Which Way Up?

I sent a birthday card to my wife one year, with the picture of a man standing on his head. Inside the caption read: Perhaps it’s the world that’s upside down—we’re the ones the right way up! The more I see of our declining culture, the more it’s evident that the world is upside down.

The retreat from Christianity has increased the “me first” mentality and lessened the idea of service that holds society together. Multiculturalism has resulted in a ghetto mentality, each cultural group wanting its own space—both on the ground and politically.

Let’s face it. What we call “natural” is really “unnatural”; a result of severance from our Creator. Without Him, we have no idea how to live, and simply fall back to our base instincts. The animals become our guide!

In school, biology taught us differences between humans and animals. One difference was never raised: animals grow, mature and propagate by simply following their instincts. However, humans degrade themselves if their instincts are not controlled and disciplined.

The conscious choice of discipline over instinct is a distinctive and ennobling mark of humanity. Jesus exemplified this: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28).

Service to our fellow humans alongside misunderstanding of our faith is—or should be—the hallmark of Christianity as we conform to His image. This distinctive easily separates us from the crowd that seeks its own well-being first.