"Who Died, and Left [Blank] In Charge?"
"Who Died, and Left [Blank] In Charge?"
Have you ever, like me, been listening to a stream of music on YouTube, when these intervening commercials come on, interrupting the songs you want to hear? Some of these ads are fine, innocuous, and (even occasionally) interesting, or helpful. . . . But, have any of you ever heard the one, where the woman comes on, and says (demands) with great passion: "NEVER, NEVER say, 'How are you doing?' "? And she goes on with another injunction, (but I am not [happily] remembering it right now). These kinds of ads are the ones you can break a leg, foot, or neck, seeking to get to the "skip" button, before you are subjected to more intense fervor.
. . . My whole point, is simply this: "Who died, and left this woman in charge of whether or not I should ask someone, 'how are you doing?'?" Bottom line: who is this lady--no matter how well-intended she may be, to be instructing me on how I am to address people? Maybe she is a college professor; maybe she has a Ph.D. in psychology or sociology, or some other discipline; still, who cares? Why should I listen to her?
Now, I do not wish to be misunderstood: I fully-realize that as creatures made in the image of God, all of us human beings feel and know that it is incumbent upon all of us to not only interact with one another, but to give "imperatives" to one another, at least from time to time. But does this very fact not help prove the very existence of God Himself, and the reality of objective truth? Why is this significant? Because a lot of the people who shout their insistences in our ears everyday, would deny the very basis on which they make their bold commandments and assertions. Many of them would be inclined to say, "No, there is no objective truth; and there is no God--but still, you must do what I say."
. . . Here is the inevitable situation that we all face: all of us must and do bow to someone or some thing that we conceive of as the Ultimate Being, the Absolute Standard--and we seek not only to comply to/with this "Being"/"Standard"--but to get everyone else to do so, as well.
Now, this fact (of the last paragraph) is not all bad. Not *all* "Ultimate Standards or Beings" are nefarious and deceitful, and lead us into slavery. There *is* One Who is Infinitely Good; and He (Jesus Christ) shepherds us into liberty, joy, purpose, grace, goodness, and love.
The lady in the commercial (referenced in the first paragraph), was very passionate about us not asking others, "How are you doing?" What made her so zealous, I cannot say. But this, I may say/I am willing to say/and I am commissioned (by God) to say: "You are free to ask someone, 'how are you doing?'; but there is One with Whom you must actually 'do well'; and that One is the Triune God of glory. He is only known by us through faith in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity."
Someone might be saying, "Yes; but you are being as insistent as the annoying lady in the commercial." My response would be, "Indeed; you are correct. But my 'insistence' is only for your good. I have no vested interest in sharing this with you--except that I desire your very best."
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #90
4 April 2026
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