I know that things don’t happen “all at once.” There’s a beginning: the spark is ignited, and ideas are spoken, words are said, before a skeleton is built. I see nations in upheaval, some more than others, and I look back to times past, with my abysmal knowledge of history, of the leaders back then. I remember asking myself why it seemed the past had courageous, bolder leaders than the present. Despite moral failings, and controversial positions, it just seemed like they believed in the society they envisioned and propelled forward. Is that a fair statement to make? Is it because now you have to attempt to appeal to everyone, and not offend anyone, that makes it harder to lead? Is it because the people are greatly deceived that if you don’t appeal to them in their darkness they cannot and will not accept light? And which light are you bringing? The light of Christ or the light to remove suffering while lending them another prison sentence?
I suppose that’s my error. Rather than look at the past with a romantic, idealistic lense, the point of the matter is this: people need solutions to their problems. I recall 11 months ago the university president at my sister’s university said something along the lines of, we are meant to find solutions to problems. Essentially, we came on earth to help solve problems. You go to school, you graduate, and you go forth into the world to tackle an issue, because there are plenty of them in our world. We are to find ways to serve others and not demand to be served.
It's a grand challenge, a mighty task. I agree that people need solutions to their problems. As a child of God, I lament that Jesus is not seen as a viable solution. But I offer Him as a solution because He alone can remove the scales from our eyes, so we remember that we are creations of God, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. We have value that cannot be reduced to a dollar amount. We are worth defending, protecting. Our lives are not dispensable. Perhaps if we valued human life, it wouldn’t be easily traded. Perhaps if we feared God-- and I mean wholly reverenced Him – we would not commit these atrocities against each other. I mean, it’s because some of us believe in its sacredness that we can advocate for clean water, healthcare, human rights.
But I think the solution that I’m looking for isn’t possible, because it would require the entire world and its inhabitants to turn to Christ and that’s not possible.
It feels hopeless, but it’s worth trying to find a solution. It’s worth trying because Jesus gave us an example, that whilst yet sinners, he died for us, that whoever believes in him would receive eternal life. It’s worth finding a solution to the world problems, even if only a few accept the solution and are changed. The solutions triggered by divine inspiration should transform the secular space. They ought not to just borrow the best of the spiritual and secular, but boldly and unapologetically declare: “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” From a religious perspective, I’d say you can’t bridge Heaven’s will and secular will together because the motives don’t gel. One has to influence the other, and as long as we continue to try to fit a square peg into a round hole, we’ll continue to go round and round.
In any case, it’s worth preaching the gospel, because it has power to transform. It’s a seed that will bear fruit. It’s not every solution that is being offered that has human dignity in mind. It’s not every solution that is concerned about the generations thereafter, or the salvation of a soul. It’s through the gospel that the right leaders will be cultivated to solve the problems they’re assigned.
Are there secular solutions that could make life better? I hesitate to say yes, because life is spiritual, so how does one expect to provide non-spiritual solutions to spirit-influenced issues and have peace? We reduce life to non-spiritual because it’s easier to feel in control of it. But I think the matter is also too deep, I myself am still grappling with it.
In any case, if you’re led to do something, big or small, just start. Start somewhere. Some solutions need to incubate for years before they can be released and be effective. We may be in this for a while, but it’s not forever. There is a solution to everything that we are experiencing.
