“Cultural and Personal Chaos”

The lesson of the Frog And The Kettle is that imperceptible change into danger can take place and in doing so exert its influence until it is too late to escape the consequence.  Such is the case in Western culture.  Living as we do in the midst of change, a change which is sold as “progress,” most are not aware of the influence upon the individual.  Since most have no historical standard by which to judge past cultural influence and thus establish a baseline, the changes of a culture degenerating toward chaos is unobserved.

It is not culture alone for any and every system known to man is in this downward spiral into chaos.  People in general as well as the social systems that they comprise move imperceptibly toward chaos, moral and otherwise.  Why do we not see this to be so?  Reference the Frog In The Kettle and the imperceptible changes taking place around him along with our lack of historical connection and it is not hard to see why people are unaware.

People collectively and individually do not recognize the influence of cultural mores which surround them and thus influence them in the day to day of life.  The whole notion of relative truth, no universal societal standards, and other elements of a “secular society” exert pressure upon all and either the individual conforms or tempts the possibility of sanction.  Such sanction can be either quiet and subtle, direct and overt, or somewhere in between. 

Then there are those who are trapped by what they do not recognize and in their blind  ignorance go merrily about the day to day of life.  In either case conformity, proactively or tacitly, is to place one on the slippery slope of cultural and of personal chaos.  As one regresses down this path; national, cultural, and personal resolve are lost.  As well, one struggles in his efforts to find his true identity, a sense of competence, security, confidence, and well being. If there is any nagging sensitivity to such being the case it is most often dismissed as the irrelevant influence of bygone and outdated ethical influences.  Eventually such nagging sensitivity though there, is unfelt as if gone.

Who is the one who would tempt sanction?  There are two categories to be considered today.  One such person would be the one obsessed with the notion that he possesses unique “special truth.” Such special truth is held to be superior to all other “truth.”  Such an one assumes that their special “truth” entitles them to “special behavior” and thus they think and behave outside cultural mores and even outside of universal ethical standards. 

This mindset can be found in religion but is not confined there.  The same mindset can be found in certain elements of the political discourse.  Of course such thinking and behavior very often justifies deceit and the disenfranchising of others and thus contributes to the slide toward cultural chaos.

Another one who would tempt sanction is the one who believes and lives by universal objective ethical standards.  Such an one, though not perfect, does seek to live in harmony with God’s truth as revealed in the Scriptures.  This is the one who most often exceeds the standards set forth by relative truth and thus is not just uncomfortable but an anathema to those whose morality does not rise above their own proclivities and physical desires—those descending into chaos, national, cultural, and personal. 

This last person and gatherings of same are the exception to the great slide downward.  In fact instead of degenerating into chaos, these are those who though not perfect enjoy the benefits of regeneration.  They indeed are those who makeup sub-cultures and cultures that also are the exception to the downward spiral.  Such is only possible when faith is interjected into the system be it national, cultural, or personal.