Legend has it that during the Edwardian time period, the United Kingdom put out a newspaper headline. It read, “What is Wrong With Society?”

Many chimed in with letters to the editor pointing fingers at the Germans or other people groups.  Catholic philosopher, theologian, and writer G.K. Chesterton wrote this in response:

Dear Sirs,

I am.

Sincerely Yours,

GK Chesterton

What was he trying to say?  He is saying that he is no better than anyone else. That his heart is just as capable of wrong as the next person. That his heart will always need to be cleansed because he is human.

I look at the world around us in pain and in agony and I am angry at what I see.  I am angry at police officers hurting others. I am angry at nursing home COVID patients being abused. I am angry with people being hurt by rioters. I am angry with all the sin in the world.

But then I think about GK Chesterton.  When I watch videos on Facebook revealing the sins of others, I have to humble my heart.  Yes, what they have done is wrong, but I am no better than they.  I am reminded that my righteousness, my holiness is like filthy rags compared to Jesus.

Evil resides in all of us because, “all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.” (Romans 3:23)

And the wages of that sin is death. Thankfully, he forgives those sins. (Romans 6:23)

What is wrong with society today?  I am. No matter what color I am, what gender, or my social status. Evil resides in me because I am a human being who has inherited a sinful nature from Adam.

But that is the beauty of Jesus! No human can take on the guilt, shame and condemnation of the world’s sins.  God sent His perfect Son to take that blame for us!

So what do we do? We do what Jesus comands us:

1.) We love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength

2.) We love our neighbor as ourself

3.) And then of course, we pray

Will you pray with me today?  Will you pray like Daniel prayed petitioning God on behalf of our nation to bring even the most hated, sinful men on this earth to repentance? And will you love on your neighbor? Both can and will change the world.