Thank You, Mr. Baker
Recently I saw/listened to a speech made at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The occasion for the speech was a celebration of what would have been the 107th birthday of President Reagan.
The speech was made by James Baker. As some may remember, Mr. Baker served President Reagan as the White House Chief of Staff and, later, as the Secretary of the Treasury. He has also held other positions in Mr. Reagan’s administration and in other administrations.
As one might expect, Mr. Baker said some very complimentary things about his former boss and our former president. I found one statement to be of particular interest. In fact, I immediately wrote it down so that I could remember it accurately. Mr. Baker said,
“Some did not like his policies, but it was impossible not to like the man himself.”
All of us have heard of people who have the ability to disagree without being disagreeable. It seems to me that this is at least part of what Mr. Baker was saying about President Reagan.
My interest in that statement had less to do with a former president than it has to do with me. The fact that I am a Christian automatically and immediately puts me at odds with any number of people. If I truly believe and promote what the Bible teaches, there are those who will not agree with me.
It seems to me that I could learn something from the statement made by Mr. Baker. As a Christian, it is my duty to stand on, defend, and seek to promote the truth.
At the same time, it is also my duty to seek to what Paul wrote that he was doing: “…speaking the truth in love… (Eph. 4:15, ESV, emphasis added). As I encounter those who either do not know the truth or who have, as yet, not obeyed the truth, I need to remember something else that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write:
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person (Col. 4:6, ESV).
I cannot help but wonder how many people are lost because they have been taught and have obeyed something that is without any scriptural backing. At the same time, I also wonder about the number of people who have never obeyed the truth because it was presented to them by somebody who was harsh, unfeeling, uncaring, and downright rude.
I don’t know what people will say about me when I am gone. All I can do is try to learn from somebody who is greater than all of the world leaders who have ever lived.
On one occasion, His earthly ministry was summed up with these words:
…He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him (Acts 10:38, ESV).
Ask yourself these questions: “Why would One who could be described in this way be executed in such a brutal manner as crucifixion? Did that happen because of His personality or His teaching?”
The words, “impossible to not like the man himself,” may never apply to me, but I can make it a goal as I seek to live by and teach things with which others disagree. I certainly would not want to be responsible for somebody turning his or her back on the message of eternal salvation because of how I presented that message to them.
Thank you, Mr. Baker, for the reminder and the challenge!
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
