You know what a dilemma is, right? It’s when you are caught between two options and you must make a choice. If you choose the first option, it will cause a problem. And if you choose the second option, it will cause a different problem.

People face dilemmas all the time.

Let me give you an example: You want to take your son hunting. He’s finally old enough. It’s kind of a father-son bonding time. He’s using his grandpa’s gun. You bought him the license. He’s really excited. But your aunt Mabel died yesterday. And while the viewing is Sunday evening, the funeral service is Monday morning — the opening day of buck season. That’s a dilemma. What do you do? Do you let down your son by skimping on the hunt? Or do you let your uncle down by skipping your aunt’s funeral. No one likes to be on the horns of a dilemma.

A more serious dilemma would have been on the mind of some young men in Nazi Germany in the time of Adolph Hitler. On one hand, you want to be a patriot. And Germany is economically devastated. Plus, if you refuse to fight, it will be your neck! On the other hand, you know the Nazis are committing atrocities. You’ve seen the ghettos. You’ve heard the stories. Can you defend a government that is so evil? It’s a dilemma. What do you do?

No one likes to be caught on the horns of a dilemma. I always want the third alternative. But often, there is none.

This podcast speaks about Joseph of Arimathea’s choices and ours as well.

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