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Charles Schultz Philosophy Quiz
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Transcript
0:00
Hi, this is Dave DeWitt, and I want to say a few words about what's come to be known
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as the Charles Schultz philosophy quiz.
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You probably received this quiz in an email or seen it in a devotional book.
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Snopes says, though this saying slash quiz is often attributed to Charles Schultz, he
0:27
in fact made no such statement.
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We don't know who is the real creator of this quiz, but it's been circulating on the internet
0:36
since at least the year 2000.
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Nonetheless, whoever wrote it, the quiz is worth reading.
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I'll just read through it and then just add a few comments at the end.
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So here's the quiz.
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This is all one quote.
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Number one, name the five wealthiest people in the world.
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Number two, name the last five Heisman Trophy winners.
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Number three, name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
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Number four, name 10 people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
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Number five, name the last half dozen Academy Awards winners or best actors or actresses.
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Number six, name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
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How'd you do?
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The facts are, and I'm still reading the quote, the facts are none of us remember the headliners
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of yesterday.
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These are no second-rate achievers.
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They're the best in the field.
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But the applause dies, awards tarnish, achievements are forgotten, accolades and certificates
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are buried with their owners.
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Here's another quiz, and I'm going to remind you I'm still reading the quote.
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Here's another quiz.
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See how you do on this one.
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Number one, list a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
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Number two, name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
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Number three, name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
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Number four, think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
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Number five, think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
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Number six, name a half dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
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Easier?
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The lesson?
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The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials,
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the most money, or the most awards.
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They're the ones that care.
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End of quote.
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I have a few things to say.
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It seems the quote, the quiz is a bit heavy-loaded on the front end since it asked me to name
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five or ten people in each category, which is a bit unreasonable.
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Nonetheless, the unknown author of the quiz makes a significant point.
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He or she should have added to the first quiz a number seven, name the pastors of the five
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largest churches in the world, or number eight, name the five best-selling Christian authors
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in the world.
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Or they may have added to the second quiz a number seven, name the person who led you
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to Christ, or number eight, name some people who discipled you in the scripture, or if
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you grew up going to a church, name some of the pastors of that church.
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The significant lesson would be the people who make a difference in your life are the
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ones who care, the ones who gave something to you without expecting something in return.
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That's what the New Testament calls agape love.
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But I'd like to suggest that for the believer in Jesus Christ, there is an even better lesson.
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The most significant people are not just the ones who care about you, they're the ones
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who care more about God than they care about you.
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Abraham was an impacting patriarch, not because he prioritized people, but because he was
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a friend of God, James 2, 23.
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Moses made the biggest impact on Israel, not because he was prioritizing the Israelites,
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but because his main desire was to, and I quote, know your ways that I may know you
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so that I may find favor in your sight, Exodus 33, 13.
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David was the greatest king in Israel, not because he prioritized the people, but because
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he was a man after God's own heart.
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Jesus was the most impacting person in all of history, because he did not come to glorify man.
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He told his heavenly father, quote, I glorified you on earth, having completed the work which
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you've given me to do.
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Paul wrote, if I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
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You want a spouse who loves God more than they love you.
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You want a teacher who is truer to the word of God than to their own thoughts.
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You want a fellowship of believers that focuses on the holiness of God, not accommodating
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your sin.
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You want friends who are not just the ones who care, but the ones who care more about
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pleasing God than pleasing you.
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Anyway, I thought this little quiz that has been hanging around the internet for years
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was worth a few comments.
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Thanks for listening.
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If you want my paper on this, it's available on our website, relationalconcepts.org.
