Kony?

Whatever happened to Kony?  I watched a video about him that was made by one of the people affiliated with the Invisible Children...and I was moved.  But for some reason nothing happened about it.  I am sure it had something to do with the film's creator getting in trouble for (allegedly) being drunk in public and doing some things that are far from socially acceptable.

The funny thing is...getting drunk is something that is generally encouraged in our society.  I remember countless times in college when I felt awkward and even somewhat targeted when the topic of drinking in excess was brought up.  According to most, that was how you had fun.

But you can't be drunk in public.  Only in private.  Once you make it public you have a problem.

I feel like cursing is similar.  It is okay to curse in private around people you know but once you go in to public it is generally not as acceptable.  That is something that has certainly moved in the direction of becoming okay in public - as evidenced by music and television shows loosening their censorship.

I would argue - sadly - that porn is also in this category.  Make it public - you're a pervert.  Watch it in private - not so much of an issue.  Even this is moving in a scary direction - as evidenced by what they show in many movies that are being publicly released.

This observation raises a question: what about public knowledge makes something wrong?  If it is wrong, shouldn't it be wrong regardless?

As a society we have moved into a strange place.  We have decided that the only issue of doing "wrong" things is the effect they have on others.  If it doesn't hurt or offend someone else, then there is no problem doing what we like.  So because being drunk in public is potentially offensive to someone that does not agree with getting drunk, we have declared it "unacceptable".

But what if the things we have done in private were in fact hurting someone?  What if every single thing we did was known and recorded?  What if we could POTENTIALLY suffer some sort of punishment for the things we have done wrong?



I would argue that all we have done, are doing and will ever do is known.  I would also argue that we SHOULD have to suffer punishment for our wrongdoings.  The beauty of the gospel, however, is the reality that we have graciously been forgiven for our wrongs.  But what I think is often forgotten - myself included - is that even though this grace was free to us, it was not free.  Someone paid for what we did wrong.

So every time we sin we hammer the nails into Christ's hands.  We hammer the nails into His feet.  We force Him to push up as he gasps for breath.  As the blood collects in Christ's lungs, we spit in His face with our actions.  And He is held responsible for what we have done.



I'm not saying I am perfect.  Far from it.  But I have found it helpful to remind myself that in times of struggle - when I don't think anyone would ever know about something - that God does, and it is offensive to Him when I know what is wrong but hammer the nail anyway.  Yes He forgives me - but I celebrate that forgiveness by pursuing a life that display God's character and mercy in public and in private.  Even though I will continue to make mistakes, that's what you can find me doin' right now.