On Sunday I mentioned I am reading Huck Finn through the help of an audio book. Mark Twain wrote this classic in 1884 and the setting of the book was some 60 years or so before that. Just to give you a picture of what Huck Finn's America was like consider this:

John Quincy Adams was president and had just been the first President selected by the House of Representatives because neither candidate had received the majority of the electoral votes.

There were only 24 states in the good old USA (Arizona was not one of them)

The Civil War had not taken place

Slavery was prevalent and slaves were considered property not human beings

Why do I point all this out?  There is one point towards the end of book where Huck is perplexed about what to do about his friend and run away slave, Jim.  Should he turn him in to the authorities or help him continue to live in freedom against the law.  In a crisis moment, Huck's conscience is telling him to do the "right thing" and turn him in to be punished.  He senses that God wants him to be righteous and not help Jim escape.  However, in a moment of "weakness" Huck decides he is going to help Jim even if it means he himself will have to go to hell for doing so!

I reflected on this and thought...  what a great display of friendship and loyalty, what counter cultural courage, and what a precursor to what is coming for our country and for the slaves themselves!  

Then I thought about how interesting it must be to be God.  I mean, in one generation something is right and then in just a few years that very same thing becomes wicked to the next generation.   

Then I wondered what is in my day and age that is comparable to slavery?  Is there something I support now that in a few years or a few hundred years I will be ashamed to have supported?  And if there is, which there most likely is, is it even possible that I could know right now what that is and choose any different?  And is it possible that Huck actually did the unrighteous thing even though he did what future generations would say is righteous?

Like I said, it must be interesting to be God.

Thoughts?

Joe