It’s a deluge of news day-in and day-out, more than anyone can take in. So we skim from story to story, don’t get too bothered. These days even the skimming is wearing down our spirits. The death of Robin Williams, looting in St. Louis, Islamic terrorists, civil war in Ukraine, Nigerians girls still kidnapped, Hamas and Israel… Wave after wave of bad news, so much that we can’t ignore it. What’s going on?
What’s going on is original sin having a field day. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5) Original sin means that all human beings are born with sin, born with evil lusts and inclinations, born without true faith or fear in God. Like a tree that produces its own kind of fruit, sinners produce sin. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” (John 3:6) Many people have a more positive view of human nature but look at the evidence. After thousands of years, the world is still a terrible mess. The evidence is in and supports original sin.
There are two ways to deal with the actual sins that come from original sin. One is force, like the military and police. The second is the Gospel of forgiveness for repentant sinners. Only the Gospel changes hearts; force hardens opposition, fosters more sin. Anybody think it’s time for the Church to redouble our efforts?
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