Sunday, September 20, 2020

Are you free yet?

 

We are all recipients of pain and suffering in this world. We usually conclude that it has been caused by someone other than us. Somewhere we fail to realize that we all influence the good and bad happening around us. We assume we are roaming free but we are actually bound in shackles.

I want to quote John Lennox, a Northern Irish Mathematician of science. He is Emeritus professor of Mathematics at the university of Oxford and an Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and philosophy of science at Green Templeton College. In his book “Where is God in Coronavirus?” He reveals the sources of pain and suffering this way:

‘Pain and suffering come from two distinct sources. Firstly, there is suffering as a result of natural disasters and diseases, for which humans are not (directly) responsible: earthquakes, tsunamis, cancers, and the Coronavirus. This leads to the problem of pain, or, as it is often called, the problem of natural evil. This terminology is somewhat unfortunate, since the word “evil” has moral connotations and neither earthquakes nor viruses are moral agents. Second there is suffering for which men and women are directly responsible: acts of hate, terror, violence, abuse and murder. That leads to the problem of moral evil.’.

The law of the land and constitution deal with defaulters who intentionally break the law and indulge in crimes. Their evil surpasses limits and as a result are hunted down by law, but what about the many who do not appear on radar of the law, secretly involving in things, which are deemed as vices? Many breaking the moral law fail to notice that the evil they indulged and associated with has accumulated and outgrown the virtues,  forcing them to live in bondage all their lives. Consequently, all are experiencing the effects of it.

Stephen Covey in his book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” points the inside-out approach which says, "Private victories, precede public victories, that making and keeping promises to ourselves precedes making and keeping promises to others.". Many are observing this day as "Freedom Sunday" and praying a small prayer for people who are in some form of bondage.

The root of evil is inherent in all human beings. Some willfully embrace evil for selfish ends, while some are taken unawares. The Bible talks about the problem of sin and addiction to such vices. It says, “For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate… So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me.”. Bible never endorses mass salvation and purification. It is an individual commitment asking God for help to transform oneself and family and live as a dignified human being who pleases God. You can make a commitment today!

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