Too Common by Half

Just before the recent Eurovision Song Contest, a radio presenter spoke of “the unthinkable having become commonplace”.  He referred to the transformation of the former Soviet republics, in that they now exhibit a feverish enthusiasm to take part in something that once would have been deplored in their culture.

Those words can be lifted from their context and re-applied in precisely the opposite direction.  How much of what is around us ought to be deplored instead of being welcomed with enthusiasm?  Such deplorable facets of society include so-called ‘reality’ TV programmes that stop little short of pornography.  Profanity or blasphemy (or both) are heard all too often on our streets.  Self-discipline and respect for those in authority – and indeed behaviour by such people that is deserving of respect – have plummeted to such a depth that successive governments have seen fit from time to time to mount positive campaigns to attempt their revival.  And that’s before we even consider the field of professional sport, and the recent Respect campaign that has been seen on our football fields.

Jesus took the Pharisees to task about their hypocrisy: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions,” (Mk 7:9, NIV).  He gave a list of unworthy priorities and bad character traits (vv. 21-22) that identify man’s lower nature.  It’s the work of only a few moments to check these off against the values and lifestyles of people we know.  Even more worrying is the way that, if we dare, we can find some of them in our own behaviour!

 

Join me, if you will, in a ‘Summer Resolution’ to root these out and destroy them, and to encourage those close to us to do the same … with the help of the Holy Spirit.