Difference between revisions of "A CREEPING SICKNESS"
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
The world is running short not only of | The world is running short not only of | ||
food but of oil and energy. The age of | food but of oil and energy. The age of | ||
| − | abundance is over, and yet the West continues in careless extravagance. | + | abundance is over, and yet the West continues in careless extravagance.<br/> |
The air, the land and the waters of | The air, the land and the waters of | ||
the earth are being ruined. Dumping radioactive waste in the sea is just one of | the earth are being ruined. Dumping radioactive waste in the sea is just one of | ||
| − | the ways we are poisoning the environment for future generations. | + | the ways we are poisoning the environment for future generations.<br/> |
Families are breaking up, with great | Families are breaking up, with great | ||
misery and hurt. One marriage in three | misery and hurt. One marriage in three | ||
| − | collapses. | + | collapses.<br/> |
The crime rate all over the world is | The crime rate all over the world is | ||
accelerating with terrifying rapidity. It is an age of violence and brutality | accelerating with terrifying rapidity. It is an age of violence and brutality | ||
such as the world has never seen. It is the age of concentration camps, of the | such as the world has never seen. It is the age of concentration camps, of the | ||
| − | most exquisite forms of torture, of genocide. | + | most exquisite forms of torture, of genocide.<br/> |
Leonardo da Vinci suppressed his invention of the submarine, | Leonardo da Vinci suppressed his invention of the submarine, | ||
he tells us, ‘because of the evil nature of man. They would use it to practice | he tells us, ‘because of the evil nature of man. They would use it to practice | ||
| − | assassinations at the bottom of the sea.’ | + | assassinations at the bottom of the sea.’<br/> |
He had put his finger on the heart of our problem: the evil | He had put his finger on the heart of our problem: the evil | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
‘What’s wrong with the world? I am,’ said a famous man of | ‘What’s wrong with the world? I am,’ said a famous man of | ||
| − | letters. | + | letters.<br/> |
Of course, if you put that to the man in the street he will | Of course, if you put that to the man in the street he will | ||
tell you: ‘I’ve never done anyone any harm.’ ‘I’m all right.’ ‘I’m as good as | tell you: ‘I’ve never done anyone any harm.’ ‘I’m all right.’ ‘I’m as good as | ||
| − | people who go to church.’ | + | people who go to church.’<br/> |
But Christianity will have none of it. The Christian faith | But Christianity will have none of it. The Christian faith | ||
is unashamedly a rescue religion. That is why so many respectable people will | is unashamedly a rescue religion. That is why so many respectable people will | ||
have nothing to do with it. The Bible proclaims that we are not all right. The world is in a mess, | have nothing to do with it. The Bible proclaims that we are not all right. The world is in a mess, | ||
| − | and each individual life is in a mess. | + | and each individual life is in a mess.<br/> |
‘Who can understand the human heart?’ asked the prophet | ‘Who can understand the human heart?’ asked the prophet | ||
| − | Jeremiah. ‘There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.’ | + | Jeremiah. ‘There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.’<br/> |
Jesus himself tells us something crucial — something that we | Jesus himself tells us something crucial — something that we | ||
are painfully having to rediscover | are painfully having to rediscover | ||
today. Will more education or more social welfare put us right? Or is it ‘the | today. Will more education or more social welfare put us right? Or is it ‘the | ||
| − | system?’ Change the system and all will be right . | + | system?’ Change the system and all will be right .<br/> |
No, said Jesus. For ‘from our heart come the evil ideas | No, said Jesus. For ‘from our heart come the evil ideas | ||
which lead us to kill, commit adultery, and do other immoral things; to rob, | which lead us to kill, commit adultery, and do other immoral things; to rob, | ||
| − | lie, and slander others.’ | + | lie, and slander others.’<br/> |
The fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves. The ‘human | The fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves. The ‘human | ||
| − | disease’ of self-centeredness is nothing short of fatal. | + | disease’ of self-centeredness is nothing short of fatal.<br/> |
You must have seen a tree throttled by ivy. It is a sad | You must have seen a tree throttled by ivy. It is a sad | ||
sight. A tree is such a strong, beautiful, living thing. And we feel it ought | sight. A tree is such a strong, beautiful, living thing. And we feel it ought | ||
| − | never to succumb to the insignificant tentacles climbing up it. | + | never to succumb to the insignificant tentacles climbing up it.<br/> |
But ivy is like a creeping sickness. Look how it starts: so | But ivy is like a creeping sickness. Look how it starts: so | ||
pale, and frail, and innocent- looking. But it grows. It increases its hold, | pale, and frail, and innocent- looking. But it grows. It increases its hold, | ||
