What's wrong with the world?
February 2, 2018
The word ‘sin’ isn’t used much these days is it? We talk about making ‘mistakes’ as if it’s accidental. We talk about ‘inappropriate’ behaviour (a bit like wearing ‘inappropriate’ shoes for a night out). We talk about ‘misconduct’ as if someone wasn’t paying attention in deportment lessons and has been presenting themselves is a sloppy manner. We say ‘oh well, nobody’s perfect’ to excuse lying, selfishness, being deliberately horrible to people, holding grudges, not lifting a finger to help when others are in distress, storing up wealth instead of being generous and a thousand other wrongs.
Other people are always the ‘bad ones’. We’re happy to point the finger at corrupt political figures, disgraced celebrities and unenlightened historical people. But of course we’re not like them. We’re just going through life doing our best and no one can fault us for that. We say at funerals “She never did any one any harm.” even though it’s so obviously untrue.
What’s clear is that we pretty much never use the words wrong, bad or evil about ourselves. In fact, we’re encouraged to bolster our self-esteem by not being too hard on ourselves, letting ourselves off the hook and being kind to ourselves. Ironically, I think the reason many people aren’t experiencing peace and freedom is that they’re not being honest about their deliberate wrongdoings and coming to Jesus for forgiveness. God doesn’t want us to beat ourselves up about our sins. But he does want us to be honest about them and bring them to him. That’s where true liberation lies.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1: 8 - 9
Our culture seems to be moving further away from taking personal responsibility for our thoughts, words and actions and if we’re not careful, those of us who follow Jesus are in danger of doing likewise.
Chesterton when writing to The Times to answer the question, “What’s wrong with the world?” simply replied “I am”. We would do well to reflect on that.
Posted by Anne Witton. Posted In : Reflections
