“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5.
That every corner of our planet is in turmoil is not breaking news. Wars and rumours of wars, horrendous violence, moral corruptions of all kinds, political partisanships and the societal divisions they cause, are the diet of daily alarms. Religions of many beliefs contribute also to the factions and camps that are hostile to each other and to those who do not support their theological views. Yet an ironical component of these groups and their mutual hostilities is that they promise harmonious peace and prosperity to those who follow them and not others.
At the ground level, ingratitude, thanklessness, lack of generosity are very evident in our times. Courtesies – saying please, thank you, excuse me – are not so common. One approaches most encounters defensively, expecting rudeness, curses, aggressiveness, even violence, as a matter of course. Those who drive carefully experience a daily traffic of abuse from impatient drivers and hostility from pedestrians. In shops and stores those who serve leave much to be desired in terms of basic manners. Kindness and politeness are often seen as weakness, things quaint and foreign, an eccentricity to be mocked. There is no doubt that social interactions are today fraught with the possibility of violent response. Gun and knife crimes are rampant throughout our islands as they are elsewhere. And then there are serious climate change issues.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
There is the attitude that if one does not act aggressively, advantage will be taken. Much of this behavior comes from self-centredness. Lack of care for others, selfishness, are revealed by hostility. Space, time, thanks are often given grudgingly. Elderly parents and small children suffer from these. Domestic abuse is a major criminal problem. We rationalize bad behavior and destructive attitudes. Unfortunately, these now pervade communities at all levels. At worse, they manifest in streets filled with obscenities, quarrels, fights, and increasing violence that lead to murder. Children and women are frequently at the receiving end, but so are male victims of gang vendettas which have become a major problem throughout the Caribbean.
From a Biblical point of view (much rejected) these are signs of the times. The Apostle Paul had prophesied, echoing older prophets: “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). We can check off everything in that list as familiar today.
Wherever man continues to hate his God and Creator, to disbelieve and disobey, to scoff at Biblical revelation, these anti-social behaviours will increase. The Biblical exhortations to know the reality of God’s existence and His sovereignty, to turn from horrendous attitudes, to believe all that the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ the crucified and resurrected Saviour, to prepare for God’s certain judgement, are the only solution. It must begin at an individual, personal level for each person. Faith in Christ has had and can have a transforming influence for good.
We do not disregard the ideas and work of sociologists, economists, social workers, medical professionals, teachers, the police and others of civil society who offer solutions and work bravely deep in communities to resolve these problems. The Church, at best, lays the Biblical spiritual analyses and solutions alongside the many serious concerns. The Church teaches, not only about this world and our lives in it, but must remind human beings of the greater eternal spiritual realities connected with us as God’s creation, accountable and answerable to God. But the Church must present the Biblical gospel. Not false doctrines.
Persons who have been saved from the power of those sins detailed by Bible writers are the ones who will strive to live with greater respect for fellow citizens. Christians, professing church members, often fail to live up to the high calling of Scriptural teachings. The failure of the Church and its adherents do not cancel or make void Biblical principles.
For serious followers of Biblical Christian guidelines, the two great commandments to love God and neighbor, are daily pointers. In this hostile world, it is not easy to practice love, but there is no other way if one is to survive to the end of one’s life. The ways of hate, grudges, resentments, rudeness, incessant quarrels, unending aggression, bitter partisanships of politics and religion are sure ways to disease and sickness that are physical, mental, spiritual. As well as deepening the divisions between persons and communities that are increasingly producing murder, death, suffering, endless vendettas of revenge. The ravages of these things are on the faces all around us. Many now live in fear as well as continual anger. All, young and old, are affected.
The solution is life-changing faith in the God of the Bible. Not religious jargon that clothes itself in huge crosses and costumes, not ceaseless, meaningless talk in the midst of entrenched hate, not the obvious hypocrisies that obscure the great truths of the salvation Christ brings to those who receive Him in life-changing faith. A thankfulness and gratitude, seen in daily relationships, is an undeniable mark of the first place given to God in our lives. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). That faith knows the reality of God’s forgiveness of sins and God’s certain judgement on all wickedness.
True, life-changing faith manifests itself in the common courtesies that help to make this hard-hearted world bearable. There is the love of neighbor that is commanded. God is depended on for the solution to all difficulties. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…He will direct your steps.” (Proverbs 3:5,6). That faith-life is marked also by a real joy: “Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Like a balm, lives that carry these qualities will be great blessing to home, work-place, neighborhoods, country. Our faith will shape the nature of common courtesies. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His achievements of redemption and reconciliation for those who believe in Him, through His own terrible suffering in this world, can be a transforming influence in homes, workplaces, streets, communities. The faithful Biblical Church teaches and preaches there is no other way. Christ is the Way, Truth and Life. Faith in Him transforms lives for the better.