶藏─神的恩典和恩寵。正如俗話說：「一刻神的恩寵值得一生的努力」。地上所有的寶藏都無法與神的恩寵相比。當我們尊榮我們的父母，顯然會帶來祂的恩寵。倒過來也是真的：我們若不這麼做，我們便無法得福，也無法在世長壽。
許多我們在美國目前所面臨的危機根源，都始於對我們國家歷史和開國父老的攻擊，透過這些修正主義的歷史學家，他們的意圖本是好的，只不過他們所做的好事，結果卻是邪惡的。必須對此進行反擊。
真理也需要我們不妄稱歷史上的惡為善，我們的先祖也有過錯，有些還犯了可怕的錯誤。要尊榮真理，我們也必須公平地檢視這些過錯，但我們要以尊敬的方式來進行。我們必須從中學習，同時謹記在心，我們若有任何驕傲，認為自己比別人更好，特別是比之前的世代更好，會讓我們掉入相同的陷阱中，而這似乎仍是每個世代都會發生的事。
讓我們也不屈服於一般謬論，即是知道真理和行出真理是一樣的。行出真理比分辨真理更難；要行出真理需要結合對真理的愛，帶著勇氣、忠心和耐力，最重要的是神的恩典。正如聖經不斷警告我們：「神阻擋驕傲的人，賜恩給謙卑的人」（雅各書4:6）。因此，當我們檢視開國父老的錯誤，讓我們總要警戒驕傲，認為自己會做得比他們更好。
基督教最基本的訓言即是愛和救贖，此需要那些跟隨真理之主的人，必須帶著救贖之目的來看待每個人與每件事。我們可能會掉入的最嚴重陷阱，就是成為猶大所謂的「愛挑錯的人」，他宣稱「有墨黑的幽暗為他們永遠存留」。當我們以拆毀而不是建造和教誨他人的方式，開始尋找別人的缺點或錯誤，我們可能越界成為愛挑錯的人。
有一句俗語說：「任何驢子都可以踢掉穀倉，但需要熟練的木匠才能建造。」我們的開國父老建造了歷史上最偉大的國家之一，所以我們需要考慮這些批評家建造了什麼，竟賦予他們作為法官的權力？
坐在學術界的象牙塔成為批評家很容易，正如那些不是建造者的人不太可能理解那些成為建造者的人。許多目前批評我們開國父老的人，從來沒有建造過任何東西，更別說是一個國家了。這並不意味我們的開國父老不該受到評估，但是評判的權力來自成為建造的一份子，如果我們僅聽取那些不是建造者的聲音，而是那些只知道如何拆毀的人，我們就會被欺騙。
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～摘錄美國著名發明家和建築師─巴克敏斯特·富勒（R. Buckminster Fuller）～
自從電磁光譜圖首次發布以來，人們學到他們所能觸摸、聞到、看到和聽到的東西不到現實的百萬分之一。
～摘錄美國知名作家─安內絲·寧恩（Anais Nin）～
我們所看見的不是事物的本質，而是自己的樣子
(摘自喬納word for the week, Week 21, 2020)
Treasure Hunting—Heritage Brief 21
Some of the greatest treasures of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and inspiration are found in history. Studying history is like mining for gold. It is work and requires patience, but what makes something a treasure is that it is either rare or hard to get to. That which is common, or easy to find, has less value. This is just as true with the treasures of history—the harder the work and the more patience required makes what we find even more valuable.
One method of mining for gold is called “panning.” By this method, the sand in streams that contains flecks of gold is sifted through fine filters that separate the gold from the sand. In the same way we must sift through history to separate the treasure contained in it. Because history is written by people, and people tend to have prejudices based on political, religious, or other social influences, we must learn to discern these and sift through them to keep only the pure gold.
Any historian who claims to be completely objective should be the most suspected of prejudice. We all have mental filters that we perceive the world through. These filters are created by factors such as the country or culture we’re brought up in, our families, teachers, religious faith, etc. These are not necessarily bad, but they do color what we see. For this reason, as we study history it is important to understand the perspective of the historian.
