How To Live Meaningfully and Purposefully in This Broken World

The news is full of the brokenness of our world. We are all deeply aware of the divisions that dominate every element and layer of society today: within the family and in our social/political environments today. These divisions often seem intractable and are reinforced by unrecognized fears that manifest themselves in prejudices, hatreds, judgmentalism, accusation, misinformation, and lies. Trust, the necessary binding force in any human relationship, has become very rare indeed.

It seems that everyone demands respect, but gives little. People on either side of these divisions, whether social or political, hurl labels at one another that are filled with innuendo, that erase or deny the humanity of the other. We see our neighbors and fellow countrymen as enemies. We become bitter, angry, and resentful toward one another, even to the point of demonizing the other. Respectful, thoughtful, meaningful and purposeful discourse is no longer pursued. And all of this arises out of a presumed sense of superiority. I am reminded here of a quote from G.K. Chesterton: “Original Sin is the only doctrine that’s been empirically validated by [thousands of] years of human history.” The proof of it is all around us, and in us, if we are awake enough to see it. How can such behavior and the divisions it creates be turned around? How can we escape this self-destructive madness?

Paul tells us that “scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). And so, let us look at another passage from Paul’s writing to gain some insight into our question of how we can, as followers of Christ, turn this behavior around in ourselves and in society. “Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:1-6). This is the truth! This is the way we have been called to live with one another, not just in the Church but in the world.

To read scripture is one thing; to put into practice is clearly another. If we are honest with ourselves, the fact is that we all sin, we all fall short of the ideals of the Christian life. This, too, is “empirically validated” in the daily news, both at the social/political levels, and, more importantly, in the voice of our own consciences. But to behave in the manner Paul suggests to the Ephesians above, makes Christ’s presence in our hearts, in the community, and in the world, real. The only way that the world will get better is when a critical mass of Christian believers really and truly begin to live their faith in this manner more openly.

God does not demand the impossible of us. He came into the world to free us from our sins, and to call us back to our original holiness. He promised to be with us in all things, if only we would turn to his love and grace. He alone is the way, the truth, and the life. And, when others see us living in this manner openly, joyfully, even bearing our suffering on behalf of one another courageously and compassionately, maybe they, too, will say of us: “Look how those Christians love one another’ (in comparison to how they themselves hate one another); and how they are ready to die for each other” (in comparison to how they themselves are readier to kill each other).

We ourselves, the country, and the world will find greatness only when more and more of us who call ourselves Christians, begin to live with “humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve unity of the spirit through the bond of peace”. Do we believe this? How will others know that we believe? They will know we believe, or if we are hypocrites, by observing our words and our deeds. Let us, then, live up to our calling with the courage and strength of God’s infinite grace!