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Are We Any Different? (Romans 3:9-18)
I have been wondering when the Western world
began to develop a conscience. Was it in the Twentieth Century when
two great wars drove many people to declare that God is dead and we
only have ourselves to help us? When the great social project of the
Welfare State rose up and the cry became "From each according to his
means, to each according to his needs"? Was it in the Nineteenth Century,
when the Booths with their Salvation Army pricked the consciences of
Victorian society and it became fashionable to have a charity project
in the inner city, "helping the poor"? When America began to dare think
that slaves should be emancipated?
Of course charity is not a new idea and societies throughout history have had their version of looking after the disadvantaged, although society has often proved callously indifferent to the poor. But never before, I think, has anyone been able to stand, as Bob Geldof did recently, and declare that "something must be done because 5.5 billion people say it must". His statement may be more romantic than real, hyperbole, but it is certainly true that vast numbers of people are saying that things can't go on as they are, in Africa, in the Middle East, in Asia. People are concerned with global warming, globalisation, corrupt government, multinational conglomerates, people smuggling, exploitation, and the environment. The list goes on and, furthermore, we are better informed than any previous generation so we can add to our list of things we are concerned about and ways to "do something about it".
We are also living in an increasingly litigious society - the "blame culture". Whatever happens, someone is to blame and someone has to pay. You've seen the ads on TV, "Had an accident? Was someone else to blame? Don't worry we can help you sue for compensation." On a greater scale we find that the West is being blamed for the plight of the rest of the world. Africa? Being exploited. Middle east? Its all about oil. And America is everybody's favourite whipping boy, being blamed for everything, from the situation in Iraq, to the saturation of the world with McDonald's Restaurants.
It seems almost perverse, then, that in such an apparent climate of caring and seeking justice, we should be terrorised by bombers. You would think such people would celebrate that so many others are willing to take up the cause of justice and "force G8 leaders" to put these issues on the agenda of world government. It seems that some people don't see things the same way, put their faith elsewhere, and feel that change will only come through conflict. Where have we heard that before?
As we reflect on the momentous events of the last week I would humbly draw two things to your attention. Firstly, it is natural in any society to denounce, reject and even demonise people who break the most fundamental codes of that society. We are rightly horrified at the carnage and violence perpetrated against innocent lives by people who hide behind some empty ideology, some misguided sense of their own destiny and of service to whatever cause, or god they serve. We cannot imagine someone doing such things and, certainly, cannot put ourselves in their place. These are shoes in which we would never dream of walking a mile.
The discomforting truth, however, is that the thing that moves people to such desperate acts of violence is found within all of us - Sin. Paul writes:
What shall we conclude then? Are we any different? Not at all! We have
already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin.
As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one…
Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Ruin and misery mark their ways,
Ands the way of peace they do not know."
Now we may not be bombers, corrupt heads of government, or exploitative CEOs, but it is all too clear that honest people will recognise themselves in that passage as they realise how elusive is the way of peace in their own lives, how easily they fall to cursing circumstances and others, how swift they are to avenge themselves because of some injury, real or imagined. We are all here and Paul makes clear why we are all here,
"There is no fear of God in their eyes."
Secondly, while it is admirable and good that we should have a conscience, not just as individuals but as a society, do we really think that this, in itself, makes us better people? Do we believe ourselves more enlightened? Do we think of ourselves as more righteous, cleaner somehow? Do we sleep easier in our beds because "we told Tony and George. We showed them"? As I have watched both the events of Live 8 and the announcement of the coming of the Olympics to London it has struck me that, for all the good done through these things, man is dangerously caught up with himself. Paul tells us:
"All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one."
That "not even one" is a sobering phrase. "Not even one?" Surely there are always those who do good in society? Yes, of course there are, but what good is it if they do not acknowledge the God who made them? Without God the "good" man does gives glory to the man who does it. We see it now as man celebrates himself and his own achievements in "changing the world for the better".
Paul writes:
"There is no one who understands, no one who
seeks God."
As we applaud the efforts of those who care, as we join them in just causes (and I hope we do), lets remember our overriding duty as Christians to help them understand and lead them to seek God. To show them that:
"a righteousness from God, apart from law (or good works), has been
made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness
from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There
is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God, and are justified freely by his grace."
What shall we conclude then? Are we any different? Without Christ absolutely not!