"Test the Heart...."

"Test"..."heart"....words used so frequently in our modern society, yet what do they mean. The heart implies a romantic concept, emotional. Tests are academic, cognitive. What could it possibly mean to "test the heart"? Are we insuring that we really love someone before we form a union with them? Are we measuring the amount of knowledge or skill we have acquired? Does society care?

As we Americans have relaxed our standards in many areas of life, some ideas take on new meaning....or should I say lose meaning.

As we adjust admission standards to college and give out trophies of "participation" regardless of record, we diminish tests. As we redefine love and the various arrangements and permissions that "being in love" include, are we strengthening our society--ourselves? Are we offering more access, or are we taking away the soul of commitment and achievement?

In a spiritual sense, the Bible tells us "I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity". ( I Chronicles 29: 17) Are we a religious people? If you claim to be religious, how do you define what God considers integrity...what God considers appropriate 'heart attitudes'?

The American way is to decide for yourself. So, let's examine integrity and the tests that life holds for us today. Let's see what lies in our hearts and then test our character--corporately and individually. The journey to "find yourself" has always been preeminent in the human search for meaning. I would propose that no one even is looking anymore.