To Encourage You

James 3:6 “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.”

I heard an interesting sermon the other day around the topic of what I might rephrase “What is wrong with the world?”  This pastor had a perspective on this issue that I would say is spot on, because it was so consistent with so much of what the Bible has to say about it.  He spoke about two overarching philosophies about man and thereby the world that he inhabits. The first is the philosophy that people are basically good at heart. They are rational. They’ll naturally do the right thing if they have enough knowledge about an issue.  Although there are a few bad apples out there, they are made that way because of problems outside of them. Maybe it was their parents, or they didn’t have enough money, or education, or the society around them treated them wrong.  Or maybe they’re just mentally ill.  In other words, what is wrong with the world is the society itself, not the people in it. The solution? We must fix society in some way. Some examples that are popular today: defund the police, put more money into education, social justice movements, address systemic racism through reparations or some other means, and other related ideas.  Isn’t that what we hear today?  Doesn’t that seem to be the prevailing view of many? 

But then there is another view. It’s the view that the problem isn’t “out there” somewhere. Rather, the problems in this world reside deep within the human heart, i.e., EVERYONE’S heart, not just that of a few bad apples.  It’s the view the Bible talks about from beginning to end.  It’s summed up in stark terms in Romans 3:10-18: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” It’s also the view found in the verse above that tells us that “The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.”  And the tongue gives vent to unrighteousness because it is unrighteousness that naturally resides in every human heart. 

Pretty pessimistic, isn’t it?  However, according to God’s Word, it’s the absolute truth.  And if this is indeed the truth, no reformation of the society around us will ever fix the world’s problems.  Laws and enforcement of them may help put a lid on social problems, and social movements may have a positive influence, but racism will continue to exist because it’s rooted deep in many hearts.  So will self-centeredness, lust, greed, murder, adultery, child abuse, and every other sin.  And unless one acknowledges this, the problems that have plagued our society in the past will continue to plague it in the future.  The only answer is to change the heart, and the only One Who can do that is the miracle worker, Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-14 puts it this way: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” 

So, the answer to the question, “What’s wrong with the world?”  I am.  The solution? The saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as He transforms those Who will turn to Him one person at a time.