| − | shuts out the light and air, and eventually strangles the life out of the tree. | + | shuts out the light and air, and eventually strangles the life out of the tree.<br/> |
That is very like the effect on us of the disease the Bible | That is very like the effect on us of the disease the Bible | ||
calls sin. We were made to be great — the crown of God’s creation. But sin | calls sin. We were made to be great — the crown of God’s creation. But sin | ||
| − | spoils it all. | + | spoils it all.<br/> |
| − | ‘Whoever commits sin becomes a slave of sin,’ said Jesus. | + | ‘Whoever commits sin becomes a slave of sin,’ said Jesus.<br/> |
‘I do not understand what I do; for I don’t do what I would | ‘I do not understand what I do; for I don’t do what I would | ||
like to do, but instead I do what I hate. . . What an unhappy man I am! Who | like to do, but instead I do what I hate. . . What an unhappy man I am! Who | ||
will rescue me?’ cried the apostle Paul. ‘Sin pays its customers; the wage is | will rescue me?’ cried the apostle Paul. ‘Sin pays its customers; the wage is | ||
| − | death.’ | + | death.’<br/> |
This is all very unflattering for a generation which thinks | This is all very unflattering for a generation which thinks | ||
it is the greatest. But it is a true analysis, however humiliating. It means | it is the greatest. But it is a true analysis, however humiliating. It means | ||
| − | that we need two things above all: | + | that we need two things above all:<br/> |
Forgiveness for the mess we have made | Forgiveness for the mess we have made | ||
| − | of our world and of our lives; | + | of our world and of our lives;<br/> |
| − | A power beyond our own to set us free. | + | A power beyond our own to set us free.<br/> |
[[Category:Misc]] | [[Category:Misc]] | ||
Revision as of 05:35, 5 March 2023
Despite all the signs of God at work in the world, it is
still in a mess.
There is appalling inequality between
rich and poor nations. In 1983 the national income for each person in the United States was $9,600, in China $510,
in India $170.
A massive population explosion is on
the way. By the year 2000 there will be twice as many mouths to feed as there
were in 1950. They increase at 210,000 a day —starvation affects more and more
of mankind.
The world is running short not only of
food but of oil and energy. The age of
abundance is over, and yet the West continues in careless extravagance.
The air, the land and the waters of
the earth are being ruined. Dumping radioactive waste in the sea is just one of
the ways we are poisoning the environment for future generations.
Families are breaking up, with great
misery and hurt. One marriage in three
collapses.
The crime rate all over the world is
accelerating with terrifying rapidity. It is an age of violence and brutality
such as the world has never seen. It is the age of concentration camps, of the
most exquisite forms of torture, of genocide.
Leonardo da Vinci suppressed his invention of the submarine,
he tells us, ‘because of the evil nature of man. They would use it to practice
assassinations at the bottom of the sea.’
He had put his finger on the heart of our problem: the evil
nature of human beings.
‘What’s wrong with the world? I am,’ said a famous man of
letters.
Of course, if you put that to the man in the street he will
tell you: ‘I’ve never done anyone any harm.’ ‘I’m all right.’ ‘I’m as good as
people who go to church.’
But Christianity will have none of it. The Christian faith
is unashamedly a rescue religion. That is why so many respectable people will
have nothing to do with it. The Bible proclaims that we are not all right. The world is in a mess,
and each individual life is in a mess.
‘Who can understand the human heart?’ asked the prophet
Jeremiah. ‘There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.’
Jesus himself tells us something crucial — something that we
are painfully having to rediscover
today. Will more education or more social welfare put us right? Or is it ‘the
system?’ Change the system and all will be right .
No, said Jesus. For ‘from our heart come the evil ideas
which lead us to kill, commit adultery, and do other immoral things; to rob,
lie, and slander others.’
The fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves. The ‘human
disease’ of self-centeredness is nothing short of fatal.
You must have seen a tree throttled by ivy. It is a sad
sight. A tree is such a strong, beautiful, living thing. And we feel it ought
never to succumb to the insignificant tentacles climbing up it.
But ivy is like a creeping sickness. Look how it starts: so
pale, and frail, and innocent- looking. But it grows. It increases its hold,
shuts out the light and air, and eventually strangles the life out of the tree.
That is very like the effect on us of the disease the Bible
calls sin. We were made to be great — the crown of God’s creation. But sin
spoils it all.
‘Whoever commits sin becomes a slave of sin,’ said Jesus.
‘I do not understand what I do; for I don’t do what I would
like to do, but instead I do what I hate. . . What an unhappy man I am! Who
will rescue me?’ cried the apostle Paul. ‘Sin pays its customers; the wage is
death.’
This is all very unflattering for a generation which thinks
it is the greatest. But it is a true analysis, however humiliating. It means
that we need two things above all:
Forgiveness for the mess we have made
of our world and of our lives;
A power beyond our own to set us free.