What’s wrong with the world?
A lot of folks have been asking that question for the past few days. And a lot of folks have been lining up, booting up, and logging in to answer that question. Depending on whose Facebook post you read, either centuries of injustice have been rectified or the earth is about to stop spinning on its axis. I have friends … dear, precious friends … with whom I could not disagree more on the hot issues of the day. And by that I mean more than the SCOTUS decision on same sex marriage. I’m also including the confederate flag, gun control, and racial tensions.
And while I don’t mind having discussions on those issues and I am not at all ashamed of my opinions and convictions on issues of politics, culture, morality, and faith, I also have convictions about the proper context for sharing those convictions and opinions. I can only speak for myself, but firing off paragraphs filled with accusations, name calling, and self-righteousness are not consistent with my calling. I’ll have my “discussions” face to face, thank you very much.
Here’s what I know that I don’t mind sharing in this public forum: God has never once been taken by surprise, nor has He ever panicked. He has not changed His mind about what He approves or disapproves and He has not once asked for our expert advice. His heart breaks over our bad choices, both individual and corporate, and He is more eager for us to experience His blessing than we are. However, He will not bless us simply because we think we deserve it more than someone else does.
God has never once been taken by surprise, nor has He ever panicked. Click To Tweet
Here’s something else I know that I don’t mind sharing: I’m not mad at anyone. I’m heartbroken, but perhaps not like you would expect. Before this morning, I don’t know that I could have described it. I’m still not sure I can describe it, but maybe the story I heard on one of my favorite podcasts can illustrate it.
G.K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936), was an English writer, lay theologian, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, literary and art critic, biographer, and Christian apologist. In 1910, he wrote a book entitled “What’s Wrong with the World?” The story is told that The Times once sent out an inquiry to famous authors, asking the question, “What’s wrong with the world today?” Chesterton responded simply, “Dear Sir, I am. Yours, G.K. Chesterton.”
What’s wrong with the world? I am–me, myself–no matter how good I think I am in comparison to someone else. My life matters so much to God that He doesn’t lower His standards for me to anything less than what He has revealed in His written revelation of Himself–the Bible. And if I want my country to be what He intends, it will begin with me–right here, right now, right where I live.
It is still His world.
