It can be argued that exposure to bacteria is healthy for your immune system. It can be proven that these germs are on your phone, your shoes, and your doorknobs too. It can be said that relatively few people get sick from going to the store. And those things are all true.
But, somewhere in the midst of all that truth, it seems that we're overlooking the real problem: most people are not washing their hands after using the bathroom. Unfortunately, rather than focus on what we all should be doing (namely hand-washing), we've instead decided to justify why it's perfectly acceptable (and even healthy) to have fecal matter on nearly everything we touch.
That seems a bit backward, doesn't it - accepting the results rather than changing the behavior?
Though, I suppose, I can relate. How often do I ignore what I should be doing, and instead focus on ways to make myself feel better about not doing whatever "it" is.
For me, it's speeding. I regularly go a few miles an hour over the speed limit. And then I justify my lead foot by saying that everybody does it, it's quicker, it's not hurting anyone, etc. But the point isn't that everybody else is going 70 miles an hour or that my speed isn't hurting anyone. The point is that 65 miles an hour is the law.
Maybe speeding isn't an issue for you, but maybe gossip is. Or lying. Or stealing. Or cheating. And maybe, like me, you've found yourself justifying those actions because the results don't seem to be negatively affecting anyone else. But, again, that's not the point.
The point is that there's poo on my shopping cart...and that's never okay.
Bahahaha.....Love your last sentence! : )
ReplyDeleteI have recently stopped speeding. Going 60 in a 55 is speeding, therefore breaking the law, therfore, sinning. And if I'm doing it without remorse, then I'm sinning without remorse, even if you won't ever be pulled over for going 5mph over the limit.
ReplyDeleteSo this thought popped into my head once: If I'm in a fatal accident while driving just 5mph over the limit, will I be denied from Heaven because of my sin? I can't let something as small as that keep me from getting to Heaven, ya know?
To the above "Anonymous" -- There are civil laws and moral (God's) laws. Going 5 miles over the speed limit is breaking a civil law and not a moral law. Therefore, I don't see that as sin. There still may be civil consequences if you get caught, but I don't see someone losing out on heaven for having an accident while going 5 miles over the speed limit.
ReplyDeleteWhile there are civil laws and moral laws, Jesus instructed us to follow both. "Render unto Cesar what is Cesar's" doesn't just mean "pay your taxes" - it means follow the laws of the government. So technically, speeding (which I confess that I do as well) is sinning.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we're all sinners - we all fall short of perfection. That's why Christ died for our salvation - to forgive ALL sins. Should I stop speeding? Yeah. But is there forgiveness for when I forget and go a bit faster? Definitely.
Meanwhile, Tim, I suspect I'll approach a whole lot of my day differently now - thanks for the reminder of how we justify little (and sometimes big) things instead of changing them.
To the above "Anonymous" - you just reiterated the point Tim is making by justifying that going over the speed limit is a "civil law" not a moral one therefor hurting no-one. Stop and think about that, God tells us to obey those in authority over us. We are to obey man's laws as well as God's no gray area in the Bible for disobeying either one. When talking about sins no one sin is greater or lesser than another God views all sin the same. Sin is simply chosing to disobey what we are told to do.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on this one my friend! And Poo on my shopping cart is NEVER acceptable too!! Sad to say .....there are TOO many who do just that!!!! Mamas TEACH YOUR CHILDREN to wash your hands with soap and water!!! It stops the spread of Most diseases that we come in contact with!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree I am a nurse and people who do not wash their hands after they go to the bathroom this is just horrible, and then they wonder why they have flu like symptoms all the time. They are taking their fecal matter and touching everything with it. Just watch the next time you are in a public restroom how many people leave and do not wash their hands and then they go out and touch everything in the store including the shopping cart.
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