It’s become crazy, this world of ours. People in our society are threatening death to a big game hunter, and in the same day will engage in watching people getting strangled and tortured on the internet…just because violence against women and children in porn is “acceptable”, and it can be done in private. And now abortion is just a pill away…
I was having an enlightening discussion about this with a dear friend of mine this morning. She and I were analyzing this outrage against the death of a lion vs the relative quiet about baby parts being sold to big research companies. We came to the early conclusion that it is easier to be angry about something that isn’t as personal to our own psyche. That lion, and the violence against it don’t really affect us. But violence against the unborn, or innocent children…ouch, can’t go there. Better not think about it. Too many of us have been touched by it, and we don’t know what to do about it.
So many of us are so wounded, and so sucked into the mindset of this world, that we can’t differentiate the anger and where it belongs. Many have wounds with violence and sexual abuse…so it’s easier to project that anger against a big game hunter than it is against the sex tourism business or abortion. It isn’t as personal, hence the pain doesn’t have to penetrate into our own hearts and minds.
A few years ago I took a basic psychology course. A well known defense mechanism is “projection”…and this is where we project our own issues onto others. It is easier to be angry at someone else, than to deal with the darkness inside our own soul.
“Psychological projection is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against unpleasant impulses by denying their existence in themselves, while attributing them to others. For example, a person who is rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. According to some research, the projection of one’s negative qualities onto others is a common process in everyday life.” (Wikipedia)
“Projection is a form of defense in which unwanted feelings are displaced onto another person, where they then appear as a threat from the external world. A common form of projection occurs when an individual, threatened by his own angry feelings, accuses another of harbouring hostile thoughts.” (Enc. Britannica)
I am no psychiatrist…but this seems quite obvious to me.
We live in a society where we worship ourselves and our lofty ideas. As long as those ideas don’t infringe on our comfort, we can live a life where every man lives for himself. And we can blame others for the condition of this world.
“We are the master of our own domain.”
“A self made man.”
All part of the capitalist mantra we like to quote. We don’t like to think about what our individual choices have to do with the collective. It doesn’t feel good to think about how we are ALL responsible for the condition of our world today.
And that is…
– 35 million enslaved…
– 3000 babies aborted daily, in just the US…yes, you have the right to choose…to have sex, or not to have sex. I had a miscarriage years ago. The baby was 5 weeks along. So, why is it a “baby” when it’s a miscarriage? But, I am digressing…
– 2 billion people still living on less than $2 per day.
– Increased violence in every level of society.
– Pornography! (I write enough about that)
There are days when it’s quite depressing to be part of this collective. But it’s only depressing if we have no hope.
“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT)
BUT….
We have HOPE.
We have LOVE.
We have JESUS! He truly is the answer.
Do we truly believe that our narcissistic society can cure itself? It’s going to try. And it is trying. Creating more laws, and more definitions for freedom? I don’t think so.
SO…
How can we love one another without knowing the CREATOR OF LOVE? How can we heal the wounded without knowing the ULTIMATE HEALER? How can we forgive each other without experiencing UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS ourselves? How can we judge each other without knowing the ULTIMATE JUDGE?
I know I can’t! And I don’t even want to try.
All I can do is get on my knees and weep. And ask for wisdom without anger. Repentance without self-righteousness. Love without conditions.
And I know He hears me….
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”
(Psalms 62:5-8 NLT)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8 NLT)