You have heard of “hardening of the arteries”. It is deadly. The body no longer functions properly, the walls of the arteries thicken, harden. They become narrow and blood flow is blocked. It attacks the heart. There is also hardening of the heart, hardening of the lungs, hardening of the liver. Each of these conditions shuts down vital functions of the body, limits its ability to function, and will cause it to die. It is almost always a low process, a build up over time. It can go unnoticed and become deadly before we realize it.
Dr. Jerry L. Mash is the pastor at The Church at The North Gate
I believe there is a hardening that has taken place in our life together as a people. We are NOT as gentle as we used to be. Our world is more cruel. We tolerate hurtful things that we once would find unacceptable. We amuse ourselves with people hurting people – violent sports, reality shows – where we watch people getting hurt. Is that amusing? We have “extreme” sports of all kinds where we sit in our homes and watch people endanger one another, hut one another, break one another’s hearts, emotions, bodies.
We have no hardened ourselves that extremists killing one another, women and children is followed by a commercial or a trip to the kitchen during the break. Really? That was a child’s bus that was blown up by a religionists bomb or rocket. Where is the rage of unacceptance? Ho-hum … 3,000 people were killed in some big buildings. We’re enraged at high taxes, bad economy, unresponsive politicians.
How about a culture where 75% of the children are born to unmarried mothers? How about a nation that “legally” kills 50 million babies – for sexual “rights”? How about a society that belittles those who openly acknowledge their Christian faith, but accept terrorists who stalk Israel as not news worthy?
We have hardened our hearts that lies are just a part of politics, some commercials, some business, some cultures. We rename it “spin”, and go our way.
When do we demand the Truth? When do we teach the Truth: Lust is not love. Mean is not tough. Love is tough. Forgiving is tough. Expecting right and not compromising is tough. Helping instead of judging is tough. Caring instead of self-indulgence is tough.
On page 34 of my book “Moratorium On Meanness” it reads, “You overcome the hurt and harshness of this world by getting gentle.” Page 40 reads, “Gentleness is the attitude that trusts God no matter what the situation.” “… the gentle immediately look to God instead of being irritated, angry …” page 41. Chapter 3 focuses on Jesus words to the weary, to the burdened, to those heavy about the world’s ways:
“Come to me … I am gentle … I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
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