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SELF-SERVICE OR FULL SERVICE?

To be sure, this is a critical juncture in history.  Daily, we’re reminded that we’re experiencing the greatest recession since the Great Depression.  Most news programs which have long subscribed to the theory if it bleeds, it leads (the telecast) seem to have tabled this approach in support of the age of rage.  Increasingly, the order of the day seems to be anger and outrage.  One cable news channel in particular boasts a roster of seemingly angry news anchors who rail against everything from 9/11 victims’ families to proposed healthcare reform and nearly all things related to the current President of the United States.  These angry news anchors appeal to a segment of the population that is openly hostile towards the government and blatantly disrespectful towards the US President.  While disgraceful, their behavior is symptomatic of an even more egregious and alarming trend—the trend toward irreverence for God, the people of God and the things of God.        

This year alone, at least 2 pastors have been murdered in churches on Sunday mornings.  In Illinois, a pastor was gunned down while delivering a sermon.  And in Oklahoma, a pastor was murdered while preparing the church for worship service.  Though murder is quite commonplace in American society, these kinds of crimes are especially heinous because the crime scenes are houses of God and the victims are men and women of God.  Whatever their motives, one thing is certain.  The people who carried out these crimes absolutely have no respect for God.  What’s more, they have no regard for the people or things of God.  That is at once sobering and disturbing.  However, it’s almost to be expected as mankind becomes increasingly more self-serving. 

Since the yuppie-driven excessive 1980s, every generation has become more self-centered and self-serving.   As a result, the world is nearing a state of total chaos as evidenced in economic, social and religious arenas.  For instance, greed and avarice have led to the collapse of the world’s financial systems and the current US housing crisis.  Similarly, idolatry has led some to put profit before people and the pursuit of power, money and prestige before parenting and family responsibilities.  Not to be outdone, a general lack of respect for the temple of the Holy Spirit has led to an explosion in the popularity of tattoos, body piercings and promiscuity.  Meanwhile, the sacred institution of marriage has been sullied by notions of same-gender relationships, “open” marriages where extramarital affairs are acceptable, and plural marriages where multiple spouses are involved.  And perhaps what’s most disturbing is the fact that sin is becoming much more prevalent in the Church.  For example, the Episcopal and Anglican churches now acknowledge and employ openly gay clergy.  And in Seattle, Rev. Ann Holmes Redding claims to practice both Christianity and Islam.  Both examples are in direct opposition to the Word of God.  Yet rather than decry such sins and stress the need for repentance, many church leaders simply look the other way or tailor the gospel for the sake of popularity, prosperity and political correctness.             

The point of it all is this, though we are living in perilous times, we still have the ability to reverse course.  Rather than continue down the destructive path of self-centeredness and self-service, we should make a concerted effort to live lives of full service and devotion to God.  Pleasing our Creator and Sustainer should be the motivation for everything that we do.  In this way, Jesus truly led by example.  He lived and died to fulfill the will and purpose of God.  Therefore, we should do nothing less.  Jesus sacrificed His very life for us.  For that reason, the only appropriate response is to live our lives in full service to Him.

Elle Bailey
Author
Living Well is the Best Revenge
 
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