Tuesday, July 1, 2008

On a Knife Edge

Just looking at the TV guide for tonight’s listings and there is at least 9 hours of shows devoted to all the issues surrounding the increase of knife crime in the UK. 17 youth murdered in London alone in the first 6 months of this year. I think the total last year (the highest I believe) was 18 and it would not take rocket science to estimate that total will pale in contrast to this years at the current rate.
Of course, all of secular society is in reactionary mode giving an endless list of reasons as to why this is taking place. The list is typically always the same: youth culture; the rise of the prominence of gun and knife crime in media; increased violence in video games; societal trends; unemployment; oh the list goes on. Yet I cannot seem to shake the notion deep in my heart that all of these are symptomatic of something far deeper in the human psyche. Focusing on externals, for some time now, has always seemed far too shallow to me as a follower of Christ. There is a core issue that needs to be faced here!

Black Eyed Peas have a fantastic single called, ‘Where is the Love?’ which asks the quintessential question. Humans have a default setting that enables them to so ‘unlove’ someone that they (unlike any other creature around) can take the life of another of its own kind. We have a value way beyond that of any other creature (sorry dog-lovers but I am yet to see billions of dollars spent on a military rescue mission crossing several borders for even the most beautiful dog) but in a mere moment that value is defaced and demeaned by a violent action- where is the love? How can we be so loveless?
This is the core issue, the issue that effuses in the myriad of social ills that secular society would define as the core issue itself. It is a three-letter word, one devoid of meaning today.
Ready for it… sin! Will write more on this, but it may evoke thought for some of you.
Comment if you will.

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