The Majority Is Not Always Right …Hello Hump Day readers. May is behind us and June is upon us. How quickly the days come and go. This week Al and I are off and we are going up to Aspen Glade in the Rio Grande National Forest, near Antonito, Colorado. We’ve been in Antonito many times but not down on the Conejos River which is well-known for Gold Medal fishing. However, when we asked folks about the fishing we found a majority that says “yes” and another majority that says “not so much.” So, is it that good or not—we’ll let you know. This got me thinking about a story a long time ago and believe it or not, it’s about the Wright brothers!

Milton Wright was an American bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Milton was stuffy and often overbearing with what he thought was “right.” In a fiery sermon he pronounced from his pulpit along with a publication he wrote saying: human flight was both impossible and contrary to the will of God. Many of his parishioners and other pastors told him there is NO scripture that says this. But stubborn Milton continued his words as spiritual truth. Well, you know the story: in a twist of irony, two of his sons, Orville and Wilbur, would pioneer human flight in 1903, dramatically changing the course of human history!

Milton Wright is a perfect example of someone who can be sincere and well intentioned, yet flat out wrong. I don’t think there is a person on earth who has done the same thing. It’s easy to believe something with all of our hearts but often the fact is “it’s not true.” We have  seven billion people on this planet and 66% of the majority don’t consider Jesus to be their Savior. They follow other religions, some doing so sincerely and others trying things out; but in the end if it isn’t Jesus they choose they are missing out. The Apostle Paul encountered the same thing with the Corinthians, teaching them this: “…even if the majority believes there are many so-called gods in heaven and on earth (certainly many worship such ‘gods’ and ‘lords’), this is not our view. For us, there is one God, the Father who is the ultimate source of all things and the goal of our lives. And there is one Lord—Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King; through Him all things were created, and by Him we are redeemed.”  [1 Corinthians 8:5–6 Voice]

As Christians, the most unloving thing we can do is sit in silence while the “good people” who don’t know Christ continue on another path. God has given us the words and the strength to share our faith, to love others and gently and lovingly point them to Jesus where a wonderful relationship can be formed for their heart, mind, body and soul. No doubt, many will say they don’t want that path but don’t put them down. Jesus says that we are to love others no matter their ethnicity, faith or no faith. Our kindness in doing so, we may help another find the joy in the Lord and live a life of faith.

Did Bishop Milton Wright ever change and allow his sons to fly despite his disapproval? Well, after they successfully achieved the first powered, sustained flight on December 17, 1903, Milton’s stance softened like butter. He gave his sons permission to fly together. A few years later he asked them to take him on a flight. Orville was ecstatic, “Yes Dad, let’s do it” and Milton experienced the exhilaration of flight! He yelled “Higher, Orville, higher!” When they landed, Wilbur took him up into the skies again. That evening their father told them that he was wrong mostly because of his fear. After prayer he said to his sons “God spoke to me saying ‘Milton, look at the birds in the sky and remember I made them as I made you and you sons. Now go fly!” Aviation was never the same again; neither was the Wright family.

So, please don’t listen to the majority. Instead, listen to the truth that God gives us and grounds us in—even if we’re up in the sky! AMEN.