Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
The Shifting Baseline Syndrome is a concept, which accurately describes our constantly changing perception of reality today.
Formulated by Daniel Pauly in 1995, the Shifting Baseline Syndrome essentially explains how every generation accepts their version of nature, plunders it, and leaves the next generation to accept the depleted version, as their version of what nature has been – all along.
Originally intended for the fields of the natural sciences and environmental conservation, this continuous lowering of standards, and the perception of the degraded natural environments to be considered as the normal state, is clearly also applicable to the continuously shifting and degrading landscapes of humanity’s spiritual and moral environments.
Indisputably, the Church and what she represents, have lost much spiritual and moral grounds in the onslaught of humanity’s broken-ness and disfulfillment.
Our moral baseline has shifted. Entire generations of Christians have been left with an ever-decreasing authority to speak resolutely to God’s standards and salvation for Man.
This is a problem. Actually, this is our problem.
How do we reset humanity’s moral baseline to that of God’s standards for Man?
How do we return to our rightful place of influence, and thereby participate with the Holy Spirit in effecting the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom?
What is the real Christian religion about?
How should Christianity be perceived as a religion to the eyes of the world?
James 1:27 lays it out clearly for the Church -
Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
In other words, our care for the marginalized of the world is our worship of God; and its efficacy is determined by our ability to stay off the evils of the world.
We all know that caring for those in need, or in misfortune, is expected of every believer; but James goes the extra mile to underscore the reality that the quality of that care is dependent on how set apart we are from the values of the world.
Thus, even before we ask ourselves if we are fulfilling our rightful call to care for those in need, we must first ask if we are indeed staying off the evils of the world.
But where do we start?
Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)
In fact, in a grammatical paradigm lost in translation, James stresses that Christians must let this Word take root in our lives and simply exist in this mandate - of being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger!
Do you wake up in the morning and resolve to being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger?
You should.
In a world that is slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to anger, it becomes clear that this mandate is essential in raising a compassionate people – set apart for the glory of the gospel of Christ.
James goes on to tell us that – not only does human anger fail utterly in accomplishing any of God’s work (James 1:20) – human anger is really the culmination of our filth and evil excess that prevents the Word of God from taking root in our lives (James 1:21).
Have you ever wondered why God’s Word does not take root in your life?
It is that which makes you angry.
Anger – any and all – prevents the rooting of God’s Word in your life.
You may actually think that you are angry for the most ‘righteous’ of reasons, but “human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness” (James 1:20).
So, don’t be deceived. We are not capable of righteous anger. Deal with it!
For even Christ was ‘like a lamb led to the slaughter’ (Isaiah 53:7); and in so doing, accomplished the righteousness of God for the sake of all humankind.
In comparison to our Christ, what right do we ever have of getting, and remaining, angry at anything, or anyone?
Our existence must be expressed to, and experienced by, the world in this – to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
This is real religion.
This is how we keep ourselves unstained by the world – that we purge ourselves of all traces of anger; and in so doing, develop a Christ-like compassion for the world.
Just as the purge of our past filth and evil excess compels us to repent and come before the Lamb upon the Throne – King Jesus, the purge of our present and coming proclivities begins with the ‘bridling of our tongues’ (James 1:26)
With absolute clarity, James tells us – take full control of what you say, or else your religion is useless.
You have wasted your time, and deceived yourself (James 1:22).
So, T.H.I.N.K. before you speak.
Say it, only if it is Truthful, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind. If it does not satisfy these five criteria, keep your mouth shut – or in James’ words, ‘bridle your tongue.’
The less we speak, the more compassionate we become.
If you have no room for compassion in your life, truth be told – you have no room for Jesus Christ in your heart.
What’s it going to be?
Would you drift with the world, and suffer from the effects of the shifting baseline syndrome?
Or would you resolutely stand on Jesus Christ - the Rock of your Salvation, and resolve to counter the ever-depleting spiritual and moral landscape that our world exists in today?
Is your religion – real, and acceptable to God?
If it is… James 1:27 ought to speak deeply to what you are.
May God give you the strength, courage, resolve and wisdom, to be who you are meant to be.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, I confess and repent of my sin of anger.
I acknowledge that there is absolutely no substance nor reason enough for me to express anger. I understand this day, that any and all anger on my part is simply my arrogance, pride and consequently, self-idolatry, in putting me before others, and You – my God.
Holy Spirit, help me with Your gift of self-control.
Fill my mind with Your peace and purpose whenever I am tempted to be angry. And remind me of Your compassion for me in my state of brokenness; that I may be more aware of what my Lord Jesus Christ had to suffer for the sake of my stubbornness and self-centeredness.
Teach me, Holy Spirit, and help me - to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. May everything I say, glorify my God and edify my brethren.
May I live out the fullness of Christ through unashamed acts of compassion to those who in need, and those who need Christ.
Lord, give me the courage, strength and wisdom to:
Counter the darkness of the world with the light of Jesus Christ;
Counter the emptiness of the world with the fullness of Christ;
Counter the evils of the world with the goodness of Christ;
Counter anger with the compassion of Christ;
Counter unrest with the peace of Christ;
Counter hate with the love of Christ.
May our church show the world what true religion really is.
So help us God to care for those in need and keep ourselves unstained by the world.