It is well known that the accounts of most wars are written by the victors. That perspective will almost always be how right or righteous their cause was, and how wrong or evil the other side was. This might be true, or the opposite of the truth, as the most righteous causes do not always win. We should also keep in mind that there is usually some right and wrong on both sides of a conflict. Historians often have a political or other agenda they are trying to convey with their accounts of history, and it does not mean that their accounts do not have value, or even that they are not accurate, but at times they can be.
There is also likely much more to every story than any historical account can give. A second major factor in our quest for truth in history is what we are told in I Corinthians 13:9-12: we all “see in part” and “know in part.” No one has the complete picture. To have the complete picture we need the perspective of others. This can be a challenge, but a needed one. This keeps those who are in pursuit of truth seeking, learning, and open to others that may have a different perspective.
All of the factors stated above also apply to these Heritage Briefs. They are written with a primary agenda to obey the biblical commandment to honor our fathers and mothers. Because this is the only commandment with a promise attached—that it will go well with us and we would have longevity—these are written with the hope that they will contribute to it going well for our country and add to our longevity. This may be a good motive, but it is a motive, and it too can color these Briefs in a way that makes them too positive or overlook flaws and mistakes.
I am also provoked by the revisionist historians who have sought to make the good seem evil, and sometimes make the evil seem good, distorting our basic values as a nation. Though this might be “righteous indignation,” reactionary thinking can lead to overreaction, and thereby color the narrative. It is the truth that sets us free, and the degree to which we allow our agendas and prejudices to color our perspective can dilute the power of the truth. The purest gold is the most valuable gold, and for this reason we appreciate any feedback or challenges to these.
We want to be successful treasure hunters of the most valuable of all treasure—the grace and favor of God. As it has been said, “One moment of the favor of God is worth a lifetime of effort.” All of the earth’s treasure cannot be compared to the favor of God. It obviously brings His favor when we honor our fathers and mothers. The reverse is also true: if we do not do this it will not go well for us, and our time will be short.
Many of the roots of the present crises we’re facing in America began with the attack on our national history, and our fathers and mothers, by revisionist historians whose intent was to make the good, and the good things they did, out to be evil. This must be countered.
Truth also requires that we not call the evil in our history good. None of our ancestors were without flaws, and some made terrible mistakes. To honor the truth, we must also examine these candidly, but we want to do it in a respectful way. We must learn from them, but keep in mind that any pride we might have that would have us consider ourselves better than others, especially those of previous generations, can cause us to fall to the same traps they did, which still seems to happen with every generation.
Let us also not succumb to the common fallacy that to know the truth is the same as walking in it. It takes more than discerning the truth to live it. To walk in truth requires combining a love for the truth with courage, faithfulness, endurance, and above all, the grace of God. As Scripture repeatedly warns us, “God resists the proud, but gives His grace to the humble” (see James 4:6). So, as we examine the mistakes and flaws in our fathers and mothers, let us always be vigilant against the pride that would have us think we would have done better or are better than they were.
The most basic precepts of Christianity are love and redemption. This requires that those who follow The One who is The Truth must view everyone and everything with a redemptive purpose. One of the worst traps we can fall into is to become what Jude called “fault-finders,” which he declares the “deep darkness” to be reserved for. We can cross the line to becoming a fault-finder when we start looking for the flaws or mistakes in others without using this knowledge to build and edify rather than to tear down.
As the saying goes, “Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a skillful carpenter to build one.” Our national fathers and mothers built one of the greatest nations in history, so we need to consider just what have their critics built that gives them the authority to be their judges?
It is easy to be a critic while sitting in the ivory tower of academia, as those who have not been builders are very unlikely to understand those who have. Many of the present critics of the Founders of our nation have never built anything, much less a nation. This does not mean that our Founders should not be evaluated, but the authority to judge comes from having been a part of the building, and we will be deceived if we only listen to those who are not builders, but only know how to tear down.
Since the initial publication of the chart of the electromagnetic spectrum, humans have learned that what they can touch, smell, see, and hear is less than one-millionth of reality. –R. Buckminster Fuller
We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. –Anais Nin
