Ah, humanity. We are such an inconsistent species when it comes to ethical and moral choices. A few instances prove the point.
Some of the strongest voices raised against abortion out of respect for the sanctity of all life also are among the strongest voices raised in favor of the death penalty, thus assuming that the sanctity of all life doesn’t apply to some lives.
Again, some of the strongest voices raised against new and effective gun-safety legislation claim to be among the most faithful followers of Jesus, thus assuming Jesus’ teaching on love of enemy, not resisting evildoers, turning the cheek, laying down one’s life for another are electives and not deeply rooted invitations to faithful living.
Similar voices raise the cry of individual liberty and personal rights over a strong sense of community regard and responsibility, ignoring, as people of faith, the biblically consistent message about service to the least and most vulnerable among us as being equivalent to serving God in ways He seeks to be served.
And yet we fund stadiums far more quickly than shelters, feed our egos more quickly than our neighbors and place higher priority on rights than on responsibilities.
About the only true consistency regarding humanity is that ME most often takes the place of WE in both legislation and personal action.
Will humanity ever change? Not of ourselves, but there is hope nonetheless.
Jesus tells a parable about seeds, about the seed of God’s word scattered everywhere. Much of that seed gets lost along the way, fails to take root or gets overcome by the cares, riches and pleasures of life and, thus, never fully matures into a trusting faith.
Yet sometimes that seeded word falls into good soil, takes root and grows into a harvest with plenty for all.
Of that good soil, Jesus says, these are the ones who, when they hear the Word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and who bear fruit with patient endurance (Luke 8:15).
Needed change will come. What’s truly right will win out over what’s simply expedient. What’s truly humane and faithful to God’s intention for humanity will one day take root and bring forth a harvest of faithful, compassionate living, because that’s the promise consistently raised by the strongest Voice of all.
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.
Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all (Galatians 6:9-10).
Pastor Kim Latterell can be reached by email at creatorpastor@comcast.net.
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