We thank You and pray all these in the name of Your Son and our King, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
The Shifting Baseline Syndrome is a concept, which accurately describes our constantly changing perception of reality today.
Formulated by Daniel Pauly in 1995, the Shifting Baseline Syndrome essentially explains how every generation accepts their version of nature, plunders it, and leaves the next generation to accept the depleted version, as their version of what nature has been – all along.
Originally intended for the fields of the natural sciences and environmental conservation, this continuous lowering of standards, and the perception of the degraded natural environments to be considered as the normal state, is clearly also applicable to the continuously shifting and degrading landscapes of humanity’s spiritual and moral environments.
Indisputably, the Church and what she represents, have lost much spiritual and moral grounds in the onslaught of humanity’s broken-ness and disfulfillment.
Our moral baseline has shifted. Entire generations of Christians have been left with an ever-decreasing authority to speak resolutely to God’s standards and salvation for Man.
This is a problem. Actually, this is our problem.
How do we reset humanity’s moral baseline to that of God’s standards for Man?
How do we return to our rightful place of influence, and thereby participate with the Holy Spirit in effecting the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom?
What is the real Christian religion about?
How should Christianity be perceived as a religion to the eyes of the world?
James 1:27 lays it out clearly for the Church -
Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
In other words, our care for the marginalized of the world is our worship of God; and its efficacy is determined by our ability to stay off the evils of the world.
We all know that caring for those in need, or in misfortune, is expected of every believer; but James goes the extra mile to underscore the reality that the quality of that care is dependent on how set apart we are from the values of the world.
Thus, even before we ask ourselves if we are fulfilling our rightful call to care for those in need, we must first ask if we are indeed staying off the evils of the world.
But where do we start?
Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)
In fact, in a grammatical paradigm lost in translation, James stresses that Christians must let this Word take root in our lives and simply exist in this mandate - of being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger!
Do you wake up in the morning and resolve to being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger?
You should.
In a world that is slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to anger, it becomes clear that this mandate is essential in raising a compassionate people – set apart for the glory of the gospel of Christ.
James goes on to tell us that – not only does human anger fail utterly in accomplishing any of God’s work (James 1:20) – human anger is really the culmination of our filth and evil excess that prevents the Word of God from taking root in our lives (James 1:21).
Have you ever wondered why God’s Word does not take root in your life?
It is that which makes you angry.
Anger – any and all – prevents the rooting of God’s Word in your life.
You may actually think that you are angry for the most ‘righteous’ of reasons, but “human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness” (James 1:20).
So, don’t be deceived. We are not capable of righteous anger. Deal with it!
For even Christ was ‘like a lamb led to the slaughter’ (Isaiah 53:7); and in so doing, accomplished the righteousness of God for the sake of all humankind.
In comparison to our Christ, what right do we ever have of getting, and remaining, angry at anything, or anyone?
Our existence must be expressed to, and experienced by, the world in this – to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
This is real religion.
This is how we keep ourselves unstained by the world – that we purge ourselves of all traces of anger; and in so doing, develop a Christ-like compassion for the world.
Just as the purge of our past filth and evil excess compels us to repent and come before the Lamb upon the Throne – King Jesus, the purge of our present and coming proclivities begins with the ‘bridling of our tongues’ (James 1:26)
With absolute clarity, James tells us – take full control of what you say, or else your religion is useless.
You have wasted your time, and deceived yourself (James 1:22).
So, T.H.I.N.K. before you speak.
Say it, only if it is Truthful, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind. If it does not satisfy these five criteria, keep your mouth shut – or in James’ words, ‘bridle your tongue.’
The less we speak, the more compassionate we become.
If you have no room for compassion in your life, truth be told – you have no room for Jesus Christ in your heart.
What’s it going to be?
Would you drift with the world, and suffer from the effects of the shifting baseline syndrome?
Or would you resolutely stand on Jesus Christ - the Rock of your Salvation, and resolve to counter the ever-depleting spiritual and moral landscape that our world exists in today?
Is your religion – real, and acceptable to God?
If it is… James 1:27 ought to speak deeply to what you are.
May God give you the strength, courage, resolve and wisdom, to be who you are meant to be.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, I confess and repent of my sin of anger.
I acknowledge that there is absolutely no substance nor reason enough for me to express anger. I understand this day, that any and all anger on my part is simply my arrogance, pride and consequently, self-idolatry, in putting me before others, and You – my God.
Holy Spirit, help me with Your gift of self-control.
Fill my mind with Your peace and purpose whenever I am tempted to be angry. And remind me of Your compassion for me in my state of brokenness; that I may be more aware of what my Lord Jesus Christ had to suffer for the sake of my stubbornness and self-centeredness.
Teach me, Holy Spirit, and help me - to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. May everything I say, glorify my God and edify my brethren.
May I live out the fullness of Christ through unashamed acts of compassion to those who in need, and those who need Christ.
Lord, give me the courage, strength and wisdom to:
Counter the darkness of the world with the light of Jesus Christ;
Counter the emptiness of the world with the fullness of Christ;
Counter the evils of the world with the goodness of Christ;
Counter anger with the compassion of Christ;
Counter unrest with the peace of Christ;
Counter hate with the love of Christ.
May our church show the world what true religion really is.
So help us God to care for those in need and keep ourselves unstained by the world.
We thank You and pray all these in the name of Your Son and our King, Jesus Christ. Amen.